The Myth of the Wolves

Chapter Six: Reunion

Halo waited for what seemed like forever. She was too nervous to move, so she glanced around at what little she could see through the leaves of the tree. She smelled the rotting smell that she learned were the rogues, and her breathing stopped.

Adrenaline pumped through her veins like ice through molten lava, and tears had formed in her eyes. Will they not leave her alone? Why did they want her so badly?

She waited, and eventually the smell drifted away when the wind shifted in direction. The air turned humid just before she saw Sess climb the tree. She let out a sigh of relief.

Once he reached her, he helped her to climb down carefully. She was shaking in fear and anticipation. “Is everyone okay? I am so sorry.” Her voice was grave and full of emotion.

“Everyone is fine, Halo.” We threw them off your trail.

“How is Piper?” She asked.

“She’s perfectly fine. They didn’t want any trouble, and if they did, we could have easily taken care of three rogues.”

Halo released a breath and shook her head, “I need to leave.”

“I agree,” he started, “but I am definitely coming with you.

She went to shake her head again, but he raised his arms, flat palms out, signalling to her that it was not a discussion. “We are packing up camp, Piper, and the rest of them are heading east up the river. You and I are heading west. We sent the rogues north.”

“But I’m heading north!” Halo began.

“Not yet you’re not. It won’t take them long to figure out we sent them in the wrong direction, and once they figure it out, I doubt they’ll head north again for a while.”

Halo nodded, surprised she didn’t think of that.

“In any case, you and I are heading west. We won’t be helping them pack up camp so we can leave as soon as possible.”

“That’s probably best,” Halo agreed.

He nudged her, “it’ll be alright Lo, even if they do find us, I will make quick work of them.” He winked at her, and they made their way back to the camp.

Running Away, Again.

Piper had handed her some warm clothes, “they won’t fit me for a while anyway,” she laughed, a twinkle in her eye.

“I don’t even know how to begin thanking you,” Halo was overwhelmed with the amount these strangers had helped her.

The others joined them for their send off, hugging Halo tightly in goodbye. “I have a feeling we will meet you again,” Libya patted her on the back.

The brother’s nodded in farewell, knowing this was the only way they could make their next move, ensuring the safety of everyone.

Once they got a fair distance away from the rest, treading in and out of the river, removing their shoes for much of the time, Sess stretched his hands out and yawned. “It’s going to be a long walk before we can stop –assuming this storm doesn’t start up any time soon. In the meantime, why don’t you start by telling me where you need to be.”

Halo decided she needed to put her trust in him. He had saved her from the rogues, risked his pack and his own life, and now he was accompanying her with little to no information about her plans. “To tell you the truth, I have no idea where to go or what to do. I just need to find Damius.”

Sess’s eyes widened, “Alpha Damius of The Darkmoon Pack?”

She tilted her head, mulling over the new titled he added to his name. “I’m not sure what that title entails, but he was of The Darkmoon Pack.”

“What do you need with him?” Sess shoved his hands in his pockets when the wind seemed to pick up. He moved closer to her, and his body’s heat radiated beside her.

“He’s the one who helped me to escape underground. He told me he would help me to free my friends.”

“Alpha Damius told you that?” Sess was in disbelief. “You know he’s been working with his father, the current Alpha, who I suspect to be the reason your pack is still down there?”

She nodded her head, moving closer to him. The wind was starting to pick up, and at this point, they had been walking for a few hours. “He told me he used to do awful things to people, but that he was going to help me. He seemed sincere, but I am not naïve.”

“Then why are you looking for him?” He asked.

Why was she looking for him? She felt this pull to find him. Somewhere deep inside herself she needed to know he was safe, and she needed to be with him, but she also had reason to reunite with him, “he knows how to navigate the tunnels, he has the keys to get inside, and it seems like he has the skills and manpower to do so.”

Sess mulled this over. It seemed that helping Halo would also help him in the mission he was set out to complete, but he wanted to make sure his intentions were pure.

“I will help you find Damius, but I also want to be honest with you. This will also benefit me and the mission I was charged with.”

“Is it okay to ask what your mission is?” Halo asked.

“It’s safer for you if I do not tell you, but I will say that it’s simply informational. I am here to gather intel about the underground mines, which were mostly a myth until I met you.” He laughed, “I actually thought our Alpha was losing his mind, sending us out here to investigate a myth, which is why I never took it that seriously.”

Halo smiled warmly at his laugh. She felt herself growing closer to Sess, feeling comfortable opening to him.

Sess sniffed the air and looked around, “I’m willing to bet we are about to get a doozy of a storm within the hour. It’s best if we find a cave to settle down in.”

