I woke later that day feeling Zeld's gentle kiss on my cheek. My eyes fluttered open as I smiled up at him.
"Feel better?"
I nod grabbing his shirt pulling him closer as I kiss him deeply.
"Much better."
He leans down wrapping his arms around me as he hovers over me. Swiping my hair out of the way his lips kiss his mark on my neck. His breath against my skin sending my back arching towards him.
"Good."
He nips at my neck making me moan.
"How did training go with the packs?"
He answers between kisses.
"Better then you would think. The red paw pack is strong but they lack the wild aspect."
He pulls back gazing into my eyes.
"I'm more concerned about you you don't usually get tired this easily."
I smile trying to reassure him.
"I'm fine honestly I just haven't been sleeping well lately."
He chuckles.
"What more vampire dreams."
I laugh poking him in the side.
"No I guess I'm just worried."
He grabs my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist as I close my eyes waiting for more but when it doesn't come I open them again. My eyes widen as he looks down at me his hand still in mine worry creasing his brow.
"Rav what's this?"
I pull my hand away hiding the spiral.
"Nothing just a scratch."
I start to get up but Zeld grabs my hand staring down at the symbol that clearly was not a scratch.
His eyes trained on me.
"Rav thats not a scratch why are you lying to me?"
There was no anger in his voice just concern and a slight hint of hurt. As I gently took my hand away I stared down at the three pronged spiral. Avoiding his eyes I answered.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Zeld I just didn't want you to worry."
His reaches out his hand under my chin as he lifted my eyes to meet his.
"What's going on Rav?"
I sat back down on the bed as he sat next to me. I told him about my dream and that when I woke up the symbol was there.
"What could it mean?"
I shake my head.
"I don't know I was planning to see if Luna knew when we got her back."
Zeld reaches out and pulled me into his arms his hand tangled in my head as I buried my face in the crook of his neck.
"I'm sorry Zeld I should've told you when it happened."
I felt him kiss the top of my head then held me at arms length.
"It alright Rav we'll figure it out. Whatever it is it has to have something to do with the moon goddesses power. I know you didn't know she gave you her power but do you remember her saying anything when you were in the trails that would explain this?"
I shook my head.
"No nothing she just showed me what would happen if we didn't return werewolves to the wild and that was it. Nothing she said or showed me looked anything like this."
He frowns taking my hand in his.
"We will just have to wait til we can speak to Luna but Rav please if something like this happens again or if the symbol changes in any way please tell me. I worry more when I can see that your keeping secrets from me."
I nod.
"I promise I am really sorry Zeld i should know by now that i can tell you anything."
His hand cups my cheek.
"Yes you should but don't worry I won't hold it against you."
He smiles trying to cheer me up making me realise just how much I love him. No matter what I did nothing ever changed his love for me. I realised just how lucky i was to have him and was forever greatfull.
"Come on Damien has organised a welcoming dinner in the ballroom."
I groaned.
"I don't think I can handle another one of his type of nights."
Zeld laughed at my words.
"Don't worry we'll find an excuse to leave let the pack entertain him."
I smiled loving the idea.
"I better go for a shower then."
Zelds lips curved into a lustful grin.
"Want company?"
I grabbed his hand.
"Most definitely."
An hour later we were dressed and ready for dinner. As Zeld and I made our way to the ballroom which sounded fancy but was the only room that held every member of both packs comfortably. So when we walked in it was just like any dinner just with a very big family. Zeld and I made our way through the tables until I froze. Zeld leaned in to whisper in My ear.
"Rav what's wrong?"
My eyes were locked on a young female wolf about the age of thirteen who was sitting next to Damien. I knew he had a little sister but that's not what had me frozen in place. Without taking my eyes off her I whispered back to Zeld.
"Damiens little sister she's being controlled."
Zeld eyes widened as he snapped his head towards Hailey she had the same look as Damien same hair same eyes everything but when I looked at her I knew just like I knew about exon.
"How do you want to handle this?"
I sent out the word through the mindlink letting the forest lakes pack know the situation and to be ready just in case. Then with Zeld by my side I approached Damiens table.
"Ah alpha Raven it's so nice of you to join us please take a seat."
I remained standing as I smiled so as not to alert Hailey that I was onto her. Who knew what orders she had been told to follow on the event she was found out. As I summoned my wind I slowly feed it towards Hailey letting it build up not enough to be felt but enough that at a seconds notice it would trap her.
"Thank you Damien but I'm afraid there's a small matter that needs to be dealt with but before I start I need you to know I mean no harm I just want to help."
Damiens eyes showed confusion then as fast as possible my wind took hold of Hailey and in seconds she's carried to me and my hands are on her temples my mind melded with hers vaguely aware that Damien and red paw pack have now all stood facing the forest lakes wolves in anger. Damiens outrage the last thing I heard before entering her mind.
While in her mind I couldn't defend myself but I trusted Zeld to keep me safe as I shifted through her memories. I watched as I saw the first moment Hailey had met with Quell and how he had taken her in secret manipulating her mind. I also saw that Shiya was using her to control Damiens father since she had failed to get to him personally. It had been going on for years.
