Axel hadn't slept in days. He was so stressed out about Astrid being a Bennet wolf, he made Lucy train harder and harder. Lucy was exhausted, and she couldn't keep this up. Ellen had decided to finish her school year here with them to help train Lucy to prevent her from having the same fate as Lanie. Something else was bothering Axel. He couldn't shake the feeling, how odd it was that Lanie and Lucy both lost their parents, and they were both Bennet wolves. Could they be related more than just the name? He didn't want to bring it up to Lucy in case Astrid lost it again. Then Ellen had an idea.
"I think we've been thinking this the wrong way. Have you ever trained in wolf form?"
"Only running,It was only to tire Astrid out." Lucy explained,The more running she did, the better she stayed put and didn't force herself forward.
"know a small spell I can temporarily put Astrid to sleep if she gets out of hand. Let's try training in wolf form," Ellen suggested.
Axel looked shocked, He never thought of this before. Could it work? Axel had been doing martial arts since he was placed with the Monroe's. They all did it as a family, so it was easy for him to train Lucy, plus he liked bossing her around. Axel paused to have a small conversation with Liam. Without warning, Liam shifted. He was ready. The problem with training in wolf form is they can't communicate. Because they aren't from the same pack, they can't mindlink each other, so they would have to go off of non-verbal communication. Lucy walked over to Liam and ran her fingers through his grey fur.
"Are you sure you trust us, Liam?"she said with so much adoration. He put his face to her face and rubbed up and down like he was saying yes. Lucy looked to Ellen and said,
"You better climb up that tree. I don't trust Astrid not to hurt you." Lucy got undressed and folded her clothes neatly, almost afraid to shift. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves so that she might have better control over Astrid in wolf form. She turned and shifted so fast it was like a blink. Ellen watched, amazed as this large white and brown wolf stood before her. She was stunning, so much like Lanie, the same brown paws and the same brown circles around the eyes, everything else stark white, the only difference was Astrid's eyes were red and Lanie's Wolf Anna's eyes were Black. Astrid ran up to Liam and playfully bit his hind leg. Liam tackled her to the ground. He motioned for her to watch him, he moved slowly, showing her a jump and roll, and she mirrored his actions perfectly. They did this for many moves. They did this for so long they didn't realize the sun had begun to set. All of a sudden, Astrid bolted into the woods after something. Liam was right on her trail when Astrid stopped dead in her tracks. A rogue snarling and spitting at Astrid Liam jumped in front of Astrid, ready to defend.
Astrid POV DANGER!!!!!I ran as fast as I could to the smell of rotting garbage, I didn't know what the smell was, but I had to get it and kill it before it hurt Liam or Ellen. It's my duty, my job, fight, kill, defend! I skidded to a stop when I came face to face with a rogue! Feral wolves who follow no rules technically Liam and I are also rogues, but because we were separated from our packs and not banished, we didn't smell like rogues, and our humans mainly had control. Axel was really good at keeping Liam back, I tried not to force Lucy out, but she is so innocent and loving she doesn't know what we are capable of, and she doesn't know what our destiny is. I can't tell her. She has got to figure it out for herself, but without the training from our Alpha, we can't become one. As I was about to lunge at the rogue, Liam jumped in front blocked me from him. They started circling each other. Liam was twice the size of the rogue but half the age. Suddenly, the rogue
Ellen's Aunt arrived today, and she is the spitting image of Ellen, just shorter, closer to Lucy's height than Ellen and Axel. She is a quiet woman, observant, but bright. She has a darkness that she hides well. She makes Astrid uneasy in Lucy's mind. She is a good actress, though. Her whole face lights up when she smiles at you. She helped put Kyle's wolf Arnold to sleep. She said for him to wake up, he would have to force a shift painfully on the next blood moon. If he doesn't, she will have to wake him up or another witch as powerful as her. She is one of the five pure-blooded Gideon witches still alive. Most pure-blooded witches become dark witches drunk on dark power, shortening their lives. Aunt Bonnie explained to Lucy about Astrid, why she is wild and unruly and that the moon goddess must have favour on her to send Axel to this town without his calm wolf and training. Her life would look very different. She suggests Lucy come to Portland and meet Lanie in the facility.
