Chosen By The Gods

XENOS’S POINT OF VIEW It all began three months ago, on the night of my 24th birthday. Everything was amazing: the birthday party my pack threw for me, the wild night with the humans, the presents, the women... oh, the women. Anyway, everything was perfect. Until I went to sleep. FLASHBACK I was walking through a forest that looked magical, to say the least. But what caught my attention most was that the only sound I could hear was running water. The sound wasn’t just ordinary either. It was like an enchanting song, pulling me toward the source of the splashes as if I had a rope tied around me. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, I’m speechless as I take in the enchanting forest and its trees, which are more vibrant and lush than I’ve ever seen. My feet seem to have a mind of their own, following paths that are almost too beautiful to be real. Flowers I’ve never laid eyes on before, with massive petals that are silkier than anything I’ve ever seen, tiny ones that display so many colors they outshine the rainbow, stunning leaves that cover the lush green grass like a magical, ancient carpet, and towering trees, breathtaking beyond words. My feet halt when my eyes lock onto the source of the hypnotic song. On the river. It looks like liquid gold, with flowers stretching along its length showcasing large white petals and drops of gold liquid dripping onto the green grass. Butterflies of all sizes and colors flutter by, jumping from one flower to another as if playing catch. Can butterflies play catch? My mind erases the question, slipping into panic and awe—I can multitask like that—when I see the creature beside the golden river. A massive, charcoal-black wolf is drinking from the golden river, looking more majestic than anything I’ve ever seen. I didn’t realize wolves could drink water so gracefully or appear so incredibly majestic while doing it, but after all, it’s a dream, and in dreams, anything is possible. P.S. Now I know that I should’ve pushed him into the river and let him drown, but yeah, too little, too late. I didn’t even breathe, so I think he already knew I was there because he didn’t seem to so much as flinch when he turned and saw me. I did flinch, though. Now that he’s on all fours... yeah. I think he’s at least 12 feet tall. But the fear is quickly replaced by awe when I look into his magnificent eyes. A blue-grey so vivid that it appears surreal. It seems as if the colors are dancing, shifting between grey and blue, and God is my witness, I’ve never seen a brighter blue. “Xenos.” I’ve heard powerful voices—Alpha voices—but none compare to his. It’s deep and silvery, clear yet husky, making my name sound different to my own ears. But wait. Can wolves talk in their form? “What am I doing here? What’s this place?” I manage to ask after I come back from my daze, and he sits on his back paws, examining me without saying a word. I’m growing annoyed at how he looks at me as if I’m beneath him, and also because he doesn’t respond. Patience isn’t my strong suit. But how do you show anger when facing a 12-foot-tall wolf? Here’s the answer: you can’t. You simply don’t. Best-case scenario, you do what I did: use sarcasm. It’s still dumb, but nobody ever said I was smart. “I know I’m handsome, but you’re not my type. I don’t play for that team. So, could you answer my questions so we can both go our separate ways?” I even throw a big fake smile at the end. “You need to learn your place, boy!” Okay, I will admit that the very, very, very deep, commanding, and scary voice made my heart stop for a second, but my tongue itched. As usual. “The place where I am now? No can do. You wouldn’t tell me.” I suppress a burst of laughter when I see his muzzle dropping open, but he soon recovers from his shock and growls. (That was scary, but I won’t ever admit.) “For the name of Me, why you?!” I think we’ve got ourselves a big, scary, crazy wolf. “Mr. Wolf, I should head back home. Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t be so happy if they found out I’m talking to strangers,” I say with a fake smile and fake cheery voice, and he looks at me with his grey-blue eyes like I just grew another head and a few extra tails. Well, he’s the one who acts and talks all crazy. I turn around to leave, but again, a scary growl stops me in my tracks. Maybe I’m pushing it. Just maybe. I turn back around and am greeted by a 13-foot-tall wolf. Is it just me, or does he seem to grow bigger as he gets angrier? Even though I’m a very curious person, I don’t think I necessarily need to know that information, so I decide to stay quiet. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” Damn, the guy can growl. His voice echoed through the whole forest. Literally. “I did ask you, but you never gave me an answer. And now, I’m not sure I want to find out anymore.” Can wolves roll their eyes? I didn’t know that. But apparently, he can. I make a note to myself to ask him that. I bet it’ll piss off Dad. “And they say that gods don’t suffer,” he says, with a hint of frustration, and I hold back a laugh. I’m not that suicidal. “Have you heard of Apollo Lykaios?” he asks in a deep, possibly smug voice, and I look at him, trying to rummage through my brain. History classes. I should’ve paid more attention, but it’s not my fault that Laura has a D cup. I mean, no normal human being, or supernatural, for that matter, would be able to concentrate with those kinds of breasts next to hi— “I asked you a question!” The big wolf interrupts my sweet memory of Laura, and I sigh in defeat. “No. Never heard about the guy.” He looks at me, shocked, and I look at him, puzzled. Who the hell is the guy? Ask me about Christopher Columbus. That I know. Well, not everything and not every detail, but... a few things. “The God of Wolves,” he states proudly, and I give him a thumbs up. “Cool! But I’m pretty sure the guy doesn’t know me, so I’m pretty sure he’d be okay if we don’t give a crap about