Chapter 259: Chapter 259

Ella’s POV

Hazel instantly knelt to the ground and bowed her head low in respect to the guardian. The rest of us

did the same.

The guardian, Aura, scanned us with her beautiful blue eyes with an expression unreadable, yet filled

with serenity. She was beautiful and fierce at the same time; it was almost intimidating and difficult to

look at her for an extended period of time.

“Guardian of Earth, thank you for coming,” Hazel said, speaking in a tone that was low and direct.

“You have summoned, we have come,” Aura said, looking down at Hazel. “Tell me, daughter. Why have

you summoned-”

Her voice broke off and she looked off in the distance at nothing particular, as if something had just

called for her. She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes while she floated to the ground until she was

kneeling beside Hazel.

She pressed the palms of her delicate pearly white hands to the hard mass of the ground and took in

another deep breath. It seemed like she was smelling something, or maybe she was just taking it in.

But what she was taking in, I wasn’t sure.

We all remained silent, not daring to speak while she intoned herself with the earth and felt the ground

with her hands. Then her eyes opened, and she let out a gasp before floating back into the air and

resuming her spot just above Hazel’s head.

“Darkness….” she whispered.

This time when she looked at us, I saw that her eyes were glistening with sadness and remorse. If she

wasn’t already porcelain white, I would have thought she had gotten whiter, but that couldn’t have been

possible. A single, sparkling, tear escaped from her left eye and washed over her cheek. It didn’t drip

from her though, it disappeared once it reached her chin.

“The earth weeps with pain and agony,” she spoke in a tone so low I had to strain to hear her.

“Darkness had touched down and it hurts the earth

in its core.”

We all remained silent, Hazel bowed her head lower and the rest of us

13-19) Π

ura looked down at Hazel, nearing closer.

“How did this happen?” Aura asked, her tone, though still musical and light, was firm and filled with

power. “What has happened to my earth, daughter.”

“I’m so sorry, Guardian…” Hazel said in a tone that shook with each breath she took. I thought she now

sounded weak and frightened, but this guardian didn’t bring me the same level of fear and I was

confused by Hazel’s reaction toward her. She did this spell with such confidence, and now she

appeared so frightened. “It was my sister… she had turned from light a long time ago and is now allied

with darkness. She had summoned him to your earth and he is here to do harm.”

“Zagreus….” Aura breathed, taking a deep breath once again.

She didn’t say his name like a question; it was more like she was facing him directly and she was

greeting him. But he wasn’t there; it was only us, and Hazel answered her anyway.

“Yes, Guardian…”

“Your sister Jasmine was the one who summoned him?” Aura asked, though she didn’t sound

surprised, more like she was disheartened.

“I’m afraid so…” Hazel said sadly. “I am so sorry…”

“It is not your fault, daughter. You did not summon him to my earth. You did right by summoning us

though,” she said simply. “However, I cannot defeat darkness. My job is to not fight but protect.”

“Guardian, we summoned you today to protect us from this darkness. We don’t know what Zagreus

and my sister are planning. We are frightened and we need protection. We don’t know what more to

do,” Hazel said, looking up at the guardian.

Aura looked amongst us for a moment and then to my utter surprise, her gaze fell upon me. My

breathing got caught in my throat and we stared at one another for what felt like a long time. She held

my gaze, and

something flashed in her eyes.

“What is your name child?” She asked, lowering herself so she was at eye level with me.

swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat before answering. “Ella…” I answered, but my voice

came out weak and soft like a little girl. I was instantly embarrassed.

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of course,” she whispered as if she should have already known my

She stared around my face like I was some kind of science project that she needed to study. She

reached her hand out toward me and I remained frozen, staring at her with wide eyes. Her fingertips

grazed the top of my cheekbone and her touch left a cooling sensation in its place. I saw, from the

corner of my eye, Colton tensing, unsure of what was happening and who was touching his mate.

“Your wolf, what is her name?”

“Valentina,” I answered, my voice coming out stronger this time.

She tilted her head with such curiosity, that she almost looked child–like. “Valentina…” she repeated in

a low whisper like she was testing the name out on her tongue. “Bring her forth.”

I found myself furrowing my brows together, confused by her request. But before I could ask her what

she meant, I felt my body shifting and morphing

to my wolf. Val had taken control and took on her full form. Soon, she was standing tall and proud in

front of the guardian of the earth.

I heard my mouth gasping from a distance as she watched what was happening. Everyone else was

staring at us with wide eyes, unmoving. Aura just looked pleased as she stared around the face of my

wolf. She reached her hand out and stroked Val’s pure white fur. Aura’s fingertips grazed Val’s

shoulders and down her narrow and long body.

“You are quite a beautiful creature,” Aura breathed in wonder.

“Thank you, guardian,” Val said with a voice so strong I couldn’t help but be proud of her.

At first, I didn’t think Aura would be able to hear her because wolves only spoke in one mind, but Aura

smiled as Val spoke to her.

“Your powers are quite impressive,” Aura continued as she stared into Val’s eyes. “You are very

powerful.”

“I am a Volana,” Val explained proudly.

“Yes, indeed. But you are different. Your powers range a lot larger than at typical Volana. I never

sensed powers as strong as yours before. It’s incredible.”

“What does it mean?” Val asked, curiosity clear in her tone.

means you could be powerful enough to defeat darkness,” Aura said simply. “You are what this world

needs.”

Val had so many more questions but wasn’t sure how to answer them. “In due time, all your questions

will be answered, daughter,” Aura said, as if she could read our minds. “But for right now, it is protection

that you seek, so protection I will give you.”

I heard Hazel sighing in relief and the others relaxing just as Aura withdrew her hand from Val’s fur.

Without Aura instructing her, Val gave me full control and I shifted back into my human form. I thought

for sure I was going to be completely naked when I shifted back, and I was bracing myself for the

embarrassment I was about to feel..

But to my complete amazement, when I shifted back, I was still in my clothes, unripped. I stared down

at my clothing with my mouth hanging

open.

“You have enough power to feed my children,” Aura continued, and this time she was speaking to

everyone because her eyes traced over the circle. “The energy is incredible; it is as if we never left the

earth grounds. They will be very happy here. I will leave them to protect you, however, I must protect

the earth grounds because, without my protection, it will surely fall.”

“I’m sorry, Guardian, but your children?” It was my mother that asked. Aura looked at my mother with a

thoughtful expression and a small smile dancing on her lips.

“You are the mother of this powerful wolf,” Aura said smoothly; she didn’t phrase it as a question, but

my mother still answered.

“Yes; I am Luna Selene. El

mother.”

“You are powerful too, but she is a bit more than you. You, however, have strong genes,” Aura said

kindly. “Yes, daughter. My children.”

She motioned for the orbs of light that danced around her and they continued to giggle.

“They help me protect the earth and now I appoint them to protect you and your people,” she

explained, they began to glow brightly as they danced around her features, lighting her up in rays of

light and color. “I have 4 children to represent 4 of the elements. They can each protect up to a city line.

But only one territory for each of my children.”

“We can choose 4 territories?” Hazel asked, looking amongst the rest of us

with a frown.

Yes, they can protect every pack within their given city or town,” Aura confirmed.

“How long will we have your protection for?” Diana finally spoke, turning Aura’s attention to her.

“We are attached to the strongest power and will only survive if that power is still thriving,” Aura

answered and then she turned to face me. “As long as Valentina is able, we will be able to protect the

areas you appoint us to, Ella. Indefinitely.”

“What?” I gasped, wide–eyed. “Me?”

Then, Aura smiled.

“It is your wolf that keeps us here and makes it possible for us to protect you. Valentina is our main

source of power