"A Fine Line Between Dreams and Memories"
The garden was beautifully lighted with fairy lights everywhere. Xavier was standing with his sister, Ileana, and his best friend, Ryan. He took a sip from the glass he was holding and rolled his eyes at the way Ryan and Ileana were making out.
It had been a delightful experience to know that his beta and best friend was mated to his sister. Xavier knew both of them thoroughly and he knew how well they deserved each other. He knew how excited each of them was and he was happy that they didn't have to wait long to recognize their soul mates.
"Ryan, please stop kissing my sister. I have seen enough of you two making out to last me a lifetime," Xavier muttered as he took another sip. He didn't look once towards them as they spoke. His eyes remained stuck on the girl wearing a blue dress standing on the other side of the garden.
"Brother, your mate is right there. I don't even know why you standing with us right now instead of going and being with her," Ileana muttered as she fixed her hair and stood beside them.
Ileana loved her brother more than anything she has ever known. As their father had always been extremely busy because of their large number of pack members, Xavier had been the one helping her out with everything. However, she hated it when her brother interrupted her make-out sessions with her mate. She hoped he would find his mate soon now as he was already 24 years old. Now that Xavier had found his mate, Ileana couldn't figure out why he wasn't with her.
"Just giving her some space with our parents..." Xavier said. He was pleased to see that his parents and mate were getting along really well. Selena's father and his father had been good friends. Since they were both acting alphas, the only way for them to meet was in the Alpha's Gatherings. Thus, these two had never met, as only the alphas and their mates were to attend this meeting.
"Xavier, it is time for the ceremony," Ryan said and Xavier nodded.
He kept the glass down on a table as he walked by it and approached his family, "It's time." He said with a gentle smile and Selena nodded.
She stood up and Xavier held her hand gently, mostly to remind himself that this beautiful she-wolf, right in front of him, was his. The simple touch was enough for them both to feel the tingle. Selena blushed visibly making Xavier smirk gently, he loved the way she blushed from such a simple touch from him.
They were both lost in the others' eyes until Xavier heard his mother saying how cute they were. He rolled his eyes and smile as he gently tugged her towards the makeshift stage they had built for the ceremony.
"Wolves!" He said in a loud voice and every single person in the garden was then looking at them. Selena stood beside him with confidence and her head held up. She knew that four elders were there in the gathering, standing somewhere among the crowd and she didn't want to give them any extra opportunity to question her.
"Firstly, I wanted to thank you all for being cooperative and being such good pack mates," they all clapped and cheered and some even howled making Selena smile. Xavier too grinned at them and continued, "As you all know, today's ceremony is to welcome a new member into our pack."
This time, they all remained silent. After a long time, a new member was being granted entry into the pack and everyone wanted to know what was so special with this she-wolf.
"I would like you guys to meet Miss Selena Wilson here," Xavier was still holding her hand as he pulled her forward a bit, Selena looked at the eye of every other member in the pack and Xavier continued, "She has been here for a month now. Her pack was wiped out by the hunters two years ago. Yes, she was a member of the Lunar Eclipse Pack. And now, she will be a part of the Ferocious Shadows, she will be one of us. Do any of you have any questions?" He asked and a man from the right side of the ground raised his hand.
The man spoke after Xavier nodded for him to go ahead, "Where was she for this past two years, alpha?"
He was dreading this question. He didn't know if Selena was okay with everyone knowing about the past two years of her life. He didn't know if she would want everyone to know about that traumatic experience of her life, so he had decided to have diverted the question to be answered later.
However, just as he was going to speak, Selena held his hand. A few of the pack members gasped since no one dared to stop the alpha from speaking.
"Can I?" Selena asked politely. Xavier felt this pride in his heart on seeing his mate taking the first step and nodded.
Selena cleared her throat and looked at the man, "I was held captive by the hunters," She said clearly. The man's eyes widened and the others gasped, "I was able to run away from them only a few days before I stumbled upon this pack."
"How can we trust her?" the same man asked again, and this time everyone agreed.
Xavier sighed, "She's of our kind!" He shouted to be heard above all the voices and everyone silenced on hearing him, "She is a werewolf, held captive and tortured by hunters. I know you all have your doubts. But what if this was any of you?" this made all of them quiet, "I ask you guys to have faith in me. I will never put you guys in harm's way." A few of the members nodded and a few cheers from them had the others agreeing too.
