Nicolas POV
“Where are you going?” I inquired as Ray abruptly veered off course and sprinted past the cave. “The cave is just there!”
“The lake,” he replied, “we can’t go look for Zara smelling like Terra. She would be furious, and I don’t want her mad at us.”
I acknowledged Ray’s point and nodded in agreement, but it would cause us to fall further behind schedule.
Dammit! Why would Zara decide to run away at a time like this? Couldn’t she just stay put?
When the lake finally appeared, the sight of its pristine blue water was mesmerizing. At least the cave was not too far away.
Ray always loved water, and he crashed into it, making a huge wave.
I let him run and play in the water for a minute so he could enjoy the cool water.
“Feeling better?” I asked after he returned to shore.
“Yeah,” he answered. “We also smell a lot better.”
Ray shook his fur to remove the water, then scampered back toward the cave. It appeared as if the water had carried away all of his troubles during those fleeting moments at the lake.
As we were returning, my eyes wandered to the small cabin, and I mentally noted that I should take Zara there someday. It was our family cabin, and I have a lot of happy memories of spending time there when I was younger.
I could not help but smile as I considered how much fun we would have.
Sitting on the porch, just the two of us, gazing up at the sky as it casts gorgeous pastel hues on the lake.
“We are here,” Ray announced, clearing my thoughts.
Even though the cave was empty, I noticed a slight change from my previous visit.
“Do you feel that?” I asked.
As though he had spotted something or someone, Ray inclined his head to the side and peered down the tunnel.
“I am not sure what you are feeling, but it is definitely coming from down there,” he said, returning control to me.
“Can you tell me what it is?” I pondered. “I have never experienced that before.”
It was a powerful, almost electrifying sensation. The cave seemed to be filled with a strong presence of some sort.
“Same here,” Ray said, and I shifted back into human.
Ignoring the sensation, I hurried to the cave’s darker areas and located my secret duffel bag, which Ronan had left there with some clothes for me at some point.
I did not like the thought of borrowing Levi’s clothes because I was much larger than him.
I took some clothing out of the duffel bag and wrapped it around my leg.
Although Ray did not like it when I tied clothes to his leg, he knew that I had to bring some clothes. I did consider bringing the duffel bag with me, but Ray would have to hold it in his mouth, which would make the trip uncomfortable for him.
After finishing, I shifted into Ray and headed for the tunnel.
“Alpha,” Ronan mind-linked. “Just now, Beta Levi called. He is awaiting your arrival. He appeared even more anxious.”
Fortunately for Ronan, he could get through to me; once I was in the tunnel, all communication would be lost.
“Thank you, Ronan,” I answered, quickening my step. “You may inform him that I am en route and will soon be entering the tunnel. I will see him shortly.”
“Will do, Alpha,” Ronan answered. “Stay safe and find our Luna.”
As soon as I entered the tunnels, the mind-link was broken, and the overwhelming presence intensified.
“It is nearly intolerable,” Ray said. “As though it is in agony.”
“I agree,” I replied.
Ray picked up his pace and sped as quickly as he could down the tunnel. He was familiar with the tunnels and knew where they led.
Over the years, we have thoroughly investigated every section of these tunnels and were aware of their precise locations.
My mind wandered back to my childhood, when a pup’s entire existence revolved around adventures.
The edges of my mouth twitched into a smile. The first time I heard about the enchanted location beneath the lake was during a history class.
I was eager to locate the temple and see it for myself, but for some reason, the elders were not allowed to lead me there.
Despite the fact that it took me two months to locate the cave and an additional month to locate a good map of the tunnels, I continued to explore the cave. The place was serene and lovely.
My eyes narrowed as my mind drifted further back in time.
An old woman at the market came up to me and drew me away. She wore a cloak that covered her face. I could not tell what she was, and she did not have any particular scent.
I figured she was a witch attempting to elude the wolves in the area.
“I heard the young Alpha is seeking his heart,” the woman said in a whisper.
I had no idea what she was talking about at first, but for some reason, this woman put me at ease and gave me the impression that I should trust her.
“Are you talking about the temple under the lake?” Optimistic, I asked.
“If that is what you call it,” she said, and I gave her a nod. “Then yes, young Alpha, it is indeed.”
“Can you show me the way?” I asked, delighted to hear that someone other than the elders knew of the temple’s existence.
The woman approached, scanned her surroundings, and withdrew an object from inside her cloak.
“With a good map of the tunnels, I can assist you,” she muttered. “Only you can read it.”
“How can I repay you?” I asked, taking the map from her. As I held the fragile paper in my hands, adrenaline was rushing through my veins.
She was gone when I looked up to hear her response.
I kept that map with me for five days, treating it like the greatest treasure I had ever discovered.
I made sure I had studied the contents on the map. I knew exactly where and how far to go.
I prepared my belongings and embarked on my journey on the following full moon night. There was a festival going on, so Dad would not notice that I was gone.
Ronan caught me just as I was about to leave.
“What are you up to, Nikkie?” he asked.
In a hurry, I tucked the map into my jacket pocket.
“Nothing,” I said tremblingly.
“Do not lie to me,” he said, extending his hand in front of him. “I noticed you had something tucked away in your pocket! Your father will be furious if you do anything wrong. You are aware that he wants you to join him for this enormous celebration that he has planned for tonight.”
I was irritated by Ronan’s ability to read me.
“It is nothing, really,” I answered. “It is just an old paper that I got from someone.”
“Let me see that!” he commanded.
I let out a sigh and gave in.
Ronan took his time to look at the old piece of paper.
“What do you see?” I inquired, hoping the witch’s statement was accurate. I do not want Ronan to follow me.
“There is nothing on the paper,” he stated. “But I can smell the magic it is bound to.”
“Are you going to tell my father?” I asked.
“No,” he replied. “But I will be accompanying you.”
I sighed. Perhaps it would not hurt to have Ronan around.
I narrowed my eyes abruptly; I was unable to recall much after that.
“Can you smell that?” Ray’s words abruptly pushed the pictures out of my mind.
“In fact, I do,” I answered.
If only I could have predicted what would come next.
****