Nova

Whispy tentacles of mist wrapped around me in the darkness, encasing my soul.. Hazy tendrils like smoke... pulling me as if i was as light as a feather.

My soul lifting high in a wide expanse of darkness; The Dark abyss dotted with twinkling stars. A bright silver light shining above.. coming closer and closer as my soul rose upward into the onyx sky.

Am i meeting the moon? Is this death?

Is this how wolves die? Is this where they go?

Pulling me up, up and up.. I became buoyant. Just floating in space.

I'm going home. To the moon.

I felt no fear. No worry. Nothing but pure joy overcame my entire being. I felt safe.. but this isnt where i wanted to be.

Another bright silver light that seemed to glow even brighter than the moon produced itself out of thin air once my body haulted in front of the moon. An apparition.

The blinding glow led me to believe this was the moon goddess herself, meeting me on the surface of the moon.

Could it be?

"Nova." A voice i knew all to well called to me.

I seemed to be hovering, in was almost like swimming. I could move my arms and feet... treading air to move around.

"Deacon!?" I called out but i didnt see anything aside from the glowing form before me.

"Nova you cant see me. Not until she allows it." He seemed sad.

"Why? Am i dying?" My hands felt their way down my body, resting on the very place a life had been growing inside me and my eyes widened.

I can't die. Zaryn needs me.. my pup.. my pup that never got the chance to live needs me..

"No. You aren't dying. Didn't i tell you that you had the moon's favor?" He seemed to laugh at me

I floated in the air, thinking on his words. "Deacon, a spear was lodged through my chest. My dads too. How can-'

"You of all people should have more faith in the moon. Everything happens for a reason Nova. Everything. The moon willed what needed to happen.. But.... its not your time to die.."

I felt my forehead crease. "Not my time? Then why am i here?" I glanced at the glowing apparition. She was indeed the moon goddess. No face.. all you felt was her presence. One of peace.

A deep chuckle sounded and i floated in circles trying to find the owner.. to find Deacon. "You are inbetween dimensions. Your soul wants to leave but your wolf wont go down without a fight." He laughed lightly, stepping out of the blackness. Just the same Deacon i always remebered... smiling boyishly.

My eyes went wide when i saw him"Deacon?! Oh Deacon!!!" I tried to throw myself at him with no avail. This was another world.

"Nova. The moon wants you to know that you arent invincible just because you are her warrior. She wants you to be more conscious of that. She will use you to carry out her will.. but you must learn that you can die, just like the rest of the wolves. She wanted you in limbo.. here with us. To speak with you. Im her translator for this."

I frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Nova.. the war.. there were those who needed to die. It happened for the greater good. A reason. Those wolves.. those were wolves she had come for. They needed to come to terms with what they have done. Moon Stone warriors, Reynold, his nephew.. the all needed to go where the Moon wanted them. It was their time. Mom... she needed to die.. her punishment on earth was not enough. Her offspring, they would carry the same genetic malfunction that i inherited.. that genetic mutation needed to be put to rest. The wolf that killed her is also dead. Those that were taken.. were wolves that needed to be taken. There were many that she needed.. therfore the war began. The mates that suffered the deaths of their loved ones.. the moon needs them to grow stronger. Gabriel .. he will find happiness. He lived his entire life to better himself for a female who rejected him for her cousins mate. All those wolves will find happiness. But now the bad seeds are cleared away for new crop." he smiled, reaching out his hand..nodding saying it was okay.

My eyes darted to the glowing apparition. "Is this her? The moon goddess?"

He nodded. "It is. She wants you to touch her. You will go back to your body.." he only smiled. "You're gonna be okay Nova. As promised."

