Night-time descended far faster than I was truly prepared for. Partially because Dante and I had spent half the day sleeping after the mornings activities. We'd barely had time to eat a late dinner before we headed toward a large clearing in the woods. I'd had to borrow clothes from Dante, since we hadn't gone to get my clothes yet, but I didn't mind, even if they were all a bit too big for me. I probably would have worn the dress that Samantha gave me, but it needed to be washed after the mess Dante and I had made.
I was bare-footed, but the grass amazing underneath my feet, giving me a sense of connection with the very earth I walked on. It still amazed me how, in every realm but my old one, the grass and trees grew green. So different from all the shades of red and purple that I would see everywhere I went. Here there were shades of green, and in different seasons, there were yellows, reds and oranges. It was a sight I had never truly thought I would be able to connect with.
In the clearing, the rest of the pack was standing around, dressed in loose clothes, probably for if they shifted. I had had to warn them that the amount of power I was about to release could cause them to feel unsettled, possibly forcing their shift. It may even cause my own shift if I didn't handle it right. No matter what, I needed to remain in control long enough to do what needed to be done.
"Good evening" Travis stepped towards us, followed by Jameson.
Dante had explained that the order of the pack was extremely important, and that Jameson was the second in command to the alpha. He said that when I spoke to them, I needed to show as much respect as possible, as if I wasn't already the type who spoke with respect. I would need to refer to Travis as 'Alpha' or 'Alpha Travis' but that it was natural for it take time to adjust to.
"Is everything set up?" Dante asked, keeping his eyes low and exposing his throat just enough to show submission.
Meeting gaze was a show of dominance for wolves, so it was advised that I avoid the eyes of someone of a higher rank, unless I wanted to fight them. However, some wolves just liked to fight for competition, so that wasn't entire unexpected.
"Yes. The pack is here for your protection" alpha Travis smiled down at me.
"Samantha is safe at home?" I asked, concerned for the very pregnant she-wolf.
"Yes. I had her prepare. Shifting shouldn't be a danger to the child, but she sedated herself just to be safe." He said, seeming happy that I was asking about the care of his wife.
From what I had learned earlier, he was actually the doting type, when the business wasn't serious. And he greatly loved both his wife and their son. They were expecting twin daughters now, something that was rather common among wolves. Since the animal was known for litters, it was very well known that wolves could have twins, and sometimes even triplets, though triplets were more on the rare side.
"Alright" I looked at Dante, just seeing him making me feel reassured "then let's do this."
"I swear that I'll keep you safe" Dante declared, moving to face me.
"I know you will. I trust you and the pack with my life on this night" I smiled.
"Not just this night, I hope" alpha Travis added tensely.
I nodded to him and smiled brightly, careful not to look him directly in the eye.
"WE BEGIN NOW" Travis yelled loudly, not that he needed to with all of us being able to hear so well.
I felt all eyes fall on me as Dante guided me to the exact center of the clearing. Of course tonight was going to be rough on the pack, but I also knew that it would be rough on me. I didn't have a physical magic source to tap into when I did this magic. And I knew now that I had never been connected to the source in the Protectors realm. I had never had a need to tap into such a strong power before, and I had my fears in my ability to handle it all, but I had to try all that I could.
"You can do this" Dante whispered in my ear, before stepping away from me, to join the pack circle around me.
I closed my eyes, hesitantly digging my toes into the cold, wet earth beneath me. I felt my wolf groan in anxiety. She didn't like what was about to happen, even if it needed to happen. With my eyes closed, I centered myself, calming my mind and spirit, then began to tap into the magic I had grown up knowing how to use, but rarely using.
The magic pooled within me, the steady amount I had always felt, but I knew that I would need more. I reached deeper within myself, trying to find the source of the energy, to find my own core. If I could find it, I wouldn't have any problems.
Digging within myself was quickly growing painful as the magic was growing, becoming overpowering with every passing second. I could feel my body fall to the ground, heard Dante call my name, but I couldn't focus on anything around me, feeling my core growing closer and closer to my hold.
Finally, I found it. The core within me, the source of endless magic. It burned me from within, the magic flowing from it, through my body, and into the earth itself. It was what needed to happen. I needed to channel my magic into the planet, force the bubbles of the realms all to pop at once, forcing their instant merge.
The sound of howling happened around me, sounding so distant and so close at the same time. I channeled my will through the flowing energy, never releasing my connection to my core. The earth felt both cold and warm at once, cold in the soil, but warm where the plants had taken root, spreading life through the surface.
I screamed as pain burst through me, all of the realms instantly connecting. My core slipped from my grasp as I felt my consciousness slipping.