each other,” I say as I carefully look around to see if there’s any magic door, tunnel, or exit sign—anything that can get me out of here. “He does know you!” Now it’s my turn to look at him, shocked. The God of Wolves knows me? How cool is that? “You’re looking at him, genius!” he snaps, rolling his eyes again. I glance at him then lean to the side to look behind him. It’s hard to believe him. He looks the part, but his crazy talk makes me doubt it. “Just making sure that no one else is around. No offense,” I say and raise my hands apologetically, and his head drops in surrender, and again, I resist the urge to burst out laughing. “Now, could you tell me what I’m doing here, your… majesty?” I managed to make him growl again, but this time, I didn’t want to. But how am I supposed to know how to address the God of Wolves? He’s not a king. Maybe I should have asked. Well, it’s too late now. “Let’s get this over with!” That’s actually a pretty good idea, so I stay silent, give him an agreeing look, and a thumbs up, not wanting to drag this out more than necessary. “You’ve been chosen,” he says in a deep, husky voice, making me double over in laughter. The chosen one! “S-So-rry.” My voice cracks as I wipe away tears amid the hysterical laughter. “These will be a rough couple of hundred years,” he says like he’s in pain, and I do my best to stop laughing, but he’s making it hard for me. The face he’s making... goddamn, it’s hilarious. After a couple of minutes of him staring me down and me laughing my ass off, I manage to stop. “Sorry, but you can’t blame me. You see, there’s a movie where this guy says—” “SHUT UP!” And I do. The golden river literally starts shaking, and his roar echoes through the forest once again, but this time louder. It might have cracked a few tree trunks. My eardrums too, but I suck it up. “As I said, you’ve been chosen. The Universe chose you. Maybe you’ve wondered why your fur is pure gold, why you’re bigger and stronger than every other wolf, or why you don’t have an inner wolf.” He looks at me expectantly, and I shake my head. “No, not really. I mean, I love the attention—chicks practically come from other countries to see me, check if they’re my mate, everyone fears me, and that does wonders for my ego, but… yeah. No. Not really.” Now, all that’s left in his grey-blue eyes is exasperation. Well, he asked. Not my fault he doesn’t like the answer. “Anyway, you’ve been chosen, and I’ve been cursed,” he says as a sad fact, and I bite my inner cheek to suppress my laughter. “Meaning?” I ask for more info, and he sighs and turns around to go back by the amazing river. After he drinks some water and calms down, he turns around. “Meaning that I’ll be watching you. We’ll be one. Do you know how others have their spirit animal? Their inner wolf? You have to know that! Please tell me you know that!” he practically begs me to tell him that I know that. What the actual f**k? “I’m not stupid, of course, I know that! Just because I don’t have one, it doesn’t mean I don’t kn—I KNOW!” Now he’s getting on my nerves. “Well, god, wolf, human, and every other entity never knows with you, so I had to ask. But as I was saying, the Universe chose to curse me by making me your… guardian.” The last word seems like it hurts him to say it. He even closes his eyes. And I chuckle. Couldn’t help it. “And as you know, the others don’t really communicate with their wolf, not verbally. They sense each other and feel what the other feels, but don’t talk. Well, unfortunately, we’ll be able to do that. All the time. And I’ll be watching over you… all the time.” He sighs deeply, as if feeling sorry for himself. Are all gods—never mind. “So you can hear what I’m thinking? And see my every move?” “Yes. As I said. Unfortunately!” he emphasizes, and now I’m praying to the Goddess that if this isn’t a dream, at least it’s some figment of my imagination. Better crazy than having an audience while I f**k. “So let me get this straight. You’ll know when I’ll jerk off? Or f**k?” I ask, terrified, because I don’t do threesomes. Okay, I do threesomes but with two women. But it wouldn’t be like he would really be there… but he’ll be in my head, and— “You’re disgusting! And no, I’ll go away! I refuse to witness that!” he says with disgust in his voice, and I think he also gagged. “But what if some chick tries to suffocate me with her boobs? You said you’d guard me. How will you do it if you’re gone?” I ask as I barely suppress my laughter, and he sighs heavily in defeat. Again. “I always sense when you’re in danger. But if that happens, I’m seriously considering not interfering.” “I want another guardian,” I say firmly, and he rolls his eyes. “And I want to guard someone else. But here we are. And I’m the damn God of Wolves! Do you have any idea what an honor this is?! Anyone else would kill to be guarded by me! This happens once in thousands of years!” he yells, exasperated. I have a feeling that he’s going to flip soon. “Damnnn, I’m special! I knew it!” I fist bump the air, and he groans and shakes his head, causing his jet-black fur to ripple. Damn, that’s some beautiful fur. “Go. Just go. Just... go!” Now he sounds painfully defeated, as if he wants to get rid of me and throw himself a pity party. “I would, but it’s not like I have a GPS, and I don’t quite know the neighborhood. So, a little guidance, maybe?” An evil grin spreads across his face as he moves closer and closer, and I look at him warily. Maybe this would be the time to run? No, he wouldn’t. I’m the freaking chosen one. I curse my decision as he growls at me, and now, even if I wanted to run, I can’t. I’m frozen. Well, Goddess, please forgive my sins—all of them. Especially that time when I was with Kelly at that party and she made me d—before I can finish my prayer, he hits me with his huge, damn paw, throwing me through the air and knocking the air out of my lungs. But before I fall, I wake up, all sweaty, in my room. That was a close one. Nasty dream.