Chapter 9-A Breath of Freedom

Sitting outside with fresh air surrounding me, I sit down on the grass, leaning my back against a sturdy oak tree while facing the temple. A day has passed since waking up, and as promised, Ira gave me my space. She also gifted me a set of leather-bound journals and a few high quality pens, telling me that I look like the type of wolf who needs to write out her emotions. I thought the Priestess would be hard to get along with, but she has surprised me with how motherly and caring she is.

Around me are trees of various shapes, the forest spreading out behind me with a clearing full of wildflowers and moonflowers in front of me. I smile and draw the scene before me, the floral scent comforting after years of walking through the moonflowers back in the Royal Pack.

“I see you found this spot.”

I jump, looking to my right to see Ariven leaning against a tree, his forest green eyes holding amusement at my reaction.

“Yes, I find it to be relaxing here.”

I answer warily. For a man over six feet tall, Ariven moves as silently as a Tracker.

“It is. Geminie and I first met here. She actually shifted for the first time right in this very field.”

He points to a spot where the wildflowers are blooming and I smile. To think, this burly looking wolf met my niece in a place like this.

“Was it love at first sight?”

I ask, wanting to know more about Geminie’s past.

“I am not sure. I will say it was a shock to learn later on that she would be my new Alpha. I still have the first picture of her saved to my phone, want to see it?”

Ariven answers, peaking my interest at the mention of a photo of Geminie when she was my age. Climbing to my feet, I slowly walk towards Ariven who has taken out his phone, the latest Samsung smartphone, and watch as he scrolls through his photos.

He finally finds what he is looking for and turns his screen towards me. I frown, realizing he has to bend down slightly to allow me to see the screen as the top of my hair barely reaches his chest. Taking his hand, I move it so that the screen is visible without the glare of the sun and let out a gasp of surprise.

A live photo, one that looks like a regular picture until you click on it, is seen on the screen.

A pure white wolf stands in the middle of the field.

Her silver-grey eyes hold a look of confidence and triumph in their depth.

Her white fur is full and healthy, the gentle breeze flowing through it, causing the sun to reflect off of it like a prism.

Hues of different pastel colours constantly changing direction in the live photo where each ray of sun hits, the wild flowers dancing around her.

A tuft of long fur, almost like bangs, covers the left side of her face.

The final touches are the small patches of silver fur with swirls and stars climbing up part of her paws. Her wolf form is so much younger than what I have seen in our alliance howl a week ago and it is clear that her fur has matured over the years.

“This was taken five years ago. I still remember her growling at me for surprising her.”

Ariven chuckles. I can feel the love for his mate radiating off of him and hold in the whimper from the pain the mate bond I have with Narin causes. I want the love that Geminie and Ariven have.

“It wasn’t until her powers started developing that her silver-grey eyes started to turn into the moon-white they are now. She can still see like anyone else, it’s just the Power of the Goddess blood running through her.”

Ariven explains before I can ask the question, distracting me from the broken mate bond. I smile, looking at the picture once more and wonder if Selene looked like this.

“Could you take a picture of me and Gem in wolf form here later?”

I ask sheepishly, watching as the Alpha wolf before me puts his phone away.

“Of course. Maybe some time this week, we can all relax and have a picnic here, and Gem can explain more about the dreamscape to you.”

He agrees. My face breaks into a grin, excited to have an opportunity to learn more about the dreamscape and how I can enter it.

“Anyways, how are you holding up? I know you’ve been through a lot.”

Ariven asks, taking a seat on the grass and patting the spot beside him for me to join. I sigh while sitting beside him, clutching the journal in my hands while looking at the wildflowers before me.

“I don’t know how to feel to be honest. Confused, scared, upset and betrayed are just the surface.”

I start, a sad smile replacing my grin.

“I used to think that Coro was my ancestor, the reason why I am here. Technically, he is still the reason why I am here but also the reason why I never grew up with my real parents, why I never got to experience life with my twin.”

I continue. I jump when tears I had no idea had fallen from my eyes, Ariven giving me a sympathetic smile.

“It must be hard. I think you should talk with Geminie.”

He suggests, ruffling my hair playfully.

“Why?”

I ask, swatting his hand away and sticking my tongue out at him as he laughs at me.

“She went through something similar. She was kidnapped at birth by the parents of Alex, our Beta and her older brother. She grew up hated and abused because of Bastian and Jasmine Blake. If anyone understands the struggle you are going through, it’s her.”

He answers. I look away from him and down at my journal, biting my bottom lip as I think over what I just learned about Geminie. To think, someone so powerful went through something so horrible.

“And if you want to learn about toxic sibling behaviour, talk to Amberle. I think her sister Mia is still out there somewhere slandering Amberle as we speak.”

Looking up, I see Geminie walking towards us, her prismatic hair tied into a bun with Destiny running around the flowers. I smile at the she-wolf as she sits beside me, wrapping me in a hug.

“So, I was thinking that instead of an aunt-and-niece relationship, you can think of me as a big sister and Ariven as your big brother. We are family after all.”

Leaning into her warmth, I close my eyes and take in her calm energy, feeling myself calm down. I can sense her sincerity and the idea of having a loving family with these two wolves makes the coldness the rejection in me seem less isolating.

“I’d like that.”

With a small whisper I agree, pulling away to look at Geminie who smiles down at me with love in her eyes.

“Good. If you need anything, I am just a call away. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Looking over at Ariven, I see a flash just in time to realize he had taken a picture of Geminie and I, a grin splitting his face.

Maybe with their help, I can find my own strength and become an Alpha as strong as these two.

Between Ira’s training and the love from my small family, I know that I can make it through these next few weeks while learning to deal with my heartbreak and discovering just who I truly am.