Dark Knight

Chapter 7

Addison’s POV

I was done with whatever this game was. The fact that Jax was an alpha, at my wolf ceremony, who hid from all our packs for years then walked in like he owned the place was just too much for me. I stood up and left the dining hall, drawing looks from all members. I didn’t look back. Something inside of me was pulling me out of the house, whether that was the anger that was just below the surface or something else, I didn’t know but I wasn’t going to try and fight it at this point.

I followed my instincts and my feet lead me to wherever it was that I was supposed to go. By the time I got out of my own mind and emotions, I was deep in the forest. The sun was about 45 minutes from setting and I could hear the river rushing from where I stood but I couldn’t see it. s**t, I won’t make it back before sunset for the ceremony. I looked around, deciding if it was even worth going back on time. 

I looked around and figured I could at least sit for a minute. I found a mossy path and sat myself down. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, practicing the meditation skills that Lacy use to make me practice before our sparring sessions. She told me it was to focus my consciousness and the let my spirit realign when in reality I think it was just to get me to shut up for a few minutes.

I felt a pull in the back of my consciousness. My mind acknowledged it and then moved towards it. Before I understood what was going on, my vision went white and all the air went out of my lungs and the weight of my body left me.

When my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness of my surroundings, I couldn’t recognize where I was. I was in the same dress as before, but my shoes were gone and I was standing in a foot of snow. All there was snow, it was all that there was for the entire landscape. But I wasn’t cold, the temperature was like early spring and welcoming. Where am I?

            “Hello, Addy. I’ve been waiting for you, my dearest,” a voice called out that sounded like an angel. I turned to see a tall woman with strong but petite features. Her brunette hair had slight waves to it and fell to her waist and had piercing crystalline eyes, like a colorless diamond.

            “Moon goddess?” My awe drew me closer to her until I was standing just a few feet from her. She smiled warmly at me and nodded. “You may call me mother or Selene, my formal name is for those who do not share my blood.”

            I didn’t understand. My face must’ve said as much because she continued.

            “Addy, it was time for one of my descendants to walk the Earth again. There is a misalignment within the world that requires a part of my spirit to correct. Though I couldn’t join your body until your 18th birthday, your genetics are nearly identical to my own minus your physical appearance, that would’ve just been too obvious,” she stepped toward me while explaining and gently placed a piece of hair behind my ear. “Addy, I needed to speak with you before your ceremony, to brace you for what will happen. Your wolf will be very large, and your alpha spirit will be much stronger as your spirit settles into your body over the next. You must beware of your commands, for any forceful commands will act as law and will give away your ancestry.” I just nodded my head, my mind was somehow keeping up. “Addy, most people can sense their mate once they gain their wolf, you are a bit different. You will have many options, as you can choose who will be your mate. You will feel pull towards those who hold potential and they will feel pull as well but theirs will feel like you are their only mate. You may develop your bond without becoming bonded until you choose to complete it. You may mark and be marked with these completely the bond because this will allow you to act as everyone else and not draw suspicion, though your wolf will obvious draw attention.”

            Now my head was spinning. How could I go through the mating process without forming the bond? How was I supposed to complete the bond? Why didn’t I have just a single soul mate?

            “You are me, Addison. I can’t steer your soul in a direction like I can for others because it is also my soul and it is just too powerful. You must be weary of others, not many accept alpha females, much less ones who can take a pack away from them with a single sentence. I trust you to not mismanage this power, but I will be here whenever you need guidance. It’s time for your ceremony. It’s time to meet Myra.”

            With that, my vision went dark and when my eyes opened, I was standing on the edge of the forest, looking at the crowd of the party. The sun was only 10 minutes from setting so I began walking back toward the house. Should I tell my parents about my encounter? Was that even real? Had I been I sleep walking and dreamed that? I shook my head and decided to keep it to myself. “Addison! There you are! You completely missed the meal, young lady!” My mother was furious, but she held out a roll. “You need to eat something before shifting, it will take a lot out of you the first time.” I smiled and took the roll, “alright, where do you want me?”

            She took hold of my arm and lead me to a platform. My father came over and we ascended the few steps up. We looked onto the crowd. 

            “Ladies and gents, it is time!” His voice boomed and everyone quieted, “Moon Goddess! We look for your guidance, your wisdom and offer this vessel, Addison McNella, as a vessel to host your gift of the wolf…” He continued with his speech as I looked onto the crowd. I saw Liam, watching with my other friends. Aaron was off to the right, towards the front. He looked up at the stage, but he didn’t seem present, almost like he was involved in a conversation. To the left, Jax was staring at me with an intensity that made me uneasy. I was still very annoyed at the whole situation from earlier. After a few minutes of my dad talking, the sun had finally set and it was time. It was my turn.

            “Lupus det mihi numen meum!”

My back arched and I felt my bones break, stretch and heal a thousand times. Within a minute, I was standing on all fours looking over the crowd. They were completely silent and looked at me with awe. I knew my transformation had happened very quickly, especially since the first one could sometimes take a few hours as the body learns how to shift. I lifted my head and howled and the crowd bowed their heads. When I stopped, I looked over the crowd who still had their heads bowed. 

Hello Addison. I am Myra. May I take over for the run?

The new voice in my head was strong and soothing, like Selene’s. I released my mental hold and let Myra take control.