I Am Worthy

Chapter 5: A New Start

“Goddess, give me strength…” The Alpha muttered, “What is your name?”

“Kiara. What are all your names?” I asked back. “My name is Dominik Grayson, Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, this is my Beta, Alaric Bates, and my gamma, River Summers.” The man I now know to be named Dominik stated whilst gesturing first to the man on my left then to the one on my right. “River, shift back.” Dominik said whilst keeping his eyes on me. I then looked intently at the large black and white wolf on my right, confusion clear on my face. Before I know it, a man standing at about 6ft2, with black messy hair, grey eyes, and a chiselled figure was standing in front of me rather than the wolf. I then quickly shifted my gaze to anywhere but him, due to his manhood being on show. “Uh, I am going to go and get some shorts.” He said quickly, before turning and walking off.

“You are all like me! But how come your ears, tails and canines disappear too?” I said excitedly, wanting to know more. “Have you never met another werewolf  before?” Alaric asked, “I was raised believing they are myths. Next thing I knew, I looked like this and managed to find this place. I feel like I know nothing anymore…” I said getting quieter as I finished speaking, and as I did so River returned. “Can you excuse us for a minute?” River spoke once I had finished. “No, obviously not. I am clearly the one who gives the orders around here.” I replied with a smirk on my face and sarcasm lacing my voice. River let out a slight chuckle and then I watched his eyes gloss over, followed by Dominik's and Alaric's. I watch them with intrigue and then their eyes all go back to normal, “What just happened? What was that all about?” I asked, not even giving them a chance to breathe before I did. “We were talking.” Alaric stated, “How? You didn’t even move your mouth?” I began questioning them again. “You really don’t know anything about your own kind?” River then spoke, but I just shrug my shoulders and start playing with the hem of the hoodie I am wearing. 

“How come none of you live near the city? I mean, there has never been any sightings of massive wolves running our forests.” I said, curious to learn more. “We have an unseen barrier placed by a warlock who lives with us, Only our kind can pass through.” Dominik finally said. “Wait. Warlock? They exist?”, “I think we should bring this inside. I have duties to attend and so do you two. Kiara, you may stay but I will have 2 of my warriors keep an eye on you.” Dominik stated. “Okay. Thank you.” I said quietly. Wow, is there a bigger way of saying ‘shocked’? This is amazing! There really are others that are like me! And they said I can stay! Well, with supervision, but that gives me a chance to socialise again and learn more! I followed Dominik, Alaric and River back to the mansion which they told me is their “Pack House”. River explained how the pack house is a communal area for all the people who live here, and how everyone here is a werewolf and part of the pack. I like River, he seems really nice.

I have been with this pack for 4 days now. The guys that Dominik assigned to watch me are called Jamie and Sydney. They aren’t very chatty. But, at least River has been meeting at least 3 times everyday so far to tell me more about how things work, he is due to show up to the library to meet me in 10 minutes. On our first meeting he explained to me what mind-linking was and how to do it. He said that it can only be done inside of packs but that I was able to link with Dominik when they caught me trying to escape, that's why he was able to reply to everything I said. Now I am able to link with River whenever I want. “I’m at the library, which book did you say I should read?” I asked him on our link, “Children of Selene, I won’t be long!” He replied. It is super weird having someone else's voice in my head but from what I gather, they have that all time. Apparently their wolves are a completely different soul that inhabits their bodies, and they can communicate in their heads on a link as well. I look for the book River told me about and find it hidden in the farthest corner of the library. The library is huge, it has a glass wall that looks over the warriors who train with River and occasionally I see Alaric and Dominik there too, but it has the smell of books, which I love and the bookcases stretch all the way to the ceiling with ladders that wheel around them so you can reach any book you want. There is a large grey couch in front of the window, with a black glass coffee table between the two. It is so pretty, I wonder who designed this space? 

