Mark of the Goddess

Chapter 1 - Mate

Tesla’s POV

“Tesla!! Get your ass up now, you little b***h,” a husky drunken voice boomed into my room. The sound of furniture breaking as he tossed my bedside table aside. My heart raced as I quickly rose up to defend myself from my father. My eight year old body looked very small and petite against his 6’ nothing, toned frame. I trembled as I swung my legs out of the bed. Trying very hard not to show fear on my face. He’s been like this my whole life, and I should be used to it. 

His snarls shook through my tiny body as he got real close to my face. “Look at what you did,” he growled. His eyes were glowing red from the wolf that was just below the surface. I kept my eyes on his. Not moving. “I SAID LOOK!” He snarled and smacked my face with the back of his hand. Sending my body to the floor. My ear was ringing and the whole right side of my face was stinging. I trembled as I looked back up at him with all the hatred I could muster. 

“Everything is always your fault,” he growled and held up his hand again. Just before he could strike me again a hand gently went to his shoulders. A young woman who looked like a female version of him stepped to his side. She had long, jet black hair that went over her newly forming breasts. She looked down at me and smiled wickedly. 

“Father, please. Just because you can hit her, doesn’t mean you should. Think about the rest of the pack,” she said with a sarcastic voice, while looking down at me. I held back my growl as I looked between the two most two-faced people I have ever known. “I think you should go rest, father. I’ll make sure she’s properly punished for making such an awful mess in her room.” My father seemed satisfied with her answer and left the room with stomping steps. Once my so-called father was gone, my teenage sister looked at me with vicious eyes. I don’t know who I was more afraid of. My father or my sister. 

She leaned down and stroked the right side of my face. I couldn’t even feel it because of how numb it was. When she pulled her hand back, there was blood. Great, now my ear is bleeding. She proceeded to lick her finger as her eyes fluttered. Tasting my blood. When she opened her eyes they were glowing a yellow hue. She grinned to reveal her canines. “I can’t wait to get started, little sister,” She spoke softly before grabbing hold of my shirt. 

~~

I jerked awake. Looking frantically around my room. My heart raced and I was sweating severely. Panting wasn’t helping my situation. As my eyes adjusted to the room, I realized that it was only a dream. 

Damn these nightmares.

I felt cool, wet noses nudging my arms. I looked down to see Tally and Skald. My wolf-dog hybrids. I wrapped my arms around them and pulled them close. That was when I realized I was crying. 

Moon sad.

No sad Moon.

Tally and Skald spoke softly through our pack link. I smiled in relief to hear their voices. 

“Just a nightmare. I’m ok now,” I spoke softly. My voice was still a bit shaky but at least I was calmer. I took another breath as I released them from my embrace. I grabbed my phone off the charger to check the time. 4:21 AM. I sighed. Great. Now I won’t get a good nights’ rest after that dream. Might as well get up and start the day extra early. 

I got up off my bed, that was just a mattress on the floor. Stretching as I rose, my tanktop rose up with my arms, revealing my slim belly. My tank top crumbled up with relief, after being stretched by my slightly more than average sized breasts. My thong was biting into my wide hips, regardless of whether I was stretching or not. Once I was done stretching I made my way to the adjoining bathroom. It was small, but it was cozy for me. It was just me in this tiny cottage anyway. 

I flicked on the light and cussed at myself for not preparing for the blinding light. I growled to myself and leaned against the tiny sink. Blinking my eyes a lot, as if it would help my blinding predicament. Felt like hours, but it was only seconds that my eyes adjusted to the light. I looked up at myself in the mirror. I saw my hazel eyes, looking back at me. The whites of my eyes slightly red from crying in my sleep, but at least everything else wasn’t as puffy. My skin was paler than my hair let everyone believe. My hair is a bit weirder than others. The roots always grow a darker shade of blonde and then would fade into a lighter color. Streaks of platinum blonde were in random places. No, I don’t get my hair done at a salon. It’s just how it grows. I’m not a lean woman, like in magazines or in movies. However, I’m not fat, either. Just curvy, I guess. 

