Chapter 3

Zariah’s POV

~Three Years Later~

“This is a really boring job.” Isaac whined. He and I have been practicing gymnastics with his cousin, Abby, for the last couple hours. Abby and I had been using him as our spotter.

I laughed as I stood at the end of a very long mat, “You think it’s boring? Okay, spot me. You might want to start up here and keep up with me.”

I waited for him to stand slightly ahead of me, and to the side. I started with three back handsprings and ended with a very high triple flip on the way to the mat, landing on my feet.

Isaac kept yelling, “Wait up!” When I went airborne with my triple flips, he yelled, “How am I supposed to spot that?”

As I landed, I laughed, “Just don’t let me fall. That’s all. Like this. Be ready. I am going to mess up on purpose and you need to catch me.”

 He was very serious as he nodded, “Okay.” I extended my arms over my head and started to go into a back flip, but I didn’t complete it.

I jumped high and basically laid flat. He caught me with both arms and I smiled, “See? You can do it.”

He held me in a bridal style as he waggled his eyebrows, “I think I like this job now.”

I laughed as I playfully slapped his chest, “You can put me down now.”

As soon as I was on the mat, I stood up and started to walk away, but he pulled me to the mat and started tickling me.

I squirmed around on the floor until I remembered that I had back-up. I yelled, “Aaaabbyyyyyy!”

Isaac’s cousin ran to us and took a flying leap at Isaac, and landed on top of him, tickling his ribs while keeping him flat on his back.

I saw him try to kick her off and hurried to sit across his legs.

I rushed to take his socks and shoes off, then I started tickling his feet.

Isaac started laughing harder than before.  

Just then we heard Luna Kyra’s voice from the doorway. Before I could stand up, I was greeted by Luna Kyra with her arms wide open.

I stepped into them and relished the loving hug that she always gave me. Her hugs were always so warm they reminded me of my long-dead mother.

She asked, “How are you feeling? I heard you had quite the workout this evening.”

I laughed, “It was a lot of fun. I’m just fine. Abby and I got to pile on Isaac and tickle him. He had me down first, so we just returned the favor.”

She laughed, “I heard about it. Are you looking forward to your birthday? It’s only ten days away now.”

I smiled, “I am. I just want a small party with you, Alpha, Isaac, and my close friends.”

Luna Kyra asked, “But what if your mate is in our pack? Don’t you at least want a huge party where you can find him faster?”

I laughed, “If he is in our pack, I’m sure I will sniff him out.”

Luna laughed, “Or he will you.”

She playfully nudged my shoulder, “You go ahead and fix your plate. The meeting will be starting soon.”

After showering and getting dressed I walked to the pack house.

The pack meeting went well. 

Alpha Kenny just wanted to let everyone know that his sister and her family was here and he warned the pack that rogues managed to break into my house that morning.

They had broken in my back door, causing me to go to the same business that I had used to remodel my house after my grandparents passed away. The best news came when they told me I could replace it with a sliding door that had blinds between the two panes of glass.

He wanted to warn everyone to make sure to lock their doors and windows until we are able to get them to stop or kill them.

Hearing that, there was the sound of whispers or lowered voices throughout the room. and Alpha Kenny motioned for everyone to calm down, “One of the rogues was killed and the other two were taken to the cells.”

One man stood, “Why did they attack Zariah’s house? Is she okay?”

I stood up, “I have no idea why. But they drank all my juice and milk AND they ate my apple turnovers!”

Everyone laughed and I continued, “But, as you can see, I am okay.”

Alpha Kenny continued, “They will be interrogated tomorrow, and we will let you all know what is going on if and when we find out why these attacks are happening and what they are looking for.”

I huffed out a breath and leaned to Isaac. I whispered, “Have you or your dad researched the black wolf with red eyes? I heard they talked about me having a black wolf with red eyes and I don’t understand why. My dad was a regular black wolf.”

He nodded, “We found some stuff, but they are folklore, at best. We are going to ask one of the elders to do some research on it. Hopefully, we will find out something before your first shift.”

I asked, “Can I come to the pack library tomorrow?”

He nodded, “Sure. You can try to find something.”

I nodded, “I would like to try. I wish there was a way to settle my mind on all of this.”

He agreed, “My mind has been on that all day too. I will join you in the library.”

When the pack dinner was over, I said goodnight to everyone and walked home.

When I got home, I walked in the door, locked it, then went straight to my room. I was exhausted.

As soon as I was asleep, I dreamed I saw a beautiful green field and a stone path under my feet.

I followed the path down a hill and found a woman with long white hair sitting on a bench on the edge of a riverbank.

As I approached her, Selene, The Moon Goddess, didn’t even turn around as she spoke, “Come forward, Zariah. Let me see how you’ve grown.”

When I stood in front of her, I noticed a black wolf laying at her feet.

She was petting it, and I felt a strong connection to it. I smiled, “That is a beautiful wolf.”

She smiled, “I’m glad you think so. She will be your wolf. Her name is Onyx. The rogues that were in your house today were looking for her. You just haven’t received her yet.

“Onyx does have ruby eyes, which makes her one of my chosen wolves and you are my chosen for her.

“There is a large coven of evil witches who are trying to eliminate every supernatural being aside from them.

“They are trying to absorb all the magic from every other being. Werewolves don’t usually have much magic, but there is a little used when you shift and when the mate bond forms.

“There is a legend of the black wolf with red eyes. I will let you look it up, but it is true.

“Wolves like Onyx are only put on Earth when there is a terrible war coming. They are meant to restore balance to our realm.

“You have the ability to draw people to you. That is something you have that no one gave you. You just developed it yourself.

“I know you have an issue with the mate bond, but I want you to know that I have not made a mistake in choosing your mate. He will be the best wolf for you.

“His wolf is the perfect complement to Onyx and your mate is the perfect complement to you.

“Onyx will give you more strength, but you will also have other abilities. When you accept and claim your mate, he will receive some new abilities also.

“You have one very important ability right now. You have a way of drawing people to you and they immediately like you.

“It’s not pity, child. They truly fall in love with you immediately. You will need to use that ability later.

“I know you have reason to not trust the mate bond, but please, trust me.”

I shrugged, “I do trust you and I see other mates living long lives, but it seems that the mate bond has killed all the people I love.”

She shook her head, “I allowed your grandmother to die in order to save her from six more months of nothing but pain and violent nausea due to her stomach cancer. I knew your grandfather would never want to live without her, so I allowed him to die as a favor to him. They are here, together, healthy and happy, with their wolves.

“Your parents died saving you. I realize you still got hurt, but they saved you from dying. I want you to enjoy the mate bond. Every mate does. But please, trust me if you can’t trust the bond. Okay?”

I sighed, “I will try. I just want to be sure.”

 She chuckled, “The sooner you accept it, the more time you will have to prepare. Okay? Putting it off won’t stall the coming war.”

I shrugged, “I will try. That is all I can promise.”

She smiled, “I will accept that. I should let you wake up. It looks like you have company and not the good kind.”