Chapter 34

Amaris continued through the woods with Anna and her family following behind. She is not sure how she knew, but she knew exactly where Lyle had taken Gran. There was another underground bunker in the woods. Amaris led them straight to it, but did not know how to change back to her human form to open it. Anna saw that Amaris needed help with the hatch and changed back to her human form to open it. Her father went out and stood guard in the direction that they had just come from while she did this. Anna held the hatch while her mother, who had also changed back to human, jumped down into the tunnel. Anna called out to her Dad who followed them. Amaris went in and then Anna went last to be able to close and lock the hatch. This tunnel entrance was a lot larger than the one that Gran had brought her to earlier and it had tunnels leading out of it. As they began to move down the tunnel they heard rustling and looked into the room where the sound was coming from. It was Lyle and he was taking care of Gran. She had a head wound and Lyle was bandaging it. When he heard the noise in the hallway behind him, he turned around. He and Amaris locked eyes again. The surge that went through each of them was enormous and caused Amaris to begin to glow again.

“Mari, you need to turn the light bulb impression off. We are all going blind here.” Says Anna with a chuckle as she shields her eyes. Lyle suddenly realized that there were others with Amaris and reached over to the shelf next to him and grabed some material. They looked like jump suits. He silently handed them past Amaris to Anna. When Amaris finally tore her eyes away from Lyle she realized that Anna’s parents had both changed to their human form. They took the jumpsuits and disappeared around the corner. Anna’s mother came back a few seconds later and told Lyle that she would take care of Gran. “Go ahead. You two have a lot to discuss.” She said with a knowing smile. Anna and her father came back into the room also wearing the same tan jumpsuits. Lyle nodded and smiled shyly and walked out into the hallway. “Down here. We can talk in here privately.” Lyle walked down the hallway and turned a corner down another hallway and then took a right into what looked like a large studio apartment. “This is my place. Or at least it is when I am here and not down the mountain teaching and watching over you.” Lyle walked in and ushered her in. Amaris then realized that he had been holding another jumpsuit. It was clearly for her.

“I know since this is your first time that you are probably feeling very unsure of everything and lost. To change back to your human form you need to relax and concentrate on what your human form looks like. Feel your human essence. Amaris closed her eyes and breathed in slowly. Thinking of herself as she was normally. Trying to will herself back to her familiar human form. When she opened her eyes, she looked down and she still saw paws.

“It’s ok. On the first time it may take a few tries. Getting used to changing back and forth is tricky at first. Amaris closed her eyes again and tried to concentrate. This time she felt Lyle’s hand on the side of her face. It felt muffled at first through all the fur, but after a minute she could feel the warmth of his skin on hers. Before she could open her eyes his hand was gone and she could feel a blanket wrap around her. When she opened them Lyle was walking to the door. “I put the jumpsuit on the bed next to you. I will be just outside when you are ready.” Lyle walked out of the room closing the door behind him.

Amaris looked around her. There was the bed next to her, a small kitchenette next to it. A couple of chairs at a small round kitchen table and then there was a bathroom in the corner. On one wall there was a huge book shelf, stacked with books. They were arraigned neatly at one time, but then it looks like more books were added and there was not enough space. No wonder he seemed so at home in the bunker before. This is almost exactly like it, just a little smaller. As Amaris moved she realized that the blanket was the only thing that she had on and that Lyle could be back at any minute. She turned and picked up the jumpsuit. Dropping the blanket on the bed she pulled the jumpsuit on and zipped the front. She was still barefoot, but at least she had clothes. She walked back to the door and let Lyle back into the room.

He came around the corner and sat at one of the chairs at the table. She closed the door behind him and came to sit down next to him. She looked up at him shyly now. There was an electric pull in the air between them, making her feel like they were a pair of magnets. She could not help but lean towards him. He could not seem to help himself either and reached out and wrapped his fingers around her hand. He had large hands. She had never noticed that about him before. Amaris was keeping her eyes down on their hands, too embarrassed and unsure to meet his eyes. Her nervousness must have shown through because he let her hand go and reached up to tip her face up toward him.

“I realize that this is all a lot to try and absorb at once. You seem to be coping very well, but I am sure it will take time and adjustment. Your wolf has come forward for the first time today, that is cause for celebration. Normally we would have a party and mark the event. We would also have a huge feast in honor of your finding your true mate, and of him finding you also. It is a very special thing for a wolf to find their true mate.” Lyle looks down at his hand that had been holding hers a moment before. “We should really be rejoicing because you have finally come forward as the moon goddess’s daughter. Your wolf is truely the most beautiful that I have ever seen and signifies that you are the one. “. Lyle bowed his head. “As the moon goddess’s daughter I will understand if you do not wish to take me as your life mate. My brother Adam is right, I am not worthy of being the mate of the one who will bring the packs together. I am not worthy to lead, and I am not worthy of you.” Amaris was still trying to take it all in, but was surprised by his words. How could someone so beautiful, so smart, so kind, and so courageous feel so unworthy.

She raised her hand very slowly and gently touched the side of his face. Something she would never have dared do only a week ago, but something now told her that he needed this. Looking him straight in the eyes she said, “You are worthy. You don’t see yourself very clearly. You are a kind, patient man, who is courageous and smart, you are also a very handsome man.” She blushed at this statement, and Lyle looked back down at his hand again. “You do have the qualities to lead. You have been doing exactly what you should have. It was your job to protect your mate and you trusted your brother to lead in your stead. Your brother is greedy and selfish. He wants power. That is not something that you desire.” Lyle looked up at her with such love in his eyes. He reached his hand up and gently slid it along the side of her cheek as he leaned forward and kissed her.