Conrad walked until he couldn't walk another step. He was hungry, tired and losing hope. Leo realized they had to rest soon before his human side collapsed. Just as the sun was beginning to set Leo noticed a cave up among the cliffs. He reached out to Athena, hoping she would hear and respond. It was a long shot but he had to try. Only he knew the whole story. He had not had a chance to give Conrad more details about Cynthia. Leo decided he would as soon as they settled somewhere for the night.
Conrad was weary. He reached out to his wolf. "Hey, Leo. If I shift can you find us some food and shelter? I am tired." "Sure." Conrad stripped, put his clothes in his bag, hung it over his neck and shifted. Leo took off and within 30 minutes had taken down a deer. He ate well and climbed up the cliff side to that cave he had seen from below. He sniffed at the entrance. There is was..that scent. Vanilla and Lavendar..."Athena?" Leo tried again, "Athena?" He whined and stepped into the cave. Conrad had curled up asleep in the back of their mind. Leo figured since he knew Athena it was safest for him to go forward. "Athena? Are you in here?" He could hear breathing...shallow but definite breathing. Leo tummy crawled forward. There she was. Curled up in the far corner of the cave was his gorgeous white wolf mate, Athena. He edged closer and laid down next to her and fell sound asleep.
Leo felt something nosing his side gently. He opened his eyes and saw Athena awake, her beautiful purple eyes locked in his golden ones. He had found her. Now to stir Conrad and not freak Athnea's human out. Leo called to Conrad telling him to be careful and quiet as he had Athena. Conrad stirred and came forward but not shifting so as to not scare Athena. Conrad saw her up cIose for first time. She was beautiful! Athena laid there just looking at Leo and Conrad. "Leo, Cynthia will freak when she sees you. She is afraid of everyone but me. You know that, right?" Athena mind linked Leo. "Yes, but we have to try.She has to get used to us at sometime. Best have us meet here." "Okay.I will try. She has been silent for two full days now "
"Cynthia? Cynthia, please come forward. Please? I need you here." "I am here, Athena...what? what is going on? who is that wolf? a rogue? Athena, why?" Cynthia was panicking. "It's ok, Cynthia. It's our mate. This is Leo."
Cynthia was petrified! "Mate! Athena, I don't want a mate. We don't need a mate! We will be hurt!" Athena sighed, "No. Our mate will love us! Protect us! Please come forward and meet him?"
Cynthia came forward reluctantly. Leo laid his head down and whimpered. He snuggled into Athena. Cynthia shifted and was dressed in a white dress (all white wolves shift from wolf to human with a white dress there). She stroked Leo's head and laid her head on his neck.
He was warm and soft. Leo merely laid still and closed his eyes allowing Cynthia to snuggle into him and both slept.
When Cynthia woke next she was alone in the cave. "Athena, where is Leo?" "I think he went out to get us food." "Oh."
Cynthia waited. When an hour passed she became worried..."We can't stay here, Athena. What if he turned us in to a pack? What of they come to get us? We have to leave and now!" Athena knew Cynthia was afraid of being recaptured.
"Cynthia, trust me. Leo won't do that. He will help us. Wait please. Just a while longer."
Leo killed a buck. He shifted into Conrad and Conrad started a fire to cook the meat knowing Cynthia couldn't eat raw meat in her human form. She was malnourished and changing forms would be too hard to keep doing. After cooking the meat, he shifted once more and Leo brought the cooked meat to Cynthia. Cynthia was shocked! No wonder he was gone so long...he cooked the meat for her. But he came back as his wolf. Why? "Cynthia," Athena said, "he doesn't want to scare you." Cynthia teared up. No one had ever been so thoughtful of her needs since she was five years old. She petted Leo and thanked him. She ate the cooked meat and then laid down again.She was weak and very tired. Leo curled around her keeping her human form warm and safe and slept deeply.
Morning of the second day since he found his mate came. She woke, stretching and yawning. She was so cute. She was perfect. No, she was beyond perfect. She was a bit taller than the average female werewolf at 5'7". Her hair was brown and long and wavy. It hit right at her waist. Her eyes were blue. Her complexion was flawless. Yes, she was malnourished but that he would take care of once he got her back to the pack.
Cynthia blinked. She looked at him and smiled shyly. Leo sat up and cocked his head to the right. He was hoping she would say something. He so wanted to hear her voice. Cynthia swallowed, blinked and then spoke, "Hi. Good mooorrrning." Leo laid down at her feet and closed his eyes. She laughed. Her laughter was like the sound of an angel.
Sweet and soft. Cynthia said, "I would like to meet your human, please."
Conrad was shocked. She wanted to meet me!?! Yes!! Leo let go of control and he shifted into his human, Conrad.
"Hi, Cynthia." Conrad kept his voice low and soft and his eyes focused on the ground. He didn't want to scare her in anyway. At 6'4" the cave was a bit short for him. He was naked as well so he stayed laying down on the cave floor.
He reached for his clothes in his bag to dress. Cynthia flinched when he moved. "I just want to dress. ok?" She nodded her ok. Wolves were used to being naked and seeing others naked but she appreciated his concern for her. She smiled at his concern. He blushed at her smile. "Great," Conrad thought, "I blushed ...some Alpha I am!" ugh!
Then he heard the most lovely sound, she was giggling. Conrad looked up and smiled. Cynthia now was the one blushing. There was something about his smile that disarmed her. "Can I trust him?" Cynthia asked herself. It was Athena that answered her, "Yes, Cynthia, we can trust him. He is our mate!"
"Mate." Cynthia whispered to herself, but Conrad heard her. "Yes, mate. I am yours and you are mine. The Moon Goddess selected you for me and me for you. I have been waiting for you for 200 years,my mate." "200 years? waiting for me?" Cynthia said. "Yes." Conrad sat still. Conrad waited on Cynthia's next move.
She reached out and touched his face. Sparks flew where she touched him. She traced his jawline and then tucked his stray hair behind his ear. He didn't move but smiled softly at her. He let her take the lead. She lowered her head and took his hand in hers. He took his other hand and touched her cheek. She closed her eyes. "Can I trust you?" she asked. Conrad said,"Yes. I am yours. And you are mine. We are one. I will have your back. I will protect you. You can trust me. Come with me,Cynthia. Please?"
Athena was prancing in happiness inside her mind. Cynthia smiled. "Okay." "Leo, did she just say ok?" Conrad asked his wolf. Leo was doing flips in his mind, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" "Okay then. Let's go." Conrad said. "Where are we going?" Cynthia asked. "To my pack. We will be safe there." Conrad answered her. "Pack?" Cynthia trembled. "No! They will hurt me, hate me! No! " Cynthia was terrified. "Not true, my mate. They will love you. They have waited a long time for you." Conrad held her hand gently but firmly. Cynthia pulled back.He refused to let her go. "Cynthia, let's trust him, ok?" Athena said. "If he is not trustworthy I will kill them all and we will leave.You know I can do that. I am stronger than ever now. So are you." Athena was not lying. She was strong. She was a warrior herself and fast. And since she had been running and hunting she was even stronger and faster. Cynthia closed her eyes,nodded her head "yes" and took a deep breath before shifting into her wolf and walking outside the cave. Conrad followed her,stripped, packed his clothes in his bag that hung around his neck and shifted. Leo walked up to Athena and they took off side by side towards the Blood Moon pack territory.