The Lone White Wolf (Book one)

Chapter 51

MILA

Suddenly, I hear a loud roar from high in the sky. The wind became bad, but when I looked up, I saw a huge, scaly blue and silver dragon landing into view—Drack.

As soon as he lands, he shifts back into Archer. He looks at me. He had been crying, but there was a hint of a smile.

"My little dove, you're ok?" He says, running up to me and engulfing me in a big hug.

I sigh, but a few tears slip down my face. I know Drack is in my head, talking to Sapphire.

"Your Moon Goddess came to me in a meadow of my dream when I fell asleep," he says but looks away. "We have to leave straight away before the war."

I nodded, saying nothing, knowing my words would fail me.

"I'm coming with you; I'm your guardian and protector. Also, Anna is staying behind so she can explain everything to your mate, the pack, and your brother once we leave," he says. He holds out his hand to me.

"Drack will comfort Sapphire for now, especially as she wants your mate," he says. He leads me back through the forest where I run from. I look at the cabin I once called home for one last time. I take in every bit. Archer was also standing close by; I think he knew why I was doing this, as these were the happiest and worst moments of my life.

"We should leave, little dove," he says, guiding me away.

We slowly walk back in silence.

But I suddenly ask. "Who is Lucas? Archer, who is he?"

Archer says nothing, but I can feel his emotions. Sadness is there.

"Lucas is our brother. He is the younger one," he says, a tear escaping from the corner of his eye.

"What happened to him?" I asked. I don't want to push him, but I need to know, as we will be off on our own soon.

He sighs. "Someone captured him, Mila," he says while he looks down at me. "They torture him. We all could feel each other's pain, but once it got too much. We thought he was dead, but there has been some word that the people who took him might have caged him."

"How would you know that?" I asked.

"You see," he says, "our blood can enhance or amplify someone's power. Some supernaturals are aware of this but unaware of the danger it can pose. If a dragon shifter remain in their dragon form for an extended period, they will turn feral and resemble the beast depicted in stories while suppressing their human essence. If Lucas lets him out, Fargo will be lethal and out of control. Our dragons are siblings like us. Drack is the oldest one who takes charge but also knows we are one of the same with Anna's dragon Libelle, but Fargo is like a spoilt child, and what's doing his own thing?" He says, "The last thing I said to my brother was I wish he were never born."

The tears are flowing a little more now. I said nothing. I thought I let him carry on when he was ready.

"I didn't mean it. We were trying to find a cover to hide. He thought he could outrun them and get them off our back. But they caught him," he says.

"Archer, it's not your fault," I said. "He thought he was helping you, and I can understand why you would say that if it's how you felt."

He nods. "That's what Anna says to me all the time."

I looked at where we were walking, too. We are coming close to the cliffs. I head up before him and stop right at the edge. The pack house looks so small from here. Archer stands beside me.

"You ok, little dove, about seeing your mate again and leaving your mate?" He asks.

I'm trying to work this one out. I want to see him, which is going to be the case. I want to get to know him before I leave, as I want him to know the real me. But also, at the same time, I don't want to, as I know it will hurt because we will not see him again for a while, and I don't know if I will ever come back. I still don't know what the curse is for us or the key to all this.

"I don't know what to think," I say, which is true. "I want to get to know him, but I don't want to as it will hurt both Sapphire and I. What do you think I should do?" I ask him. I want his advice now.

"I think you should get to know him. The war is coming, but you can still learn about him. At least find out what you want to know first. Keep your distance, though, as the mate bond can take hold of you and him quickly," he says.

"What do you think, Sapphire?" I ask her through our mind link.

I can hear a huge sigh escape from her. "I want to get to know him, too, but I know it will be hard. We should stay away, I think. It already hurts knowing we will not be anywhere near them." I nod in agreement.

"So, are we going to keep up the act of being upset about everything?" I inquired.

She nods. "That's what we must do, but not just with our mate, with everyone. Drack agrees with us, too, and he has just told Archer."

I look at Archer, who is nodding with the agreement. "I think that would be the best; you will need a bag packed. Can you do that? Anna will bring it to my room so no one will notice. I will meet you after the lights are out."

I was about to ask him when "War will be here in one day, I can feel it in the air," he says.

"The plan I will hold is to make sure no one will follow you or us. No one will know anything, Mila," he says. He looks at the path, but before saying anything, he asks, "Can we go back down a bit later?"

"I need time, Archer. I need to prepare for this mentally," I sighed. He nodded, and we stood in silence. We stood still on the cliff's edge, next to each other, not saying anything, just looking out at the pack house. This is going to be hard. I have so much to overcome: George's betrayal, the curse, leaving our mate and finding Archer's brother.

Moon Goddess, please help me through this. I close my eyes, saying it to myself, but suddenly, a small gust of wind swirls around us. I know she can hear me and is with us as we are preparing for war, but also for the next stage of the journey I have to take.