I don’t see myself as beautiful, but I also don’t think I’m ugly. I sighed at my thoughts before I grabbed my brush to clean my teeth. Once done, I began the shower and stripped off my top and thong. Looking at the mirror again, I saw the tattoo of the full moon with a crescent moon on either side of it. In the middle of the full moon was a celtic knot of the triple goddess. I couldn’t help but trail my fingers over it. Then I looked down at my thigh to see the disfigured tattoo of my old pack. The Silverblood Wolf Pack. 

As thoughts and old memories raced through my mind, I forced myself to move and get into the hot shower. I just stood there and let the water rain down on me. I recounted everything in my life. Being haunted by every piece of my past. When I was cast out of my pack at the age of ten, I had to run for my life. Not wanting to ever stop. I traveled as far and as long as I could. Crossing borders in my wolf form, meeting other were-beasts. Werewolves are not the only dangers for one juvenile werewolf. There were felines, bears, avians of prey, Vargs, Infected were-beasts, Fae creatures, and worst of all, Crytids. In this world, humans and werebeasts have lived side by side for thousands of years. Helping each other raise war after war against Vargs, Infected, Cryptids and Faes. Although the Fae seem to have disappeared quite a few centuries ago. 

As I thought about anything and everything that wasn’t my old pack, I washed my body and rinsed. As soon as I turned the shower head off, I heard my cell ring from my room. I growled silently to myself. 

“Seriously?” I said under my breath. Wrapping myself in my towel, I walked into my room. Skald and Tally were back asleep again. Lucky, spoiled little brats. I couldn’t help but smile at them as I answered my cell. 

“You seem to be wide awake. So early in the morning at that,” The male voice teased. I rolled my eyes. 

“Morning to you to L.J. Why are you even up?” I said as I crossed my free arm over the one holding up my cell. 

“Ya know, I could ask that same question about you right now,” L.J. said with a chuckle. His chuckle was cut short as he spoke again. “You have another nightmare?” I held my breath for a moment. L.J. was like a brother to me and was a very close friend of mine. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I also don’t want him to worry about me. 

“Why are you calling L.J.?” I finally spoke. I heard him sigh. I knew he was rolling his eyes at me as if I were in the same room as him. 

“My father woke me up from an amazing sleep to tell me that a few Vargs were seen on the Pride borders. He wants you to investigate and then have one of your guardians come to the Pride house and recruit the lioness’ for a hunt.” 

“Hmmph, of course he does. You tell Lionel that if it’s just a few Vargs, I can handle them on my own. No need to let his hoard of lioness’ out.” Lionel Sunstone. The were-lions head honcho. He’s not a bad guy like everyone makes him out to be, but hes a hard-ass when he needs to be. Lions are weird. 

“Tesla, don’t go getting yourself into trouble. Can’t you listen to father for once?” L.J. said in a strict brotherly tone. 

“He’s not my father, Lionel Junior,” I spoke his full name to tell him how serious I was. “Besides, the least he can do is trust me to take care of everything. I’ve done it since I was eighteen.”

“Well, this is different. The way they are patrolling is with a purpose. It’s like they are looking for something,” he spoke before he shuffled. I took that opportunity to look in my suitcase for some light clothing. I wouldn’t need them for my own patrol, but I would after I was done being in my wolf form.

“Vargs don’t do anything with a purpose. They just want to kill. Nothing more and nothing less,” I said as I tossed some clothes to the side.

 “Whatever they are doing, it’s weird. Anyway, just be careful. I’ll be meeting you at the northeast border. That’s where they seem to be heading.” I rolled my eyes for the third time this morning. 

“Fine, fine. Worry wort,” I grumbled as I grabbed a pair of skinny jeans and a tube top. Not what I initially had in mind, but I also hadn’t had the chance to get my laundry done. 

“HEY! You’re my sister! Maybe not by blood, but you are in spirit!” He said with a chuckle. I couldn’t help but giggle with him. 

“Yeah. That’s the last thing I need before an epic fight. An overprotective brother.” I shook my head and hung up the call. I folded up my clothes and brought them with me to the living room. There was a couch, a love seat and a recliner with a coffee table in the middle. All surrounding an empty fireplace. The cabin was definitely rustic looking. The platinum screen TV hung over the fireplace. It reflected the kitchen on the other side of the home. The only pictures that hung on the walls were the same pictures that had been here since I moved in at eighteen. Lionel’s lioness’ saw me as a threat because of my age and how I developed. So, the only company I had daily was Skald and Tally. To which I was grateful for. L.J. and my friend Cassie would come over and hang out. Sometimes they’d stay the night, but they had their own duties at the Pride House. 

