Chosen by the Fates

Threads of Fate

Sol~

Skoll’s frown has practically been etched into her visage throughout the duration of our pack discussion. Loki keeps casting side-long glances of worry at Fenris, who doesn’t seem to be healing as quickly as he should be. Luna leans into Hati for physical comfort, worry writ across both of their features. We all study the fragment of what appears to be blackened bark on the table before us.

“Whatever this used to be, be it tree or creature, it has been corrupted by something beyond our ken.” Fenris sounds better than he looks when he speaks.

Luna shakes her head, “We were fortunate to have Hati with us, there are so few of us left who know the old ways.”

Hati senses Luna’s anxious energy, and gently strokes the younger wolf’s hair, the gentle petting seems to ease Luna’s frayed nerves.

Skoll nods, “In this I agree. This was a thing of old magic, which has been thought to be long extinct. Wolves are perhaps the only creatures of the ancient kin remaining, which leaves it to us to resolve this matter.”

“We need to determine if this is an isolated event to our territory.” When I speak, my voice sounds cold, even to me. Everyone’s eyes shift to me, carefully considering my strange tone and my words.

It would be a difficult task to reach out to wolves worldwide. The wolves quietly govern their own territories in peace, rarely interacting with other packs or outsiders beyond what was necessary for the prosperity of their communities. Most of what is carried by the mated pair of each pack, passed on by the mate pair before them.

While it is true that the advent of the internet has led to more communication, our packs are solitary by nature. Further, it is said, the humans were at the forefront of events which led to the g******e of the ancient kin. Wolves have taken this threat seriously, remaining hidden at all costs. Many believe this is how we survived the extinction of the kin.

Any outside knowledge of other packs does occur from time to time, often through direct meetings in which we are able to rely on our senses to identify one another. Or through the rare business exchanges which are beneficial to those packs involved. For example, the Thai restaurant I took Aisling to is run by an emissary of another pack. It is how the restaurant is able to acquire the materials and delicacies necessary to serve the elite of society. Both packs profit from the new money, using their currency for the preservation and improvement of both our territories.    

“How would you propose we accomplish such a task?” Skoll asks after a long moment of silence.

“As the manager of our family finances, I may have a way to reach out to our contacts personally.” I measure my words.

“And what of your mate bond?” Hati’s tone rings with concern, and something inside my chest squeezes painfully. My wolf stirs in its sleep within me, whimpering softly. It has been the longest week of my wolf’s very long life.

“My wolf will be asleep for a little time. Let me do what I am able.” I bow my head, exposing the back of my neck.

Skoll is quiet for another long moment before answering, “Very well.”

“I will depart for our main offices immediately. Even if our contacts have heard of nothing, perhaps their contacts have. I will report back as soon as I know more.”

Skoll nods. “Do your part, then return as soon as you are done. These circumstances cannot be helped, but our choices may ever remain wise.”

I lift my eyes to hers to see some hidden thought flickering behind her gaze. She is appraising my decision.

So much for having reprieve from my duties. I am fully aware that I did this to myself. I am also aware that I did so intentionally.   

I lower my head to the others, and they do the same. When I leave, I can’t help but feel I am running from what I saw in the forest.

I am running from her.

*** 

Aisling~

We pile sleepily together into the van. It will be an hour before we are at the airport, and another two of flight. We should arrive in the metropolitan airport sometime around nine AM local time.

Tiffa is practically buzzing on a few hours of sleep and one of her home-made espresso drinks with far too many shots to be reasonable. She offered to make the same for the rest of us, and we all had politely refused. Except Ashleigh, who had muttered something about not wanting to die.

Ashleigh’s warm body presses against mine in our seat, and I lean into him. For a brief moment he looks surprised, then a small smile dances across his lips. He wraps an arm around me, supporting me so I can nap comfortably against him.

The van pulls out, rocking along the unpaved driveway when I hear Tiffa’s gasp. “Holy cow…”

I sit up to see everyone looking out the windows. Ashleigh’s jaw is set, mouth drawn in a grim line. I follow their gaze out the window. My breath catches in my throat, eyes widening. A long strip of forest on either side of the road is completely levelled and charred black. It is as if an isolated lightning strike or fire decimated one very specific stretch of woods.

Except we don’t get either in the winter.

I keep my eyes on the scene until the van has pulled away and it’s gone. I sit facing forward, something about it tugging at the back of my mind. It’s where Ashleigh and I kissed… I glance at him, and he’s watching me. Before I passed out.

I lean into him once more. His arm tightens reflexively around me, pulling me closer to the warmth of his body. But I am unable to sleep for the duration of the drive. My thoughts are replaying the events of the night before on a loop, unable to remember why I passed out or what could have caused the wreckage.

