"I underestimated you Seraphina, you may leave unharmed on two conditions." I nodded in acceptance. "One you keep our secret. If anyone else knew we were a true pack the elders would be on us and our way of life would be forced into their standards." She looked at Anya, "you understand the freedom cherry, it comes with a price. No one can know if they are not trust worthy."
Anya nodded, "I understand." I could see the sadness in her tone. There was so much I didn't know but couldn't dare to ask.
"Your second condition." I said to break the tension.
Selena smiled,"you remember my kindness in the future, a time may come where I may call upon a favor in the future."
I grit my teeth, "I lack any power to assist you in anyway."
"You may think so now but I feel you'll be heading for glory rather you expect it or not, I simply ask you remember us favorably."
It didn't sound bad, given my berserk moment it was more than fair. Though my takeaway was not positive, I would definitely remember them all. "I accept. I will remember y'all, favorably will depend on your reaction to war."
Selena looked at Hawk and sighed, "fine, I will leave it to Hawk. He is a military commander with war experience. Call on him when you need him."
Hawk looked at my confused face with an apple in his mouth. He was a war hero? A commander at that? I told my head a bit to see a bigger picture when he looked at me on surprise. "You think she's lying?! I was the commander of the elder army many moons ago, I have it up because it was boring. You don't realize how controlling the elders are if you're not right up with them."
I believed it. The power they showed at the Gala was taste enough. Though it worked in my favor I knew well not to oppose them.
"We will meet your conditions, I will see you again someday I am certain."
"That you will, Seraphina."
Me and any were quick to leave. Everything felt like such a blur. A month or so ago I was an abandoned Luna but now? I was gathering an army for a war I would have never known about until it was too late. I looked at Anya who looked tired. She has faced some of her past, it was understandable to be tired but she recovered quickly as she stopped a cafe across the street.
"Let's get some food!" She had stars in her eyes she was so eager, I couldn't help but smile as I nodded. Almost dying must have made her hungry.
Inside was cute and cozy, it felt like my old packs dining hall where everyone gathered for food and stories. It even smelled like my childhood. I felt so lost in nostalgia I almost hasn't noticed a portly woman with wide ruby eyes and light blue hair tied in a messy bun looking at me. She was familiar but I couldn't put a finger on it. We started at each other, both in curiosity until Anya squeaked about something on the menu.
"Can I take your order?"I had never seen such a disinterested waiter. But he was young, maybe a late teenager.
I cleared my throat, "just a moment more please?"
"Ugh. Whatever. Want anything to drink?"
I wanted to punch his ear but I let it go with a heavy sigh. "I'll have water and she'll have-"
"A chocolate milkshake!"
I chuckled. "A chocolate milkshake, thanks." The waiter shrugged and trudged off. Anya stared at the menu with watery lips but suddenly became quiet. "Is everything ok Anya?"
She bit her lip trying to remain calm. "I miss Brock." I could see in her teary eyes her and voice he had never left her mind.
"How did y'all meet?"
I left Shadow Moon after rejecting Jack. He was such a jerk, I couldn't stand the thought of being tied to him you know? And he killed without mercy. It was frightening to think I'd be such a cold man's wife." She suffered at the thought. "Anyway I found myself in this city, under hawk who trained me to defend myself and be stronger. He was like a father figure to me but I couldn't rank up and I never knew why until today." She drummed her fingers lightly on the table as it all settled and she let out a sigh. "When I got frustrated I just... Kinda... Left. I didn't think anyone would care. When I left I was in a bad place when I met Brock in an alleyway. He looked like a dog from the human world but I could feel his energy. I don't know why but I nursed him into full health and he shared his human form with me. We decided to travel as a duo. Away from everything." She had stopped crying but sadness still rang in her eyes.
" I know what it's like to want to leave everything bad behind." The memories of Victor came forth but I no longer flinched at them, I let them fade in their own time. "I will be there for you always, just say the word."
Anya smiled. "Thank you, Sera. What will you do when this is over? Will you marry Davion?"
I hadn't thought much of the future, only the now but this quiet break had my thoughts churning. Would I settle down again? I enjoyed my freedom quite a bit but it felt lonely at times to. First things first was to pay respects to my mother's grave. I wish I could see the moonstone pack again but many were killed that night. I felt remorse I wasn't there. More so now as I found such a stronger power laid dormant inside. I could have helped. I couldn't dwell on the past. I had to look forward.
The deep conversation faded into Anya's indecisiveness over the menu, it felt joyous to share this moment. It felt even better when Brock came in with Davion at his side. I don't know exactly when his presence made my cheeks pink but I've come to terms with it. They sat down and the waiter grumbled in the distance.
Davion looked curiously at the disgruntled teen but I just shook my head. Davion ordered a cup of coffee and Brock just shared with Anya in her impressive sized milkshake. We ordered some fries for an appetizer, I ordered a sweet glazed salmon dish with fresh greens, Anya ordered the entire menu when Davion offered to pay which offered her and Brock many varieties. Davion didn't eat much of anything. I looked at him curiously but he just shrugged.
As the meal can to an end and our bellies we're full we called for the bill but instead of our gloomy waiter it was the portly woman from before. She trembled as he handed me specifically the check book and as I looked into those eyes my heart skipped a beat.
"A-auntie."
The woman squealed as she pulled me into a tight hug and spun me around. "Oh my stars! I thought he had been lost to the ages! I never trusted the little.... Nevermind. I'm just so blessed to see you!"