I looked at  as I set down my clothes, with my cell sitting on top. “You guys ready?” I asked them as I walked to the front door. 

Yes, Moon. They spoke through our packlink. Ever since they came into my life, they have always called me Moon. I wasn’t really sure why, but I liked it. They could only speak a few words, because they are still normal creatures. Whatever normal means these days. I opened the door and they both ran out. I dropped my towel to reveal my bare body. Letting the bright light of the descending moon reflect off me. Taking in the warm summer night, I shifted into my wolf. 

~~

I ran through the forest with record speed. My wolf form blending in with the fading shadows. My white fur glistened at my sides but faded to a dark grey at my haunches and down my back to the tip of my tail. The tattoo on my chest caused my fur to grow a dark grey. Perfectly showing the shapes and symbols. It did the same with my disfigured pack tattoo. Skald and Tally resembled my own markings but Skald was a dark grey that faded into black. Tally was a lighter grey with dark grey speckling her sides. We all shared the same eye color. Our eyes looked like the full moon. Silver and pure. They bore only the celtic trinity, but no moon with the crescents. Their tattoos were also on their shoulder blades and not their chest, like mine.

I paused for a moment and sniffed the ground, catching the smell of bile. The scent of a Varg. 

Tread carefully. They are close. I warned through the packlink. 

Yes, Moon. They spoke in unison. 

Moon, we fight? Tally asked nervously. 

Observe. Once we find them, Tally, you’re to go get Lionel’s lioness’. Skald, you are to stay with me. L.J. will meet up with us shortly as backup, in case things go south. I spoke with an alpha tone. They both nodded. 

We kill Vargs. Cats are mean. No like them. Skald grumbled. I huffed at him. He wasn’t wrong. The lioness’ didn’t respect me as much as the warrior lions did, but they were far more stronger than the males were. Except for their Pride leader of course. 

We continued our tracking until the smell of the bile had my stomach rolling. I wanted to release what was contained in my stomach. Nothing would’ve come up anyway. Hadn’t had anything to eat yet, so I swallowed in hopes that it would help. My fur stood on end and my tail went straight up. Tally and Skald did their best to stay a few inches behind me. Scanning the area, like we’ve done time and time again. That’s when we heard the snarls and growls of the Vargs. They were so guttural and primal. As if there was flym in their lungs. I looked at Tally and gave her a nod. She turned immediately and ran towards the town. Skald went into the defensive and me in the offensive stance as we followed cautiously. 

My ears flicked around at the slightest sounds that the forest offered us. My nose went into overdrive as it took in as many scents to see what else was nearby. That’s when the scent of cedar wood tickled my nose. L.J. was close, so I stopped my movements and looked in the direction his scent was coming from. Skald did the same. He knew L.J.’s scent but didn’t relax. We both trained for this. We’ve learned to never let our guard down. 

The moonlight showed the large lion that approached us cautiously. His fur shimmered a tan-like orange, even with the soft silver light from the moon. Those amber eyes of his almost seemed to glow in the darkness that he emerged from. His mane was lighter and almost shone like the sun as it bounced with every step he took towards us. I shifted in unison with him. We were both comfortable being nude in front of each other, as we did this more often as of late. 

“Fashionably late as always, I see,” I said mockingly but gave him a playful smile. 

“We lions aren’t fast, but we definitely have endurance,” he said with a cocky smile as he placed his hands on his hips. His skin was dark brown and muscles that toned each part of his build. The mark of his pride was that of a golden lion’s head and mane in the shape of the sun. I trained myself to not ever let my eyes travel below the hips, so I usually tried to concentrate on his Pride Mark. Since we considered each other siblings most of the time it felt gross. 

“One, that’s gross. Two, I don’t need details on anything that happens in your bed,” I said shaking my head. He laughed softly. Showing off those pearly white canines. His head and face were well shaven, and the moon’s light made all the “right” places more pronounced. 

