The Witch Luna

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

POV: Elizabeth

I headed out to the forest. I checked my watch and it was only 11:40. I didn't have anything until 1.

I headed out the back door of the pack house, and into the woods. When I was about 10 steps in I remembered about the rouges….

I didn't really want to deal with that so I hid my aura and covered my scent really quickly. And continued into the forest. I loved to be out in nature. The forest was very calming. The forest in my coven was very different though. It was a fairy wood, which meant that the fae were all about. It was less dense in most areas and had a moss undergrowth that was so soft you could walk for miles barefoot. It was dangerous as one could easily walk into the fae realm. Almost certainly one would get stuck there forever if they didn't know how to handle themselves in the world of the fae. One wrong word or a simple lie could end you up in trouble.

This wood, however, was dense with no mossy growth. Not even on the trees. The ground was hard and uneven. There were some very worn paths. I heard the babble of river and decided to follow that instead of the trail, I didn't want to run into any one. I wanted to be alone for a minute.

I ended up coming into a small clearing. I was at the top of a waterfall. It was only about a 50 foot drop. the waterfall dumped into a small pond before continuing on to the river. This place would be fun in the hight of summer, I thought. A great place for swimming….

I found a nice big rock that looked over the edge and sat down to eat my lunch. I pulled it out and got an idea. Milo had told a story of the witch skipping rocks with magic. I'd never done that before so I thought maybe I'd try. I used magic to float a small rock by the water's edge and I threw it onto the river water. It didn't skip at all and just plopped into the water.

I kept trying and eventually got a few of the rocks to give one skip before plopint into the river.

I heard a rustle and out of the corner of my eye I saw a mangy looking wolf step out of the woods. The smell of rotten flesh gaged me. A rouge…..

The rogue began to snarl and step towards me. I slowly got up and faced it.

I reached inside to my power. I felt it bubbling just below the surface. "You should leave this territory now. Before you can't." I said, my voice strong and sure. In response the rouge just snarled and stepped towards me.

With no warning the rouge began to run towards me, he was making a terrible growling sound and slobber was flying through the air. When it was about 10 feet from me I raised my hand and stepped forward. I let go the power that often fights me to be free. I felt the familiar burn of the magic as it flowed down my arm and out of my hand.

Destruction is what came out of me.

It ripped at the rogue, and in a matter of seconds it was on the ground. I couldn't sense a life force from it but didn't trust to get too close. Before I could wonder what to do next three big wolves burst from the edge of the clearing. They must have been tracking the rogue.

Upon seeing me they all promptly stopped. They seemed unsure of what to do. One ran up to the rouge just as I let my camouflage on my aura go, I didn't want to have to explain that.

The one that went up to the rouge sniffed at it then looked at me puzzled.

One of the wolves must have changed back because I heard a voice. "Elizabeth, are you ok?" It was one of the men that had come to get me from my coven.

"I'm fine. He didn't get close to me. The smell is a bit off putting…" I mused. There was some singed fur and flesh that mixed with the rotten flesh smell it really was pungent.

Johnathan suddenly burst through the edge of the clearing. They must have mind linked him. He actually looked worried. He rushed over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. He looked me up and down, as if he was checking for any bites or bruises.

Suddenly the men behind him all jumped then rushed to grab the rogue and they began to drag him off into the woods from the direction they had come from.

"Are you ok? What happened?" He asked the worry still evident in his voice.

"I came out to the woods for lunch, I followed the sound of the river. I sat down and was eating when the rogue appeared. He growled at me and I warned him off, then he charged at me. So I defended myself. He didn't get close to me." I said quickly hoping he wouldn't be mad at me.

He seemed reassured with what I had said and looked at my lunch, now abandoned on the ground. He walked over and sat down and began to look through what Ashlyn had given me.

I sat down next to him and he began to eat all the meat that had been packed. Ashlynn had really outdone herself. She had given me three roast sandwiches, two of which were already gone, a whole thing of potatoes with sour cream cheese and bacon on them, as well as some jerky and a peach. I grabbed a fork and began to eat some of the potatoes. They were delicious.

Soon we had finished all of the food, well I had some potatoes and the peach and Johnathan had the rest. Wolves really did have a big appetite.

"I'm glad you're ok. When they told me you had been attacked by a rogue I feared the worst…." He said quietly.

"I'm not weak and defenseless you know. Or maybe you don't know. It's not like you've even looked at me since I got here. It's not like this is what I wanted you know.

I was supposed to be high priestess. I have been training my whole life. I'm my mothers first daughter. I thought my whole life that on my 18th birthday they'd tell me my mate, I'd find him and then take my place leading my people. But instead, 10 months before that is supposed to happen I'm told I'm being traded to end the war. Sent off to marry and be a wife of a leader instead of actually ruling.

