Alpha's Blood (Book One)

Magic in the Forest

   The sun broke into the cave that next morning, shining a brilliant light among the dense cave and over the collection of wolves who lived within it. The sounds of the birds waking caused a stir in these wolves, a white shewolf stepping out of her den to greet this sun. Artemis smiled as she recalled the words of the guardian shewolf and kirsi, her tail swaying behind her as she turned to call her mate out of the den. The pups in her belly protested along with her hunger about going forward without food. Sighing, Artemis knew she'd have to get something to eat, maybe her and those she traveled with could hunt while they were out. When Hades left the den, she gave him a soft yip before heading to the pack members den and seeing what four wolves she would have accompany her. Deciding on Willow, and three others, Kooba, Tillie, and Aspen, she gave them soft good morning licks across the ear before heading to the betas den to face her new beta, the one she had appointed last night. Before falling asleep in her den, she had gathered the pack to place in a new beta. Micah, the male her mother trusted so strongly laid in silence. He was in a deep sleep, and a smile formed across her face as she heard those she willed to go on the journey gather behind her. She had to wake him though, even as the sun argued with its early rays. "Micah, wake up." She poked her nose against his cheek until he stirred. When the reddish grey male lifted his head, he gave a small dip of his head in respect.
"Artemis, What May I do for you my alphess?"
"I will be taking Willow, Kooba, Tillie, and Aspen with me to the journey to the temple to receive the gift of the guardians. Hades is with me, so please watch over the pack." Her voice was steady as she spoke to the beta male. He replied with a nod and stood inside his den. Taking his response, she turned to face her pack with her eyes calm and dominant. She took charge, pushing to walk ahead of them all, her white tassel swaying behind her calmly. The group traveled in quiet, the forest surrounding them in a glowing light. Even the forest seemed to be asleep other than the birds, the calm of the woods making Artemis a bit nervous. Would there be another prophecy? Letting her ears pin back a bit, she felt a small touch of pain in her heart. Maybe she needed to relax, and fill her belly with food. Shaking her head she stopped and turned to the group, a smile on her lips and her eyes shining with kindness. "It's early, and I'm sure we all haven't eaten. Why don't we hunt and then continue towards the temple?" Soft barks of agreement filled her ears and she turned to Willow and the rest of the wolves, sending them away to hunt. She knew they had it handled, but right now she needed to speak with her mate.
"Hades? Are you alright?"
The dark male lifted his blue eyes to meet her gaze, his ears twitching a bit before giving his reply. "I am well, just miss my dad a bit. I understand life there was bad, and I'm glad we are free of it but I can't help but feel he will start a fight over you taking his pack members and his own son."
Artemis thought about this for a minute, her eyes widening. Would he really start a war, if so she couldn't fight. She had pups growing in her belly she had to keep safe. "If he does, we outnumber him don't we? I'm sure we would win."
"His determination is scarier than a million wolves. He will find allies, and when he does we might not make it out. I will ensure that our pups have no part of this battle if it does. Even if..I have to force you to leave.." His eyes held genuine concern for the white shewolf before him, his ears pinning back in a show of fear and worry for his mate. She understood his reason, but she wouldn't let her pack fight alone. She wouldn't speak further of this now, she needed to focus on her pups first. She just hoped they were born and old enough to run away before the pack was attacked in a show of revenge.

Willow returned to the alphas with a deer being drug behind her and the others. A warm grumble met Artemis's stomach and she felt as if her pups were leaping in joy. She knew this to be untrue but she laughed at the thought anyway. She watched Willow move away from the deer to let Artemis and Hades eat first before they ate and this made Artemis think for a moment. "Willow and the rest of you. Please do not wait for me to eat first, join me in feasting. We are a pack not a monarchy, a family so to speak."
Willow gave a snort of surprise before nodding slowly and bending her neck down to eat, Artemis and the rest going into the soft warm flesh of the prey next. It didn't take the group long before they had filled their bellies with the refreshing meet of the buck. And soon after that, they were on the way towards the temple once more. After many moments of walking in silence, the ruins appeared to them in a show of radiance. They seemed more magical than normal and the forest showed that too. In fact since this morning everything seemed more mystical and stronger. What had the guardians done? She looked back at her group before guiding them into the crystal forest and into the ruins of the temple, her eyes widening as the crystal in the area seemed to glow brighter than they ever have before. "Amber? Kirsi? Amethyst?" The white alphess called out to them, her only reply was Kirsi's soft bark. Following it, she noticed a glowing pool around Kirsi, a soft aura radiating around her. Amethyst stood beside her, her eyes showing more pride than ever and her stance dominant.
"Artemis, I am pleased to be greeting you this morning as the prime goddess now. In the case I have revived this title, I wish to gift your pack and it's land something special." Amethyst moved closer to the group, Artemis noticed in this moment that the female had grown in size overnight. Prime Goddess? Did that mean a new era was going to be happening soon? She held her tongue and waited for the lavender and purple colored female to continue. But she didn't. She simply placed her nose to Artemis's and at the moment of contact, darkness took hold.

A light shined in the darkness, a warmth about it in the cold of the night around her. But yet she knew it wasn't night. Were was she? Was she dead?! Panic made her throat grow tight as she whimpered and looked down at her belly. What about her pups? Dead or not though she knew she had to head to the light. Sighing she did so, only to follow it into was seemed to be a lake. An empty lake with no trees or brush around it. Furrowing here brow she looked down into the water, her reflection staring back at her like normal, but something was different this time around.
"Look harder, Artemis. Focus on your power within your heart now." The voice sounded so clear as if it was beside her, but she saw no wolf beside her. The voice was familiar as well. Once more panic took over, but she did as the mystical voice said and stared down at her reflection once more. Concentrating on her heart and the way it was beating, she felt her veins growing cold, her ears pinning back as a warmth filled her heart but what felt like ice filled the rest of her. Ice. This felt right. It felt like a stronger side to her. Ice. Closing her eyes she felt herself waking from the crazy dark place. She was awake.

"Welcome back, Artemis. You took longer than the rest." Kirsi's voice called to her as she struggled to adjust to the light of the temple. When she stood, she felt herself slip onto the ground again, her ears pinning back as she didn't understand. Giving it a moment she opened her eyes further, only to see the ground around her and the rocks of the temple ruins covered...in ice.