“Whatever,” he spoke softly as he came closer to Skald and I. Skald’s head whipped around to look north. 

Varg, close. More coming. He growled through the packlink. My smile dropped and I looked at L.J.’s eyes. 

“How many?” He spoke with a rumble almost erupting through his chest. 

“Skald said that more are coming. I don’t know how he can sense them before us, but he’s never been wrong before,” I said as I shifted immediately. L.J. did the same. As a lion, he was more quiet than I was, so he went ahead of myself and Skald. The sounds and smells of the Varg had my nose wrinkling. My fur standing straight up at this point. I held my head low and concentrated on what was in front of me. The sky is beginning to turn a bright blue as the first sign of the rising sun. 

I jumped at the eruption of snarling and screeching to my right. I whipped my head around and saw the disgusting fangs of a Varg’s mouth. Skald caught it off guard and ripped into its throat. L.J. was quickly taking down another Varg that was running toward us. I bit down on the Varg’s muzzle and felt my teeth meet its bones. I squeezed harder, before flinging it into a tree. Whether it was the tree or the Vargs bones breaking, I didn’t care. So long as it was dead. Skald ran to it, going for its throat. I turned to see L.J. roaring as another four of those vile creatures jumped him from the direction we were initially going towards. I snarled and leaped onto one of them. 

Digging my fangs anywhere and everywhere. My claws quickly tore at whatever flesh was below me. The taste of blood was disgusting to say the least. The smell was just as bad. I ripped open the Varg’s scruff even more, before I tore into the blackened muscle beneath. As the Vargs’ black blood gushed, I went to the next set of eyes that were staring at me. Those blood red eyes. Just like the other Vargs, it was tall and lanky. Nothing but skin and bone. No fur. Almost like an oversized rat. Just as I was about to leap towards it another Varg latched its damn fangs into my shoulder. I snarled in response. Skald was quickly onto it and ripping into its flesh. The Varg howled in pain. It reached up and grabbed Skald by his neck and squeezed. Skald snarled with what breath he could muster. 

I gave a roaring snarl and leaped up. Digging my fangs into its chest. I scratched and clawed my way into its rib cage. Blood poured out onto my muzzle and coated my beautiful fur. My silver eyes found its deformed heart. I didn’t hesitate to sink my fangs into it and rip it from the Varg’s chest. The Varg released Skald and fell to the ground. I turned to look at L.J. He was fine. Cuts and bites. It didn’t look as serious as it looked. There were several Vargs left, almost surrounding us. I looked around, counting them as my snarls and the sound of my jaws, snapping at them in warning, filled the air. Skald just stayed on the defensive. 

Ten. Ten f*****g Vargs. How are there so many?! Just as one was about to attack roars erupted through the air around us as a group of five lionesses joined us. 

~~

I had never in my life been so happy to see these damn lionesses. They were a part of the elite group that Lionel had at his disposal. With their help, we took down all ten of the Vargs with ease. In total there were fifteen Vargs. This was the largest group that ever set foot in or near the Pride borders. 

We were all panting as each one of the lionesses shifted. All of them being a different shade of brown. All radiating power and beauty. Made me feel out of place and left out. L.J. and I were the last to shift. In the Pride, only the top guns were allowed to shift first and then the rest. I was always last, because I was not a lioness. To them I was an annoyance that was, apparently, Lionel’s favorite. Once, I shifted, I realized that the lead lioness was looking at me. I gulped at the realization that she was not just any lioness. She wasn’t even any elite lioness. She was Lionel’s top mate. Amana Sunstone. Her name meaning Warrior in Swahili. Her marvelously dark brown skin glistened in the morning sun as beads of sweat rolled down her hourglass frame. Her beaded dreads fell perfectly around her perfectly round breasts. Her chest showing the Pride’s mark. 

I bowed my head to her in submission. She wasn’t as rude or mean to me like the rest of the lionesses but she didn’t exactly stop them from doing so. 

“Awiti!” She spoke with her alpha tone. To me it was her alpha tone, anyway. Her chosen name for me meant “Thrown Away”. It stopped being hurtful after everyone else started using it. Everyone except L.J. and his father. I kept my head low and my eyes locked with hers. I was not a part of their Pride, so to speak, but I couldn’t help but associate them to one. So if I truly wanted to show more submission I wouldn’t be looking her in the eyes, like i was doing now. They were perfect orbs of amber. 

