Chapter 1: The Guardian Within

Two years after the Prophesy…

Angela yawned again as she and her sister-in-law sat at the dinning waiting for her brother, Alpha king Dwight. 

“You should just go to bed, Tory”, she told her sister-in-law. “I don’t think Dwight will be coming home soon. It’s already late in the night. I bet he is hanging out with the other Alphas”, she said and yawned again.

“But he should be home by now”, Tory said. ‘I’m worried.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “I know he is your mate and this is expected but you need to rest. It’s late already and you’ve been doing your queen duties since you woke up this morning. Just mind link him.”

“His mind link is blocked.”

“He is busy then. I wonder why you are worried. He’s the Alpha King. Nothing will happen to him. Just go to bed.”

Tory nodded. “If you say so”, she said and stood up. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight”, Angela said and stood up too. She’s very tired after all she did today. It’s true she is the King’s sister but she’s also the gamma’s mate which makes her the gamma female of the Royal Pack. She yawned again as she entered the room she shared with her mate. After a whole day of training the young pups of the pack, all her wolf wanted to do was rest.

She and Tory has been friends for a long time. Tory is originally from the War Pack and the both of them met when Angela went to the War Pack when the hunters wanted to go to war with them. Since then, they have been best of friends and Dwight only met Tory and found out they are mates when Tory came to the Royal Pack to visit her best friend. 

Angela was very delighted that her best friend was her brother’s mate and the bond between the best friends increased. Tory was not a wolf like every werewolf out there. Her human part is more dominant than her wolf part and no one knows why. She has other characteristics like every other wolf. She have supernatural hearing, supernatural speed, power and sight like every other wolf and she can mind link and communicate with her wolf but she can’t shift like other wolves can. Apart from being unable to shift, she has every other features a werewolf have.

The kingdom was disappointed that a wolf like her will become the Queen and some people advised Dwight to take a stronger female wolf as his mate but he declined. He loves the mate the Moon Goddess gave him and there he will always choose her over anyone a million times.

Angela removed her clothes and got into bed beside her mate, Derek, the Head gamma of the Royal pack.

“I was beginning to think you won’t come in this night”, Derek said and pulled her closer.

“I’m sorry, dear mate. I was with Tory. She was worried because Dwight isn’t home yet and he blocked everyone from mind linking him including her.”

“Alpha Dwight isn’t back?” he asked with surprise.

She nodded. “He’ll be back soon. I’m tired, babe. My wolf needs to rest.”

“You didn’t even ask of Anna”, he said as he massaged her shoulders.

She smiled. “I know you already put her to bed. Thanks, babe”, she said. 

Anna is their three year old daughter who looks just like her Mum. 

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Go to sleep”, he said. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight”, she replied and closed her eyes welcoming the darkness. 

¶¶¶

Angela found herself in a very beautiful garden and she looked around. She’s all alone. No one is here with her. Her mate, her daughter, her brother, her best friend. No one is here. She’s all alone and she was beginning to get scared.

“Walk further”, she suddenly heard an angelic voice say and she felt herself walking towards the voice. “Walk further’, the voice said again and she continued walking without stopping.

She walked till she heard the voices of babies crying. She walked further towards the voices and saw not one, not two but four beautiful kids in the garden, crying. Her heart clenched as the sight of the crying babies and she felt herself wanting to take care of the infants.

She walked towards the infants and sat down on the grass beside them. “Shh. Don’t cry, you cute babies. I’ll take care of you”, she said and began attending to the babies one after the other.

Minutes later, the cries died down and the infants fell asleep making her smile. “That was good”, she said and suddenly she felt an invisible force taking her away from the kids. ‘No!” she cried out and stretched her hand in an attempt to take the kids but it was not possible. The force pulled her farther and farther from the kids and she felt like her heart was going to explode. “Please don’t take me away from them”, she cried and pleaded with the invisible force. “Please”, she cried but the force didn’t listen till she heard her name being called.

