FULL NOVELXO Chapter A Busy Day
Rose and I talked for a few hours longer, until Bishop and Winston returned from their rounds. If they did find something, neither one of them showed it. They both had the same stoic expression on their faces, whether it was a bad thing or just from pure exhaustion during this whole ordeal.
Winston and Rose both excused themselves to their rooms while Bishop asked me to come to the training grounds with him. Even though my body was completely depleted of all energy, I followed after him. As we were walking towards the fighting area, my wolf got whiff of an unfamiliar scent and immediately perked up. My second wind had hit me and I was unsure or not if we would need to fight.
I heard Bishop's deep chuckle next to me and looked up at his amused face when he said, "Whoa killer, it's just a few of Winston's members. They came with him to help us in our search."
My wolf huffed at him but she remained alert just in case as embarrassment crept up my neck and reddened my face.
"You can never be too careful." I responded trying to make my mini freak out sound better.
We stopped just outside the circle as two males sparred with each other. One of them was Jude, our jujitsu master and the other I didn't recognize. Aubrey snorted in our head as we watched the young guy going toe to toe with one of our best warriors. He didn't win the battle but he was just as good as Jude and with a little more practice I knew he would be great.
The two men shook hands and turned our way then bowed their heads out of respect before grabbing their water bottles and towels.
"Reese, you are a worthy opponent. Thanks for the fight!" Jude said as they came up to greet us.
"You as well, Jude. I should be good, I've only been training in Krav Maga since I was 2. I only hope I'm good enough to take Alpha Winston's top warrior position this Spring." He stated as he wiped his face with his towel.
"Reese, this is Ember, my mate. Ember, this is Reese." As he introduced us, another unfamiliar scent hit me as a few of our guards approached us with yet another man I didn't know. "And this..." Bishop said as he grabbed the guy in a hug and slapped his back. "This is Reese's twin brother, Rhett."
The young man, who looked identical to Reese turned and put his hand out. I smiled and shook it while saying, "It is nice to meet you both. I assume you are the tracker Bishop has been talking about."
"Yes, Luna, one in the same."
"Please, call me Em. Naomi has prepared rooms for you all, if you would like to go get cleaned up and then meet us in the dining hall for supper before everyone has to switch out shifts for tonight."
"Yes, Luna." They all said running off before I could correct them again.
"Get used to it, Red." He said nudging me with his elbow and turning around to go back to the house leaving me staring off into the woods. "Are you coming?"
"Go on, I need to go for a run. And if you try to stop me, it will be the worst mistake you ever make!" I said laughing as I ran off towards the South border, leaping into the air and letting my wolf take over.
Once her paws hit the dirt, we were gone, off like a horse out the gate. It had been a while since we ran carefree, not for patrol or training but to be able to stretch and play.
I heard his loud growl and just before he shifted and followed after me I mind-linked him and said I know where everyone is patrolling and I will not go anywhere close to that. I just need some air, my wolf is getting cabin fever. Please, Bishop, I will be fine.
If you smell one ounce of trouble, you better let me know. I mean it Red.
I agreed and kept on running towards my favorite place on the property, the waterfall. It was a secluded area, wedged between three enormous mountains and impossible to get to if you didn't know where it was. Bishop had shown me this area when we were searching and he told me I could go there anytime I wanted as long as I didn't go any further than the tree line next to it.
Once we made it there, I shifted back and grabbed a blanket I had hidden in an old tree and sat on the edge of the rocks. It was almost December and the temperature was in the 30s during the night but had reached a comfortable 56 today. A slight chill ran through the air making little goosebumps form all over my body but when the wind shifted, a pungent smell hit my nostrils.
Looking all around me, I began to tense as the smell got stronger. I heard a low growl but I still couldn't see anything around me
I stood up wrapping the blanket around me tightly and let my wolf come to the surface. Immediately she alerted me to a mangy wolf, standing on the mountain above us and when I looked up, I saw his yellow eyes staring back at me. "Who are you?"
My adrenaline was pumping in my veins and I knew I needed to get up those mountains, but how. I looked towards the right where the trees were and hesitated when I remembered Bishop's warning about not going past them but this could be our only chance at figuring out who was behind these attacks, so I went against my word and ran towards them.
Once I made it into the thick brush, I looked around for a way up the mountain. I caught a glimpse of a thick curtain of vines protruding from the side of the mountain and I started pulling them down to reveal a rocky wall. I began climbing it as the wolf above me growled the closer I got to him. I could tell he wasn't expecting me to go after him and his fear was beginning to show.
When I finally made it to the top, he stepped backwards and shifted, unveiling a tall, thin human with scars all over his body. He looked to be around my age but his years as a prowler had begun to take a toll on him. His hair was caked with dirt and his face a pale white from the lack of sun.
"Well, well, well, Luna. It seems you've made yourself nice and comfortable here in Tennessee."
"As I said before, who are you?" I said with my fists balled at my sides and my canines protruding from my upper lip.
"Easy now, Luna. I have a message for you, from Anderson."
Why does she make these stupid decisions to run off when things are already complicated at the pack? Does she like putting herself in danger?
Who is this mysterious prowler and is he really only there with a message or does he have something to do with the recent attack?
What do you think will happen when Anderson finds out Ember has found her mate and they are now marked? Will he leave her family alone or will he take over like he threatened?