Xavier continued, "We have all seen her fight during training in the past two weeks. She is an asset to be added to this pack and I hope to see you all treating her with respect."
Saying this, Xavier took the knife that was there on the table he looked at Selena as asked, "Are you ready?"
"Yes," She whispered. Her eyes were stuck on him and he could see the affection in them. He smiled.
Xavier made a little cut on his palm and then made another cut in Selena's palm. They joined their hands making their blood mix. For a second, Selena felt dizzy but Xavier's firm grip held on to her. As she was of alpha blood, entering a new pack and just as a casual member was not as easy for her as she had thought.
Xavier could see the moment Selena was accepted into the pack. She kept blinking as her mind dealt with so many suddenly made connections after such a long time. She took a deep breath and let go of his hand only to see that both of their hands had healed.
'Welcome to the pack, Selena.' she could hear the whole of Xavier's family saying to her and she smiled. She also heard some of the pack members welcoming her which made her smile, as she thanked them.
Xavier turned to the people again, "I know what you are thinking, you all feel her power and dominance. She is the daughter of the alpha of her pack," the eyes of the wolves in front of them widened, "and I would expect you to all to treat her with as much respect as you treat me."
"Alpha, she seems really strong," a girl exclaimed from the crowd.
Xavier smiled. What his pack-mates were feeling was not only because of her rank, they were also recognizing her wolf as their Luna, hence her dominance and strength will be more effective on them than it would have been if she would not have been her mate.
"Another thing," Selena looked at Xavier wondering if he was going to do what she thought, "I am sure you all feel her strength and dominance. As my fellow members, I would like to announce to you all that this new member, Miss Selena Wilson, is also my mate, your future Luna."
This final announcement brought even louder cheers of support from the pack and Xavier chuckled lightly, he had been waiting for six years for his mate. Seeing his pack being happy for him made him extremely happy and proud.
His pride increased when he saw his pack mates kneel on one knee one by one, to show their submission to their Luna.
After Selena had thanked them all once again and Xavier had dismissed them, he was just sitting at one of the garden tables with her. They were mostly just talking about how Selena's days were in her pack and she was sharing a few memories of her younger days.
They got interrupted once when Ryan had called Xavier to talk to him about some issues in the pack. The group of four elders chose this time to go talk to the long-lost Alpha.
When they all approached her, Selena stood up to greet them,
"Alpha Selena," one of the elders said, "Nice to finally meet you. Your father had told us a lot about you. I am elder Zoltar." The man smiled.
Just as Elder Zoltar had finished his sentence, Xavier was right back beside her. Xavier's eyes were cautious. Elder Zoltar was not one of his favourites and he had a good reason for that. Xavier held Selena's waist as he stared right at Zoltar.
"I hope you don't come to regret your decision, Alpha," he says looking at Selena, making Xavier narrow his eyes.
Selena smiled, which the elders could clearly see was uncomfortable. She didn't know what Elder Zoltar wanted from her but she could feel him being hostile towards her. She looked straight at his eyes as she spoke, "I am an alpha without a pack, which makes me no one Elder Zoltar. I know what I am doing, I won't regret it,
Xavier smirked on hearing her answer and the other elders smiled too. But Zoltar wasn't happy. His face became annoyed and he dropped the happy facade but he still made sure he was polite, "I don't mean to be rude, but I just can't fathom why you would happily agree to be just a mere member under another alpha."
"Then what do you suggest I should have done, Elder?" She asked. Xavier, as a mate, could read that Selena was losing her patience.
"I wanted... No, more like I hoped you would fight back and own a pack. Lead like the alpha you were born to be. Robert trained you so well. I am ashamed to see you do this." He sneered.
"Do not dare to bring my father in this!" Selena raised her voice. Her eyes were glowing silver as it wasn't just her, but Izzy had made an appearance too. It was an alpha wolf making an entry to make sure the others know who they were talking to.
From the corner of his eyes, Xavier saw that the closest of his pack members had knelt in submission. Yes, Selena was a very strong alpha female. He saw Elder Zoltar twitching and he knew he was feeling the dominance too.
"Yes, my father trained me. But he also told me from the very beginning that no one can be an alpha without a pack that respects them. This pack loves Alpha Xavier. He is nice to them and takes great care of them. Overall, I know how it feels to lose a pack; I wouldn't wish it upon anyone." Selena said looking at his eyes and his expressions told her that he hated every minute of it too, she knew now Xavier wasn't really fond of Zoltar. "My father also taught me to face any situation with valour. I will not just kill an innocent without a reason, just to gain more power."
