It'd been around three days since King Ruben's decree. I'd spent most of my time training in the gym with Valen, learning pack traditions with Von, or lounging in my room with Aislinn.
I hadn't anticipated that I wouldn't get any alone time when King Ruben made his decision, but I literally always had someone at my side. I was starting to get a little sick of it and I really needed some time to myself.
I groaned as I rolled over on my bed. I'd been trying to read a novel for the last hour, but I'd been stuck on the same chapter reading the same page over and over again. I looked over at Aislinn who was sewing peacefully at the reading nook.
"Can't we go do something? I'm tired of sitting here," I complained to her.
"Nope. You know the rules. Besides, it's only been three days. I think you can manage." I glared at her.
"Three days feels like forever when you're constantly being watched. Maybe we could just go into town? Grab a coffee? Maybe stop by Maria's shop?"
Maria had been in the process of designing my ball gown, and I was more than eager to catch a glimpse of it.
"Okay, we both know Maria isn't going to spill the beans. Your dress is locked up tighter than the royal jewels. You won't get a single hint from her until it's time for you to wear it." Aislinn chuckled.
"But getting out and stretching our legs does sound nice, I'll have to ask Queen Stella." Her eyes glazed over as she mind-linked someone.
"Von will be up here in a second to wait with you while I talk with her."
"You couldn't just mind-link her?"
"No, she's a busy woman. Half the time her direct links to anyone other than the king or the princes are blocked. I've notified her staff that I will be coming, though. Maybe in the mean time you can pick something other than sweats to wear." I glared at her once again.
"What's wrong with my sweats?" She just laughed at me before opening the door. Von stood in my doorway, dripping with elegance and beauty.
"Whew, there's a goddamn Greek God standing in our room," Sienna panted at me. My cheeks burned at her brash comment, but I didn't acknowledge it. Instead I glanced down at my sweats.
Ah, now I understand.
Here I am looking like I belong on the streets with the world's hottest werewolf smiling at me. I could have at least brushed my hair. I tried to discreetly tame the beast sitting atop my head.
"Had enough of lockdown yet?" Von asked me, his voice smooth and melodious.
"Oh, most definitely. I really need my own space. And, I really, really need to get out of this castle." He chuckled.
"Well, hopefully you've learned your lesson. What is it Aislinn said you wanted to do again?"
"Just go to town and get some coffee, maybe stop by and see Maria." I shrugged my shoulders.
"That sounds...surprisingly pleasant. Perhaps you and I could go together one day?" I smiled at him.
"Of course. I really enjoy your company." His expression shifted a little.
"Listen, Indigo, I know you're upset at me and my brother for going to our father," he began.
I watched him carefully. It was true, I'd been a little upset with them at first. I hadn't really had a proper conversation with either of them up until this point, but I understood why they did it.
That doesn't mean I like it, though.
"I want you to know that I'm sorry I didn't give you the chance to explain what happened on your terms. We just panicked. The thought of you potentially getting hurt out there alone..." he cleared his throat. "Well, it was hard to stomach."
My cool demeanor melted away. Not only had they been worried about the pack, they'd been worried about me as well.
"I also really hope this doesn't change anything between us," he said while looking at his hands. "I know I technically only have a fifty percent chance of getting chosen by you, but I wouldn't want to start off on the wrong foot again." I jumped up from my bed and threw my arms around him.
"Apology accepted. I understand, and it's okay. Nothing has changed between us," I assured him.
He looked down at me and smiled his dimpled smile. I stepped back as Aislinn re-entered the room. She cocked an eyebrow, but didn't comment.
"Queen Stella has permitted us to go to town. Now hurry up and go change, I want to get out of here." I laughed at her and hurried to my closet as I waved good-bye to Von.
***
Later that night I was soaking in my bathtub, when Aislinn barged right in. I screamed and tried to cover my very naked body.
Nudity was a pretty normal thing in the werewolf world, but who wouldn't get a little freaked out when someone comes into your bathroom like a raving lunatic? Aislinn was basically vibrating from how fast she was bouncing up and down.
"Ever heard of knocking?" I growled out. She just grinned.
"I have some great news, sour puss. Get out and get some clothes on. We're running tonight."
My heart began to pound in excitement at the thought of letting Sienna out. She'd been just as restless as I was. I quickly hopped out and dried myself before throwing on some running gear. I carelessly flung my hair into a ponytail and joined Aislinn in my bedroom.
"What's going on?"
"King Ruben granted the princes permission to take us to a meadow about an hour's drive from here. He said you can practice your abilities tonight. There's a pack meeting going on, so everyone will be occupied."
I shrieked with glee. Despite having just found out I even had these abilities, I'd been dying to know more about them. Aislinn took my hand and led me outside the castle, where a black off jeep was sitting out front.
It was truly a thing of beauty.
Wonderfully kitted for off-road adventures, with wheels that reached my waist. Did I mention it was black? Because that sleek paint job had me drooling. Aislinn snapped her fingers in front of my face.
"You can compose yourself around the most attractive males on Earth, but put a jeep in front of your face and your brain stops firing."
"I can't help it, it's a good looking car."
She rolled her eyes, but opened the back door for me. I hopped in and realized Valen and Von were already seated up front.
"Good evening, beautiful," Von greeted me. Valen sent a quick glare his way.
"Hey," was all he said.
