Page 13 of Rejecting the Future Moon Goddess

Now is my chance.

I race towards her body and grasp her throat in my jaw, my hind paw on the wound I have inflicted. She whimpers beneath me and thrusts her throat toward me as best as possible, knowing her place in defeat. With the match now over, I release the she-wolf from my maw and give her wound a quick lick, helping to speed up the healing process. I have won; there is no need to continue.

“Yeah, Gem, that’s my daughter!” Happy for the fur covering my body, I turn in the direction where Maverick Starlight stands with Alex, a proud grin on his face. Yesterday, my father arrived after news of me being found, and put the responsibility of his pack in the hands of my Uncle Stephen—his Beta. Rolling my eyes at his antics, I can’t help but feel my heart swell at the parental praise he throws my way - the feeling of parental love something I feel like I can never get used to. Trotting away from my defeated opponent as Acolytes come totake her away to the infirmary, I head to Ira, who smiles at my approach.

“You are a fast learner, Little Wolf. I think it’s time for you to make your own pack. We can talk about this after you’ve cleaned up.” She praises me, surprising me with her honest opinion of my progress and the fact this Temple Priestess believes I am ready to be on my own. My tail thumps happily at the prospect of creating a place to call my home. As much as my father would love for me to join Northern Snow, I know that pack will become my little brother’s when he comes of age. Although I am the eldest and therefore its rightful heir, I could not take away the title that he has been training for his whole life. I turn to look at Maverick, catching Connor gaze at me with the same silver-grey eyes inherited from our father, looking at me with awe.

[I’m going to go shift and bathe, I’ll see you all in a moment.] I link to my family, seeing Alex nod and say something to Connor while my father turns to talk to Amberle. The spitfire of a she-wolf and her mate Dominic were in the middle of a peace treaty with my father when the news broke of my being found. She was curious about what kind of wolf I would be after being missing since the day I was born, and the two leaders of Blood Moon agreed to negotiate the terms of the treaty with my father while on the way to see me.

It was upon meeting her that we learned we are contærae, wolves whose spirits recognize each other with a spiritual bond. A contærae helps the Moon Goddess to grow, train, and follow the path of good. She soon agreed to be one of my training partners and teach me how to run a pack after I declined my father’s offer to join Northern Snow and stated my intentions to create my own place to call home.

Amberle’s mate, Dominic, is out huntingwith the Temple Warriors and hence leaves his wife to her own devices, something I soon realize leads to some mischief from the fire-furred wolf.

With a grin and the vision of my future growing clearer each day, I trot towards the shower room so that the conversation Ira wants to have with me about creatinga pack can happen a little quicker.

?Chapter 14 – A Place to Call Home?

I frown as my gaze focuses on the trees outside, staying close to the window and as far away from the others in the room. Alex sighs in frustration while my father sips his coffee awkwardly. Ira was called for an emergency after my shower, leaving an Acolyte to lead us to her office and wait for her return to discuss a good position for my own pack to be built. Amberle, to my amusement, decided to curl up on the sofa to take a nap. You would think a strong Alpha would be more energetic but seeing as only a few years ago she was in my position as a Rogue, I actually envy her ability to sleep whenever.

“Gem, I just don’t understand why you do not want to go to your father’s pack.” Alex growls, running a hand through his hair in frustration after a moment of silence, causing me to close the book I was reading to glare at him.

“You would be safer there and not have to worry about pack duties. There will be protection for you and everything.” My brother continues, causing my frustration to grow. I’m hearing the same argument all over again, just hours before choosing a pack location for myself.

“Enough, Alex!” A growl of warning follows my words. My blood is boiling in anger at my brother sounding like a broken record every day since meeting my father, a record that I was tempted to snap in half at this moment.

“I get it, you want the structure of an already established pack, but have you thought about my feelings?Everyone there is a stranger to me, and they will be questioning my every move either secretly or openly. With my little brother, they will be wondering if I will steal his position as the next Alpha.” I start listing the problems I already know will arise with joining my father’s pack and sigh. As happy as I am with getting to know my real family, I need my freedom, my own place to call home, and a chance at a proper life for myself. I’m tired of the gazes of others and the ridiculed and distrustful looks from those who don’t know me and refuse to get to know me.