Tentatively, i took his outstretched hand, eyeing the glowing entity that had no face. "I can't tell you more than what she has told me to tell you.. you serving as the moon's warrior is over. For now. But there will come a time when you will be needed again. She picked you the moment Anita had set Zaryn and Grace up. The moment she felt your pain and heard your prayers.. she knew you were the one. Only one wolf is chosen every few hundred years when there's too many wrongs in a certain group of packs.. she has those packs unite.. and you were the warrior she chose. Why do you think all that pain you felt got easier to handle? You endured so much but you became stronger.. your wolf never overpowered your skin. In fact, the moon gave you strength to make you stronger physcially and emotionally. To preserve your wolf and your skin sides. Your mission was to uncover truths that needed to be set free. To cross paths.. to involve other wolves from other packs.. it was all you. Your choice to leave brought the Blue Moon pack into the mix... which inadvertently brought Dark Moon to help Zaryn. Dark moon had some wolves with skeletons in their closets too. You will keep the tattoo. And the strength. You were made to spill secrets and fight her fights.. to help guide wolves. Continue to do that. Guide. Train them.. take lost souls and make then whole again. Take them to the right path. Your pups. They will be strong pups. You are essentially an Alpha female now... the moment you touch her to go back to your body, you will hold the strength of an Alpha and you will smell like the moon. But be warned. You can still die. Those that challenge you.. those that you have killed.. have been for reasons. She watches you.. just remember though you are strong.. never overuse your strength. Do not fight fights that aren't yours. Your mission is to guide lost wolves and send those that are foul, to the moon for punishment."

I gaped at him as i held his hand, so many questions flooding my mind. "I dont understand. I dont understand why my destiny as a warrior isnt for me to fight physcially..."

Nova" he looked at me with the same blue eyes. "Sometimes fighting isnt the only way you can fight. The strength you have isnt only for battle.. its to keep you strong.. on the inside. The moon says, any wolves that have lost their way.. train them. Train them like you were trained... just being in your presence will help them. It will allow them to grow.. many wolves will try to take your position and zaryns. But the moon wants you where you are so you will fight with him. Side by side. Word will get around about the female elite warrior with the mark of the moons warrior.. they will covet you and your pack lands. Remember to fight then.. dont abuse your gift. There are many things you are to do in this life. Giving you strength to defend yourself is the one way she made sure you are protected. You will be called upon again.. to help wolves. To guide them on the right path.. to open closets filled with skeletons and right wrongs.. she will need you for something big once more ."

Realisation sunk in. I was sent to free the demons most wolves had on their shoulders.. to train the lost.. help them.. but it meant i would be coveted by other packs and they would want a warrior like myself in their ranks. They would try to take me.

Then i remembered the war.. my dad..

"What about my dad! Will he live? He's done nothing wrong!!" I cried, my eyes wanting to water but only joy could be felt.

"Everything happens for a reason Nova. Your fathers near death experience was for a purpose. Conrad..he was taken for a reason.. the things he did in the past, he had a choice. But his title was more important to him. Its his time. Good will come from it. Now its time to go back.. your pups are weakening. grab her hand.. its time for you to go."

What? Conrad died? for his past sins? None of that sounds fair.. he did have a choice but he repented! The moon doesn't play fair.. what did his cryptic message mean? I will be needed in the future? My dad will survive wont he? What does all this mean!?

"Wait!" I screamed.. "what about you!?"

He smiled brightly. "My punishment is over. The moon is letting me come home now. What is a day in your world is many many in ours." His hand stretched into the black abyss, pulling a female wolf to his side. A beaitiful female with long hair and bright shining eyes. she smiled bashfully at me but never said a word. My lips parted in surprise.

"This is Laurel. My mate." His eyes dow cast. "I told her everything. How sorry i was and wish i could change the past. But here we are now. Together. And she knows ill always be sorry for what i did." He smiled sadly at her, kissing her hand before looking back at me. Laurel and i shared a look.. she seemed so sweet. I wondered how she was treated by her father.. Reynold. And Maxims mate, her mother.

"Nova the letters.. you must deliver them as soon as you awaken. Its the morning after the war in which you will wake up. Zaryn is sick with worry. Give him his letter."

My brow arched, "what about Alpha Reynold's? He's dead..."

"The envelope said Alpha of Moon stone. Read carefully. Give it to the new Alpha of moon stone. I couldn't have you know who it would be. Reynold... he needed to die. He is in limbo.. living out every horrible thing he did. He treared Laurels mom as a breeder not a mate. Hes suffering his fate now. Give the letter to the new Alpha." He let go of the girls hand, hugging me to him. "Ill always be watching over you. Now go. Its time."

So many questions still ran through me but i did as he said.. reaching my hand toward the glowing entity that happened to be the moon goddess. She was bright.. calm. I felt safe around her..i felt secure.

The moment our hands touched, my head fell back and my eyes closed..

I was falling.. watching as the moon disappeared from my sight.. falling.. falling. But it wasnt scary.. it was serene. No pain.

I closed my eyes feeling suddenly sleepy.. needing to just close my eyes for just a moment..

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°

Zaryn

"X, you alright now?" Maxim stood on the top step of the Clinic porch, his muscular arms crossed over his chest; a slight frown on his angular and chiseled features. His usual expression when he wasnt laughing.. a mask of indifferenct agression.

RBF.

The dim porch light was the only thing that illuminated his looming mass, while i stood below him in the darkness, naked, still covered in dried blood while the full moon shone brightly overhead.

My brows creases, fists clenching as i felt a pang of guilt creep inside me for not being here.. for running away when everyone needed me. When my pack needed me.

"X, dont feel guilty." He took the few steps down so that we were face to face, unfolding his arms.. letting them fall to his sides in a casual stance. "No one blames you for running off for a while. You lost pack members.. a mom. Watching your mate get stbbed..your dad and mate being put under the knife? You had reason to explode.." his attempt to make me feel a little better about the situation was admirable.. even in the state he was in. I could see he wa affected too even though he never showed it.

Shaking my head, "I lost it.. i just..my mom.. i ignored her for so long, never letting her get the chance to talk.. now shes gone. But most of all, when i saw Nova.. those images of the silver arrow sticking out of her chest.. i lost it." My eyes met his crystal ones as i lifted my face. "If my dad dies i dont know what ill do. If my pup dies i dont know what ill do.. but if Nova doesnt make it... i .. i dont think i will either, Maxim." I choked.

Our eyes locked for a moment, his narrowing slightly as he stepped into my space, looking down at me with the few inches he had on me, his brows furrowed. "Nova is going to make it Zaryn. Your dad.. well he is strong. We just have to wait and see. As far as your pup, i cant say but you can always have others.. and your mom? Well everything happens for a reason. You are her son. She didnt hate you. Hell, she was actually kind of happy but the moon lets shıt happen that needs to happen. Nothin you can do about it man."

I think this is as deep as Maxim has ever gotten with me.

And i appreciated it. More than he knew.

My chest hurt.. all the loss today.. everyone's lost something today but me.. im the Alpha. Im supoosed to be there to pick up the pieces. Yet i cant stop letting my emotions get the best of me.

"My emotions.. they don't ever seem consisten.. its not healthy for the pack.." I just needed her to pull through. Nova is the key to me. She is what i rely on to be sane. "I dont want to go crazy again but-"

"Zaryn." He boomed, a deep frown on his face. "Wolves like us.. like Gabriel.. when something happens that turns us into monsters emotionally and our wolves become the strong ones, leaving us to build the skin up to match that strength.. people are going to expect us to flip out. Theres nothing wrong with you running off.. you protected your pack by doing so. Making sure no one else was slaughtered today by your wolf.. stop blaming yourself." He gritted out. Maybe he dealt with the same thing once...

We were quiet.. i closed my eyes, the heart in my chest feeling half empty.

"Look up." He said

I did.. looking up at the white silvery moon, patches of a darker silver strategically placed around the mass.

He moved to stand beside me. "You see that silvery bıťch up there? She has a plan. And its not to make you go crazy, though thats how it seems." He turned his head to look at me. "Look at me.. my mate was sold to an aging alpha to produce pups and i thought she was dead this whole time. But I keep it together. Ive been broken.. I've been a monster.. ive been everything in between. Dead inside.. a live wire.. a killing maching.. but i found balance. No one expects you to be perfect. Not now. Its okay for you to go awol.. especially when your mate is at risk." He patted me on the back. "Nova is special to the moon, i can tell. Dont worry about her. As her mate... you should know this." A ghost of a smile appeared.