The rest of the morning is a blur of excitement and travel. It turns out the brothers have access to a private plane. Explaining how they are able to travel without the media always knowing where they will be.

We are provided with a light breakfast and espresso, which we all accept this time. Even Tiffa, garnering her several looks from the rest of us. During the flight, Cian offers Tiffa a second set of headphones, and they sit together sharing his music.

My mind has finally spun itself down, and I take the time to close my eyes for the flight.

***

I am standing on the beach once more. My body feels different, and when I look down, I am met with a smooth chest, angled hips, and lithe musculature. I feel masculine, but also no less myself than I ever am.

“Delphi?” The voice is a quiet gasp. I look up to see the angelic features of Sionainn before me. Ashleigh is at his side, a warm smile drawn across his visage.

I furrow my brown thinking. That’s not my name. After a long moment I remember. “Aisling.”

Sionainn looks confused, glancing between Ashleigh and me, then he nods. “Of course. What do you remember?”

My last couple of dreams have shown me a new way to remember. I realize every time I’ve reached out to grasp my dreams or memories, they slip through my fingers and vanish. However, when I open my mind to the memories without grasping, they flow toward me. Almost like reaching for something through water, any movement capable of pushing it away through the newly created current.

“A few dreams with Ashleigh, a conversation we had here, and you and Cian coming with us on a road trip before those dreams began…” My voice trails off as I look around the beach, remembering that it is where our road trip ended after Sionainn and Cian had vanished.

Sionainn nods, eyes alight with an excited warmth. “Very good.”

Ashleigh sighs, “She’s also been having headaches.”

Sionainn’s features convey concern, “How bad have they gotten?”

Ashleigh frowns, “Last night she passed out. I found her within her mind here just after – But there’s something else…” Ashleigh glances between us and I already know he is about to address what we witnessed in the forest this morning. “The forest. I saw some of what caused that. I was able to get Aisling into the house, but not without help.”

Sionainn looks startled, “What did it?”

Ashleigh nods, “Void. Leaching into something of this world.”

Sionainn frowns, eyes growing dark. “You are absolutely sure.”

Ashleigh shakes his head, “I felt it. Every part of it was leaching from the Elsewhere.”

Sionainn hisses under his breath, “The void is a worthy adversary even with the entire dreamscape at our disposal. You are both quite fortunate. Moreover, though, this is Midgard. How is that even possible?”

I don’t understand much of what they are talking about, but Sionainn seems to. However, what Ashleigh says next startles me. “What’s especially interesting is we were saved by wolves.”

“Wolves?” Sionainn’s eyebrows raise.

Ashleigh nods, “These were no ordinary wolves. They were massive, reminding me of the dire wolves we’ve encountered on some of the other planes.”

Sionainn casts a concerned glance my way.

I can barely hear what they are saying. A pressure is building into a dull ache behind my temples. My dreams are real, the void destroyed our forest, and we were saved by wolves. In my memories he stands at the forest edge, a massive golden wolf staring at me with an uncanny intelligence.

“Impossible…” I mutter under my breath. My heart races, my skin begins to feel hot. My headache builds into a sharp crescendo, waking me up suddenly from the dream. The dream scatters into my waking mind. I watch as Sionainn slowly wakes up, eyes fluttering open to meet mine from where he sits across from me. Ashleigh is already stirring beside me.

“Don’t tell me you’re visiting my dreams, too?” I ask already suspecting the answer.

Sionainn yawns into an apologetic smile, “I’m afraid so.”

“So, the discussion in the dream? The wolves-“

“-Are real.” Ashleigh finishes for me, stretching in his seat.

I rub at the pressure still expanding against my temples, aching. Sionainn leans across from his seat, gently reaching out to touch my temple. His hand is cool, and the ache almost feels as if it recedes, just a little. “Is it happening mostly when you discuss your dreams?”

I nod.

Sionainn nods, gently stroking my temples with his hands. His touch is light, and relaxing.

“We have to be gentler with your mind.” Sionainn casts a sharp glare in Ashleigh’s direction.

Ashleigh watches Sionainn touching me, a frown pulling at his lips. He turns to look out the plane window.

“Well, we have plenty of things today to take your mind off such things. Let us revisit this discussion after what we have planned?” Sionainn’s smile is warm and directed at me.

I blush, nodding.

It isn’t long before the pilot announces our descent.

***

The brothers bring us to a penthouse which overlooks the entire city and the bay of the metropolis. The rooms are massive, the windows floor to ceiling. 

We take our things upstairs to rooms of our choosing, there are plenty for each of us to have our own. Then we get changed, and ready to go downtown. It is not much warmer here than it is in our home city, but the metropolis is filled with the twinkling lights and decorations of the winter season.  It is beautiful.