However that wasn't the worst thing I saw, when their father refused to help capture Luna despite his daughters predicament Shiya had Hailey kill him. Damien must have assumed it was Shiya herself but in her twisted way of thinking she was punishing Are by making Hailey live with the knowledge that she killed her own father. I growled to myself as I carefully undid what Quell had made her and removed the memory of her killing her own father. She shouldn't have to to live with that image forever haunting her. Damien can decide later whether he wants to tell her or not.
My work done and Quells manipulation reversed I left her mind catching her before she fell as I took her in my arms.
"What have you done to her? I trusted you!"
Damien rushed forward now that the deed was done as he ripped her from my arms. One glance around told me that our packs were two seconds away from ripping each other's throat out.
"I'm sorry Damien please understand she was being controlled."
He glared at me.
"How could you possibly know that? Why should I trust you at your word?"
I sighed my voice gentle as I asked.
"How did your father die?"
He narrowed his eyes as he stared at me clearly wondering what that had to do with what was happening now.
"It's relevant believe me."
He growled but answered.
"He was found in his office with a note saying that if the red paw pack didn't do as Shiya asked she would do the same to our whole pack. That's when I knew I had to do everything I could to take her down."
I stepped forward as I knelt beside him his sister in his hands.
"Damien I understand that you might not what to hear this but since I still want I packs to work together I want there to be no secrets."
My eyes went to Hailey's
"Hailey was under Quells manipulation when your father refused to help capture Luna Shiya had Hailey kill him."
Damiens face turned hard doubt in his eyes.
"How can I know your telling the truth?"
I shrugged.
"You can't you just have to have faith that I'm not lying. The moon goddess tasked me with a mission to unite the packs. I need the red paw pack to help get her back but more then that i want us to unite under one banner. To join together as one Im sorry about Hailey truly I am. I did what I could I even erased the memory of what she did to her own father so that she won't be haunted by them but if you find that you can no longer trust us I understand. We will leave and will not retaliate but please consider it carefully. If we are to stop Shiya from doing this again we must work together as one pack divided we can not hope to win."
Stepping back I looked around to address every member of the red paw pack.
"When I entered the cave of the goddess she gave the power to know when A mind is being tampered with. To know when ones mind is not their own Shiya is guilty of many horrors in our world but taking her down does not change what will come if the packs does not change their way of thinking. Yes Shiya needs to pay for her crimes and believe me I intend to do just that but that is not my only goal in coming here."
I watched as every eye was trained on me hanging on to every word.
"If the packs do not return to the safety of nature, do not return to where we truly belong all will be lost. Money, power none of it means a thing if you are dead which is what will happen if I can not convince you to return with us to join with us."
"What are you even talking about I thought you just came to rescue the moon goddess?"
I turned back to Damien.
"I'm talking about a future without wolves the goddess showed me what will happen if the packs continue to exploit the human world."
Taking a deep breath I extended my mindlink to include the red paw pack and watched as each face shadowed as they saw the vision that changed my whole world.
"What you are all seeing now is what will happen if the packs do not change. When all is done and Shiya is stopped you must return with us before it is too late."
Once the vision was over every face showed the same emotions I felt when I saw it for the first time.
"How do we know this isn't some trick how are you even able to use such power."
I sighed there was only one way to make them believe and if there was to be trust they had to know everything.
"Because before Luna was taken she entrusted me with her power. Flowing through my veins is the power of our moon goddess. I am to keep it safe til we can get her back and return what she gave me."
Damiens eye went form me to Zeld as he nodded confirming my claim.
"No wonder you didn't want to train with us."
I smiled.
"It would hardly be a fair fight."
He shook his head as he stood back up his sister still passed out in his arms.
"There's one thing I don't understand if you have the power of a goddess why can't you just get the moon goddess back yourself why do you need us I mean besides the obvious part?"
I frowned.
"Well it's complicated you see it's not like I'm all powerful plus I've only learnt how to use a small portion of her power the rest is still a mystery to me."
His beta steps forward and taking Hailey from Damien and disappears with her while Damien turns back to me running his hand through his hair.
"Well I gotta say this is a lot to take in I think we all need time to process."
I nod understanding it was different for them when I told the forest lakes wolves they excepted it with little resistance but for the packs here they would have to abandon everything they had ever known. I couldn't blame him for hesitating.
"I understand Damien there is still a lot to be done before anything has to be decided let's rescue Luna and deal with Shiya first then if all goes well you can decide what future you choose."
He nods as the he considers my words.
"Very well then. besides we don't even know if we will defeat Shiya she might very well kill us all tomorrow. Only time will tell but I promise if we win and Shiya is defeated I will give you our decision then."
I smiled.
"Deal."
After everything was said and done both packs returned to the way they were before we entered. Though nothing could take away the dark looks in their eyes upon seeing the vision but as the night wore on they began to relax if only by a little. I didn't know if they would join us when we returned home but I hoped they would for all our sakes.