Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
“What is that supposed to mean?” Bell asked.
“It means, that you don’t share so much as take other people’s plates with a thank you and smile,” Axel laughed.
Bell scoffed but didn’t deny it.
“Thank you,” Galen said to Axel, then gave Corrine a nod of gratitude.
“Of course,” she replied. “Wyatt lost almost as much as I gained when I was pregnant with Axel. I cannot count the number of times I stole his plate, and he never complained, not once.”
Corrine smiled with love and affection. Galen and Bell gave each other a glance and a smile.
“That’s ridiculous,” Axel said. “I get that you need more food when you are pregnant, but how could dad just sit back while you stole his plate… that would drive me crazy.”
“Just wait. You’ll find out soon enough,” Corrine smiled.
Galen’s eyes went wide as he took a bite of the venison. He glanced at Bell, but her attention seemed entirely focused on the pickle on a stick. Finally, he looked to Axel, who was already working on his roasted vegetables.
“She knows,” Axel said between bites, “so stick your eyes back in their sockets before someone who doesn’t comes along.”
Galen turned his focus to his plate.
“Speaking of…” Corrine said, drawing Axel’s attention.
He shook his head.
“Dad was the only scout to report seeing her out there,” Axel sighed. “She told dad she would be forced to report having seen him. I guarantee she was called back in after that.”
“I’m sorry,” Corrine said softly.
“You’ll bring her home, Axel,” Bell said. “I know it.”
“Thank you,” he said, taking a large pull from his stein. “It has been, refreshing, to have all of you know what’s going on.”
“I’m glad to hear that, son,” Wyatt said as he sat down beside Corrine. “But you will need to tell Selene, sooner than later.”
“I know,” Axel sighed.
“Good,” Wyatt grinned, kissing Corrine on the cheek. “Now, let’s enjoy the festival.”
They all raised their glasses, except for Bell, who raised her pickle. Laughter broke out amongst the group.
The Mourning Call began with a howl from somewhere in the forest. The children, already shifted into their wolves, stood along the tree line waiting for the sound. A sound that represented Lily’s desperate wish to find her child.
Once the howl echoed into the night and reached the ears of the young wolves, they were off. Searching everywhere they could for the one single flower waiting to be claimed.
Across Winter, this tradition was taking place. But only here at the north’s central city would the flower be given to the Alpha to give to his Luna. The flowers would be gathered in all the other locations and delivered as a bouquet to the Luna the following morning.
Selene and Alexander found Bell and Galen just as the young wolves set off into the trees.
The best friends greeted each other affectionately. Galen and Alexander held their hug just a little longer than usual, and their wives smiled as they understood the moment’s significance.
As Alexander gave his congratulations and asked about Ren’s health, Selene chanced a glance toward her parents and brother.
Wyatt and Corrine looked out into the trees, pointing and chatting, likely trying to predict how quickly the flower would be found. But Axel sat back in his chair, his foot propped up against one of the mead barrels as he took long drags from his stein.
“Are you that nervous, big brother?” Selene whispered to herself with delight.
She looked back at her parents and then toward Bell. She smiled, thinking of how surprised they would be once that flower was found.
A small snout painted brown and white lifted into the air. She sniffed, breathing in the night, the combination of smells all coming to her at once.
She took a step back as she began to feel overwhelmed. But she still wasn’t used to the large paws or the tail. Then, finally, she tripped on a fallen log, stumbling back and falling to her side with a soft whimper.
Not far from where she lay, she could hear the others running through the trees with ease.
She had received her wolf almost a year ago, she was one of the oldest in the group, and yet, she struggled more than any other.
She sighed.
Her father had tried to push her to shift more, to return to her classes. All the others had returned after two weeks, but for her, it had been almost two months.
Even after her return, she had struggled to keep up, to practice on her own.
Joining the Mourning Call was mandatory. If not, she wouldn’t be here.
‘Cheer up, buttercup!’
She let out another soft whimper as the cheerful voice whispered in her memory.
Losing Teacher Renee had been a pain that all the wolves her age had felt deeply. But for Alma, it had been far more personal. Teacher Renee wasn’t just the person that was guiding her in the use of her wolf.
Alma had lost her mother when she was only a baby. Her father tried, but he was a military man with long rotations on the farthest borders of the northern territory. Sometimes he would be gone for weeks.
