Page 36 of Bound By the Moon

“It’s not mine,” she hissed.

“Layla?” He questioned.

“Nor is it mine,” she offered.

“Who the hell else, besides a witch, would have awraith guardian?”

“Are you daft, or just blind? Do you not see who heguards?” Serena asked.

The man tried peering around Jack only to have Jackmove ever so slightly to block his view. “Well, someone needs totell him I’m a friendly so that he will back down for a moment. Ihave news.”

“Serena, Layla, who is that?” I questioned.

“That was our backup plan. Jessica, meet JonahMarquez, our older brother.”

“Jonah?” I whispered. “Oh, yeah, my dad mentionedhim being here. Kezia was not pleased about you working withhim”

“My mother?” Serena rounded on me then. “You spoketo her?”

“Yes, I did. She gave me a message to give to you,but privately.” Serena nodded her head, acknowledging that it wasbest to wait on that. “Is it safe? Can Jack stand down now?”

“Yes, I promise, Jonah will be remain on his bestbehavior.”

“Jack, please, a little space?” It took a fewminutes, but Jack reluctantly allowed a little more space betweenhimself, Sierra, and I. He took up a position to my left again, andwaited silently, as a sentry would. It was clear that everyone wasshocked by his behavior, but then again, we hadn’t reallyunderstood what the whole guardian thing would entail, even when weagreed to it on the other side. Mikael was back to looking ratherunpleasant again, only now it was directed at both Jack and I.

Jonah caught my attention before I could dwell on mypersonal issues with my mate though. “I am truly sorry that yourfather was lost before I could make it here, young wolf. I know youmean a great deal to my sister, and therefore you mean as much tome. Had I known Louis was here, and up to no good, I would havecome sooner.”

“You’re like him though… how, err, why would youhelp?”

“I am only like him in the most base ways. I wasborn a ‘dark one’ as you call them. I like to think that maybe themodern term for a male witch, a warlock, would be more appropriate.Although, I suppose, the pop culture term-vampire-could work too ifI were to be nit-picky. At any rate, I was born this. Louis wasborn human, and made into something resembling what I am. Thatmakes him weaker. We both became Fiul Sange, and while that meanshe can walk in the light, as I can; he cannot access the magics ofthe witch he consumed. That is the difference between those who aremade and those who are born.”

“I do not wish to be as Louis is, always ambitiousand looking for more power. I am happy with what I am, and I live alife mostly of solitude. I must eat, but I do so without takinglives. Louis and his ilk are tainted versions of the originals whoturned them. As to the why, I helped because my sister asked that Idid so. While I may not have been aware of the secret that thewhite wolves were direct descendants of my sister, I know now, andas such you will always be offered my protection. We are family. Mymother may not have understood family bonds in doing what she did,but my Aunt Bryn did, and she helped me to live. For her, I willalways owe my allegiance to my blood-kin first.”

“You have my thanks.” I offered. He bowed his headand said no more. “What happened here?” I asked of anyone whobother to answer.

“Louis came with his minions. He said that since youfailed him, he was going to send each and every one of us to theother side to greet you.” It was Mikael who spoke up. “That was ourfirst indication that you were dead. I had a hard time believingit, because I never felt it.” He was lost in thought for a minute.“You know, they all say that when you’re a mated pair, you feel thedeath of your mate like a piece of your own soul has been rippedfrom you, but I never felt anything.”

“I felt it when Jack was gone.” Sierra admittedshakily.

“As did I, when Jameson…” My mom’s voice trailedoff, as she turned to stare out the window so we wouldn’t see hertears fall again.

“I never did,” Mikael reiterated. “I wondered ifthat meant you were still alive, but then days passed by and youdidn’t come back home.” I explained how time worked differently inthe other realm, and that I wanted to get back as soon as Keziaexplained that it was possible. Mikael simply nodded his head, andcontinued to stare off into space.

Jack finally spoke again then. “It’s because Jessiewasn’t dead. She walked, alive, through the gateway.”

“That’s what troubles me. My mate walked willinglyinto the world beyond, knowing it would be her death, and she tookthe baby she was trying to save with her. I just don’t getthat.”

I knew, in a way, that Mikael’s anger was justified,but I also felt I could be justified in hating the way heapproached me, and what happened while I was gone. I didn’t get thechance to finish explaining anything, because Jack managed to graba second wind and started preaching about what happened. “That verysame thing is the reason they were able to send her back, becauseshe was still of the living, and just trapped on the wrong side.”Jack informed everyone for me. “But that doesn’t explain exactlywhat went on here while Jess was on the other side.”

“We’ll get to what happened here in a minute, butfirst, I think I’m going to need for someone to explain to me whatexactly it means to be a Wraith Guardian.” Mikael said as he eyedJack suspiciously.

***

THE IN BETWEEN

“Honestly, that’s something I would like to knowmyself.” Jack answered. “I know that I am bound to Jess and herline, and for now I am also bound to the baby she had with her onthe other side. Beyond that, I’m not entirely sure what I am. Ithought they were sending me back as a werewolf, just one thatwould live a lot longer. I don’t feel the same as I did when I wasalive though, so I have no clue.”

“He is, as my brother suggested, a Guardian Wraith.It means that Jack isn’t alive in the same way that any of the restof us are. He straddles the worlds of the living and the dead inways that even I don’t fully understand yet.” Layla was eyeing Jackin a curious manner. “He has more power to protect than that of thesimple wolf he once was, and he will always feel the call to benear the white wolf, not just to be near them, but to protect themat all costs.” Layla stepped forward and came within inches ofJack. She reached out her hand and pulled up just short of touchinghis face. “He appears to be alive in his human form. I think wewill see that in his wolf form, he will take on a completelydifferent look.”

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