“Angela!” she knows that voice. It belong to her mate. But where is he calling her from? Where is he? “Wake up, Angela”, she heard again. “Open your eyes”, she heard him say and she tried to open her eyes but it was hard to. “Open your eyes, babe”, she heard him say again and she did. This time it was easy to.

She opened her eyes and was staring at her mate, brother and her friend. They all stood over her with worried looks on their faces. 

Derek sighed in relief and pulled her in hug. 

“What happened?” she asked with a worried look.

“It seems you had a nightmare. You were crying in your sleep and just so you know, you disturbed the whole pack house with your cries.”

She then remembered her dream and the reason she cried. The cute kids.

“What was the nightmare about?” Dwight asked her.

“It was not a nightmare”, she said with a smile in the corner of her lips.

“What do you mean it was not a nightmare? You were crying and screaming in your sleep”, Tory said. 

She looked up at them. “Well it was and it was not.”

Tory rolled her eyes.

“Stop confusing us, babe. What was it about?” Derek asked.

“Well, I found myself in this beautiful garden with four cute kids and I immediately felt attached to them like they are my own. I instantly want to protect them and make them mine forever but an invisible force pulled me away from them and I felt my heart breaking like a part of me was being removed, making me cry”, she explained.

“It was just a dream”, Derek said and pulled her closer. “You scared me”, he said.

But Dwight doesn’t think it’s just a dream. Could it be that his sister is the guardian to the Elemental wolves? He shook his head. No. it’s just a dream. He tried to convince himself but the thought of his sister being the guardian made him restless.

“What’s on your mind?” Tory asked and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been moody ever since we came back from Angela’s room. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

He shook his head and pulled her by her waist. “It’s nothing, darling.” Not that she doesn’t know about the Prophesy but he just doesn’t want to tell her that he thinks his sister is the guardian, he wants to be sure before letting anyone know about it.

Tory wasn’t convinced but she let it go and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You came home late last night”, she said and pouted like a baby.

“I’m sorry, babe”, he said and gave her a quick peck on her lips. “I was having a late night meeting with the other alphas. Some rouges are being spotted in the Power Pack.”

“But you shouldn’t have closed up your mind link”, she said.

“I’m sorry about that’, he said and kissed her again. “Why don’t we go out later today? After my meetings. Just the two of us”, he said raising an eyebrow at her.

She smiled. “Just what do you have in mind, Mr. Royale?” she asked.

He smiled and kissed her exposed neck where his mark laid, making the familiar electric charge of the mate bond, wash through her body. “I just want to have a little romantic time with my beautiful mate. I feel like I don’t have much time for you these days. So, I want to make it up to you’, he said and kissed the mark again.

“Okay. I’ll be looking forward to that”, she said and gave him one last peck before going to the bathroom to have her bath since there is no time to sleep back. 

¶¶¶

“You don’t hold like this”, Angela corrected one of the pups she was training. “If you hold him like this, he can easily flip you over and break your bones. How redo it and do it properly this time”, she said and went back to where she was standing and watched the children as they trained.

She just couldn’t keep the dream off her mind. She knows it’s crazy but she wants to have the dream again if it means she will be able to see those four cute babies and hold them just like she did in the dream today.

“What’s making you smile like that?” Derek asked as he appeared from behind her.

She shrugged. “Just the dream I had. Derek, it felt so real and I don’t know why but I think I have a deep connection with those kids. Even now I can hear their cries like they need me”, she said. 

“Stop this, babe. It’s just a dream.”

“Ugh”, she groaned and rolled her eyes. “I hate it when you do this”, she said and walked away from the training field. 

“Angela”, Derek shouted but she didn’t turn back. “Babe, I’m sorry”, he said and she still didn’t turn back to give him a glance. 

Derek just shook his head and followed her. He is already used to her anger. She gets angry easily and he knows just how to calm her down.

