Moon Marked by the Goddess

Nine

It's been a little over 2 years since that night I first displayed my ability to some of the pack members. The Alpha swore those members to secrecy, telling them my identity needed to be protected for a short while as I train.

The following day after the incident Jackson left to go to the council for training to take up the position of Alpha. It lasts for 3 years, he comes home for a month in the summer, and a month in the winter, spending the rest of time on the council's land, which is in the middle of Olisis.

Senna has stayed the whole two years to help train me, and Rupert stops in regularly to visit. He still works as an Elder, and has been looking out for any reportings of other moon marked wolves, with no luck.

Vincent has become my closest friend. He's taken me under his wing, training me in both wolf and human form. I joined the northern patrol unit, Vincent is lead, and there are six other wolves not including myself in the unit. They all know who and what I am, and have sworn to keep my secret.

The Moon Goddess visited me last a little over a month ago. She told me by the end of this summer I'd need to travel to find one of the newly marked wolves. We're about half way through summer now. Loraine has been calling around to the other packs trying to find this wolf.

My dad and uncle have still been trying to convince Jackson to accept me as his mate. Which he is still adamently against, and so am I. The dreams I used to have about finding my mate have all turned sour, and I have no longer want one.

Senna experienced something similar, though she never went into details with her mate, and rejected him. I asked her for the details of the rejection ritual, because I don't want to feel the pain of our bond when he's home next, and unable to keep it in his pants. Slamming the pain right back at him, always leaves him in a sour mood for several days, which in turn makes my life more difficult. So I've decided when he comes home next week I'll reject him, and move on with my life, really focus on what needs to be done with the dark wolves.

Their activity has picked up a lot over the last few years. They are becoming bolder and attacking packs bringing larger groups. Gone are the days of attacking lone wolves, or small groups traveling between pack lands.

Tonight we are announcing to the pack who I am, now that everyone is more comfortable with my skills, and my progression. Though I fear it may increase the number of attacks we're receiving. I think the dark wolves are searching for something or someone. Maybe its Senna and Rupert to finish what they started or maybe it's the newer generation of Moon marked wolves. One of my hopes with me coming out now, is that it may encourage the new wolves to seek me out themselves.

Knocking from my bedroom pulls me from my thoughts. "Yeah? Come on in." Vincent walks in the room, leaving the door open. I shake my head at him. He has a scowl on him face. "What's wrong sunshine, someone p*ss in your cereal?"

His scowl deepens. "Your uncle is announcing you as the future luna when he has you shift into your wolf for the pack tonight."

"This is when you tell me you're joking right?" Shaking his head he looks at his shoes, unwilling to meet my gaze. I can feel my blood boiling. "They know I'll never agree to this. I'm not going to be his mate." Vincent gives a half smirk, what the heck? I'll prove him wrong and go give my uncle a piece of my mind right now.

Getting up I grab my black tennis shoes from the corner and slide my feet in, tying the shoes. Reaching for the them of my sweat shirt, I pull it off and throw it into my laundry hamper, then dig through my drawer for a tshirt. Grabbing a large band tshirt I slip it on, so I have something to breath in. I keep on my black jeans and turn back to Vincent. "Is he in the pack house?"

"I just left his office. Your father is there, and looks very p*issed off. So good luck. I'll stand outside the door." He says throwing me his mega watt smile, and a thumbs up. His teeth perfectly straight, and white. He's beautiful when he smiles like this.

I just laugh at him and head out toward my uncle's office, on the other side of the floor.

Knocking on his door. I wait for him to give me permission to enter. After a few seconds I hear, "Come in." I take a deep breath and then turn the door handle, pushing the door inward.

Once inside my eyes immediately land on Jackson. He looks tired. Like he hasn't had a good nights rest in days. What is he doing here, he isn't supposed to be home for a week. I have it marked on my calendar so I know when to make myself scarce. Seeing him is completely jarring, I'm not ready for this.

Refocusing on what I came in here for I turn toward his father. "I'm not going to be the future luna, please leave that out of the announcement."

"You are Jackson's destined mate, you will have to take up the title and responsibilities of the luna."

"Alpha with all due respect, your son has not accepted me, and I refuse to be with him. I hoped for a while he would change his mind, he never did. So now I have, I'm completely against the idea of being with someone that has never given me the respect a mate should." I say the last bit directly to Jackson.

"Rylan, I'm sorry." Jackson starts. "You don't deserve how I've treated you these last few years. I've been an assh*le."

My uncle stands, and comes toward me. "I've talked with him, and he understands how wrong he's been, and he's willing to make things right."

"If the luna spent years bringing men back, knowing that it would cause you physical pain. Have you in bed vomiting, and crying at every opportunity she had, would you have accepted her? Two years I've dealt with this. While he's gone I barely feel the pain, just mild cramping, but when he's home? It feels as though wolves are ripping my uterus apart, while someone is squeezing my heart in their hands. I will never accept your son as my mate. He is unworthy of me." Turning to Jackson. "You are not sorry. Words without action are meaningless, and it's far too late now." I quickly wipe my face, knowing some silent tears have slid down my cheeks.

My uncle is looking at me with understanding. "I have never experienced that, so I can't stand here and lie saying I understand, but please give him a chance. The moon goddess paired you for a reason, right?"

"Paul, I told you she would never go for this. Her wishes must be respected. If she changes her mind later, we can deal with that then. Tonight we need to just stick with the original plan." My dads speaks up.

I shoot him a thankful look. "I'll see you all in a few hours. I'm gonna go spar with Vincent. We'll be in the basement in you need me." I give a quick smile, wave, and leave the room before anyone can object.

Vincent's eyes are wild and dilated. I haven't seen him this angry unless the dark wolves are involved.

"Hey, you okay? What's happening?" I put my hand on his shoulder looking him in the eyes, speaking gently.

"You never told me how badly it hurts you, why didn't you say something sooner. I'll rip his arms off, and beat him with them if you want."

"How did you hear that? His office is sound proofed."

"I don't know, it's like I was watching everything you saw from your point of view. I could feel your emotions as you talked. When you touched me, it was like I came back to my body. This has never happened before. I thought it was something you did on purpose."

What in Olisis, I'll have to find Senna and ask her about this. Maybe this is an extension of the mass mind link. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to worry anyone. I'm fine now. Can we spar and work out some of the pent up aggression?" I shoot him my best imitation of his mega watt smile.

"Okay, let's go. You definitely need the practice anyways."