But I'm trying to look on the bright side. I'm trying to be positive. But you haven't even looked at me." I said. Rather angry at his sudden worry for me.

"I have looked at you." He said almost too quietly to hear. "It's not that you're not beautiful. Your hair is golden in the sun and falls flawlessly. Your eyes are deep and endless. They hold the universe. You're beautiful. But you're not my mate. I'm mad that my father would set this up even though he knows that. I don't want you to be disappointed when I meet her and you have to leave."

He thinks I'm beautiful? Me…. Ive always felt so plain. "You know who your mate is?' I asked.

"No but I'm sure I'll meet her soon." He said.

"Have you asked to see your books?" I asked.

"Books?" He asked me looking at me for the first time since we sat down.

"Yeah, where the oracles write down all the mate matches when they are told of them. Your 18 so you can just go ask for your match." I said.

"We don't have that here. You just… feel it when you meet." He said.

"Oh…. But what if they don't live near? Wouldn't that mean you may never actually meet your match?" I asked. That sounded so sad…

"Some people never do, but most will. The moon goddess makes sure we eventually cross paths with our mate." He said smiling. It was the first time I had seen him smile. It made him even more handsome.

We fell into a comfortable silence. I looked at my watch after a while, it was already 12:45. I began to stand up, "well it's time for me to head back. I've got something at one." I said to Johnathan.

He helped me pick up the containers and insisted he would take care of them. "Hey, as long as you know that once I find my mate we are done, I don't mind hanging out a bit more? Maybe get to know you a bit better?" He asked a little sheepishly.

"That sounds nice." I said with a smile.

"How about we do something on Saturday?" He asked, "I can get you out of all the classes my mom wants you do to. Don't worry about that."

"Saturday it is then." I replied "I've gotta run, I'll see you later."

I rushed back to the pack house and up to the Luna's office. I made it at exactly one. I knocked on the big oak door.

"Come in!" I heard her say from behind the door. I opened the door, her office was very modest and cozy. I went in and sat down in the chair across from her desk.

"So being a Luna. This is your duty. You will begin to act on your Luna duties as of now. Let me explain to you all of them.

You need to know every pack member by name. You should be able to iden them by either picture or name, and know their family. I understand this is a lot of information we have 500 pack members, give or take.

You'll need to know how to get around, the shops in town, who runs them, and the dues they owe the pack house. We do have some alpha run shops you'll need to identify those as well.

You need to know about the territory, as in the towns and where the borders are. It's your job to oversee the orphanage, all the orphans in our territory come here.

That is the first official duty I will pass over to you. As you finish courses you'll have more time during the day. Lycan history will only last a few weeks, and your Luna studies will be a good time for you to do some of your Luna tasks with my supervisor. For the first month you cannot make any decisions without consulting me first. After that if you've proven yourself then you'll be able to have more independence.

You'll help me plan all the celebrations until you marry my son, after that most of the job will be yours with a few exceptions.

Once you marry you'll also take over my spot in the council. You can sit in on a few of the meetings later, we'll get to that.

That's most of what you need to know so let's begin to go over the most important pack members.

The Luna and I began to go over the pack members one by one. She had photos and a lot of information on them. I took notes in a notebook she gave my and also was able to take the binder of photos.

At 2:15 I began to pack up to go meet the omega.

"Elizabeth, one more thing. You are basically Luna now. You have been betrothed to my son. You cannot allow for any disrespect. If someone does, you need to make sure you demand that they treat you with respect. Do not rely on me, the alpha or my son to get it for you. We can order the pack to show it to you, but you must ultimately earn it yourself. Hold your head high, walk with purpose, and remember, you are always being watched by someone. Don't do anything to lose the pack's respect or to lose your dignity."

I nodded quickly and left her office.

I went to the front door of the pack house and went outside. Standing by the front doors was Ashlyn.

"Hello darling!" She boasted, "I heard about your run in with that rouge, nasty business. They always pick up their activity around the changing of aloha's. They think the change in power will make us weak enough to take over the pack. Ridiculous! But rouges aren't known for their brains. Anyway, let's get on with our basic tour. The pack house grounds!"

She began her tour and showed me the pool, then the game room, then the pack common room. The common room was full of people so we didn't go into it.

She showed me the pool, the pool house, and the maze. By then it was already 4:25. I said goodbye and thanked her for the tour. I headed up to my room.

I sat down at my desk and began to go over the materials from the day. The Luna had given me much to go over. As well as Milo had given me some info on Lycans to study. After about 20 minutes I heard a knock on my door.

I got up and opened the door.

It was Johnathan….