“Ah,” Halo laughed, “caves are what I do best.”

Damius.

They had been following the river for quite some time before losing faith in Halo being among the camp of travellers. Although he could smell several werewolves heading east, he could not smell Halo. He was about to turn around when he heard a horse in the distance. Picking up his pace, he approached the three werewolves, one was heavily pregnant, sitting atop the horse.

“Aye!” He greeted. They stopped, turning to see a Damius and Ezra walking toward them. Dominance and authority rolled off of Damius, and the three found themselves bowing their heads in respect. The horse whinnied in submission.

“What can we do for you, Alpha?” A man stood in front of the horse, appearing protective of the pregnant shewolf.

“I am looking for a shewolf. Grey eyes, dark hair, and very beautiful.” He smiled at the memory of her flushed cheeks and moon-greyed eyes.

“We have not seen someone such as that.” He responded immediately.

Damius knew they were lying. He had tracked her scent right to their camp. He used his alpha command, “you will tell me where she headed.”

The man instantly responded, “they headed west up the river.” He clenched his jaw in annoyance.

“They? Who is they?” He asked, once again with his alpha voice.

“My brother Sess.” He answered, but he was clearly not giving any more information than commanded of him.

“Why is your brother travelling with her?” He felt his anger build up, making the wolves bow their heads even further.

“He thinks she is his mate, and we couldn’t let her travel alone.”

Without another word Damius turned and headed west down the river, the wind picking up considerably, but he would not stop for anything. He needed to find Halo now more than ever.

“Perhaps we should stop to find shelter?” Sess asked carefully.

“I will not stop until I get to her. We are so close.” They were beginning to pick up her scent again along the river. It wouldn’t be long now until they were reunited.

Eventually the wind roared so violently that Damius completely lost her scent, and that was when he knew they could not continue until the storm passed. He looked around for a cave, hoping that she had found shelter much sooner than he did.

The Cave.

The wind was just starting to pick up outside when they had found a small cave, large enough for them to sleep comfortably and have a fire between them, despite Sess’s large form.

They had just gotten comfortable, Halo pulling on a warm sweater that Piper had given her, when she asked the question that made Sess turn red once again. “What is a mate?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Umm, it’s like soulmates. It is the person gifted to you from the Moon Goddess.”

Her face also turned red, but she quickly tried to recover. “So, you have a crush on me, Sess?”

He laughed out loud, his laughing rumbling through the cave. Then he scooted closer to her, picking up her hands into his. “I know that I feel comfortable around you. I can’t stop thinking about you, either.”

Halo felt a little self-conscious, realizing he came with her with certain expectations. “Did you come with me because you want to be with me?”

“No,” he said instantly. “I would have helped any woman who needed it, but more than that, your mission aligns with mine.”

She nodded, still unsure.

“Lo,” he said softly. She looked up at him. His dark eyes twinkled with the reflection of the fire in front of them. “My feelings for you have little to do with why I am here right now. I promise you that, but I can tell there is some sort of pull to you from the Moon Goddess.”

She nodded. She felt it too. Whether or not it was the pull of a soulmate, she had no idea. In that moment she thought of Damius. His complicated personality. His forest green eyes that turned pastel when he struggled to control his emotions. His chiselled jaw with the roughness of his unkempt facial hair, long needing a shave. His tousled dark hair as he ran his hands through it. But more than that, the need she felt for him.

“You okay?” Sess pulled her out of her thoughts. She realized her eyes were watering.

“Yes,” she responded. “It’s just been a long few days.”

“Come here,” he coaxed, pulling her into his warm lap.

She felt herself getting comfortable in his arms. There was nothing s****l about their embrace for her. She knew this man had a place in her life and in her heart, but where that place would be remained to be explored.

For now, she settled into his lap, sighing in comfort as warmth enveloped her. The storm soon began to roar outside the cave, but she felt safe in that cave snuggled up against the man behind her.

Damius and Reunion.

Damius observed a glow emitting from the cave, and hope enveloped his heart. Ezra followed close behind him as he all but ran to the cave.

What he saw had him losing control. His eyes flashed pastel green. His skin vibrated as fur erupted from his body. His clothes shredded, and the growl that escaped him was feral.

Sess had released Halo, baring his neck in submission. Ezra has also submitted. Halo, on the other hand, looked absolutely petrified.

She clung to Sess in fear, backing away from Damius, the look in his light green eyes was murderous. He wasn’t looking at her though; he was looking at Sess. He was looking at where she clung to him, and he was about to charge at him, completely losing control of himself.

