Chapter 5

                                                                      

Selene continued, “You and your mate will be able to combine your powers to help your warriors defeat the witches.

“There are also a couple other packs who want to take Onyx and you for their own benefit.

“Depending on the alpha’s choices and your pack’s success in preventing his warriors from going back, you will only have up to one year to prepare for that war.

“It’s hard to tell with one of them. He’s not the brightest of my children and he is very unpredictable. I would give him a second chance mate, but he is a very cruel man too. He has been slowly turning feral since his mate was killed ten years ago. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take his wolf from him soon. His wolf does not deserve this.

“The other alpha is just a very greedy man and always has been. He rejected his mate in order to take a chosen mate for more power.

“He is also very cruel to the omegas in the pack. You may have less time to prepare for him. Alpha Kenny is doing the right thing by keeping warriors around your house and with you.”

I started biting the inside of my cheek as I started thinking about everything she was saying.

I finally sighed, “I will try to trust the mate bond, but I am putting more trust in you. I know you will not lead me down a wrong path. I’ve always known that. But sometimes, I need more than just subtle hints to guide me. Sometimes I need a slap upside the head. Can you just keep in touch with me and let me know if I’m starting to stray off course?”

She laughed, “If you just listen to Onyx, she will keep you on track. Until then, trust your gut. You have very good instincts. When you are in doubt, ask Alpha Kenny or Luna Kyra. They will help you.”

I smiled, “Thank you for coming back. How do I use the mind reading ability?”

She explained, “All you have to do is relax and concentrate on listening. You should practice during the interrogations tomorrow. It will help you and your Alpha.”

I nodded, “I’ll do that. Thank you.”

Selene smiled, “You should rest now. You will have an eventful day tomorrow as you learn your new ability.”

When I woke up at my normal time, it felt like I hadn’t slept at all.

I got out of bed and got ready for my run. I poured a cup of coffee and sat at my kitchen island.

When it was time to meet my friends, I walked out the door and locked it, then greeted the warriors outside as I waited for them to approach.

As they walked to my house, I noticed Isaac was with them.  As they got close, I looked at Isaac, “I need to be at the interrogations today.”

Isaac’s eyes looked like his pupils blew out.

I laughed, “Chill. We got to finish our conversation. I can’t talk about it out here.”

Isaac nodded, “Good idea. Are we telling them?”

I answered, “Not right now, but we will.”

We finished stretching as I watched Isaac mind link his dad.

He asked, “Dad wants to know why.”

I answered, “Just tell him I will talk to him about it later.”

Isaac sighed, “He’s not happy to have to wait, but he’s going to.”

I nodded, “Thanks. There is a lot more to talk about too. A LOT more.”

He just shook his head, “Nothing is ever easy with you. Is it?”

I chuckled, “Welcome to my life.”

I noticed his face suddenly looked a little dazed, then it disappeared. I couldn’t help but wonder what that was about.

He then turned back and laughed, “Who is ready to start?”

Everyone raised their hands and I sighed, “We will be having company on our runs for a while. I had more intruders last night. They were looking for me. So, we will be accompanied by a couple guards for a while.”

Wendy asked, “Are you ever going to catch a break?”

I laughed, “Not in the foreseeable future. At least not that I can tell.”

Paula, the philosopher of our group, laughed, “Nothing that comes easy is ever appreciated.”

I shrugged, “I would really prefer to get a few things easily.”

Kari asked, “Do the warriors know about twenty-mile day?”

I shrugged, “Not sure. I should tell them about it.”

Chrystal giggled, “No! Don’t tell them!”

I laughed, “I have to. I wouldn’t want anyone pulling that on me. I’d be so pissed!”

Mandy agreed, “I think you’re right. Remember, ladies, we are training to be warriors as well. Would you want someone to do that to you?”

They all got quiet when Wendy clapped her hands, “Okay, everyone, let’s go!”

As we ran, I couldn’t help but notice a lot more activity around us than usual. But, then again, I may not have been paying attention before I became the focus of several attacks.

Even the small animals made me flinch, which really pissed me off and made Wendy laugh.

I also started feeling so happy that the friends I have are the best kind.

They were sticking with me and continuing to run knowing that I was the target of the attacks.

After a five-mile run, we all went to my house and I took a bunch of biscuit dough out of the freezer.

I arranged them on a baking sheet and took some sausage gravy that I had already mixed up and put it in the microwave to heat. That’s for all of my friends.

After finishing eating, I took a deep, calming breath and cringed, “I have something to tell you all and you are going to freak out. Please don’t act all weird after I tell you. Okay?”

Everyone furrowed their brows and agreed and I continued, “This cannot leave this house. I swear. If it gets out, I will be kidnapped by another pack.”

Everyone gasped and Isaac’s head whipped around to face me.

I took a deep breath and started, “The goddess gave me an ability last night. I can read minds.”

Everyone gasped again and I continued, “I would not read your thoughts without your permission. I trust you all. I wouldn’t have told you this if I hadn’t. Trust me.”

Then I turned to Isaac, “The Goddess wants me to use it during the interrogations.”

Isaac laughed, “We will definitely need you there.”

Suddenly, Chrystal asked, “Are you going to practice?”

I smiled, “Actually, the one that I will want to practice will be after I shift. I will have elemental magic and the ability to control minds.”

Chrystal smiled, “That would be helpful. I wonder if you could get good enough to control an army?”

I shrugged, “I might. I just need to start small and keep expanding it.”

Paula added, “But we can’t let this get out of the pack. Do you all know how valuable that ability would be to any alpha? Especially the tyrants! Zariah could be in real danger.”

Isaac corrected, “She was in danger before we knew about her abilities. She has had her house broken into twice now by men who were looking for her with orders to bring her back alive.”

I held up my hands, “Let’s just stay calm and take this one day at a time.

“I appreciate your concern for me, but Alpha and Luna are working with me on all of this. I don’t want to put any of you in danger.”

Wendy scowled, “You are not getting rid of me. That’s a fact, lady. You better just get used to that. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

The rest of the ladies agreed and they all finished eating.

I just smiled as I thought, “This group of friends is all I will ever need in my life. They’ve always been by my side no matter what I’ve gone through.”

When they all left, I took my shower and dressed in a pair of cutoffs and a tank top, then put on some ankle socks and tennis shoes.

I brushed out my hair and decided to let Mother Nature dry it.

I walked to the pack house and found all the people I needed to speak with in Alpha’s office.

I knocked on the open door and peaked in.

Alpha Kenny motioned for me to come in and he asked, “Do you have more information for us?”

I nodded, “Please don’t start acting weird when I tell you all this.”

I explained to them that the goddess gifted me with the ability to read minds and, after my first shift, I will have the ability to control minds.

Alpha Kenny’s and Cade’s eyes widened, “Can you do it on a large scale?” I laughed, “With practice.”

Luna Kyra nudged Gabi, “You saw how excited our mates got. How do you think a tyrant of an alpha would react if this news got out?”

Gabi worried, “Oh dear Goddess! Kenny you better hide her abilities with everything you have!”

Abby gasped, “Alpha Dakari would lock her up in a room and only let her out to use her abilities. He would use her to take over packs.”

Alpha Kenny added, “I know two alphas in our area who would do that or worse to her.”

Gamma Axel agreed, “She’s not going to be able to take care of this on her own, no matter how good she is.”

Before I could reply, I was suddenly slammed with an overwhelming evil aura and everything went black.