He caught up with her just before he could enter the room. “I’m sorry, babe”, he said and pulled her closer. 

She rolled her eyes. “I just can’t stay angry at you for long. This mate bond”, she said and he carried her to the room peppering her neck with kisses.

¶¶¶

Tory smiled again as her mate opened the door for her. They just came back from their date and she swore she enjoyed every bit of it. He put his arms around her waist as they walked into the pack house. 

“Hey, you two”, Angela called before they could take the stairs and they turned to look at her.

“Oh. Angie. Didn’t see you there”, Dwight said with his hands not leaving his mates’ waist for a second. 

“I was here. How was your date?”

“It was good.”

“I’m glad you two had a good time. You really needed it.”

“Thanks, babe”, Tory said and kissed her best friend’s cheek before going to bed. “Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Goodnight”, Angela replied and they went to their room. 

¶¶¶

Angela saw herself in the beautiful garden again and she knows exactly where to find the beautiful kids she saw the last time. She ran to them with a smile and got there in no time. But was surprised when she saw a woman feeding the kids something she has no idea of.

“Who are you?” Angela asked and the woman stood up. Since her back was to Angela, she couldn’t see her face and figure if she’s someone she knows. “Turn around”, Angela said and the woman turned around.

The woman wore a white cloth and she has long black hair which was covering her face.

“Why are you covering your face? Let me see your face.”

“I’m afraid you can’t see my face, child”, the woman said with her calm and angelic voice. 

“Child?” Angela asked. “Who are you? And why are you calling me a child.”

The woman chuckled lightly. “My name is Selene but you werewolves call me The Moon Goddess.”

Angela gasped in surprise. “The Moon Goddess?” she asked and immediately went down on one knee to bow to the Goddess.

Selene chuckled again. “You don’t have to bow, chosen one.”

Angela looked up with surprise. “Chosen one?”

“Yes. You are my chosen guardian.”

“Guardian? Please, Goddess I don’t understand what you are trying to say.”

“Sit down”, the woman said.

“But there’s no chair”, Angela said and immediately they were no longer in the garden but what looks like the throne room with a beautiful white chair sitting in front of the room. Beside a white chair stood five chairs and as Angela looked, she could see the kids sitting on each chair. “How come?”

Selene chuckled again and sat down on the beautiful white chair. “Sit down”, she repeated and Angela sat down on the fifth chair looking at the kids as they munched on something. “I know you want answers.”

“Yes, I do.”

“And you’ll get them. These kids over here are the Elemental Wolves.”

Angela gasped in surprise. “The elemental wolves? The one the Prophesy is talking about?”

Selene nodded. “Yes. The exact one and you are their guardian.”

This time Angela was sure she would choke on spit. “Excuse me?”

Selene chuckled. “Don’t be surprised, child. You are my chosen guardian and that’s why you are seeing me like this in your dream. In few months, I’ll be sending the elemental wolves to the werewolf kingdom.” Selene stood up and walked towards Angela. She took Angela’s wrist arm and held it firmly while looking into Angela’s eyes. After few seconds, she removed her hands and went back to her seat. “Why don’t you take a look at your hand?” she said and Angela did.

This time, she did choke on spit as she gasped. “Oh My Goddess!” she exclaimed. “What is this?!”

“That is a guardian sign, my child.”

On Angela’s hand was a tattoo of a wolf which shone and showed four colors; Red, Brown, Blue and Grey and it was beautiful.

“Woah!” Angela said with a smile on her face. “This is beautiful.”

Selene chuckled again. “It sure is. You have all the four colors and the elemental wolves will each have one of the colors on your hand representing their power and the element they can wield. Just so you know, your eyes are also shining like your hand.”

At the mention of this, she looked up from staring at her hand and opened her eyes wide with the Goddess. “My eyes?”

Selene snapped her fingers and immediately a mirror appeared in front of Angela.