By the time we are looking through clothing at the boutiques, I've almost forgotten how little sleep I've had and my headache has mostly subsided.

Tiffa happily explores the store, excitedly trying on everything. After glancing at the first price tag, I have resisted the urge to look at anything more. This still feels like too much.

"For what we have planned for you..." A familiar whisper tickles my ear, "you will need something nice." I turn my head to see the pleasant features of Sionainn, his white hair looking nearly platinum in the lighting of the boutique. I can't take my eyes off him; he truly is angelic. A blush rises to my cheeks.

Ashleigh interjects, taking my hand impulsively to pull me away from Sionainn. "I will help her with this." 

Sionainn arches his brows dubiously, leaning back with a smirk. "Perhaps the lady should be allowed to choose for herself?"

Ashleigh blanches when he sees that I have set a stubborn gaze on him, already knowing who I'm going to choose in this moment. 

Sionainn chuckles, offering me his hand. "Milady?"

Ashleigh's grip is gentle, and easy enough for me to pull free from. He almost looks hurt. Then I take Sionainn's offered hand with my best performed curtsy, "Milord."

Sionainn and I are mostly just having fun with him, but it almost seemed as if Ashleigh was being a little possessively jealous.

Ashleigh groans. "Oh come on, I was trying to help!" Sionainn leads me off without a backwards glance as Ashleigh calls after us.

It isn't long before Sionainn has asked for a variety of outfits to be brought into a private dressing room for me. He stretches across a lounge chair in a waiting area as a woman working at the boutique follows Sionainn’s suggestions of what to try, and in which sizes.

"How are you able to determine this stuff just by looking at me?" I pull a dress on as I ask this, amazed yet again that it fits me perfectly. I find myself unable to reach the zipper.

"It's easy when you've spent most of your adult life in an industry adjacent to fashion. Would you like help with that?" Sionainn is so intuitive about everything. It's as easy as breathing spending time with him. I feel a pang of guilt leaving Ashleigh behind, though. 

"Yes please." I feel my cheeks heating up in a blush as the door behind me slides open. I hear Sionainn's footsteps, and then his cool hand brushes the small of my back. A shiver runs up my spine, rushing ahead of his slow draw of the zipper up the back of the dress. His fingers delicately graze my neck as he pulls my hair free from the collar. 

Sionainn leans over my shoulder to look at me in the mirror, his tone hushed and for my ears alone. "Beautiful." His beauty this close is devastating, his compliment weakening my knees a bit.

"Careful, if you keep this up people might get the impression you are interested in me." I laugh at that, meaning to make light of his gentle touch and close proximity. 

An artful smile shapes his mouth, and he leans back, "They might." He answers in agreement, instead of quipping back. He steps from the room so I can walk out to view the dress in the brighter lighting of the waiting area.

I cast a confused glance his way as I step out, which he returns with his usual magnanimous smile. Did I just imagine that? Was he flirting with me?

I find myself wondering what Delphi's relationship with the brothers actually was. 

After trying on several different things, Sionainn asks if I would be alright with him choosing a few for me. I still feel uneasy about the prices, but I actually find myself a bit relieved that I don't have to pick. Sionainn has the superior fashion sense, after all. 

After rejoining everyone, we stop at a few more shops. Then we get lunch at a cute tea and ramen shop before heading to the boardwalk together. We spend the early afternoon exploring before finally heading back to our penthouse suite to change for the brother's surprise evening plans for us.

***

Sol~

The flight is long, but I still manage to arrive at the skyscraper my family owns before seven AM. I am exhausted and still haven't slept. Although my wolf has been out cold since the events of the early morning. Additionally, I have had little time to process the pain in my chest, and my heart has felt completely numb.

I don't have time to worry about the things I can't know or change. The fact is, intentionally or not, I ghosted Aisling. I feel frustrated about the circumstances of our situation, but I don't have it in me to curse my wolf or the mate bond. I have to serve my pack first. I have to hope the mate bond and the fates are a greater force than unfortunate circumstances.

I make it through several last-minute meetings throughout the morning. Most conducted through video conferencing in my private office. The wolves I spoke to give the expected range of surprise, curiosity, and worry at the events which transpired in our territory. None had anything unusual to report, but all would be reaching out to various other acquaintances of theirs. 

I have one last meeting, but it is not until this evening. One of the wolves I work with is particular about her business meetings. They must be a certain mix of family bonding, or else an amicable business discussion would never be reached. I have already called ahead to make arrangements, and so have a few hours in the afternoon to catch up on a bit of sleep. 

I say my goodbyes to the office staff, thanking them as I head to the residential tower. As the elevator leading up the spire opens, I freeze in my tracks. An overwhelming and familiar scent engulfs me, stirring my wolf and twisting at my heart.

Sage, lilac, honey, vanilla... Aisling.