By the time River shows up I’ve already read 10 pages of the book, “Hey K, sorry to keep you waiting. Can you find anything in there?” he asked as he sat beside me on the couch. “Actually, yeah! It says that the Goddess of the Moon, Selene, has a child of her blood be placed on this plane of existence once every 2000 years. It is said that this child would be recognised as hers due to the wolf being fused with the human form, making it one soul rather than two.” I told him. “Really? So, in reality, you are the Moon Goddess's child by blood?” He asked, “I don't know, I mean, I fit the description but no-one in my family has ever mentioned having wolf blood, or being werewolves.” I said. Jamie and Sydney must have heard us as they both approached and Sydney took the book from my hands, “Yeah of course you can look.” I said sarcastically at Sydney as I rolled my eyes. He glanced at me and then I realised he was linking with someone. “Who is he linking?” I asked Jamie, “Alpha, we feel that this information should be passed onto him.” he replied, his voice was rough, like he was a heavy smoker, but it suited his look, he is tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a large scar across his left cheek that reaches the top of his lip. “Uh, okay?” I said, feeling uneasy.

Ten minutes after Sydney linked Dominik he showed up in the library, “Let me see.” He said as he entered the room. “Hi Dom, what’s going on?” He gave me a questionable look then proceeded to flick through the book. “River, I need you to go and get Isaac.” He said once done reading. “Sure, I can bring Kiara with me so she knows where to find him if she ever needs him.” He said as he stood, “Yeah, that may be a good idea.” Dom responded. River and I left the building, Jamie and Sydney stayed with Dom so they could discuss something that apparently, “doesn’t concern me”. “So, Riv, who exactly is Isaac?” I asked as we walked towards the forest, “He is our sorcerer, the one who put up our barrier. Most packs have either a witch or sorcerer reside with them.”. River replied whilst taking my arm and linking it with his own. You know, on the training grounds River doesn’t seem like the type of guy I would want to approach, but when it is just the two of us he is sweet and funny. Yesterday he wanted to teach me about mates, but then got called away so I didn’t get to hear anything. 

“So, when you say that every werewolf has a mate, does that mean friend? Because that is what it means back home.” I said whilst walking through the forest. “No, for a werewolf we are each given soulmates by the Moon Goddess. Our mate is the only one made for us but not everyone finds theirs.” “So, how do you know when you have found your mate?” I asked, glancing at him, “Well, people say that it's like electricity running through your body when they touch you, that their scent is easier to pick up than someone else you may know. I have yet to find my mate so I can’t say for sure.” he explained. Then I remembered something from when I was alone in the forest.

Flashback: “This is ridiculous Xander, we are only here for a few more days to help this pack, for all we know it could be a trick!” Said a second voice.

“I can’t believe that Gio, I have to have hope that it is my mate. Shafer is going crazy because the scent is so close and we still can’t f*****g find it!” End Flashback

Shit, could that have been my mate? “Riv, before I found you guys there were others in the forest…” I said but he stopped walking abruptly and pulled me in front of him. “What do you mean? If they are rogues then you are lucky you got away! Rogues are dangerous! I am going to have to tell Dominik about this.” “But, I heard them talking, one of them was saying something about a scent driving someone else crazy. I got scared and left quickly, that’s how I found your pack.” I said quickly so that he didn’t interfere with whatever Dom was doing. From what I gather Dominik is always busy with one thing or another that regards the pack. “What? What exactly was their scent like?” He asked with an urgency to his voice and worry written all over his face. “Uh, well they smelt musky, I think along with maybe aftershave and woodlands. But the other had a more intoxicating scent, like vanilla and acacia wood.” I said reliving the time I ran from them, “K, did you feel a pull towards the one whose scent stood out to you more?” He asked to which I slightly nodded my head. “I think that was your mate Kiara…” He said quietly and with a sadness hidden behind his eyes, yet I can still see it. “Well, whoever it was is probably long gone now so lets go, I won’t be worrying about it so you shouldn’t either.” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling along the dirt trail. He let out a small chuckle and began walking again, keeping hold of my hand.

After a short while we reached a small bungalow. River knocked on the door and an older man's voice was heard from the other side, “What do you want?” He spoke out. “Hi Isaac, Alpha Dominik sent us round, we think you may be able to help us out.” River replied to him. After a minute of silence I looked up at River with a solemn look on my face, showing my worry that maybe he won’t. Just as I looked back to the door it swung open and a grumpy looking man standing at 5ft9 with wrinkles around his blue eyes stood there looking very annoyed at the fact he was disturbed. He looked up at River anger evident in his eyes but when he looked at me it dissipated almost instantly only to be replaced with surprise. A reaction I am getting used to now. “Oh my… Please come in!” he said.

