The Chosen Mate

CHAPTER 16 |

Cole's POV

I've been walking aimlessly the whole night and day. Letting Cayden run for as far and as long he wanted. I needed to be far from everybody, the distance between us is hurting so much, but every time I feel like lying and letting it all go, I think of how she must have suffered a thousand times more than this. She's the reason I'm fighting now, I won't make it if I don't have her in my life.

I was prepared for my return to the house, and my father's punishment. He didn't call me yet, that's strange. Might as well face the devil now than let him wait any longer. I'm now heading to his office, where he must be, as usual. As I open the door, the scent of my mother hits me, she came back from her trip. She's been away for a month now, right before Mavis' birthday. I'm sure she already knows everything and how disappointed she must be in me. Unlike what I imagined, she comes and hugs me, very tightly. 

"Good evening mom, how was your trip?" I ask her as I hug her back. I see my father right behind her and his fiery eyes, filled with anger. But it disappears as quickly as it came. "I'm sorry Father, I just couldn't handle the pain and the distance anymore," I step away from my mother and her reassuring warmth. "I will explain, Father," I finish, lowering my head, in a sign of submission," and I will face the consequences of my acts. I know I didn't obey my Alpha, also disobeyed your orders as my father." 

I raise my head high, I am still happy I got to see her, the smile on my face the proof of it, I know I am looking like the biggest i***t in town. "But I am the happiest I have ever been since I realized she's my mate. I don't regret anything."

Father looks at me, silently, his aura not revealing his thoughts in any way. "He must be talking to his wolf," whispered Cayden. 

My mother, that was now sitting on one of the armchairs, let a tear roll down her cheek. I've never seen so many people in less than a week cry in my presence, in general people were too afraid to seem weak in the presence of Alphas, they were always trying their best to be on their best behavior, but I guess in between Alphas didn't really count?

"Mom, what is it? I'm worried, why are you crying?" Seeing my mother like this was so rare, it always hurts. 

"Oh, darling, how you've grown in so little time," she wipes the tear off her face. "But don't you think I won't punish you for doing such a terrible thing to poor Mavis. You better pray to the Moon Goddess this all goes in the right way." A mix of icy blue and red in her eyes. She's dead serious. 

"We won't need to pray that much actually, honey," my father finally speaks and I don't know if I should be happy or terrified. "Clara, while you were away, I decided, under Cole's request, to ask the Elder's Council for advice to the Great Priestess." His eyes are boring holes into my skull, I feel like a small boy again, when Father would scold me for eating the pancakes made especially for my sister, Lisa.

"I was about to tell you that we have been granted an answer from the Great Priestess before you ran off to see Mavis. Earlier yesterday, the Elder's Council sent me a messenger with the answer," he hands me a piece of paper, "you have been waiting for, my son. Maybe all isn't ruined forever after all." My mother and I let a sigh of relief at the same time. I hurriedly unfold the piece of paper and start reading, but I can't, there's nothing on it. 

My mother takes it from my hands and now looks at her husband, "Is this real, Oliver? Why would this be at such an important stake, we are talking about a mate situation, not pol...".

"Mother, Father, what are you both talking about, there is nothing on this paper, is this a joke? Is it another way of punishing me?!" I raised my voice a little too much, but I couldn't control myself. I have never been more serious in my entire life and I feel like I am being mocked by a stupid paper. I try to control myself as much as I can, my father is now looking at me with icy blue eyes. 

"Don't you dare interrupt your mother, who is also your Luna may I add, she deserves respect. Now let me explain this to you." If looks could kill... "I'm sorry Mother, this is a lot to understand, please forgive me, Luna." I bow my head.

"Now, this is one of the things you still have to learn to become the Alpha of this pack. When messages need to be exchanged between Alphas who are leading, they send it on a magic paper. They asked the witches to create this so that no one will be able to read it if not the leading Alphas. I asked the witches to make an exception for this paper, for you to read it with your own eyes." A pause, I had nothing to add, I wanted to know what was written on that f*****g piece of paper. "The instruction they gave me was to let the paper under the full moon's light, which is tonight. You will then see the message written on it, but know this, son, in general, only the most delicate situations, such as war, plots being discovered, political secrets were written on this paper. I have to warn you, my son, this may only be the beginning of something. You have a lot of things to sort out with your beloved mate, Mavis, and your Isabella. Now let's hurry, before the night ends, we have to discover what is written on that paper."

"Wait, I thought leading Alpha could read this, why can't you both?"

"The exception made it impossible to be read by anybody. That was the deal, I guess too much magic cannot do good. Now, let's go."

With wolf speed, we arrive in the sacred and hidden place of our pack. Being the most powerful pack, we have the privilege to own a very small temple, here, the moonlight is brighter, and our powers are greater. At least, that's what I feel. I step into the sacred grounds, they are in the shape of two moons colliding with each other. As I enter it, I feel the moonlight on my skin letting its powers sink in my skin. I take the paper and let it in under the light. For a minute, nothing happens, then small writings are being discovered. They are in silver, the color of the moon. It takes another minute for it to be fully clear, the message says;

"Under the moonlight,

Out of evil' sight,

Let the power bloom,

And reunite it soon,

For the fall of The Crone,

Its schemes set in stone,

Destroyed by the Chosen One,

The salvation of us all."

I wanted an answer, this raises more questions than before. What is this now?