“Why don’t you ask what has plagued your mind and heart for so long?” Her eyes held a bit of concern and sadness in them. She sat there on the stump, waiting on my question.
What I wanted to ask was still painful even after all these years. The sight of him lying on those steps in my mother’s arms, while I could do nothing to help him. “Why did you let Archer die? Why not let me die? He would have been better for the pack. Not me.”
I could feel the tears falling from my eyes. What a weak alpha I was, crying in front of the mother of all wolves. “You have never been a weak alpha, Nolen. For all you have endured, you are stronger than you believe. Archer was never to be alpha of the Rhyolite pack. They were always your pack, Nolen. Even before you were born.”
I paced in front of her as I tried to make sense of what she told me. “Then why have me born second?”
“Because you had to grow up in a different manner to see things differently than the other Alphas. That is their weakness; they don’t have what you have, Nolen. They are arrogant, thinking that because they are alphas, they are better than their packs. You will show them what it’s like to lead a pack fairly.” The Moon Goddess stood, coming up to me and placing her hands on my forearms.
“That makes no sense. I loved my brother! And you took him away from me, leaving me with a pack that hated me because I was weak in their eyes. They didn’t want me as their alpha; they wanted Archer. And Sawyer is not like those other alphas; he is good and just.” Glaring at her as tears now streamed down my face, I would not let her talk like that about Sawyer. He had become like a brother to me.
“I didn’t take him completely away from you, my dear son. He has always been with you, and even more since you obtained your wolf. Do you think Sawyer would be the way he is now if you had not gone to his pack to train? Do you not think things would have been different if Archer was alpha and not you?” The Moon Goddess never took her eyes away from mine nor her hands from my arms. “This was both of your destinies. He would be at your side to show you how to rule a pack that did not see you for what you are.”
“If you are talking about him being a part of me in my heart, then I’ve been told that line before. That’s not the same as having him here physically.” My voice cracked from all the emotion that she dredged from me. This was not what I wanted to hear. I wanted answers, not more unanswered questions.
“No, dear. He is with you because you have his wolf.”
Chapter Nineteen: Battle for Quartzite Pack
I stood there staring at her. I was so confused I couldn’t make any words come out of my mouth, turning from her so I could process what she had told me. Wrapping my mind over this left me more confused than not. “His wolf was Sarge?”
“Yes.”
Sarge whimpered in my head, his paws over his face. Gazing around the clearing she had brought us to, the moonflowers were blooming, emitting the most amazing scent, which I associated with Amora.
“Then the prophecy is about us. Me and Archer.” The scent calmed me, bringing me back to the first kiss between Amora and me. Oh, how I wanted to have her in my arms again, pressing my lips against hers.
“Yes. You have to save the packs from the Dolostone Alpha. He has become greedy and is now wanting all wolves under him. To worship him instead of me.”
I rounded on her, still more confused. “I’ve already fought Alpha Wade; he beat me!”
“I believe you can win this time. You have become stronger and quicker than before. All you have to do is trust in Sarge.” Her hand came up to my face like my mother always did. “Our time has been quite intriguing. Go and fulfill your destiny.”
I didn’t know what to say to her before she disappeared. I stood there, now naked, in the clearing with the moonflowers, their scent all around me. I had to get to the cave and let them know we needed to leave now.
Taking one last deep breath of the moonflowers scent, I shifted and raced through the woods to the cave. Pushing myself and Sarge through the underbrush as fast as I could.
Why didn’t you tell me?
I tried. Your brother said you were smart. So I figured dropping hints would help.
Really? Hints!
What? It’s not like I could tell you straight out. Selene told me I couldn’t say anything to you. Not until she was able to talk to you. I’m sorry.
Don’t be. You were only following orders.
The pounding of our feet on the forest floor rang in our ears. The sun rose over the trees, its bright pinks and oranges painting the sky just as I made it to the entrance of the cave. The others were up, and another male was with them.
I recognized this platinum blond wolf! He was Sawyer’s gamma! Shifting quicker than I had ever done, I entered the cave. Olli glanced up first and then Fin with his signature stoic face.
Sawyer’s gamma turned to find out what they were staring at, and when he saw me, he jumped up and ran to me. “I’m so glad I found you! We need to go now. The Dolostone Alpha wants to fight our pack. We need you and anyone else willing to fight.”
Glancing over to the others, Ollie’s eyes connected with mine, and he nodded. My gaze swept over each of the wolves that had helped me during this time as they stood up, nodding to me. “Okay, let’s go. How far are we from the pack?”
“A day if we don’t stop. Hopefully, the Dolostone pack hasn’t started the attack yet.”
“When did he say he would attack?”