Chapter 26
“Aurora!” Xander’s voice cut through my confusion. He rushed to my side, his face a mixture of relief and lingering worry. “You’re awake. How do you feel?”
“Like I have been hit by a bus,” I groaned, trying to sit up. Xander gently helped me, his touch sending waves of comfort through our bond. “What happened? How long was I out?”
Xander’s expression grew serious. “You’ve been out for two days. After that burst of light… we found you collapsed on the battlefield. The rogues retreated, but we’ve been on high alert ever since.”
Two days? My mind reeled at the information. “The red-eyed wolf,” I said urgently. “Did anyone see what happened to him?”
The faces around me exchanged glances, and I knew the answer before anyone spoke. “He disappeared,” Selene said softly. “Right after that light engulfed you both.”
I closed my eyes, trying to remember what happened. “There was this surge of power,” I explained. “Unlike anything I’ve felt before. It was like… like the moon itself was flowing through me.”
The room was silent but was interrupted by the infirmary door opening. I glanced up and saw Asher coming in, his face showing worry that quickly changed to relief when he noticed I was awake. Right away, I sensed Xander become tense next to me, and a quiet growl came from his chest.
“That’s enough,” I stated clearly, putting my hand on Xander’s arm. “This isn’t the time for pack rivalries. We need to focus on preparing for the next attack.”
Both Alphas looked at me, surprised by my authoritative tone. I took a deep breath, an idea forming in my mind. “We need to train,” I said. “Not just the Blackstone pack, but the Clearwater pack too. We must work together.”
Asher’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “You want to train our pack?”
I nodded, my resolve strengthening. “I’ve learned a lot with the Blackstone pack. Techniques, strategies… and I have these new abilities. If we work together, we’ll have a better shot at dealing with those rogues,” I suggested.
Xander looked unhappy, especially about the thought of me being around my old pack. “I’m not sure about this, Aurora…”
“We have to do it,” I replied, looking directly at him. “And I want you to be there with me.”
After a moment of consideration, Xander nodded. “Alright. But I’m present for all training sessions.”
With that decided, we wasted no time. As soon as I was cleared by the healer, we gathered the Clearwater pack in their main training ground. Standing before them, with Xander by my side and Asher watching from afar, I felt a mixture of nervousness and determination.
“I know many of you doubt my abilities,” I began, my voice carrying across the crowd. “You knew me as the weak omega, the girl who ran away. But I’m here now, stronger than ever, and I’m offering to help prepare you for the fights ahead.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I saw Kara, Asher’s chosen Luna, roll her eyes dramatically. “And why should we listen to you?” she yelled, her voice filled with hatred.
Instead of answering with words, I closed my eyes, and summoned my power. When I opened them again, I knew they were glowing silver. With a swift motion, I sent a pulse of energy towards a nearby training dummy, reducing it to splinters.
The crowd gasped, even Kara taking an involuntary step back. “That’s the reason,” I explained quietly. “I’ve been given these special skills, and I’m deciding to use them to help keep all werewolves safe, even those who used to be mean to me.”
The room became hushed, with many people looking guilty or amazed. I spoke more gently. “Let’s start with some simple ways to defend ourselves.”
While we began the practice, I couldn’t help but notice the strange twist of the situation. Here I was, teaching fighting techniques to wolves who had once used their strength against me. But as I moved among them, correcting stances and demonstrating moves, I felt no desire for revenge. Instead, I found myself feeling… patient. Understanding.
“Keep in mind,” I told the young wolf, helping him place his arm correctly, “the main thing is to predict what your opponent will do. Trust your instincts.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Asher looking at me. His expression showed emotions of admiration, regret, and something else I couldn’t identify. I put the thought aside and focused on our task at hand.
After physical training, I introduced them to meditation techniques. “Your wolf isn’t something apart from you,” I said, guiding them in a breathing exercise. “It’s an important part of your identity. These techniques will help you feel more in touch with your inner wild side, making you stronger and better at following your gut feelings.”
While taking a break for water, I saw Kara by herself, her face showing a mix of feelings. Taking a deep breath, I approached her. “Kara,” I said softly. “Can we talk?”
She turned to me, her eyes narrowing. “What do you want?”
“To clear the air,” I said honestly. “I know you resent me, and I understand why. But this situation is bigger than our personal issues. We have to team up if we want to make it through this,” I said.
Kara looked at me for a while, then let out a sigh. “I don’t like you,” she admitted directly. “But… I can’t say you’re the same as before. That you’re helping us. So, I’ll try. For the pack’s sake.”
It wasn’t friendship, but it was a start. I nodded, offering a small smile. “That’s all I ask.”
When I looked away, I saw Xander and Asher talking very seriously. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but how they were standing and moving told me a lot. Tension radiated from both Alphas, and I knew they were discussing pack alliances… and me.
Pushing aside my concern, I returned to the training. “Now, we’re going to pair up,” I announced. “Blackstone wolves with Clearwater. We need to learn to work together, to anticipate each other’s moves.”
As the pairs began to spar, I moved among them, offering guidance and encouragement. It was during one of these moments that a young Clearwater wolf – one I remembered as being particularly cruel in the past – suddenly broke down.
“I am so sorry,” he sobbed, going down on his knees, “For everything we did to you. How can you even stand to look at us, let alone help us?”
The training ground fell silent, all eyes on us. I knelt down next to the young wolf and gently touched his shoulder. “Remember, holding on to anger and resentment only harms us,” I spoke gently but clearly, so everyone could hear. “We’ve all made mistakes. The important thing is how we decide to move on, to learn and improve.”
I stood, addressing the entire group. “This is about more than just fighting techniques. It’s about becoming a unified force. We’re stronger together, and that strength comes from understanding, forgiveness, and trust.”
As the training session concluded, I could sense a shift in the atmosphere. The Clearwater wolves looked at me with newfound respect, many approaching to thank me or ask for additional guidance. Even Kara gave me a grudging nod of acknowledgment.
Exhausted but satisfied, Xander and I retired to our quarters. During our conversation about the day’s achievements, I experienced a rush of optimism. “We’re really getting somewhere,” I mentioned. “If we can keep this teamwork going-”
All of a sudden, I felt extremely lightheaded. The room started to whirl around, and a sharp ache pierced my head. From a distance, I could hear Xander shouting my name, and I sensed his arms steadying me as I staggered.
After that, everything turned blank. In my thoughts, I saw him-the wolf with red eyes. He was in a shadowy cave, encircled by many wild-looking wolves. His voice, although I couldn’t understand what he was saying, was full of wicked delight. I saw flashes of violence, of a massive attack…
As quickly as it came, the vision faded. I found myself back in our room, Xander’s worried face hovering over me. My eyes, I knew, were glowing an intense silver.
“Aurora? What happened? What did you see?”
I gripped Xander’s arms, my voice urgent. “I saw him… the wolf with red eyes. He’s plotting something huge, and it’s going to happen very soon. We’re almost out of time!”
Xander’s face showed strong determination. “Then we’ll prepare,” he said firmly. “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it as a team.”
As the seriousness of what I had seen sank in, I realized that everything we had been doing – the training, the cooperation between our groups – was about to be tested to the max. The actual fight was approaching, and the future of both groups, maybe all werewolves, was at stake.
I took a deep breath, getting ready for what was ahead. We had made some progress, but was it enough? Would our newfound unity hold in the face of this looming threat? As Xander held me close, his strength flowing into me through our bond, I silently vowed to do whatever it took to protect those I loved – both old pack and new.