Blood and Bonds II - Salvation's Prey

2. Destiny calls for everyone.

***MATURE ADULT CONTENT IN THIS CHAPTER***

Fog rolls thick and heavy through the evergreen forests, blanketing the land in a dense, cold, white cloud. The spring morning sun begins to rise up over the peaks, rousing the early birds, sending their melodies chirps ringing throughout the treetops. There's a peaceful tranquility in the forests, only disrupted briefly by early risers eager to go about their day. A sudden whoosh through the fog, churning it in a whirlpool of grey wispy hues, is all but missed except by those animals alert enough to see it. The swiftness of the silent force barely leaves a trace as it sails through the rocky shrubbery of the undergrowth.

Just as the sun light dips over the valley,  a white flash explodes from the fog, leaving a plume of white wisps behind it. With powerful, long strides and effortless strength, Isabella charges up the mountain side, eyes fixed on the summit. The sun's warm rays spur her motivation as she channels all her focus and energy on the steep climb. Bounding from rock to rock, soaring over canyons as though they were crevices, she careers for the apex. With a final incredible leap, she lands at the mountains crown, heavily breathing the Icely mountain air. Magnificent views, second to only to her home with her Uncle, Heathcliff, is all she sees as a she casts her eyes on the valleys below. The sun beams brightly on everything, dissipating the fog as it rises into the morning sky.

"That's got to be a new record!" Cartia cheers resolutely.

"I think so too!" Isabella celebrates with her. "Bronson will be hard pressed to keep up with us now!" She gloats unashamed. They both laugh together and lay basking in the morning sun. As Isabella's eyes wander the land, she finds herself staring into the far off distance, pretending she can see her home; her territory and where Bronson is. All at once her heart grows heavy and her mind begins racing as fast as her paws were up the mountain. There is a longing for her pack and belonging to one that she cannot deny.

"You always get so ambivalent when you look to the Silver Lakes. Why? Bronson is a nexus away. Andreas is as well." Cartia coos, laying her full weight on Isabella's soul for comfort.

"I know. You're right. It's not the same as seeing them though." Isabella pines. "Being here with Magnus is everything. Our life. Our Home. It's everything I ever hoped for with him, albeit the never being able to have his children or him being able to claim me openly." Isabella grimaces showing her slight resentment.

"You know he loves us. He has done everything he vampiricly can as King." Cartia reminds softly, nestling her head on Isabella's. "Is it not enough anymore?"

"Of course it is! Nothing like that!" Isabella protests without hesitation. "It hurts to dream sometimes, that's all." She admits with a hint of shame.

Cartia smiles over her and licks her tenderly on the cheek. "Sometimes we don't get everything we want. But we get the next best thing."

Isabella wraps her arms around Cartia and tightly squeezes her as Cartia's wolf head rests over her shoulder.  Before she can say anything, their souls are delighted and excited with a surge of energy. The twins are awake and searching for her. Isabella smiles warmly and Cartia is already ready to charge home to her pups. "My God, can you imagine when their wolves come in?" Isabella chortles as she begins down the mountain for home.

"I know! Their pull is already so strong! Their connection to me, even though infant, is so powerful. It's those Alpha genes baby!" Cartia boasts of their own linage. Her words, 'those Alpha genes', has Isabella's mind wander to the paternity of the twins. She knows twins will be stronger than a most wolves they will ever meet because both their parents were Alpha. But is the nature of a wolf stronger that its nurture, she ponders intently. Will her sons grow to be just and fair Alphas, or will 'Alpha Genes' bring inherent degenerative traits that good rearing cannot erase? The run home is heavier than the climb, as her mind swirls with keeping the boys safe from Dominic and raising them better than either of their parents raised them.