Maxim has been through hell and back. And he came out on top..

"How did you keep it together?" I croaked. "Finding out about your mate?" We both forgot I had been standing here naked beneath the midnight moon the entire time..

He shrugged, "my wolf had thought she was dead for so long.. she was mated.. i learned to push things back. Besides... my wolf has found interest in another wolf. My situation is different." He glanced back up at the moon with a slight rare smile.

I was lucky this wolf was my blood. "Thank you for taking care of everything when i couldn't, Max. Thanks for helping all the wolves cope." When i couldn't deal with life, he stepped in and did it for me.. taking charge.

The doors to the clinic burst open, Nic standing there with wide eyes as he looked between the two of us. "Nova's out of surgery." Words laced with releif.

Unconsciously i took a step forward, Nic noticing my state of nakedness before reaching in the bin on the porch and throwing me a pair of shorts and a tshirt. Catching them, my eyes stayed glued to his as i held the ball of clothing in my hands. We would need a new delivery of clothing from the salvation army with all the clothes the wolves have shredded today that lie scattered in the yard of the pack house.

"And?"

"Shes stable. The doc is taking her to revovery now and he will check on the pup."

I sighed in relief, pulling the clothes over my body hurriedly.

"I need to see her." It was mumbled. Three hours... three hours of surgery that i spent in wolf form, running through the woods.. attacking any animal i could find that was big enough to appease the wolf in me. At least it wasnt another wolf.

My heart hammered fiercely as i jogged up the steps only for Nic to press a hand to my chest, stopping me.

"Wait." His green eyes met mine. "You need to shower first. Anyone who wants to go to her room needs to shower. Cant risk infection man. You got blood sweat and dirt all over you from the fight earlier." He whispered, never leaving my eyes. If it was anyone but Nic, it would be a threat.

My stare turned into a glare. I had to see her.. but he was right.

"Come on." Maxim stepped past me. "You can shower in another clinic room then go see her." He offered, holding the door for me.

I stepped around Nic who seemed ghostly pale.. a certain all too familiar pain in those mossy eyes of his.

He has it under control.. why cant i be like that?

Because his mate is live and well.

Its true.. your mate is the key to you.

Nic has a sister and two fathers in surgery and s mother in turmoil yet he was able to keep his wolf under control.. which is saying something since only weeks ago he was snapping at anything that moved

He is the true Alpha son.. a true Alpha. Im just the second choice.

I walked inside the sterility of the clinic.. the reception desk straight ahead but we never used it. We followed our noses

Dahlia was pacing in the lobby.. mumbling to herself .. tear stained cheeks and red swollen eyes.. seeing her made my insides tear even further and i rushed to her, wrapping her up in my arms. My mother in law. If only my own mom was this... courageous and kind.

"Dahlia.. " my voice broke and she began to sob, her arms wrapping around me in return as she put her face in my neck.

"Nova is going to be okay." She mumbled through muffled sobs. "But i dont know about jack.. or even blake... they are still in surgery." She cried, leaning back to look up at me with so much sadness. "Zaryn.. whatever happens... ever.. i hope you know ill always be your mom no matter what, right? Im so sorry about pen-"

I didnt let her finish that sentence, i squeezed her to me as tight as i could without harming her.. cheek against cheek. My wolf loved this female and did indeed see her as a mom... i would claim her as such.

"Thank you, Dahlia.' I whispered out.

Once Dahlia and I had said what we needed to, Maxim drug me to the room down the opposite hall so i could shower. They explained it would be a while before Nova awoke anyway.. that i might as well go and have a shower, any news and they would let me know.

As i was showering, I could hear Maxim's voice outside the bathroom, echoing.

"Gabriel never came back. I cant link him either.. i think he really took Penelope's death hard.. " he trailed off, as if forgetting that she was my own mom. Sometimes i was guilty of it too but as much despair as it brought me knowing i wont see her again.. knowing we never cleared the air.. my mind was fully focused on Nova and the pup.. more Nova.