The cramp in my hand intensified as my scribbles grew swifter and messier, until finally I released the pen with a sharp exhale of breath. I had been translating the message, which was rough considering the ancient Latin language never really translated into English well. Licking my lips I rub the spot between the brows reading the words over and over again.
"Have you been up all night?" The new male voice caught me off guard to the point I actually jumped a little in my seat. Angry with myself I spun my head around, hair up in a bun, to meet Zander's concerned eyes. He held a plate of foot and a steaming mug in the free hand. Holding it out, I gingerly took it from him muttering a quiet thanks, voice rough from lack of use in the past twelve hours.
"Yes." I finally answered after my first long drink of the vanilla black tea. "I've narrowed it down to a loose translation, the literal translation really didn't make sense." I explain placing the food and mug down to grab my notes and handing it to him. The look he sent me was one of pure confusion and I realized it looked like to chicken scratch to anyone but myself. Wincing I snatch it back, placing it on the table once more and grabbing the hot mug once more. "It essentially is saying, 'Moon Warriors, I will cross the veil and then nothing will be able to stop the plague I bring to this world'." My words were met with a deep frown, as I'm sure he was debating who exactly the "I" was in this equation.
"Alright. Well that doesn't bode well for us." He spoke while rubbing the scruff of his jawline. "Any ideas?" His brow quirking in curiosity.
"No solid leads so far. I'll be looking into it, call in a few favors to try and find more info. Might even call up the vamps." The corner of my mouth lifts up in amusement to see his reaction to the vampire comment. We weren't mortal enemies but we did find a lot of conflict in the simple way of their food and prey were humans, and werewolves have always been tasked with keeping the secret of our underground world and having men and women hunt down humans was pretty difficult to contain and hide especially when they can't survive without said blood and most of the time the human ended up dead. Big no no.
"Well, choosing to ignore that, how is Madelyn doing?" He takes a seat next to my own, giving a long look at my food before returning his gaze to me in a 'eat' kind of look. Rolling my eyes I take a few drinks and bites of my food as he patiently waits for my answer.
"She's struggling. This wasn't the first time fighting rogues, but it was the first time she's been bit so many times." I flinch remembering the blood on the hospital bed. "But the doctors are hopeful she'll pull through, says she has a good chance. But she can't travel right now, so if I could have your permission to stay until shâ"
"You don't even have to ask. You all are welcome to stay for as long as needed." Zander reached out, lightly trailing his thumb over the shape of my jaw, momentarily hypnotizing me with his slow and deliberate movements. "So, have you thought about what I've said?" His eyes finally leave the trail his hand was making to meet my own.
"Zander," I start, trailing off seeing the intensity in his gaze. "The fairytale, it ends in tragedy." I finally whisper after a pause.
"Plenty of stories end in tragedy, that doesn't mean every one will. There are so many stories of love, adventure, and happiness, why should one that ends in tragedy hold you back from a potential story of your own that ends in your favor?" His point was logically sound; I could find no real fault here yet, I was still hesitant.
"Butâ" Before I can even try to back pedal he plows through.
"No buts. Life means taking risks, and this could be a risk but I believe the possibilities of positive outcomes outweighs the negatives." His eyes begged me to give in, to let him in. My shoulders rose and fell a few times, my mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish out of water.
"Even if I agreed," His lips widened in a shit eating grin. "Which I'm not," I clarify quickly, sending him a narrow eyed look. "But if I did, how would it even work. You run your pack and I have to run my own. It'd be unfair for us and our pack if we left it."
"Let's be real here, this isn't my true pack, I'm simply filling a spot temporarily and when Mark asks for his pack back I'll remove myself from the equation. Simple." He was so blunt in his words, he left no room for arguments. "You feel this as much as I do, how is it fair to ignore it? It hurts yourself as much as it hurt me." His hands were grabbing my own, massaging the palms, sending true tingles from where his skin met mine.
Truthfully I was fearful, fearful of what would happen if I let him in. I'd been so naive with Ryker, so open for him and I was betrayed. Hurt over and over again in a span of hours until the doctor told me what was going on. He hadn't accepted my rejection as I had accepted his, he was holding on for some reason. I was certain he didn't know he hadn't accepted the bond. If he felt anything he probably thought it was I pining first him. He couldn't be more wrong.
"I'll have my decision ready when Madelyn is ready for travel." I finally reply, giving his hands a brief squeeze before standing from my chair. I gather my papers as he gather my breakfast mess. I could sense his sadness with my answer but didn't fight it either, respecting my choice. He left, plate and mug in hand, and I watched his girl grow further away until the door shut behind him.