Aislinn hopped in and buckled her seat belt before Von peeled out. The rest of the ride was spent in silence as we flew down dirt roads with trees on either side of us. Aislinn was clutching onto the seat for dear life, but I was exhilarated. All too soon we arrived at the meadow.
I stepped out and took a deep breath. So far, everything about this pack's land was beautiful. The meadow was nestled nicely between two mountains, trees lining the edges.
The moonlight shone down brilliantly on the tall grass, making the green stalks look silver. You could hear crickets playing their midnight symphony in the distance and the flicker of a lightning bug would appear every so often. I reached down and ran my hand through the soft dirt. This place was heaven.
"Indigo, you'll need to shift," Valen said to me.
I nodded my head and disappeared around the jeep, before stepping back out on all fours. I cocked my head to the side. Valen smirked.
"No, we won't be shifting. You're not initiated yet, you won't be able to mind-link."
I nodded my head, and we began to make our way to the middle of the meadow. I stopped and looked up at the moon as a peaceful sensation filled my being. I knew what I was doing was right. I looked back and realized they were all watching me.
"I guess we don't really know how to begin this," Von muttered.
"She did say that it was easier to bring forth in highly emotional situations," Aislinn chimed in. I nodded at her.
Von looked to Valen and back to me, before signaling to Valen to shift. He did so before coming over to Sienna. Sienna bowed her head and showed her neck in submission. Orion sniffed at her before licking her snout to signal it was time to focus.
Von's eyes glazed over as he mind-linked Valen and Orion.
Suddenly, I felt the atmosphere change. Orion began to growl, low and threatening. He lowered his head to the ground, and stalked around me. The fur on my hackles stood up, as I let out a warning growl of my own. Orion nipped at my hind leg, and I turned on him in a flash, baring my teeth.
I wasn't sure what was going on, or what Von had said to make his mood change so dramatically, but I was genuinely scared right now. I didn't know if Valen had any control over Orion or if he was acting only on his animal instincts.
An alpha who's wolf was in control could be a very formidable opponent.
I began to feel again like I was tethered to the moon. Almost as if I was borrowing some of her light. I knew what I had to do. I skittered a few steps back so that Orion couldn't pounce at me while I tried to concentrate.
I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. The smell of the earth permeated my senses, and I felt as though the roots in the ground were attached to me like tiny fingers. I felt another surge of energy, and imagined the roots bursting from the dirt and wrapping themselves around Orion, effectively trapping him in their grasp. I reopened my eyes when I heard Aislinn gasp and Von call my name.
I had done it.
There, rolling on the ground looking for an escape, was Orion tangled up in a mass of wild roots. He met my eyes and nodded approvingly. Pride swelled in my heart, as I concentrated again and the roots began to untangle themselves from his body.
I wondered if I could call forth my abilities without feeling threatened?
As if reading my mind, Aislinn voiced that same thought to Von. He furrowed his brow for a moment before nodding again at Valen. He shifted back and quickly dressed before coming over to me.
"That was a hell of a show. Think you can do it without Orion and I attacking you?"
I wasn't sure, but I wanted to try. I hesitantly nodded my head again.
I sat down and dug my claws into the dirt. I could still feel tiny wisps of the tethers that had been attached to me before, but they were fading quickly. I concentrated harder and nothing happened. I clenched my jaw and pushed all of my energy to those wisps, before feeling them become stronger once again. I gasped in amazement, and they quickly disappeared. I groaned and laid my head down.
I was beginning to get a headache.
"Let's take a break for a moment," Valen suggested.
Von nodded and pulled a small cooler out from the Jeep. He handed out sandwiches to everyone, pausing at me to give me time to shift and dress again.
I gratefully took the food. Apparently using one's new abilities really worked up an appetite.
"I wonder why it only works when you're feeling threatened," Von mused aloud.
"I'm not sure," I said around a mouthful of food. "Maybe it's only meant to be used as a defense. Could you imagine constantly going on the offense with these abilities? If they were in the hands of the wrong wolf, it could be devastating." Von nodded and Valen stiffened.
"We need to make sure you can control it then. We have to know you can protect yourself at all times. Does anyone else know about your abilities?" Von questioned.
"No, there's no way. I didn't even know about them."
"What about your family?"
"I doubt it." A lightbulb went off in my head.
"Actually, my Aunt Maddie might know something. I know my mother had the same color eyes as I do, and she instructed Aunt Maddie to give me the pouch you saw the other day. I bet she knows what's in it. She could probably help us get the answers we need." Everyone looked stunned for a moment.
"Aunt Maddie has been permitted to come to the ball," Aislinn offered.
"Great!" Valen exclaimed. "When does she arrive?"
"She won't be here until the night of. Something about being needed until then at Moonlight pack."
Well that was odd, Aunt Maddie was sick and was rarely able to get out of the house anymore.
"Same goes for Artemis," Aislinn added.
"I think it would be best if we hold off on practicing until then. That way we can bring them with us and have a discussion with Aunt Maddie to see what she knows," said Valen. Von looked at his brother with a shocked expression.
"What?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking the same thing," Von replied while grinning.
Valen groaned. "Don't tell me we actually agreed on something for once. It's my sole purpose in life to defy everything you do," he teased. Von laughed.
"That it is, my brother, that it is."
Author's Note:
Sorry, this is a little bit of a filler chapter, but I felt like it was important to show Von and Valen's dynamic a bit. And to also let Indigo play around some. Girl deserves a break! Let me know what you think, and please don't forget to vote!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris