Chapter Six

MARCELENE

"Hmmm," a moan escaped my lips as my eyes slowly opened.I feel refreshed and a satisfied smile played on my lips as I turned and got into another comfortable position.

Hold on, this bed feels a little harder than it normally does.

“Hmm.” I moaned again, and slowly opened my eyes.

My eyes slowly take in the atmosphere around me. The walls smell damp and edgy, but the room looks a little bit accommodating. This is certainly not my room. I sat up abruptly.

“Where am I?” I muttered to myself. This is certainly not my room at Tranquil Hill.

I juggled my memory, and the last thing I remember is falling unconscious in the woods and… I turned. I smiled, but then I remembered that disturbing silhouette of a man, and my smile slowly faded

“Marcelene?” I heard a voice behind me. My mom's voice. I turned around and there she was leaning towards me, relief wass evident all over her face.

“Mama?” I pouted, and she quickly stood up, and came to sit beside me on the bed. I hugged her, feeling a bit safe.

“ Oh my goodness, Marcy? I was worried sick.” She said, patting my hair softly.

I wanted to reply, but then I remembered. I slashed her that night. My eyes widened in horror and concern. I had slashed her that night. I can remember her blood pooling on the floor.

“ Mom? Are you alright?” I asked, touching and trying to look inside her clothes to see her shoulder. A white bandage was on the wound, and it looked like a big deal.

“I'm fine now, baby.” She stopped me and pulled me back into her embrace.

“ Mama?”

“ Yes, baby.”

“ I'm sorry. I feel so bad. It's all my fault.”

“ No, it is not. Don't do that to yourself, dear.” She said her voice steeled, indicating she meant it, and I sighed.

Just then, the door opened and Aunt Kira entered. She was followed by two blondes, wearing a matching outfits.

"Good.” Aunt Kira said as she entered.

“You are awake, Esmeralda, Alpha Tan requests your presence… along with Marcelene's.” She said with authority but sparing me no glance at all. She looks so serious.

“Okay. I guess it's time then.” My mother retorted, she was clearly nervous. Aunt Kira nodded and turned to the girls beside her.

“ Wash her and dress her up nicely, the Alpha wants her in the court in two hours.” She said, and the girls bowed a little.

“Yes, my lady.” They said in unison.

What the hell is going on? I seriously do not understand, but the only answer that came to my mind was Amaranth.

“ Amaranth?” I shouted, my eyes widened.

“I'm at Amaranth? Mom? Aunt Kira?” I blinked hard, my eyes going back and forth between them in circles. I have never been so nervous.

My mom has told me a lot of things about Amaranth, but we have never been there. And now we are, and I'm clearly about to see the Alpha of the Willow pack.

“ Come on, Esme, I told you to give her some tips to prepare her for the big reveal?”

“ I can't. I don't want to be that guy. It will be such a big burden on her shoulder. You should do it?” My mother said, and Aunt Kira sighed, then nodded her head.

“ Okay, what is going on? I'm confused, what burden?” I asked, and aunt Kira came to sit beside me. She waved the two girls away to leave the room and give us space.

This must be a big deal then. My heart beat against my flesh in anticipation for the big reveal.

“ You are the Arion.” She blurted.

“Come on, Kira, I wouldn't have said it like that.” My mom chastised.

“But you didn't.” She replied in the same tone.

“ What! You guys are joking, right? Those are just bedtime stories, right Mom?”

“ I don't think so.” She said, but her face clearly says ‘it is so’.

My mouth opened down, unable to close. On top of being a wolf, I'm the Arion too?

“ So, let me get this straight. I'm Joseph the dreamer?” Disbelief, apparent on my face.

“Maybe?”

“You don't clearly mean I have the power to dream and have visions. In your bedtime stories the Arion woman died. Mom? Aunt Kira?”

“ You see, Marcy,” Aunt Kira began. “We know this is a big change to who you are, but we are here to guide you. So I need you to trust that your mother and I will put you through. But right now we need to focus on the matter on ground. Take your bath and put on some clothes. We will see you in two hours. Then you will meet Alpha Tan.” Aunt Kira concludes, she beckons on my mom and they both leave the room.

I sighed, reality slowly setting in, but this is big. I finally know how those Marvel superheroes feel when they discover they possess extraordinary powers.

The two girls came back in to carry out their task.

Throughout my walk to the court, I stared at my surroundings in surprise, everywhere looking like I had gone back in time to the 1900s or even more than that. I was ushered into the court. And I stared at the interior, all high walls and no color. Bland.

I met my mom, Aunt Kira and two other women already seated around a table. The air was heavy, so I quietly sat down beside my mom and she squeezed my hand, in reassurance.

Just then a man probably in his late 40s walks in, and I definitely don't need an introduction to know he is the Alpha. Everyone stood up and bowed out of respect, and I immediately joined.

“ Is that her?” He said as he sat in a heap in the chair. He removed his hand gloves and placed them on the table before him.

“Yes, Alpha.” Aunt Kira spoke. Her facial expression doesn't look like that of the person that cracks jokes at the dinner table anymore. Her eyes are cold and intimidating. So is mom's, they are both rigid. The other two women were clearly glaring at them.

“Marcelene?” He called. I was surprised, how did he know my name? Wait, that is a stupid question of course my mom or aunt Kira told him.

“ Do you know you are different from other wolves?”

“ Yes. I heard that.”

“ Okay. You are a wolf that exists once in a thousand years. The arion. You are special.” He said looking intently at me, and I nodded, averting his surveying eyes.

“ A blood moon also appears once in a thousand years along with the Arion. This moon will be used to activate the Arion's power and also bind it with this tribe. So that means your strength is our strength and your weakness is ours as well. Do you understand?” He said, and leaned back in his chair.

I nodded still not saying a word.

“ Listen girl. I care about you, everyone around this table does. But the main thing is the priority of the Willow pack which no doubt comes first.” He continued, but my mind drifted from his words. I could not comprehend what he was saying as I processed what he started with. Fear set in and my knees grew weak.

My mom's stories about the Arion is devastating news and now this? It all felt too much to take at once for me.

My mom sensed my uneasiness and gave me an affectionate squeezed on my hand again. It jolted me back to reality.

“ …your blood will be drawn and a ritual will be made.” Alpha Tan was saying it registered in my brain and before I could stop myself, I cut him shut.

“ Blood? I'm scared of pain.” I shoot out.

“ Then you endure it. It's just some drops of it.” One of the women chipped in, obviously irritated by my words. Aunt Kira's mouth opened to respond but she was cut shut by my mom.

“ Common, Fern, cut her some slack, She's new to this.” My mom said gently, while aunt Kira rolled her eyes at Fern.

“ It's going to be alright. You are a wolf. You are cut out for pain and incredible strength. To get some blood won't hurt.” Alpha Tan said assuringly, but his tone was stern.

But the images of hands being slashed to draw blood, just like in the movies played on my mind no matter how I wish for them to stop.

“ When is the blood moon?” It certainly can't be anytime soon so I can still mentally prepare.

Alpha Tan smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, which was creepy.

“ Tonight.” He said and the smile slowly switched to a grin.

Oh, I'm screwed.