Chapter 180: Universe at Work

Maureen's POV

'Maureen,' a husky voice called my name making me come awake immediately. I turned towards the voice to see that Ian was awake and he was smiling at me. It was dawn already.

'Ian, you are awake. Let me get the doctor,' I said and would have rushed out of the room but Ian's hand on my arm stopped me.

'I heard everything,' he said and I knew what he was referring to.

When it got very dark after I arrived at the hospital, Dawn, Lucia, and Grandma Gina had left, but Lance was still with me. Lance came back into the room after seeing Lucia, Dawn and Grandma Gina to the car looking worried.

'What is it, Lance?' I asked frowning.

'We need to march into the council and get this whole thing over with,' Lance said gesticulating with his hand.

'Is there a new development?' I asked.

'Yes. The Luna of Rolling Hill, as we speak, has brought the whole council under siege. She and the former president are arresting and detaining those who believe you are the golden wolf. There is a rumor of likely execution for them but it is not yet confirmed,' Lance said.

'That crazy bitch,' I said fuming, 'I can't leave Ian like this, Lance,' I said on second thought.

'Your being with Ian here doesn't change anything, Reen. It is either we find his mate or we keep hoping that his wolf will somehow find a way to the surface and heal him,' Lance said.

I knew he was telling the truth, but I didn't want to take his advice to leave Ian yet.

'I will stay until he wakes up,' I said, turning my back to Lance and looking down at Ian's peaceful face.

'We need to finish what was started, Reen. Ian will be fine if the moon goddess deems it fit,' Lance said coming to stand beside me.

'Ian doesn't deserve this, Lance. He faithfully waited for me to show up for years. He is a loyal person. He can't even hurt a fly,' I said looking at Ian.

'I know Maureen. But you have heard Ian say several times that everything is predestined. If Ian will die then no one of us can stop it,' Lance said. Everything he had said was true but it was a bitter pill to swallow.

'I just wish his mate would walk through that door this minute, and all this worry will be over,' I said.

'If wishes were horses...' Lance said without finishing the sentence.

'We will move on the council first thing tomorrow but please let me start with him till then,' I said to Lance.

'If that is what you want. I will inform the soldiers of your plan,' Lance said.

'Thank you, Lance, you are the best mate ever,' I said, turning to him to hug him.

'I already asked Lucia to send clothes to us and pack a bag each for us. She will send it here. I also got a room for us to have our bath and change clothes here,' Lance said.

'You knew you would convince me to leave right?' I asked smiling lightly.

'I was banking on my negotiation strength,' Lance said shrugging.

Lance had insisted that I should use the room we were given but I told him that I would rather stay beside Ian.

Lance got us food and we both sat in Ian's hospital room to eat. I could only get very little down. Lance was worried, but I told him I was fine; I just didn't have an appetite. Lance had left me beside Ian to take care of the logistics involved in our movement the next day.

Ian must have overheard everything that transpired while we thought he was asleep.

'I am not leaving your side, Ian. I will be back the instance I am through with the problem those fools are causing at the council,' I said to Ian.

'You belong to all wolves alive Maureen. You don't belong to a specific person or a specific group of people,' Ian said. He was almost whispering.

'I know Ian but you need me right now,' I said defensively.

'No, Maureen. Search your heart, do I need you?' Ian asked.

'I just don't feel like leaving you,' I said stubbornly.

'Lance is right, Maureen; if the moon goddess sees it fit, then I will survive. I kept the bane all my life and waited patiently for you to come. I don't regret waiting for you and leading a lonely life for so long now that I know the mission is going to be fruitful,' Ian said softly.

'I just can't imagine going on without you Ian. It seems so unfair,' I said with every word carrying my unhappiness.

'If it is the will of the moon goddess that you proceed on this journey without me Maureen, then so be it. Have you taken time to wonder why Dominus also has the ability that I possess?' Lance asked the last part with a look of mystery in his eyes.

'Don't say it like that, Ian; I will never believe that the moon goddess will duplicate your gift just to get rid of you,' I said, standing up to pace as fear seeped into my blood. I couldn't bring myself to the realization of the fact that I would lose Ian.