"Your wolf should not allow it." He growled. Xavier took a step forward but Selena held his hand. Zoltar smirked, "It just proves how weak you actually are. Your pack actually was saved that they got slaughtered... I mean, I'm sure they would have preferred death than being ruled by a weakling like..."
He couldn't finish... Selena's fist connected with his face before she could stop Izzy, and for once, she didn't regret this impulsive action. Selena was shocked but Izzy was fuming, he might be an Elder and they get enough respect for it. But nothing gives them the right to disrespect someone else.
"My pack didn't deserve to die." Selena seethed. She held his collar and pulled him towards her so that his eyes were right in front of her glowing silver ones, "Every member of my pack fought with bravery and valour. They fought for their lives, their family, their pack members, their leaders. My parents died trying to save their pack, my siblings two of which hadn't even received their wolf yet were slaughtered. I would highly appreciate it if you wouldn't joke about it, Elder Voltar. The next time, I wouldn't stop at just a punch."
The dominance rolling off of her had brought Elder Zoltar to his knees as soon as Selena let go of him.
The anger and rage were something she couldn't even describe. This man has no right to say such things when he knows nothing about them. Selena turned around and walked inside without looking at anyone else. This wasn't the way she thought the night would have ended.
Xavier stepped forward as the other elders helped Zoltar up. However, the man spoke again, Before Xavier could speak, "You fool! She has been with the hunters for a year! She has no alibi. You don't even know what her intentions are..."
"She's my mate." He said interrupted Zoltar, "I trust her with all I have."
"One day, you will regret this." Zoltar fumed, "Hunters don't play fair. She shouldn't even be alive. What if she is working from them?"
"Mind your words, Elder!" They were both standing face to face now, Xavier's eyes were now glowing too, "I know her. I know her enough to know what she is capable of. She'd never do that," Xavier said.
'LIAR!'
Xavier sat up on his bed, drenched in his own sweat. He could feel his wolf sitting smugly in his mind. That was one hell of a dream he thought.
He sighed and took a gulp of water from the glass on his bedside table.
'A fine line between memories and dreams, huh?' Zion asked.
Xavier stood up from the bed and went to the balcony of his room. He got a good view of the woods and took a deep breath of the fresh air.
'I fucked up...' he whispered in his mind.
'Big-time,' his wolf responded.
'I got angry, Zion,' Xavier said, and the pain in his voice was clearly visible too.
Zion also sighed before he spoke after a few seconds, 'Remember when we had gone back to her room to see if she was okay? Remember the conversation?'
Xavier winced.
Selena had been very sad about it as Zoltar had actually hit one of her weak spots. She didn't have an alibi for all the things she went through... and it's true, hunters don't take captives. So why did they take her?
Xavier had tried to assure Selena that he will never doubt her. But she kept asking things like what if someone had some kind of proof because she knew firsthand how manipulative hunters can be.
Xavier had just smiled. He had taken her face in his hands and held eye contact with her before saying, "I know your wolf. And I know you. If necessary, I will go to the end of the world to find something, anything. I will not give up until I am sure that I have reached the truth."
The breeze kissed Xavier as he remembered his first kiss with Selena.
'You gave up, Xavier. You didn't even try. You just believed whatever you saw,' Zion said painfully
Xavier stood quiet for a while as he remembered the kiss. Her soft lips, the way they seemed to complete one another, the way her hands felt in his hair... He chuckled darkly.
"God I am such an asshole," he whispered, "I need to do an investigation on my own. If she isn't working with the hunters, somebody else is, it has to be..." he stopped whispered when he realised what he has to do. Zion was growling and Xavier himself didn't like it one bit...
'Do we really have no other option?' Zion growled.
'The pack can't know.'
He couldn't revoke the punishment.
'Make sure to find something out soon' Zion muttered
Xavier had also decided that. He had made a promise to his mate. He won't stop until he has found something. He mentally apologized to his mate. He couldn't let Selena know as well. He didn't want to take any risk of anyone knowing. This was his own little mission.
As Xavier went to make preparations, his wolf blocked their link.
Zion was proud of his human. Yeah he made a mistake, but who doesn't? He acted impulsively and made a complete disaster of the whole situation. But he is man enough to own up to it and work to make it right... Not many wolves do that.
____|~.~|____
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