The Opal Wolf

Chapter Seventeen

**Selenes POV**

Two months have passed since the council meeting and to say things have become hectic would be a huge understatement! Two thousand new wolves have arrived to help us with the impending battle, causing extra tensions between naturally territorial creatures. There is also having to organize the temporary housing for all of our new guests, reorganizing all of the patrols and training schedules and feeding all the new mouths. Werewolves eat a LOT, so figuring out how to run the kitchens smoothly alone was a huge feat. Fortunately, Marney and Erin have both been an amazing blessing with helping me figure everything out while Andrew is away gathering the remaining five hundred from our packs farthest ally.

Sitting down on a bench alone outside for a much needed break, I hear a warrior from the Fire Crystal pack approach me.

"Um, Luna Selene?"

"Yes?"

"First, may I introduce myself. I am Alexander Henderson, Delta to the Fire Crystal pack." He bows his head to me. "Second, usually I would bring this up to Alpha Andrew but as you are in command while he is away, I feel it is right to bring it up to you. I have found my mate in a member of your pack." A blush creeps across his freckled skin.

"Oh Goddess, that is fantastic!" I beam at him. "Who is the lucky lady, Alexander?"

"She.... she is the Alphas sister, Luna. Marney." He is beyond pleased at the news, but I can tell a little apprehensive to have to ask the big brother of the princess of our pack permission to take him with her back to his pack. I chuckle internally at how abrasive Andrew can come across to some when he is a total softy to his sister. He is putty in her hands, next only to me.

"Alexander, sit with me." I chuckle, patting the seat next to me. He gently sits down and looks at me like I hold the secrets to every mate problem that plagues our species. "Where Andrew is concerned, let me handle him. He may come across very stern and aggressive but trust me, he has a huge heart. Now, have you told Marney?"

"Yes Luna." He answers enthusiastically. "And she accepts me fully. She told me her only condition was I had to talk to Alpha Andrew or you and ask permission first to take her home with me."

"Then you have my blessing." Just then, the highest pitch squeal of excitement sounds and I am wrapped up in Marneys arms before I realize she's in front of me. The enthusiasm with having a Mate is infectious and I love it. I am also so happy for Marney, she has been waiting so long for this and now she finally has her happiness, her other half.

"Thank you Sel!!" She beams at me. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Of course Mar." I giggle. "I am so happy for you and Andrew will be when he gets back. You have been searching for him for so long, who knew he was just a few packs over."

We sit and chat for a while longer, organizing Marneys transportation and the process that will go along with switching packs and as we talk, I carefully observe Alexander with Marney. These past two months, her and I have become extremely close and I am very protective of her but from what I observe, she is in very good hands. He is tender and careful of her comfort level, only touching her when she initiates it and keeping it completely appropriate for being in front of the Luna of the pack. A total gentleman and my heart swells for my friend, she's got a good one too.

I hate to interrupt. Esme chimes in. But can we go for a run? It has been a month and if we aren't careful, it will make us weaker.

You got it.

Heading into the forrest, I mind link Erin to let him know that I will be going for a run and after a quick argument about him having to be with me, I win going myself by convincing him that no one will be getting through with the tightened security. I just need an hour to myself, that's all. The past almost week alone has been the busiest with Andrew being gone, but he should be home in a couple of days with the additional wolves. I strip down behind a tree and shift, feeling a wave of euphoria wash over me at being in my other form.

I will never get used to this. I sigh.

I agree. Esme giggles. It's wonderful.

Running through the forrest, making sure to keep twelve feet from the boarders, I let lose and run as fast as I can. The wind whips through my fur, hissing past my ears and I howl in content. This is living. Just then, the snap of a twig sounds through the quiet forrest, causing me to freeze in my tracks. Head down, crouched in a fighting stance, I twitch my ears and listen to what is around me. I hear squirrels, deer and leaves falling from the trees, nothing out of the ordinary. Just then, a warrior walks by and nods his head at me, giving me the all clear. I take a deep breath and relax, continuing my run but always on alert.

An hour later, deciding it is time to go home, I begin retracing my steps to return to the pack and continue my duties. As I make my way past the area where I heard the twig snap, my name is carried on the wind.

"Selene! Selene, HELP!" Andrews voice rings in my ear. Fear courses through me at my mate being in trouble. My instincts take over and I sprint in the direction of his voice.

Andrew! Andrew! I try through the mind link but get nothing. Oh no. NO, NO, NO. I cannot lose him, we just started really planning our lives together. I cannot lose him before we get to live our plans out. I begin sniffing the air, desperately trying to catch his scent and come up with nothing. Something doesn't feel right, why can't I catch his scent? Why isn't he responding to the mind link?

Andrew! I scream through the mind link. Andrew! Andrew, where are you?! Trying again, I put my nose to the ground and really breath in. Relief temporarily runs through my veins as I pick up his scent but it is short lived when I realize it is a week old. Dread settles in the pit of my stomach, the realization that something is wrong awash in my veins. If he was calling out to me, I should have been able to pick up a fresher scent.

In my panic, I don't see the blur beside me, suddenly feeling a prick in my neck and fire begins to burn in my veins, weakening me and my wolf.

Esme, what was that? I enquire but receive no answer from my wolf. She is there, I can feel her presence but she isn't moving inside my mind. Esme! Esme, what's wrong?! ESME!!

"She won't answer you, no one will." A sickly voice I hoped to never hear again sounds through the forest. I whip around and standing there, smugly grinning at me is Daniel. Realizing that this all was a trap, I stand defensively like I was taught and growl lowly at him, warning not to come closer. He takes one look at me and begins to laugh uncontrollably.

"You won't be able to do anything, little wolf." He chuckles, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I have injected you with something that weakens all of us, no matter how strong we are. You will soon shift back to your human form as a result, aren't able to mind link your worthless mate or anyone in his pack and you will be much easier to control as a result. Care to know what that is?" He c***s his head to the side and grins slimily at me. I huff at him to get to the point, tired of his bullsh*t and struggling to stand.

"Wolfsbane. The one kryptonite to wolves." He cackles again.

Oh no.