“Yes, Pride Mother?” I spoke softly. 

“You, were ta wait for da lionesses to take care of da job. Explain ta me, why you put our future king in danger?!” she spoke with her Swahilian accent, that seemed to fade with time. 

“Ma, listen-” Amana held her hand up to L.J. and immediately shut him up. I lifted my head and held back my shoulders. Showing her my confidence and I had nothing to hide.

“Pride Mother, we were ambushed. L.J. told me that their movements were different. He was right. This was a coordinated attack,” I spoke with my own power in my voice. Tally and Skald had their shoulders close to my hips. They did not dare growl or snarl. They understood a lot more than what others thought they did. “We were only going to investigate the situation, inform you and your squad. We were distracted by the sounds of the Vargs ahead of us. We assumed that there were only a few. The rest, I am sure you can figure out. With all due respect.” I almost growled the last bit out.

Amana looked at L.J. and then back to me. Her nose flared with anger, but took a look around at the dead bodies of the Vargs. She turned away from me to face her lionesses. I took a deep breath and just realized I was shivering. Her power still had that alpha effect on me and I absolutely hated it. 

“Spread out. Look for any more signs of deez vile beasts!” She almost roared. The women brought their left fists to the right of their chests before shifting and running in different directions. She turned towards me and L.J. “Get’ye’selves cleaned. Ya look disgustin’,” She growled as she spoke directly to me.

“Why do you hate me?!” I snarled at her. Amana whipped around, looking at me with shock and anger. I was shocked at myself but I’ve had enough of this bullshit. I’m twenty-three years old damnit! I’m not the teenage stray anymore. “I have proven myself to you and your lionesses, time and time again. I’ve trained with them and taught them how to fight without shifting. I have done nothing to y-” SLAP! The sound echoed through the waking forest. The flashback of my dream rang through my mind. 

“You be a mbwa!! My husban’ may have tried treatin’ you like a daugh’er, but you be no child o’mine,” she snarled at me. “You be not o’da Pride.” She looked down at my mark on my chest and sighed. “Why couldn’t ya be a lioness?” Her voice sounded sad all of a sudden, but that didn’t stop me from snarling at her. She only showed me fake kindness in the presence of Lionel to ease his own mind. However, when he wasn’t around, she let her true colors show. L.J. got between us and glared at his mother. 

“Ma, why don’t you just leave, before you do something you regret,” L.J. growled at her. I looked at Amana and her eyes seemed to look at him far more gently than they had even been on me. My heart seemed to break just a little bit, but I shoved those feelings back very quickly. Amana scoffed and shook her head, shifting into her lion form. She was a lighter colored lioness. Almost white, with a yellow hue. I let out a deep breath and looked at L.J. He was facing me now. 

“You handled my mother better and better each day, but you have a stupid mouth,” He teased. 

“Shut up, ass,” I growled playfully. “I’m just tired of being treated like I’m a ticking time bomb. They look for any reason to make me feel more and more like a piece of shit.” Looking down at myself I was covered in black goo. Varg blood. I wrinkled my nose and groaned. “Ugh. I hate Vargs.” L.J. laughed as he stretched, not wanting to push the matter. Whatever wounds we acquired in our battle were quickly healing already. 

“Alright, Tes. You mind if I head back to your place to clean up?” L.J. asked as he continued to stretch. 

“As always, yes. I’m sure your father would be furious. Wouldn’t be the best sight to see that his son is covered in Varg blood,” I chuckled as I turned to look at the sun. It shone so brightly, just above the horizon. As I took a step, my heart began to beat rapidly, that my chest began to hurt. It had me on my knees and leaning over. My hand clutching my chest. I was panting for breath. Skald and Tally were whimpering as L.J. was instantly on his knees in front of me. His hands cupping my cheeks and forcing me to look up at him. 

“Tesla?! Tesla, what’s wrong?” He said with worry etching his gentle voice. “Are you hurt?” Only one word entered my mind as my silver eyes looked up at his dark brown ones. 

“Mate.”

~~