She looked in the mirror and indeed, her eyes shone with the four colors on her arm. She smiled at herself in the mirror because she thought she looked beautiful.

“You are indeed beautiful”, Selene said.

“I didn’t say that out loud.”

Selene chuckled. “You didn’t. But I can hear your thought.”

Angela scoffed and hit herself on the head. “Of course you can. You are a Goddess.”

“Yes. You won’t be able to unlock the elemental wolves’ powers until they are six and the have their wolves.”

“Why?”

“It’s for their own safety. Some of you are happy that I will be sending these wolves but some are not and they might want to kill them before they even have a chance to save the world. But don’t worry, you will unlock their powers when it’s time for me to let you unlock them.

“You’ll be able to unlock them only when I want you to. For instance, you might unlock one today and you’ll unlock another one after some years. Not that that’s how it will be. I’m just making an example. Is that clear?”

“Yes.”

“You can always communicate with me, you know?”

“How?”

“By meditating. Just get a quiet place in the woods and call out to me with your eyes closed. I’ll come to you. Note that an elemental must not be near you when you are meditating.”

“Why?”

“It will affect them due to their power and they might pass out. So be careful.”

“I will be.”

“I have one more thing to tell you before you leave.”

“What is it?”

“You have the powers of all the elementals.”

“All?” she asked with surprise.

“All. And they have been unlocked for you. Since you’ll be their guardian, you’ll have their powers so you would be able to teach them perfectly.”

“Cool”, Angela said and her face light up like Christmas’ lights.

“Yeah, cool. I’m afraid you have to leave now. Enough chat for the day. You need to return to the real world.”

“No. not yet”, she shouted but the invisible force was pulling her farther and farther from the Goddess and the elemental wolves and she felt her heart breaking. “No! I belong there.”

“No, my child. You don’t”, she heard the Goddess say and she felt her heart clench. She belong there indeed. 

“Wake up, babe”, she heard her mate’s voice. “Open your eyes”, he said and she did. Just like the first time she had the dream, her mate, brother and Tory where all standing b her bed and the all gasped.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Your eyes”, Tory said. 

She blinked and her eye color returned to normal.

“They just shone”, Dwight said.

“I saw the Moon Goddess”, she said.

“Moon Goddess? What are you talking about?” Derek asked.

“I’m serious, babe. I saw her and she said some things to me.”

“Some things like what?” Dwight asked.

“She said I’m her chosen guardian.”

They all looked at her with wide eyes except Dwight.

“How come you are not surprised?” Angela asked her brother.

“Since you told me about that dream last week, I had my suspicions and you just confirmed it”, he said.

Angela smiled. “I still think I’m dreaming.”

“You just have to be careful”, Dwight told her. “You may think everyone is happy about the elemental wolves but it’s not true.”

She nodded. “The Goddess said the same thing too”, she said and suddenly, her head turned towards Tory’s stomach and she felt something attracting her to it. 

“What’s wrong?” Derek asked.

“Tory, are you pregnant?” she asked and Tory gasped. 

“How did you know? I was just about telling you.”

“What?” Dwight asked. “You’re pregnant?”

¶¶¶

Ps:

Alpha: the male head of a pack of wolves.

Luna: the female head, mate to an alpha.

Mate: also soul mate. The other half of a wolf.

Mate bond: it’s a very strong bond between mates which will be explained further in this book.

Dominant wolf: a wolf that has other features of a wolf but can’t shift to the wolf side. A dominant wolf might also not be as powerful as the other wolves.

Beta: the second in command to the Alpha.

Beta female: the mate of a beta which is also the second in command to the Luna.

Third: the third in command to an alpha.

Third female: the mate of the third and also third in command to the Luna.

Gamma: the head warrior of a pack and he’s in charge of training the young pups in the pack.

Gamma female: the mate of the warrior which is in charge of training the young pups alongside her mate.