Full Moon Gathering

I watch as Darius walks down with Sage. Winter isn't phased by either Kellan or Darius being with Sage. I guess because she can feel the bond between Sage and Tony?

"How are you feeling?" I turn and smile at Kellan.

"Right now, fine, ask again in thirty seconds." We both laugh as he guides me down to the garden. I watch as Darius welcomes people with Sage.

"Your jealousy is weird." I smile at Kellan.

"Not weird, just Winter knows Sage isn't a threat."

"And Callista, and Lyra are?" He tilts his head.

"I don't understand how either, so let's forget about it." I thought it was just Darius, seeing him with Lyra or Callista. Yet today proved it is Kellan as well. Which is interesting.

"Remember what we said?"

I groan. "Yes, I remember, you have both repeated it over and over. Constantly, like a record on replay."

He laughs. "Remember that you won't feel a connection with everyone. You can talk to their wolves, and such though. I also know Sage wanted you to run with her and some of her family."

"We've not had time together, not with me as my wolf. I get it though, you and Darius won't let me leave your sight."

"We actually were thinking of letting you, as long as..."

"I follow rules." We laugh, and he nods.

"Exactly."

Most have shifted now, but I'm still cautious. "What about if someone here mentions me?" If I shift, there will be a chance they realise who I am.

"Most here won't say. Sage was selective in her choice of who was to come. Okay, remember, focus on your wolf." Nodding, I close my eyes and focus on Winter and feel myself shift.

Opening my eyes I move and nudge Kellan, even in his wolf form I can see he rolled his eyes.

Stay safe, stay close to her and her family.

I nod and walk towards her.

Misty? That's her wolf name? She nods and begins to run, and I follow her. It feels good to be able to run freely. I get lost in the moment. Lost within my wolf.

Winter suddenly stops and growls, and we step back.

"Xenia, what a pleasure to meet you".

I step further back from the wolf.

"You're more powerful than I expected. Faster as well, you left your friends behind."

"Who are you?" I step back, trying to keep my distance as he moves forward.

"Oh, don't worry your pretty little red about that. You don't belong here."

Winter growls, and we step back.

"You should never have got here Xenia, never got your wolf back, or learnt who you were."

"Leave me alone." As I step back I bump into someone and see another wolf. Winter howls loudly before growling.

I can hear Darius and Kellan in my mind, saying I'm too far out. I can't get back though.

Trust Me. Winter's words are whispered in my mind, forcing myself to relax I let her take full control of my body. She turns and snaps forward, biting the wolf behind us.

Pain explodes through my leg, and howling, I fight with the wolf before running forward with a limp. My head constantly turns to watch behind me.

I slam into something, and Winter attacks the wolf. I watch him shift.

"It's me!" My body stills and shifts back. "You ran too far! What did we say!" Darius shouts, and I shrug. I didn't think I went that far. I didn't realise.

"She's bleeding." Kellan's words come from behind us, and I try to force my mind to wake up.

"What happened?" Darius holds me, waiting for me to speak.

"I don't know. I ran into a wolf and kept saying I wasn't meant to be here. He called me Xenia. I then ran."

"Then how did you get bit?" Kellan kneels at my leg. "Which is healing well." He stares at it.

"There was more than one, and I can't remember what happened." Everything was a blur.

"Search the area she came from, check for any signs and see if you can find out who it was." Darius stands and pulls me up with him.

"You weren't meant to go far, Elara." Kellan looks at me as they help me back.

"I didn't realise, one mine I was with Sage then I wasn't." I'm not sure how it happened.

"You lost focus. Remember I said always keep the connection to yourself open? That way when you're running in your mind you're remembering your connecting to this form, then maybe you won't forget and just keep running." Kellan smiles, and I know he's right.

"You worried Sage. She tried keeping up with you but couldn't. She ran back to us, then heard Winter howl and thought you were hurt." Darius shakes his head.

"She is hurt." Kellan glances at my leg.

"It doesn't feel as bad now." Before it did, not so much now.

"You're healing fast. Did you get a name?"

"No Kellan, he said not to worry my pretty little red head about it. He just said I didn't belong here and shouldn't have got my wolf back. Also said I was stronger than he expected."

"So Draven then?" Darius looks at me.

"No, I know what Draven's wolf is like. I also would have sensed him, but it wasn't him."

"Ethan?" Kellan looks at me. My head shakes then stop as Winter growls yes.

"It didn't sound like him." It can't have been him. Winter growls behind. "The main guy, I don't know. The wolf behind me was Ethan."

"There was more than one?" Darius stares at me.

"Yes, I thought it was just the guy but then I stepped back and hit another wolf, there were maybe four." They had surrounded me.

"We need to find all the tunnels. Everyone who entered was checked. No one not invited came." Kellan looks at Darius. "Which means they have another way in."

"Someone would have seen them come through. I've got Betas on all the main doors. Someone would have seen them leave the palace." Darius sighs. "There must be a way into the gardens."

I'm guessing it's something they don't know about?

"Which means the gardens aren't safe either."

"Enough!" I'm done with it. "Can you talk about it later? My mind hurts."

Kellan chuckles. "You're back to your usual new self."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap."

"You're worn out. Don't worry about it." Nodding, I rest my head against Darius' shoulder. Just how far out did I run?