It was mixed feelings. I did miss the moonstone pack but my aunt was, less than friendly in my youth. She looked down on my mother who had forsaken her priestess-hood for my father whom left her alone with a child. She was never abusive but she was also not friendly, she had always simply existed. Perhaps years had changed her into a more agreeable person. I hugged her back and the faint familiar scent of child hood hit me. She was warm, sweet and fragrant as a blossoming meadow in spring. I almost double-entendre contain my tears as I buried my face in her shoulder. We stood embraced until Anya broke the silence.
"You have an aunt??"
"Yes. I came from a nomadic pack, we were small and peaceful. They... No longer exist."
Everyone looked down, the scene getting solemn when Hawk popped into the cafe.
"Ello Marie! Got my pine-" he looked at us in surprise. "Would have thought you two left, he looked at Davion and immediately bowed."my lord-ship." I knew the Shadow Moon were spoken as legend but to think their alpha was revered as nobility was surprising.
My aunt looked at Hawk like a disgruntled mother and pinched his ear as such, "you little loud punk!!"
I chuckled as the tensioned eased. It felt so nice to see her again. The moonstone pack was small and unamusing, their annihilation was an insignificant blip in the werewolf news network but to me it always left a hole in my heart. I always thought I'd they still existed I could have found the courage to leave sooner but it was just my way of blaming my cowardice elsewhere. I held my aunt's hand tightly as the memories we shared reconnected. The familial link could never be severed only dormant.
"Oh Sera... I'm so sorry" I could feel her feelings. She pitied my mother and had always secretly helped her but she was too prideful. Now she lived with regrets, regrets not to different from my own.
"It's ok Auntie. I understand." We could let go of the past now and live for the future.
Davion smiled at the reunion. "It's good to find family again."
I looked at him and saw a hint of sorrow in his eyes. Perhaps family was a soft spot? I realized I knew nothing about him. I wasn't sure if my feelings but I felt if we were going to be friends I needed to know him more.
"Want to take a walk with me?" I offered him my hand which he accepted happily. "I'll be back soon auntie, we have so much to catch up on!" I pulled him away with me and realized I didn't know the city at all. Looking around everything seemed so crowded, I didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
He chuckled softly as he took the lead. "Follow me."
I could tell he had a playful and mischievous side, it was cute and attractive but he had more layers. He was like an ocean. Beautiful shallow shores but mysterious endless depth. I followed him through alleyways and shady streets, it felt unnerving but with him by my side I had no fear. Soon he stopped at a locked iron door of the city gate. Before I could question he put a lip to my finger and covered my eyes. When he let go we were outside on a beautiful sandy white beach.
"H-how did we?" I looked at him but he just smiled as he pulled me along. I had never seen the ocean outside of pictures and through a screen. I threw off my shoes and rolled up my pant legs as I stepped into the soft warm sand. I always dreamt how it would be and reality didn't disappoint. The air was sweet and cool along the shoreline, it made my heart tingle as the water splashed into my bare feet. In such a short time I had experienced more life than I ever had trapped in my married life. I looked at Davion, his face so serene as he watched the seeing sun. The sweet taste of freedom made it harder to accept Davion's feelings but the look in his eyes reminded me of our first encounter, perhaps he was lonely and he wouldn't treat me like an object but as an equal. I dare not ask him, my heart was still wounded and my freedom too new.
We sat in the sand in silence for a while. My heart in constant struggle until he broke the silence. "Beautiful isn't it?"
No matter my confusion he made me feel calm, I smiled as I took it in clear minded. "Yes, it is"
We stayed silently admiring the scenery as the ocean waters reelected the silvery sparkles of the night sky. Again Davion was the first to speak, his voice calm yet vulnerable. "I don't know what you know about the Shadow Moon pack, I know there are a lot of rumors."
I peeked at him out of my peripheral vision. "It'd be a lie of I said I wasn't curious."
He chuckled. "We are like any other pack really. My father, the former alpha, was strong and kept to himself. My mother... She was a free spirit." He talked so tenderly and affectionately, I felt my heart ache as I thought of my own parents.
"W-what was it like? Your childhood?"
"Full of adventure." He looked out with a smile as he recalled his youth. I don't know what changed in his life to give him such a dangerous side but this side of him was lovely.
We stayed out all night talking, sharing stories of our childhood and I could feel myself connecting with him. The Shadow Moon were nomadic like the moonstone though they were more like soldiers defending territories, despite their duty as protectors Davion experienced a full childhood with lots of beautiful memories. I felt so happy hearing his life and sharing mine with shared enthusiasm. As we the night he deeper we laid out in the sand, lost in each other's memories.
As I shut my eyes a memory came to mind. An old faded memory. I was young. No more than five years old and as I found myself lost in the woods a black wolf with Jasper eyes sat with me, keeping me company until my mother found me. That wolf was fuzzy but so familiar. I tried to think but the memory faded and others of my childhood played. I walked through them once again finding myself lost in joyous nostalgia until I saw a memory from just before I met Victor, again I saw that same hazy black wolf. Who were they? Why were they so familiar? The more I tried to think the more my memories began to clutter my mind and my head began to ache. They faded away when I saw my first memory of Davion. A mighty black wolf with Jasper eyes though this time he was clear as day.
The wolf I had long forgotten. The hazy memory of an old friend. It was Davion.
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