//\\//\\//\\
"It's alright, it's gonna be okay." I soothe, wiping the sweat from Madelyn's forehead, whilst she gripped my other hand so tightly I believed my circulation was cut off. The twins stood at the foot of the bed with Tyler, all three watching the doctor administer the final dosage. The scream she released tore into my heart, but I did my best to calm her down and restrain her. Sending a look to my remaining pack members they moved forward in sync with one another to hold her down while we wait for it to take affect. Finally her scream died out and was replaced with tired panting.
"Atta girl." Tyler praises, looking relieved as the color slowly began to return to her cheeks. I gently removed myself from her hold and walked to the doctor where he washed his hand in the sink on the side of the wall.
"How long till she can travel?" I questioned, looking over my shoulder. Her eyes were closed now, exhausted from her body's fight with the poison. My own symptoms were limited to fever, throbbing pain, and a burning sensation at night but I fought off the infection two nights ago. We'd been here for a week longer than expected, and with that time it's only grown Zander and I's potential relationship.
"Three days, then she will be cleared." The male spoke as he walked to the door. Waving to us he disappeared behind the metallic entryway.
"Alright. Three days then we'll be on our way home." I could see their relief as they all wanted to go home and be with their pack and family but had a responsibility to stay with their injured pack mate. "Let's be ready to go, alright?" I was met with nods and yes ma'am's.
//\\//\\//\\
The field was gorgeous, wild flowers littered the green grass creating a multicolored ocean, one that drew my gaze right to a woman who stood in all white. She looked like a bride but the dress moved all on its own as there was no wind in this special place. The woman's hair was dark, so dark I almost thought I could see the night sky yet her face was brighter than the sun and paler than the moon. It was all forms of beauty yet none at all for when I looked away I forgot the face of the woman. My brain struggled to keep up but what caught my true attention was Grace walking towards me. She wasn't the Grace I remember, grieving, graying, frail. No she stood in your youth, power in her stance ever movement she made deliberate and powerful.
"Grace?" My voice trembled was I felt an overwhelming warmth encompass my body as she neared.
"Oh honey." She cooed, eyes filling with pride as she looked on. "We are so proud of you. All of us, including your parents." Blinking a few times I feel my chin quiver.
"Where are they? Can I see them?" I spare a glance to mysterious faceless woman behind Grace before returning my focus onto her.
"I'm sorry you cannot. I am only here because you know me and I can speak for Her." The way she spoke of Her was of pure reverence.
"Her?" I look back once more slowly putting the pieces together myself. "She's the Moon isn't she?" While phrased as a question, it was more of a statement.
"Yes. Remember our lessons in history?" Grace spoke eyes searching my own. I nodded once and she looked relieved. "I was right Diana. You are the reincarnation of Leto. His spirit lies within you, you need only to awaken him and he will guide you." Grace looked to the left, I followed suit and there a massive wolf stood tall and proud. The beast held a silver coat of fur with black underlying creating depth and shadow where there truly was none. His ears were perked forward, his silver eyes boring into my own. "Something else They want you to know," her voice brings me back to her swiftly, the breath I'd been holding escaping the chest rapidly. "Leto was the first one be given a mate, he was also the first to suffer a rejection, and yet the first to survive such a loss only to recover with a bond stronger as a gift from the Moon Goddess. He was given a Second Chance, you aren't doomed to relive the tragedy of Fated Love. She has a plan for you, and it doesn't involve silly mistakes such as an early reincarnation of a past lover." Grace's smirk with her words spoke wonders; she was telling me what I needed to hear. The truth.
"I miss you Grace." I whisper. "And Noah. And my parents, tell them I love them." I could already feel myself being pulled, pulled away from this world of peace and wonder. Eyes locking back behind Grace to the Moon I watched trying to memorize the forever changing face of the Goddess. "Goodâ"
"âbye." I finished allowed, eyes slowly opening. A deep pain filled my chest but it was accompanied by assurance of my place in this world. Grace's assumptions were correct I was Leto's reincarnate and I was reliving his life in this new world with a new evil brewing. "Shit."
//\\//\\//\\
Pacing outside of Zander's office, I nibbled on my lip, very unprofessional I know, but I was nervous. Still debating if I was going to tell him the truth about what I'd learned; my pacing however was rudely interrupted by the man himself opening the door. He stood with a partly unbuttoned white shirt, his pants with a belt hung low on his hips. Blinking I caught sight of the tattoos beneath his collar but with the clearing of his throat I shot my gaze back up into his.
I stood with a wide stance, my soft deep maroon dress slacks gripping the upper half of my legs before flaring out, covering the black heels I wore. Above I wore a black button down shirt with a few buttons up top undone showing a black pearl necklace against my collarbone. My hair was pulled up into a neat bun with two curled pieces of hair to frame my face. I lifted a hand to twist the matching black pearl earring before clearing my own throat and spoke up.
"May I come in? I'd like to discuss some things with you." His eyes narrowed at my words but nodded. He knew I was leaving, as my bags had been brought down to the waiting vehicles as well as the rest of my pack's things. Sophie's were added to the mix as she too would be leaving with us as well.