'It is a bitter truth, but we have to live with it. I wasn't born with the gift. I got it suddenly when it became a necessary tool to protect the bane.'

'Dominus wasn't born with the gift either.'

'You don't understand. I was never mentioned in the prophecy. Was I?' Ian asked and my heart shook from that realization.

'I can't lose you, Ian,' I said passionately.

'Thanks to you, I don't feel much pain. My getting better is now in the hands of destiny. You must proceed with this fight, forget about me, and overcome. That is the only way my effort over these years can be repaid,' Ian said and I felt so emotional.

'How do I even proceed knowing you might die?' I asked rubbing my hand on my face.

'You don't have to be pessimistic. Just think of the fact that I am lying here waiting for you to win and bring me those bastards' heads,' Ian said.

'I am sorry about this Ian. I really am. You don't deserve what Shanty did,' I said as hatred for Shanty burned in my heart.

'I would not deny the fact that Shanty disappointed me. But then it is all predestined so, I don't hold it against her,' Ian said.

Lance came in at that moment to tell me that I had guests outside the hospital. I was confused that anyone would come looking for me at the hospital but with the look in Lance's eyes, he knew who they were.

I excused myself from Ian and followed Lance outside. I was surprised to see the waiters Grandma Gina had taken me to meet when we visited her pack standing outside the hospital. Grandma Gina was with them and so also was Asher's grandfather.

They all went on one knee as I approached them. I wasn't used to people bowing to me yet, not to talk of elderly-looking men and women.

'Please rise. Don't make me uncomfortable,' I said and they rose to their feet.

'We traveled all night to see you because the time is now,' the leader said to me.

'What do you mean by the time is now?' I asked frowning lightly because I didn't understand a word of what he was saying.

'The moon rode the wolf last night. It is the sign we have waited for all our lives. It was the indication that the golden wolf will soon sit in the citadel. We are here to escort you,' the leader said.

'Where did the moon ride the wolf?' I didn't see anything,' I said wondering.

'A lot of people sighted it last night. The moon was on the image of a wolf and it went across the sky towards the council,' Lance said beside me.

'Really?' I asked.

'Yes. Lucia has a recording,' Lance said.

'There is likely to be a war at the council, you can't possibly come along. I will advise that you all stay back in High Moon and I will send for you when it is all over,' I said.

The waiters exchanged glances and shook their heads to indicate that they weren't staying back.

'I am only saying this to protect you from any harm. I don't know what we would be up against at the council,' I said getting agitated.

'Normally, you worry about us but it must be done. If we perish, we perish. It is what we have waited for our entire lives. We are not allowing cowardice to rob us of it,' the leader said.

'Ok. I will just bid somebody goodbye and be outside in a jiffy,' I said.

'We will be waiting out here,' the leader said.

Lance followed me back into Ian's hospital room. I didn't know what was driving the waiters to think they could walk into a war we don't even know how it might end.

'They are here. Aren't they?' Ian asked as we stepped into the room.

'How do you know?' I didn't have to ask him who.

'I saw in my dreams last night how the moon beautifully rode a wolf across the sky,' Ian said smiling.

'I have to go now, Ian. Be strong and wait for me,' I said and Ian nodded.

'I said I want to see the golden wolf and you dare injure me this way? You must be a nitwit. I am going to see to your killing myself,' a female voice shouted from the hospital corridor. A voice that sounded like Alan's was apologizing to the female.

The noise made Lance and I go into the corridor to see who it was but the stench that hit my nose made me realize that it was a female wolf.

The instance the female saw me she ran to me and fell in front of me. Her right hand was turned wrongly, clearly indicating that it was twisted.

'I am glad I saw you, Your Majesty. A seer told me that I can only find my mate when I set my eyes on you. That is why I have been looking for you the moment I heard you truly exist. I don't...'

'Mate,' a low grumble came from the doorway as Ian stood wide-eyed, looking at the female kneeling before me.

The universe was indeed at work.