His large black wolf towered above them all, his teeth white and glinting with his snarl. The guttural noise coming from him was animalistic as he readied to pounce.

“Damius!” Halo shrieked in horror.

His eyes snapped to hers, recognizing her. She saw this recognition and clung to it. “Damius,” she said again, softer, moving away from Sess and toward him.

He approached her quickly, nuzzling her neck with his snout. He breathed in her scent deeply and instantly calmed down. Halo wrapped her arms around his neck, calming him down further.

She could feel his wet snout on her neck, her marking spot, which she was not yet aware of.

Damius shifted back to his human form, holding her tight to his hard chest. His face was bent down low into her marking spot, and he opened his mouth, ready to claim her in front of Sess. She was his.

She felt his breath against her neck; heat pooled inside her, and when she felt his barred teeth against the sensitive part between her neck and shoulder, she whimpered. She wanted it more than anything. She begged for it internally, but just as he was about to sink his canines into her, she was pulled away from him.

Pulling her behind him, Sess glared coldly at Damius. He was willing to defy an alpha for her. He was willing to die for her. He had never felt so protective over anyone before in his life, not even the pregnant shewolf, Piper.

Damius was beyond mad and jealous. He made eye contact with Halo, hidden behind Sess. “Who is this man to you?” He used his alpha tone on her.

She looked taken aback, and she was starting to feel anger. “Why does that matter?” She completely ignored his alpha command.

“Because you are mine, Halo.” He was done playing games. She needed to know she belonged with him.

Halo stepped around Sess, meeting Damius’s eyes, which were still pastel green. “I am no one’s but my own. I am not yours, Damius.” She said harshly.

Damius looked hurt. His eyes changed back to their forest green. “You’re right,” he seemed to calm down considerably. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

Ezra was bewildered. He had never seen his alpha not only back down like that but submit so readily to anyone.

“Why are you here?” Halo asked.

“I…” Damius decided to give her the space and the time she needed. He didn’t have a choice, after all. “I want to help you. I want to keep you safe.” He decided to be honest with his wants.

She nodded, already understanding those feelings because she wanted the same for him.

Sess was ready to interfere if needed. Damius glanced over at him, venom in his eyes. “Who is this?” Damius asked.

“Sess.” He responded, not offering any more of an explanation.

“He has helped me a lot and kept me safe from the rogues.” Halo added.

Damius nodded. “Thank you,” he said to him. “You party continued up the river heading east if you wish to join them after the storm passes.”

“I will do no such thing,” Sess responded, sitting back down. He was done with this conversation.

Halo went to sit next to Sess, but realizing Damius was n***d, she decided against being eye level with…. that. She shifted on her feet awkwardly, looking anywhere but at Damius.

Damius laughed in amusement before reaching into his pack, digging out some clothes.

They all sat by the fire, and Halo noticed the cave was now extremely crowded. She had Sess on one side of her and Damius on the other. Her thigh burned where Damius rested his against her. She knew he was toying with her, smirking at her minute reactions to him.

On the other hand, Sess had been deep in thought, oddly quiet while they all waited out the storm.

Ezra, to Halo’s surprise, was quite the chatterbox, relaying their entire journey to them in full detail. He would laugh every now and then, his deep dimples on show, at Damius’s feral behaviour throughout their search. She laughed wholeheartedly when hearing how lost he was without her, and especially when he would try to defend himself.

As much as she enjoyed their company, she was still far from forgiving him after learning he could have been the one to burn her parents alive, almost killing her. He had sins that she wasn’t sure she could forget.

The storm roared outside, and soon enough, even Ezra grew quiet as they listened to the distant rolling thunder. Thankfully their cave was high enough up and tilted in a way that kept them dry all through night. Damius kept looking at her with a warm smile on his lips while Sess leaned back and lost himself in the fire, watching the flames l*****g the air. Ezra was snoring loudly, his mouth open and drool falling to the cave floor.

Halo was more than warm enough being surrounded by three large werewolves in a small cave. The fire added the extra warmth to ensure she did not need a blanket. She leaned back, ready to fall asleep, bunching up another sweater Piper had given her, using it as a pillow.

Damius and Sess both leaned back as well, Damius using his hands behind his head as a pillow while Sess turned away from her, using his arm. She couldn’t help but feel like Sess was hurt. She would have to talk to him about this tomorrow.

Damius shifted closer to her, but not close enough to make her uncomfortable. He wanted desperately to touch her –to hold her. He would give her what she needed though. He would give her space and time, even though everything inside him was screaming at him to mark her right now.