Axel and Ellen's 18th birthday is next week. Ellen and Lucy are planning an epic camping trip up in the mountains. Axel has been so stressed about Lucy's training and keeping Astrid in check, especially after seeing that rogue stuck in wolf form. The girls thought a fun weekend away would be just what the dr ordered. Lucy was busy baking away when Axel came in for his usual coffee and scone before his shift. He popped his head into the back, looking for Lucy. It was Thursday, and they were set to leave tomorrow, so she was baking extra goodies for their weekend. "Ax! Hey! Is it almost four already? Geez, time flies when you're birthday baking!" Lucy always made ridiculous jokes when she was hiding something. "Why are you acting weird?" "Oh, you know I'm funny naturally. So you got Sunday off for your birthday."Lucy reminded him. "Yes, Luc, I'm all yours for the weekend!" "Haha, good" Lucy laughed at him. "It will be a weekend to
Axel was so surprised and happy they decided to go camping for his big birthday surprise. He needed a break and to be with his two favourite girls. He never thought he would have a sister, let alone a twin. They set up the tent and were sitting out watching the stars. It was a clear night. You could hear the rustling of small animals running through the forest and the river rushing in the distance. They laughed and talked about what their mates would be like if they found them right away or if they would be waiting months or years. It was common for wolves to pick a mate if they didn't find theirs in the first few years. They were getting ready for bed when Ellen froze. She didn't know what to do. She felt so strange, like something big was about to happen. One of her gifts as a wolf-witch hybrid, even though she didn't have a wolf yet, was the sense of danger, smell and weather. She never really understood the weather, But Aunt Bonnie said it would come in time.Axel sud
Axel, Maddox, Ellen and Lucy were going to Portland to find out the truth about Ellens wolf. Ellen was quiet the whole way. She had a sneaking suspicion that Aunt Bonnie put her wolf to sleep. But why? What is she hiding? What does she not want Ellen to know. Aunt Bonnie had told Ellen that her mother died giving birth to her and Axel and that Axel went to foster care because he was a wolf and Ellen was a witch. Aunt Bonnie could help Ellen, but she didn't know the first thing about raising a wolf. What didn't make sense about her story was, why didn't she find a wolf family for Axel? Why send him to a human family 4 hours away. There was a Portland pack, and she was sure the Alpha would have helped find Axel an adoptive family. Something was not adding up, and Ellen would get to the bottom of it. A few hours later, they arrived at Aunt Bonnie's house. It was a large White House with a deck that wrapped all the way around. There sat a perfect porch swing and a
Lucy POV I could feel the control slipping. Astrid was coming forward. I could feel my canines coming forward and my nails turning to claws. I was trying so hard to keep all my happiness that my sister was alive, anxiety that she was in a healing facility and anger that I thought I was all alone for so long in check. Astrid was screaming in my mind to find Lanie when Axel's voice came through the darkness. "Breathe, Luc, don't let her win. You are in control. You are in charge. No one takes your choice from you!" he whispered. I could feel myself begin to breathe normally and my canines retracted, and my nails were my own again. I had to keep it together. Now was not the time to lose control! No pity parties today! I turned to Axel, and when I went to say thank you, I noticed the look on Bonnie's face. She was shocked like she had just seen a ghost. I tried to apologize, but the words were so quiet I couldn't get them out. I thought Bonnie was staring at me, but she
Lucy was a nervous wreck. What if Lanie didn't forgive her for not finding her sooner. What if she blamed her for their parent's death. Axel could feel Lucy’s anxiety radiating like hot wind hitting his skin. He leaned over in the back seat of the car and ran the back of his finger along the inside of Lucy's arm; this always calmed her when she was sliding into one of her panic fits. Lucy was always grateful for Axel's ability to manage her insane emotions. It was like they were connected somehow. She just figured that's what happens when you spend your whole life together. The facility was excellent, the walls were painted mint with chocolate trim, and warm paintings hung on the halls. It was a calming atmosphere. Lucy took a deep breath before she walked into the room. The others stayed in the waiting area while the girls got reacquainted. “Lannie? Ummmm... Hi, my name is....." "Lucy, I know I've been waiting for you, little sister."
Aunt Bonnie was right. It wasn't good. Lanie had been in that facility for years, being poisoned. She went there first for just a wolf relaxation retreat, thinking that would help her wolf calm down and deal with the trauma of losing her parents watching them die. That's when her wolf started losing control and had to be sedated until she found her mate, Lanie, turned 18 two years ago, and her mate never came. This could mean a few things: they aren't born yet, very unusual, aren't of age yet, or are dead. Only time will tell where her mate is. The only way to heal the wolf is to wake her and chain in her silver so she can't hurt anyone. Lucy was against this. She thought maybe Axel could help Lanie as he helped her. Axel agreed to try.Aunt Bonnie began mixing the herbs to wake and heal Lanie's wolf. Lanie was anxious to talk with Anna again. Would she be mad, would she blame her for everything, would she lose control and kill a bunch of innocent people again?