The Power Within

Chapter Six

Walking down the two flights of stairs, I hear the chatter of Bloodstone pack members. I enter the dining hall through the kitchen and the chatter stops almost at once. Everyone stares at me. I have never felt as nervous and terrified at the same time. My heart increased and I was breathing a little faster than normal. I kept looking around the large room to find someone that I know, Pat, Thomas, Alpha James, or Shelia. I finally make eye contact with Beta Pat and Shelia, they wave me over to their table as Alpha James walks in with a woman, I am guessing is Luna. 

"You can sit next to me," Shelia says while smiling at me. 

"Ok. Is Alpha James going to explain why I am here so everyone will stop staring at me?" I ask Beta Pat.

"Yes he will," he states then addresses the room before Alpha James, "you can all return to your conversations, Alpha will make an announcement shortly. Thank you."

Everyone immediately return to the conversations they were having prior to my entrance. Alpha James sees me sitting next to Shelia, he leans in to his mate to tell her something, I am assuming it is about me due to him pointing at me. They both smile and walk over to me.

"Hello Alpha and Luna," I say while bowing my head. 

"Hello Hailey, and it is Teresa dear. I hate formal names, makes me seem old," she states in a loving, mothering tone towards me. 

"Yes ma'am, I mean Teresa," I say with a smile. 

"How are you liking it so far her at the Bloodstone pack?" she ask.

"It is wonderful, the room that you have given me to stay in is beautiful. Thank you both so much for letting me stay," I tell her.

"Of course dear, someone your age and beauty should not be running around by yourself. And if you need anything at all just find myself or Shelia and we will get it. How are you on clothes? Do you any clothes to fight in?" she ask.

"Umm.... no I do not. I was not allowed to fight in my old pack. I have a few outfits and that is enough for me," I say with a small smile.

"Well, that will not do," she states to me. "We will take her shopping in two days. I have plans tomorrow but the next day is perfect. Good for you Shelia?"

"Absolutely!" Shelia states in a pitched voice. Apparently she loves to shop.

"No, really I don't need any clothes," I state to both of them. I am trying to plead to them with my eyes but it is not working.

"Nonsense, every woman needs clothes and you have a walk in closet to fill my darling," Luna states to me. "And I will make that an order if I have too." 

"Yes ma'am," I agree because I don't want to make them mad at me. I do like it here so far and I don't want to get kicked out for not going shopping when Luna asked me too.

"Attention everyone," Alpha James announces, well more like booms his voice over everyone. The room is quiet immediately.

"As you have noticed, we have a new she-wolf here with us tonight. Her name is Hailey Burns and will be staying with us for a while. If anyone has a problem with Hailey staying here speak now."

No one says a word. I wonder how he knows my last name. I know I did not tell him that information when I met him, so how does he know. Did my old pack call here to find me. 

"Now, with that settled, let's eat!" Alpha James says smiling at everyone before sitting back down in his chair.

"Alpha James?" I ask.

"Yes Hailey?"

"How do you know my last name? I didn't tell you earlier," I ask him.

"Your old pack called asking if a she-wolf fitting your description showed up here since we are the closest pack. They told me your full name. And before you ask, I did not tell them you are here. I told them if I did find you I would let them know," he stated with a small smile.

"Thank you." I said to him.

Dinner was wonderful. Everyone laughed and told me stories of past events that had happened. It was wonderful to finally feel welcomed into a pack without being apart of this pack. After I finished eating I excused myself for the night, after I dropped my plate in the kitchen of course. I could not wait to finally get a full night sleep tonight. 

I basically ran up the stairs to get to my new bed faster. It was heaven to lay on and how I slept for my nap says anything, I am going to have a wonder night sleep tonight.

Walking into my room, I immediately go into the closet to get my pj's for the night. Going into the bathroom to change and brush my teeth and wash my face before jumping into my over sized piece of heaven.

I am laying here trying to get my mind to shut off to go to sleep and I can't. I decided to open one of the windows so I can here the wild call to me during the night. I did this sometimes to help clear my mind. I guess it is a wolf thing because hearing the bugs and animals throughout the night helps me sleep more peacefully. Opening the middle window, I look out at the moon. It is not a full moon yet, and no we don't shift for the night and go crazy. Are senses are heighten during the full moon but that is it. I think about what Cassandra told me earlier, before I was brought here, about how she is an original werewolf from the Moon Goddess herself.

"Why me?" I whisper to the moon. I wonder if the Moon Goddess can really hear me. I give up waiting for an answer after 20 minutes of looking out the window. Crawling back in bed this time was different. I felt exhausted and I don't know why. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out and in dreamland.

Looking around in my dream was surreal. I was standing next to a beautiful waterfall, it had to be around 100 feet tall. The trees and wild flowers were overgrown in a coordinated way, its like they knew the path everyone will take and did not grow there. I kept looking around in circles as I walked to the river edge, the water was crystal clear and the fishes were swimming without noticing I was there. I could not believe I was dreaming of such a magical place.

"Because you are not dreaming of it. I brought you here my sweet Hailey," an angelic voice said.

I turned around to see a beautiful, no gorgeous woman standing a few feet away from me. She had to be around 5'7 with long black straight hair that cascade down her body in a blue dress that was made just for her. Her eyes were a light blue color and she had rosy cheeks and red lips that curled up when she smiled at me.

"Who are you, if you don't mind me asking, ma'am," I asked unsure how to address this woman.

"I am your mother, well, the mother of all werewolves. The Moon Goddess, as you all call me. My name is Artemis," she says smiling at me.

"THE Moon Goddess."

"Yes, and I brought you here because you asked me a question that deserves an answer. I can not answer you if I can not see you, so here you are my child."

She actually heard me. Wow. "So.... mom?" I give a questioning looking towards her and she nods approval, "is it true that my wolf, Cassandra is an original sent to me by you?" I ask.

"Let me start from the beginning my child, you will not understand unless you know the whole story. Now let's find somewhere to sit and I ask that you refrain from questions until I complete the story, deal?" she asks me.

"Deal." I am excited yet terrified of this story but if I am as important as Cassandra says I am, I need to know why, and tonight I will find that out.