Upon entering his home I noticed how all his furniture is old and dusty, I assume he doesn’t get many visitors. “Tell me, what is Selene like?” He asked me as he gestured for me to sit with him on the couch, I glance at River who makes himself right at home so I sit next to him, “I wouldn’t know. I have never met her.” I replied, suddenly finding my hands very interesting as his gaze bore into me. “Never?” He asked, to which I just shake my head. “May I?” He asked while reaching for my hands, I looked at River unsure of what to do and he gave me a small smile, “Okay.” I said. He grabbed my hands in his and as soon as he did, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach, I closed my eyes for a second and when I opened them I was watching my whole life play out before my eyes. My sisters, Deana and Martha are both here and laughing with me, my mum and dad are sitting in the corner of the room with each other watching us with a smile on their faces, then next I see Eli, we are both in a park, laughing with one another, just enjoying each others company as bird song filled the air and the chatter of other people joined in. Then came the memories of my parents on those steel gurneys, my older sister, Martha, in her coffin, my younger sister, Deana, struggling for life until she was shot, and then Eli, lying lifeless in my arms, when the change took place. At this point I pull my hands away and stand up with the tears in my eyes trying not to fall.

“What just happened?” River asked the old man, worry clear in his voice. “I want to leave. Now.” I said with anger in my voice. “Please, don’t go. I had to look into your past to see if you were born this way and if not what caused it to surface.” Isaac stated. I felt the heat rise to my face, this stranger now knows everything that happened to me and my family. The anger just kept bubbling inside of me. “Why? Why did you need to make me relive all that misery?” I said, my voice now raised, I feel hot, like I am on fire. Suddenly I see flames on the curtain behind me and that brings back to reality, I calm down a little due to the shock of the fire from nowhere and stand stunned as it disappears with my anger. “Kiara, how did you do that?” I heard River ask but I didn’t answer, because I am not sure myself.

What just happened? There is no way I was able to do that, right? No way! That would be insane! “Kiara?” I heard River speak, “Are you okay? You kind of zoned out for a bit there.” “s**t, sorry, um, sorry. I just… What just happened?” I finally managed to ask Isaac who was just standing staring at me. “I think we should meet every other day to test your abilities. I can teach you to control them.” He spoke after a minute. “Okay, I guess?” I replied, cautious as to how this may go.

“If you want, we can talk to Dominik about making you a member of the pack? That way you can stay with us and not have to worry about anything whilst you learn, and I can train you as well.” River said as we left the bungalow, I look up at River, grinning from ear to ear, “Really?!” I squeak out in excitement, whilst slightly tugging his arm. He laughs at this, “Of course, but let me do the talking, he doesn’t appreciate your laid back conversation with him like I do.” He said with a chuckle. I am bouncing around him filled with energy now excited at the fact I may have a new, permanent home. 

River shows me the Alpha’s house. It is 5 minutes from the pack house but is just as big. River explained its size is because when other pack Alpha’s visit they tend to stay here, and that he and Alaric live here too. We walk up the first flight of stairs and into a biggish modern looking office, Dominik doesn’t look too impressed with our unannounced arrival as he sits behind a large desk filled with paperwork. “Hey man, free for a chat?” River spoke to him. “What is it?” He asked as he went back to his paperwork. “Well, I was thinking that maybe you could allow Kiara here, to join the pack? Isaac wants her to stay so that he can train her and teach her about her abilities, and I can train her to fight alongside our warriors.” Silence filled the room as Dominik stared at us. “Plus I think she would be a great asset to the pack itself.” River added. After another deafening silence Dom finally spoke, “Is she your mate?” “No man, but I honestly think her presence would benefit the pack.” “Why?” Dominik questioned, I just hid half behind River whilst they spoke about me like I wasn't even here, playing with the hem of a shirt River gave me. He went out and bought me some clothes so that I could roam freely without having to shift. “Turns out that she has more abilities than we thought, if she can control them she can help protect us from any attacks from rogues or other packs.” River answered without any hesitation.

After a bit more of a debate Dom finally agreed to make me a part of his pack, although I am not clear as to how that happens, all he said is that a party would be held at the weekend and to dress appropriately. He also said I could have a room here and River suggested I take the one beside his, so I agreed. Excited is an understatement right now, I am over the moon that I actually get somewhere to call home again. Although I would love to go back to visit my family's graves, I can’t. People would be too scared and when humans get scared they can be dangerous.