Episode 6 - The message

“We wouldn’t risk you going all by yourself.” Sawyer answers with confidence.

“Then we should get going.” I tell them

“Pandora.” The thunderous, authoritative voice of the alpha of my pack called me. Instinctively I look at him.

“As soon as you return, we must talk.” He says. In reply, I just bow my head at him, look back at my mates who nod their heads to me, and then we took off into the woods. We ran for some miles before I started to smell the waterfall’s water and some more to hear the water falling into that isolated part of the lake. I slowed my pace so I could pay more attention to our surroundings to make sure that it wasn’t a trap for me nor for my mates. We reached the waterfall some minutes later but we preferred to stay in the shades that the woods were casting on the ground.

“There’s no need to be reluctant to come closer.” The man who crashed my birthday party said.

“Not sure I should trust you.” I replied in a low tone but I was sure he heard me.

“But you do trust her.” He chuckled

"Where's she?” I asked, raising my voice a little.

“Come closer and you’ll be able to see her.” He invited me. Before I could answer or say something my mates went ahead. Shielding me from the unknown guy. As soon as we stepped out of the shadows I noticed that the atmosphere changed in that very well-known place. It got a magical aura like it was alive. The golden-eyed man looked towards us but I had a feeling that he wasn’t looking at us.

“I thought you said only the three of them would accompany you.” He said coldly.

“What are you talking about?” I question him.

“Join your friends, witch.” He said with disgust.

As soon as he said that I heard footsteps from behind us and stopped by my side. I didn’t have to look to know that that was Penny beside me in a fight instance.

“So? Where’s she?” I asked him, again. Lua was becoming impatient and growling at him in our mind.

“In the lake. Hence why you must come closer.” He answered.

I touched the guys’ hands and it was like they knew exactly what I meant with that gesture. We approach the shore of the lake, my mates never failing to form a shield around me, and Penny always alerts to our rear. I knelt down and looked at my reflection in the water of the lake.

“Is this some k-” My sentence was cut short when in the reflection I saw little blue lights dancing upon our heads. I instinctively looked up and saw nothing.

“No, my child. He’s telling the truth.” That sweet motherly voice from earlier filled my ears.

“Did you guys hear that?” I ask them without taking my eyes off the water.

“No.” The boys answered in unison.

“Yes.” Penny said.

“I see you brought friends with you. Smart girl.” She chuckled.

“What do you want?” I asked her

“I had to come back to deliver you a message.” She says her voice swaying with the little waves on the water caused by the waterfall.

“A message? From who?” I asked her trying to understand who would send me a message through her.

“From the Gods, my child. Who else?” She answers like it was the most obvious thing

“The Gods?” Penny gasped.

“They wish to give you a gift to help you on your journey but first you must know about the prophecy from the Oracle herself and no one else.” She warns me

“But where do I find her?” I asked her desperate

“I can’t give you an answer that I do not know myself.” Her voice getting a bit distant

“But do you have any idea of where she might be? Or someone who knows?” I ask her afraid to no get an answer from her

“I am sorry, child. I’m afraid my time is up for now but remember she’ll show herself if she feels you’re authentic.” She said her last words while her voice was fading away.

“She’s gone.” I sigh deeply. The boys look over at me but when I look at them I notice something rather strange.

“Wait. Where’s that guy?” I knitted my brows in doubt. They looked at their backs.

“He was here a second ago.” Sawyer answers in shock.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. What she told you?” Sam asks coldly.

“She said that the Gods want to give me a gift for the journey I’m destined to do but before that I should know about the prophecy from the Oracle herself.” I sigh heavily. “I don’t even know where to start looking for her.”

“The Gods? Are you serious?” Shawn asked me in disbelief

“I could hear her, alpha. Pandora must meet with the oracle and just in her divine presence she must learn about her destiny.” Penny says in a diplomatic way.

“I don’t even know where to start looking for her.” I sigh as I feel Lua quite agitated pacing back and forth in our mind. I try not to focus on her right now but something in the lake caught my attention. A little shimmer seemed to be coming from a rock a few steps ahead of the lake's shore. What was that? It wasn't there before, was it? If one didn't pay much attention they would for sure miss it or misunderstand it with the moon’s shine upon the water. I stretched my arm to reach it while being cautious to not fall in the water. I grab it and bring it closer so I can take a look at it. It was a golden broken piece of something. It had something carved in it but I couldn’t read or understand it.

“Love? What is that?” Sam asks with a softer voice.

“I don’t know. It just caught my attention.” I reply with my eyes still glued at the unknown object.

“It looks like a broken piece of something.” Sawyer stated

“Genius.” Shawn mumbled.

“But a broken piece of what?” I ask them

“Keep it.” Penny suddenly answered

“Why?” I asked her

“I can’t tell you but you must keep it.” Penny said with a stern tone in her voice. I felt that she wanted to tell me but she just couldn’t.

“She’s your future Luna. You mustn’t be telling her what to do nor keeping secrets from her.” Shawn said with his authoritative voice.

“That’s okay, Shawn. I know why she can’t tell. It’s alright.” I try to calm him while getting back up.

“We should go back. I still have a meeting with the alpha.” I say.

We go back in silence. No one dared to say a word. I felt the tension rise as I noticed how Shawn showed to be superior to Penny. I felt anxiety growing inside of me as I started to get closer to my home. It wasn’t until I heard a howl that I ran faster leaving my mates and friend behind. Something wasn’t right. That was a warning howl. Something was going on.

As I reach my backyard I feel a strange presence inside my home. Where everyone is apparently. I ran inside and the scene before me was nothing I was expecting. A dark shadow was in the middle of the living room. Everyone in their fight instance, ready to protect each other.

“Give her to me and I’ll let your whole pack live.” He asks. His voice seemed to be filling every inch of my house.

“Deny my request and get ready to die.” He threatened

“Never.” My pack’s alpha answered.

“Then you all shall perish.” He said, aiming at my sisters but before he could get to them I stopped him from getting in front of them.

“NO!” I hear my father scream. When I look at him I see his hand covered with blood. I look around looking for my mother and spot her hiding behind the dining table holding her leg tight. I saw red.

The enormous shadow throws himself at us as dark claws come out of it to grab us. At that moment, something snapped inside of me. Ultimate strength was running and filling my veins while I let Lua take partial control of our body. Before the darkness could touch me, my fist went through it, causing it to stagger backward. Whatever that was running inside of me was getting stronger but I felt lighter than ever.

“You indeed became stronger but you won’t stop us.” The shadow said. I shot a glance towards my mother to see how she’s keeping up but she’s looking at me shocked but I couldn’t distract myself from the shadow for too long.

“What do you want?” I ask with a dual voice since I’m sharing the control with Lua.

“You.” The shadow laughed. “You promised something and I came to claim it.”

“Never promised you anything.” I answered him while my mates were getting closer to the house.

“You silly girl, you did it in your past life.” The shadow dared to get closer to me and I took my chance.

“That’s a shame, you should have charged me in the past life and not this one.” I say while lighting my body and punching the shadow hard, making it stumble back again but this time I point my hand in its direction and say.

“Ας υπάρχει φως.” I scream as the light that wrapped my whole body lit up and dissolved the shadow. My body was going back to normal. I started to feel really dizzy, I stumbled back a little as I saw shocked faces looking at me before I collapsed. Sparks and tinglings running freely in my skin was all I felt before letting my eyes close.