“You can either follow me and help me build a place where we can be ourselves and be free, or you can join my father’s pack. But I need my freedom.” I finish, ending this discussion and turning on my heels, intending to walk out the office and find someplace to calm down. Ira can come and find me later.

“Gem, where are you going?” Alex growls, his frustration radiating off of him.

“Away from here. When you are ready to get your head out of your ass, come find me!” I shout back over my shoulder, pushing the door open only to come face-to-face with a confused-looking Ira.

“Uh, is everything okay, Little Wolf?” Her voice calms my nerves slightly, her being one of few people who respects my wishes.

“Just the usual argument, Ira.” My father’s voice sounds behind me, his hand now on my shoulder as he gives it a reassuring squeeze.

“But we are ready to find Geminie a place for her pack.” He adds, a look of pride in his eyes. Relief washes over me like a fresh, cooling rain on a scorching summer day and I smile, grateful for his understanding. It’s not that I don’t want to be in the same pack as my father, it’s that I’m worried his pack willthink I’m taking away what rightfully belongs to Connor. At least with creating my own pack, my family in Northern Snow can escape the northern climate of Canada and come relax far from pack duties.

“Well, if that’s the case, I know I said I have many sights for you to see and decide on, but the emergency that I had to tend to had me to stumble across a map of a specific area that also includes the very thing you want.” Ira continues, winking at me. My smile widens even more at the mention of my request, a place that would be safe for Ira and the Unicorns, with just as much - if not more - magic for them. Only Ira and I knew about this request, as the she-wolf had quickly gain my trust and respect in the short time we have known each other, letting me know my feelings were valid and my wants and needs were okay for me to have and work towards. I know Ira would always be on my side if I needed someone to talk to and confide in, and this she-wolf has not let me down yet.

One of these days, I will introduce her to Lizaria. A loud sigh is audible from the room, gaining a glare from Ira and an eye roll from me.

“Mister Alex, you are more than welcome to find another pack if you are unhappy with Geminie’s decision.” As if speaking to a misbehaving child, Ira scolds Alex on my behalf and I sent her a silent thank you. A moment of silence passes before she smiles, and I assume that Alex has given in.

“Good, glad to know you reluctantly will follow her lead. Now, I think it’s time to go as the Warrior I sent to scout the area is waiting for us to create your new home!” With that, she takes my hand and begins leading me out of the winding maze of the temple. A bittersweet feeling rises inside me as I look around the building that provided me safety and security, a place where the truth was revealed and whose keepershelped me to finally regain my freedom and life.

“You can always come visit, Little Wolf.” Ira states, the she-wolf most likely sensing my feelings about leaving the Temple. I nod, allowing her to guide me down an unfamiliar hallway and outside to an area I have not yet explored.

The first thing to greet me is Alex’s truck, the tow still as dinged up as I remember, but I have a new found gratitude for the somewhat unreliable vehicle. With Alex at the wheel, this truck brought me to safety after one of the worst days I have experienced. Next to the truck is something I did not expect to see, as I take a step towards the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T in matte black, one I am itching to climb in and drive.

“I know it’s been a few days, but Happy Birthday, Gem.” Alex stands beside me, a bashful look on his face as I turn to look at my brother in shock, the anger from his overprotective nature fading away fast.

“Thank you!” I whisper, instinctively giving my brother a hug, which seems to shock him as our fights have been causing great tension between us.

“You know I would do anything for you, Gems.” He whispers back and I nod, taking in his comforting scent. Even if we fight, Alex will always be there for me and I for him.

“Glad to see you two made up, but we need to hit the road. It’s about a day’s drive to where I want to take you!” Ira calls out and I smile. Alex pulls away from me to hand me a set of keys, nodding his head in the direction of my car. With a childish squeal, I rush to the driver’s side, climbing in and adjusting the seat and mirrors before starting the car. the purr of the engine makes a childish grin spread across my face. Ira, the navigator of this trip, joins me in my car.

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