Chapter 13-Ancestors and Ancient Writings

“Athena, I’d like you to meet my Luna, Rachel,” Alpha Peter introduces her.

I lower my head as a sign of respect and shake her outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Luna,” I say. 

“Athena, I am so glad to finally meet you. Alex sang your praises when he was here. So, I feel like I know you already,” Luna Rachel says kindly.

“Rachel is also our historian and has some of the answers you are looking for, Athena,” Alpha Peter says.

Doctor Shields stands from his seat so that Luna Rachel can sit at the desk, and she opens the other two manilla folders the doctor brought over. 

 “Now I know you have a lot of questions, and hopefully, with the information in here, we can at least answer some of them,” she places her hand on top of the manilla folders. 

“Thank you, Luna. I appreciate anything you can offer,” I say.

“Now, as Peter has said, we believe the attacks on our packs were focused on lycan like yourself. I believe it’s because of this,” Luna says as she hands me a small, old-looking piece of parchment with what looks like writing in ancient Greek. “As you know, Athena, all packs are taught about our ancient heritage. How it dates back to ancient Greece and to the Goddess Selina. This parchment that I found when I was younger has writings on it from the philosopher Plato, who believed that our wolves are human souls reincarnated into our lycan counterparts. He believed that some of us are even blessed with incarnations of ancient warriors or even gods and goddesses.”

“So, you think Enyo is the incarnation of some noble warrior?” I ask incredulously.

“Enyo? That’s your wolf’s name?” She asks, and I respond with a nod. 

“The waster of cities… Interesting…” Luna Rachel trails off, a faraway look coming across her face. She then stands abruptly and heads over to the bookshelf in the office. “You know, in Greek mythology, Athena and Enyo were both daughters of Zeus. However, Enyo was a goddess of war and destruction, bringing fear to anyone against her on the battlefield. While Athena was a goddess of both wisdom and war, among other things. Almost like the opposite of what Enyo represented, and she was even feared by Enyo’s lover, Ares…” Luna Rachel trails off again as she flips through a book, looking for something. 

“Honey, you’re getting off track,” Alpha Peter says to her with a chuckle.

“Hmm?” She looks up from the book and realizes everyone in the room is watching her. “Oh, right. Of course, I apologize.” She says as she places the book back on the shelf and sits back down. “To answer your question, no, I don’t think Enyo is the literal incarnation of some ancient warrior or goddess,” Luna Rachel states.

“Then what are you saying?” I ask, getting frustrated. 

“We think what Plato is talking about in this parchment is not literal incarnation, but the embodiment of great power. Lycans have always been powerful, especially over our werewolf counterparts. But in this parchment, he goes on to mention special lycans, chosen and blessed by Selina herself, who had the same unique attributes that you have. Lycans who show a strength that is rarely seen and could even be stronger than an Alpha. He even specifically mentions the lycan counterparts as having different colored eyes,” Luna Rachel explains. “Not everyone knows about or even believes in this part of our history, Athena. Those who are taught this just see it as a myth. So, whoever is behind these attacks not only knows about it, but fears what you could become,” Alpha Peter says. 

“All I’m supposed to become is the Gamma of my pack! If my father hadn’t died, I’d be there now doing that!” I say, my frustration getting the better of me. 

“There are stories across our history of warriors and Alphas stronger than any lycan anyone has ever seen. I believe they were chosen by the Moon Goddess. Your pack is one of the oldest, largest, strongest, and dangerous in the country. Imagine what Alpha Niko could have done if you turned out to be a chosen lycan and his Gamma. He could have been unstoppable,” Luna Rachel explains. 

“A threat too great to ignore,” I mumble, thinking of what Bill Stokes said. “Was. We’re not any of those things anymore,” I say sadly. Taking a deep breath, I ask, “And the others like me?”

“The others probably would have become warriors because of their size and skill, or chosen to be their pack Gamma, like Nicholas Teresi,” Alpha Peter says.

“If I’m so dangerous, then why did they wait so long to attack my pack?” I ask. “The hunter told me they watched us for three years before they attacked.”

“They took losses in the attacks here, and you were the daughter of the Gamma of the Blood-Moon pack,” Beta Jason says. “They may have needed more warriors before they attacked Blood-Moon.”

“And I must say, Athena. So far, you are the most impressive out of all the lycans we’ve seen. Gamma Alex told me you were the biggest and strongest out of all the warriors in your pack, including your new Alpha. This morning proved that.” Alpha Peter says. 

“Then why am I still alive?” I ask. “Why didn’t they continue attacking until I was dead?”

“That, we don’t know,” Beta Jason says. “We can only assume they underestimated your warriors.”

It’s quiet for a few moments while I contemplate everything they’ve said.

Then Doctor Shields breaks the silence and says, “there is another characteristic that you all share that we haven’t spoken about yet.” 

“And that is?” I ask.

“Your crescent moon marking,” Alpha Peter says. “All the other lycans had it, too.”

I slump back in the seat. This is too much. “I don’t understand any of this,” I say. “We all have the same marking?” 

“Yes, and all of them are in the same place. We think this mark shows you’ve been blessed by the Moon Goddess. Apart from your eyes, this shows that you’re a chosen lycan,” Luna Rachel says. 

“Chosen for what? Why would I, or any of the others, be chosen or blessed by the Moon Goddess?”

“We don’t know why you’ve been chosen, Athena. For now, what matters is finding those responsible for the attacks, and that will hopefully get us to the bottom of this,” Alpha Peter says. 

“But how?” I ask. “I have no idea where I’m supposed to go from here.”

“I contacted Nicholas Teresi this morning and asked him to come down. He should be here tomorrow,” Doctor Shields says. 

“What? I didn’t ask you to do that,” Alpha Peter says.

“I thought it could be helpful to get them together, Alpha. To see if they can help each other,” Doctor Shields says. 

Alpha Peter nods, then turns to me. “Does that work for you, Athena?” He asks. “You can continue to stay here with us.”

I sigh. “I don’t have anywhere else to be. I’ll have to go back to the motel in town, though. I only packed for a couple of days, and if I’m staying here, I may as well check out.”

“I can take you out there now if you like,” Beta Jason offers. 

“Thank you,” I say with a smile. “That would be great.”

He nods and gets his phone out of his pocket as he steps out of the office.

I stand from the chair and shake the doctor’s hand. “Would you mind if I look at these files while I’m staying here, doctor?” I ask him.

“Of course,” he says, and he hands me the manilla folders. “You’re welcome to anything that might help you.”

Luna Rachel stands and comes around the desk and engulfs me in a hug. “It’s been so nice to meet you, Athena,” she says kindly.

“You too, Luna,” I say, returning the hug. I nod to Alpha Peter, “Thank you, Alpha,” I say.

Alpha Peter nods back, and I leave the office. I head out the front, and Beta Jason heads towards the SUV that we came in. I follow him over and get in the passenger side, placing the manilla folders on the floor. 

“Where were you staying in town?” Beta Jason asks as he starts the SUV, and we head towards the main street of their pack grounds.

“The Bend Motel, just off the highway on East Pima Street,” I tell him. 

He nods as we exit the compound, and we fall into a comfortable silence as I stare out the window, watching the world go by.