Between Two Worlds

Chapter 7 Forced Protection

Neve

I was in the woods again.

The snow had melted slightly, and little wildflowers were beginning to grow. It was a clear night and there appeared to be more stars than night sky. It really was beautiful here… wherever here was.

This dream was different to the last one. Last time I was able to interact with my parents- touch them, talk to them. But tonight, I was invisible. It was just me and my mother. I had tried speaking to her, and when she didn’t hear me I tried to touch her on the shoulder but my hand just passed through her. I was following my mother as she moved slowly from tree to tree. At each tree, she gently pressed her hand against its trunk quietly whispering to it. The trunk briefly glowed purple where her hand touched, at which point she removed her hand and made her way to the next tree repeating the process.

Suddenly my father materialized and fell into step with me. “Good evening, bambina!”

My mother jumped away from the tree she was touching at the sound of my father’s voice. As she turned around, she finally saw me for the first time.

“Nathaniel! Neve! How long have you two been there?”

My father had a smirk on his face. “I only just arrived, but Neve has been following you around for quite some time it seems.”

I looked at my father in awe. How did he know that? Why couldn’t mum see me until he popped up out of thin air? As if sensing my questions, he began to explain, “I could sense you the moment you arrived, but your mother is just a werewolf so she remained unaware. Unfortunately, you do not yet possess the power to materialise here without me.”

“Just a werewolf!” My mother retorted, a playful look in her eyes. “See the way he speaks to me, Neve? It’s just preposterous.” She let out a giggle as my father pulled her close to him, placing a kiss on her temple. I responded with a warm smiled, it was clear my father loved my mother very much.

My father looked at me, concern on his face. “As much as I love seeing you. What are you doing here, Neve? I didn’t summon you, and you do not possess the power to use a portal, so clearly something must be upsetting you for you to be able to materialise here of your own accord.”

I looked at both my parents, chewing my bottom lip. There were so many questions that my father’s words had raised in my head, but he was right. I am upset… and I would love to talk to my parents about it. I take a deep breath and start explaining to them about the night Jake, Duke and Samuel had shifted. I outlined how Jake had always been like a playmate/fun brother, teasing me and making me feel safe. I told them about my crush on Samuel, blushing furiously. My mum placed her hand on my dad’s arm when he growled at this piece of information. I talked about my frustrations with Duke always assuming the role of super over-protective big brother, not letting me out of his sight… and finally, I explained how after the three boys had shifted, they had returned to where us girls were waiting on the beach, and they were all so mean to me.

“Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry you are going through this,” my mum soothed, putting her arm around my shoulder. “Duke’s behaviour is not a surprise to us, though.” I furrowed my brows questioningly as my mum continued to speak. “We took precautions to make sure you had a protector and a friend in one...”

“…But we didn’t factor in the possibility of a mate bond,” my father finished my mother’s sentence. “The Alpha, Beta and Gamma bond is unique. They are three variations of the one mind, so if there is a mate bond there, then all three of the leaders will be feeling the urge to be a protector. Amplified by three, that would be quite an intense feeling.”

“A mate bond?” I ask.

My mother’s face lights up. “Yes, sweetie… are you feeling any romantic feelings towards Duke?” she asks hopefully.

“Eww, mum! No way!”

“Oh!” She seems very disappointed. “Well, maybe it is Samuel?” She tries to sound hopeful, but her disappointment is still evident.

Desperately wanting to steer the conversation away from Duke being my mate, I change the subject. “What are you doing, mum?” I indicated to all the trees she had been touching as I had followed her.

The smile on my mother’s face faltered as she lowered her voice. “They’re all in there.”

“Who is in there?” My confusion is apparent.

“Our people.” She replied.

“Our people? Sorry, I am not quite following you.” This just didn’t make sense. “How could werewolves be trapped in these trees?”

My mum opened her mouth to explain but my father cut her off. “Ahhh, Bambina. It is not quite time for us to be able to explain this to you. It was lovely for you to come to visit us, we miss you very much, but it is time to wake up now!”

Before I could respond, my father pressed his hand to my chest and I sat up in my bed gasping for air with that similar lurch in my stomach. I growled with frustration. Every night since I first dreamt of my parents I had prayed to the Moon Goddess before falling asleep for her to grant me another chance to see them. I had so many questions I needed answers for. Now that the Moon Goddess had granted my plea I had more questions than answers.