The Rise

Chapter Eight

"He's healed, but keep him in the office for now," I said.

The pack-doctor nodded. "Yes, Moon Goddess. We will be studying the mold that was found on his skin in the meantim—"

"Moon Goddess!" Nakida rushed through my office door. When she saw me, she placed a hand on her chest and exhaled. "Oh, thank goodness. You're okay."

Ayodele appeared beside her, breathing hard. "We came as quickly as we could. We heard about the pup."

I placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder. "Please keep me informed." After bowing, he scurried out of the room.

Nakida nearly hurled her water bottle at me – something she probably picked up from Aaisha – when I told them about what we found last yesterday. "Why didn't you inform us of this earlier?"

"I wanted to give you and Ayodele one night of peace." I gently laid a hand on her forearm. "I have a feeling that things are about to get a lot more intense around here." My mind wandered to Ayodele and Ashur, Luca, Aeron.

In the pit of my stomach I could feel something brewing, something that I wasn't going to be ready for. And, because of that, I needed everyone to be on high alert. Resting was the right choice for them.

Valerio popped his head in the room, his eyes landing on Nakida. "There you are." He walked in, hugged Nakida from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Why'd you leave? You didn't even finish your waffles."

"I'm sure you finished them for me," she said, gazing over at him, all of her anger sudden gone.

I smiled at their exchange. They were too cute. So damn cute that my heart felt heavy.

A Protector knocked twice on the door. "We're ready when you are, Moon Goddess."

I gathered everything I would need today – my team and my wolves – and walked with them to the cars.

Today was going to be a long day. We had to hike all the way up the mountain to Aeron's old home and try to find something about his current whereabouts. I didn't know what we would find or if we would find anything. This was his last known place of residency, but, for all I know, he could've abandoned it hundreds of years ago.

I secretly hoped that we would find him there, lounging around in his underwear on the top of the mountain, catching him in a moment of weakness. But that was a far-fetched dream.

He was probably somewhere in the stars, plotting his next move with that damn divine.

As we drove, the ivory moon was barely visible in the sea of pinks and purples that made up the morning sky. I asked Ayodele and a few Protectors to accompany me in my car, while Nakida and Valerio were in the car ahead.

I gazed at Ayodele from the driver's seat. "Did you tell Nakida yet?"

He shook his head. "No. I don't want her to worry. Her energy needs to be focused on this and so does mine."

"Ayodele, it's okay if you need time to process what will happen," I said. I couldn't imagine the stress and torment that keeping this information to himself would bring him, each and every time he left his bed in the morning. I could barely handle it myself and I wasn't the one who was going to die.

"I have processed it," he said. "I know what will happen. I know it can happen at any time."

I hesitated. "Are you sure?"

He rested a hand on my shoulder. "My head is clear. We will defeat this darkness."

Hopefully we would, and soon.