Teacher Renee had realized quickly that Alma needed more than just a friendly face and a lesson about her wolf. She needed someone to confide in, to help her sort through the feelings of having lost her mother, before she even knew her.
She became that person for Alma. Building her confidence, her hope..
And then she was gone.
Alma laid down on the ground, resting her snout on her large paws.
‘I’ll just wait, someone else will find it, I’ll never be able to do it,’ Alma thought sadly.
‘Not if you don’t try,’ Teacher Renee’s voice whispered in her ear.
Alma looked up, expecting to see her. But no, it was just another of her memories haunting her once again.
“Alma, just try again. It’s ok to take it slow.”
“I can’t!” Alma cried out. “It’s too much! I can’t find anything! I’ll never be able to do it!”
Alma had failed her tracking test three times. Even now, Teacher Renee had stayed late to help her, and she still couldn’t get anything right.
Teacher Renee smiled sweetly, reaching her hand to Alma’s shoulder with a gentle squeeze.
“Not if you don’t try,” Renee whispered. “Everything in life takes effort, Alma. But the things that matter the most, the things that stick with us for the rest of our lives? Those will always feel like the hardest. And it will suck and feel like you’re climbing up a sludge-covered mountain with snowballs being thrown at you the whole way.”
Alma laughed as she wiped away her tears. Teacher Renee smiled, knowing she had shaken the despair Alma had clung to.
“But they are so worth it, honey,” she said softly, “So, let’s try again, ok? Nice and slow. Just listen to what I tell you.”
Alma swallowed and then nodded.
“Alright,” Renee grinned. “Now close your eyes.”
Alma did as she was told.
“Take a breath, and then tell me what you hear.”
Alma took a deep breath and then tried to listen. The wind, the birds, the beating of her heart, the crunching of leaves somewhere close, not far… close. Her brows furrowed as she began to feel overwhelmed.
“Breath,” Renee instructed. Alma focused on taking another deep breath. “Now, tell me what you hear, one at a time. Find one sound, identify it, and then the next.”
“Wind,” Alma whispered. “Birds… leaves moving… crunching…. An animal? It’s scurrying.”
“Where?” Renee whispered.
Alma listened, she focused on only the sounds of the creature, only the leaves crunching around it, she turned her head and then opened her eyes.
“There!” she shouted with delight, pointing to a chipmunk at the base of a tree washing itself.
“Very good!” Renee laughed proudly, Alma turned and gave her a high five. “You got this girl!”
Teacher Renee’s amethyst eyes sparkled with joy; Alma had never felt so proud of herself.
“All it takes is a little time and patience, Alma,” Renee said softly. “So, let’s climb this mountain together. I’ll even take all the snowball hits.”
Alma sniffled and let out a soft whimper as the memory faded away. She felt alone, hopeless.
And then she felt cold, as a clump of snow fell from the tree she was pouting under. It landed directly on her head. Splatting against her snout.
Alma looked up at the branches of the tree, and another splat of snow fell on her face.
And for some reason that she didn’t understand, she laughed inside her heart.
She took a deep breath and stood up.
‘I guess I have to take all the hits myself now,’ she thought. Alma closed her eyes and thought once more of Teacher Renee’s gentle smile and the sparkle in her eyes. ‘Thank you, Teacher Renee. I’ll climb mountains for us both from now on… I promise.’
With renewed energy and purpose, Alma stood tall, raising her snout into the night sky she inhaled the scent of the forest.
‘Trees…snow…. Charlie…’ She thought to herself, identifying each smell she recognized. ‘Sap… dead tree…soft, crisp, fresh… there!’
Alma took off before she had even opened her eyes, following the scent, trusting her body to move how she wanted. Knowing her large paws would guide her, her tail would balance her. Her instincts would help her maneuver the trees as she tracked her prey, just like Teacher Renee had always told her.
A horn echoed over the trees and the music of the bonfire dancing.
Selene looked out toward the forest with a smile.
“Someone found it,” she said, bouncing on her toes.
“You’re awfully excited about this,” Bell commented with a questioning look.
Selene looked back with a mischievous grin and then hurried to stand beside her parents and Axel. All of whom stood looking out toward the trees to see the arrival of the victor.
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?