"Of course." He steps aside allowing me space to enter yet still little enough to cause a brief touch between us. Sucking in a deep breath I forced myself to settle down that everything would be okay. "Have you come to turn me down?" He asked finally, walking to his cart of liquor. He poured himself a glass, asking me with his eyes if I wanted one.
"No thank you." I cleared my throat once more and moved to his desk only I noticed it was clearing up. "Where isâ" I trailed off seeing a suitcase next to the desk. Spinning back to face him I noticed he no longer carried the air of an active alpha, but rather more like a retired one. "Mark stepped up." I whisper out, to which he only nodded taking another drink.
"Yes. Which means back to Scotland." He spoke bitterly thinking of the fact he'd be back near his mate. That caused a rage of jealousy to rise up within me, I couldn't help the clenching of my muscles.
"No." My one word drew him to a stop, eyes suddenly taking on a new tone. He looked me up and down, looking for something that'd changed in the last few days. "I spoke with someone important last night. They gave me the truth I needed." I took a small step towards him, meeting his gaze without question. I saw his wolf battling for control, eager to claim what he believed to be his.
"And what was the truth?" His whispered words were deep, voice gravely as he fought to keep hope out of his tone.
"Amongst other vital information, that you and I aren't past Mates. We are each other's Second Chance. A gift from the Moon only given once every thousand years." I explained no longer fighting the grin on my face as he too allowed a shit eating grin to spread.
"So what I'm hearing, is that you finally agree to be my little mate?" His growled words drove shivers of desire up and down my spine. Licking my lips I nod once and that was all he needed. He moved quicker than I was expecting, and suddenly my legs are around his waist, arms on his shoulders and his own are supporting me by my ass. "Good." The gruff growl that followed let me know he had let his wolf peek out. I shivered but rolled my head to the side bearing my neck to the first person ever since I became alpha.
"You're all packed then? Ready to come with me?" I questioned, hesitantly running my hands up his neck to his hair where I tangled my fingers within the locks. He made a guttural noise of deep satisfaction, running his nose along the curve of my neck.
"Aye." With great restraint he released me and I landed on my feet but together we laced hands, grabbed his only suitcase in the office before heading out and down to where my pack mates waited.
//\\//\\//\\
The initial shock of us walking out hand and hand faded into satisfying looks on their faces. It seemed everyone had been banking on us coming together. Leah looked the most shocked, Mark a close second. Beck just smirked and looked away after giving Zander and I a nod of respect.
"I knew it." Sophie declares marching up to me with a cocky grin on her face. "Y'all were bound to happen. Glad you finally gave in." Sophie teases in my direction causing me to roll my eyes.
"Oh hush. Have you said your goodbyes?" I questioned even though I was almost positive she had as her eyes were red and swollen. Her lip trembled but she nodded again, eyes glancing to a group of other teens her age. "I know it's hard but this is what's best. Now go on get in the car." I motioned to the running vehicles, Tyler and Austin loaded laughed inside while Alice helped Madelyn into the back seats. Sophie nodded, making her way over.
"Thank you Alphas, for what both of you have done for this pack." Mark, or I guess Alpha Burch, spoke coming up and offering to shake our hands. Zander shook it first, clapping his cousin's shoulder. "And congrats on the Alpha Female." His tone teasing towards his cousin. They shared a laugh, eyes flashing before Mark looked to me. "I truly am indebted to you and your pack. Should you need anything, you need only call us."
"You owe us nothing. It is what we are tasked with doing and we take pride in aiding our brother's and sister's. Call anytime, Alpha." I grinned seeing him puff up with pride from the new title. My gaze slid to Leah who approached quietly, her eyes downcast as she fought tears. "Oh Leah." I released Zander's hand and met her in an embrace. She sobbed against my shoulder, releasing all the pent up emotions for the past couple weeks. "You are so strong Leah, you are allowed to be vulnerable. It is what packs are for. You have Mist Valley at your back and us. We are still your family." I nuzzle my cheek against hers, a sign of protection and affection for a pack member. Usually deemed taboo should it be preformed on a non member of the pack, but Leah hailed from our pack thus still having our loyalty.
"Thank you." Leah pulled away, wiping at her tears and straightening her back. A few sniffles more before she took on a serious look. "You gave me peace, and for that I am so grateful."
"Don't be. I would do it again in a heartbeat." I gave her hands a squeeze of encouragement. "Remember to love again when you are ready. Rick would never want you to live alone." At the mention of loving again and the name of her Mate a few more tears fell down her cheeks but she held strong and nodded once. One final hug and I was walking towards Zander who leaned against the driver's side of the car. As I climbed in and we started the drive hime we all wore out the windows to the Mist Valley pack, their goodbyes echoing throughout the woods.
//\\//\\//\\
A/N: re written but unedited ð