Wolf Queen - Book 1 of The Nightfall Series

Ten

The air was tense as she reached the altar. The Alphas had gathered for their morning meal around the central fire just in front of the temple. It was customary for them to meet in the mornings and the evenings to converse during their meals.

Adele walked silently behind her the entire way, her own little shadow as she carefully watched everything around her. The Alpha's grew quiet as she approached, lifting their heads, and assessing her in the morning light. Their gazes moved to the child and brought their gazes back to her after she gave a warning growl.

She left them to finish their meal and climbed the steps to the stone table. She stood to the side and watched Adele as she cautiously approached the table. Her hand reached out and hovered above it as she stretched her fingers wide.

"Can you feel it?" Adelaide asked her.

The power that resonated from the table was unmissable, it hummed through the air and surrounded any within its vicinity. It was always interpreted in different ways. To some it was comforting, to others it was unnerving. Many could not withstand the power of the Goddess in the flesh, only Alpha's could stand so close.

Adele only nodded her head, overwhelmed by the power she was experiencing. Her wolf would be focusing solely on the Goddess, a dangerous side effect if she was present with any other wolf. It was easy to drown in the moons embrace.

"You surprise me, little moon."

Adele jumped at the arrival of Leonidas, stepping away from the table as the connection was broken. Adelaide huffed slightly in a chuckle at the child and watched as she backed slowly away. Sensing the age and power that came from the ancient wolf and came to stand behind her, peaking around her legs but not touching her.

She was not surprised by the way he greeted her. He had called her by her nickname, little moon, since she had first been initiated as the conduit. A small endearment against the stark reality she always faced.

He was dressed as he always was despite the cool morning air. Much like herself and her packmates that had lived so far to the North, they had become accustomed to its cold climate and were now immune. He wore only a leather kilt around his waist, his chest, and feet bare, while his white hair flowed freely around his face for a change.

"I thought that nothing surprised you, Priest." She replied to his greeting.

Her voice held little emotion as she addressed him, she could sense the male was near and she did not want to encounter him anymore than she deemed necessary. Not when there were many changes to come. Her mind continued to run through the continuing events and changes that would happen in the next hours and days as she faced the waters of the pool.

"The male was embraced." He told her.

She nodded. She knew the male would be accepted by the Tides. The Goddess would have guided him, and it would now be Leonidas that would need to guide and train him in his next steps.

Her thoughts wandered as she thought of the current events. Something was off, the male had not been what Michael had expected. The timing wasn't right.

"Something troubles you." Leonidas stated.

He walked slowly around the table, his steps slow. His fingers traced the deep claw marks that marred the surface, some were hers, others were of the past conduits who had been given the gift of the moon, He knew them all, had taught them all they needed to know just as he had done with her.

"It is nothing of concern, only what must come to pass."

Her words were ominous and fell into silence as he took in her words. He picked up on the warning and kept his gaze on the table as he took a breath to speak.