The Path to Love

Chapter 15: Meeting Again

"Meadow told me that you lost your way, Claire. How on earth did that happen?" He asked.

"I was running away from home, on my way to the train station..." I explained. Meadow stood beside him, still glaring at me whilst Thane attentively listened.

"Well a friend of Luna's is always welcome here. Stay as long as you want." He responded. Thane did a fist bump into the air and sat on a kitchen stool whilst Meadow was unpleasantly surprised.

"But she is a human. She can't stay here, Alpha. She is a threat to everything we stand for." Meadow retorted. Phoenix frowned at her and at that, she stopped speaking.

"As long as she is not a hunter, she is welcome here and I will not repeat myself again." He stated. And that was the end of Meadows complains. As she walked away and into another room, I could still feel her anger. I heard the front door open and was greeted by Luna, who was very excited to see me.

"Claire!" Before I could respond, she hugged me, so tightly that I struggled to breathe. I smiled, also grateful to be with her.

"It's nice to see you again Luna." I responded. She smiled at me , before also hugging Phoenix. Whilst in his embrace, she said " He told me what happened, so you don't have to explain."

With my eyebrow raised , she chuckled before explaining further. " We are able to communicate with our minds." She said.

"Yes, and we also know how to identify threats." Meadow mumbled, as she walked past me. I was tired of her rude attitude and decided to speak up for myself."

"What is your problem, Meadow?" She stopped in her tracks and turned to me, glaring in the process before responding, "What is my problem? Hmn, lets see. Your species disgusts me and I have to live with you now. You smell bad and are an extra burden on the pack. We have enough problems to deal with and don't need anymore." She hissed.

"Meadow! That's Enough!" Phoenix exclaimed. She slumped on a couch in the living room and crossed her arms. " I don't know you people well and I don't want to be a burden. You don't have to let me stay here, but I have nowhere else to go." At Meadows outburst, I felt guilty for being such a disruption. 

This time, another voice spoke. One that I knew very well. A voice that I had not heard in weeks. "Claire, you are not a burden. Ignore Meadow." At the sound of his voice, I felt goosebumps rise to my skin.

"Mr. Augustus."

"Call me Caelan." He responded , as he walked from behind me to in front of me. Phoenix cleared his throat and led Luna to another room. She turned back briefly and smiled at me. Thane and Meadow greeted Caelan and also went to another part of the house.

He looked older, sadder, a shadow of his former self. I felt an indescribable urge to caress his face.

"You will stay here with with us. You can never return to your parents after how they have mistreated you." He stated, with warmth and also assertiveness.

All I could say was "Okay." He led me upstairs to a lounge area and began preparing  some food. Here I was, in the home of werewolves, and my teacher who I felt a magnetic pull towards. 

" I want you to meet everyone , formally during dinner tonight." He spoke. I was thrilled and anticipated what was to come.

"The only problem is that I stink and have no change of clothes." I responded. I was seated on a comfortable chair and admired the lounge.  It had red and grey seats, tall cream colored walls and sheer curtains that overlooked the backyard and forest.

" The scent I smell is pleasant and Luna just offered to give you some clothes." I blushed and avoided his gaze. I walked around the lounge, to a fireplace and watched as the flames change colors.

"Thane is able to alter the colors of the elements and control their motions. He can do so from a distance." He said, as he set some plates on the table by the fireplace. It was so peaceful here, like an oasis that only exists in sweet dreams.

"Whilst I was in the forest, Thane scolded Meadow for using her gift. She was tracing some shapes into my palm. What did he mean and what is her gift?" I asked, taking my seat in front of him.

For a few seconds, he ruminated on his thoughts. " All of us were born with unique gifts, abilities that distinguish us from each other."  If a wolf uses their gift irresponsibly, their energy levels are depleted and they risk defeat, granting opponents the advantage of success. Whintar is a sage and can levitate objects with her mind.  Meadow can repress or delete peoples memories except her own. After her Alpha, she is the strongest wolf in her pack.

Caelan and I spoke for hours as we ate pancakes. It felt as if we had always known each other. He was the Alpha of the Silver Wind pack and Thane was his beta. He, Thane and Luna are siblings and she is part of the White Water Pack. Their lives were so different from mine. They were part of a world that collided with mine. A world of supernatural creatures, rivalries and wars much bloodier than the ones written about in school textbooks.

His pack house was on the other side of the forest, across the highway. " This morning, some wolves from my pack went hunting and that is why you ran into them. They were irresponsible and put themselves and the pack at risk. They will be dealt with, during training." He explained, watching me intently.

"Hugo and Avran informed me that you were to be married off to that bastard, Griffin." He said, through gritted teeth. 

"How do you know them?" I asked. It seemed as if everyone in my life was connected somehow. I was learning how I was connected to them as well. And I was learning quickly.

" I killed their brothers mate." He said, point blank.