Chapter 77: Search

Chapter 77: Search
We were all silently watching him when he said those words, not understanding for a moment what was going on.
His eyes were looking towards me and I felt as I couldn't breathe, when Marcus looked the way the male that was still standing by the door was looking, Marcus's eyes narrowed to slits as he stood up and growled at the male.
"What the fuck are you saying?" Marcus's voice boomed loudly inside the living room, making my eyes widened, looking from him towards the unknown male.
The male took a step forward as Marcus was looking between the male and me.
“Mine!” the low voice followed by a growl said.
Marcus looked at me with a silent question and I couldn’t believe what was happening.
"N-no, he is wrong," I said hurriedly to Marcus who turned back towards the male, growling at him.
"Take one more step and I will not hesitate to fight you," Marcus said low, a clear warning showing in his tone.
I stood up, reaching for Marcus as Annie passed by me.
I watched at her feeling confused as to where she was going, as she reached towards the male and stood in front of him.
Marcus stopped growling as we all watched silently at the two, looking into each other’s eyes.
“Mine.” He repeated, not taking his eyes off of Annie.
“Yours.” She said as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, as he placed his head down into her neck, trying to calm down.
"Oh…" I said as everyone relaxed and finally smiled, watching the two newfound mates unite.
I looked over at Tanner who's eyes were looking a little sad as he was watching over the two.
Lyssa stood up as her hands clapped down excitedly as she walked towards Annie and her mate.
“O this is so exciting. The faith has brought you two together in the most unexpected way.” Lyssa said as the rest of us stood up and walked over to them to congratulate them.
Marcus stood next to the pair congratulating them as he looked over the male and sheepishly said, "Umm…sorry for…earlier…I…I thought that…" his eyes looked down towards me making me giggle as I saw him a little nervous.
The male laughed as he extended his hand towards Marcus and said, "No worries, I understand. Hell, even I thought that…well…you are with my mate."
They both laughed at their own mistakes making Annie and me shake our heads.
“I am Trent.” He said, introducing himself to us all.
Everyone welcomed him as each one of us introduced ourselves to him. I could see that Tanner was a little distant compared to us all, but I guess that is normal if I was to think about it, he was the only one next to Damon who hasn't yet found his mate.
Only I didn't think that Tanner was in a rush to find his, but I guess I thought wrong.
As the last of us congratulated the couple, we all took a seat and started talking about our plan to find the great moon’s white warriors.
Placing the map over the coffee table, Marcus and Damon were explaining the set route that Edmond wrote and what we should be expecting according to the ancient writings that Edmond has found.
Trent was silently listening, having Annie sitting close by his side, as he took in every word Damon and Marcus have said.
Soon after we have laid down the plans, we all stood up and went to get out backpacks while Lyssa and Bert packed snacks and sandwiches for us to carry.
Putting everything in our backpacks, with the sandwiches and snacks and fresh bottles of water, we hugged the old witch that grew fond to us all and Bert.
As we started to walk through the little village, everyone got out of their houses to wish us luck and say their goodbyes.
Bert followed us so he can open the crack in the invisible barrier so we can pass through.
Reaching that border Bert turned towards us and said, “Be careful out there and don’t get off the track.”
"Thank you for everything," Marcus said to him as Bert smiled to us all and turned towards the barrier, lifting his crane that started to shine as he spoke some words we could barely hear.
The glimmer showed on the barrier when it slowly opened, letting us to pass through.
One by one we walked through it, turning one more time, and waving to Bert who stood there, closing the barrier and waving to us before he turned and walked back into the village.
"Well, this is it. Let's go." Marcus said, pulling his backpack onto his shoulder as he set it to suit him better, and slowly we all started to walk through the thick forest, keeping an eye on the map to follow the drawn road.
Hours has passed before we took a break to sit down and rest.
I never thought that I will have enough of the woods as I did just now. Everywhere I looked were trees and some more trees, and forest animals.
We were sitting down on the ground, taking our sandwiches as we eat them, resting for a while before we had to keep on going.
Even we were in the forest, it was still not safe for us, especially with Elders that were following after us and searching for us all.
When everyone finished their sandwiches and rested enough, Damon and Marcus made us all to stand up and keep going.
Hours have passed and from the early morning when we started this journey it was already getting cold as the night has fallen.
Mandy, Annie, Lizzy, and I, we were all feeling exhausted by this long walk making Marcus, Logan, Tanner, and Trent to look at each other and nod their heads as they silently agreed to something.
"Wait here," Marcus said to us all, as all four men gave their backpacks to Damon who rolled his eyes but still took them and they left behind the trees.
What were they doing? I asked myself, looking over at girls who were confused as I was.
The next moment we heard bones cracking and I instantly knew that they were shifting, when a large black wolf emerged from behind one of the trees where Marcus left, holding his clothes in his mouth.
I watched him as he approached towards me, and I could swear he looked different, bigger than before. He approached me and gave me his clothes that I put away into his backpack that Damon given back to me.
Logan's wolf as well with Tanner walked over and did the same with Lizzy and Damon, who grunted as he placed Tanner's clothes in his backpack and tossing it over his shoulder.
Last, that walked out was a dark black panther, repeating as the rest did as he walked towards Annie.
All four beasts, lowered themselves down so each one of us can climb up on their backs and ride on them.
I watched as Lizzy and Annie happily jumped on Logan and Trent, while Tanner was growling annoyed that he had to carry Damon.
"O shut up, and be a nice doggie," Damon said making Tanner growl but stopped when Marcus growled at him.
Reluctantly, Tanner let Damon climb on top of his back, "Damn…you're a big donkey." Damon said making me chuckle as others did the same while Tanner snorted in response.
Marcus looked over at me, as he lowered his body so I can easily climb up on his back.
Getting on top of his back, and making myself comfortable, I noticed that he was taller and much wider since the last time I was riding on his back like this, but there was also a white crescent moon shape that I noticed, showing behind one of his black ears.
I lean closer to take a better look but was surprised when suddenly we all started to move.
I held on tight when Marcus started to run faster through the woods, making everything go past us in a blur.
Soon we heard a thunder sounding in a distance as rain starting to pour over us.
Marcus' voice came to me, reaching out through our link, "Hold on tight we will find some shelter."
I laid down, holding onto him tight, as we rushed faster, feeling the cold air and raindrops washing over my already drenched clothes.
I started to think how much longer will it take for us to reach where we are going as I raised my head from Marcus fur and looked ahead to see a dark, scary looking mountain.
Marcus and the rest of the males started to climb the mountain, trying to find some shelter when we finally reached a little higher and walked inside a smaller cave.
Climbing off Marcus back while Damon took it upon him to inspect the small cave, we all gathered inside, feeling frozen as I sat down on the ground shivering when Marcus curled around me to warm me up. Same this did Trent and Logan while Damon and Tanner laid down and decided to take a rest.
"You should rest now," Marcus said to me as I finally stopped shivering, and was snuggling closer into his warm body, feeling his fur tickling my face.
“What about you?” I asked him through our bond.
“I am keeping guard and will be switching with the rest of them so don’t worry about me, just rest, I am here and will keep you safe.” He said, nuzzling his face into mine as I was fast enough falling into sleep, feeling warm and safe, knowing he is there next to me.