"Winds of Change"

*Solveig*

As I walk along with mom and dad, we watch as Xavier hugs his mates tenderly in the distance. Uncle Gideon and aunt Agape are holding each other as they watch as well. It was a match that surprised us all, and one made with such perfection. I might have teased him with it before, but his personality and character needed two mates to be tamed. And the three of them look so happy.

We reach Seth and his parents. "I hope you are comfortable here, I know it is different than where you come from," My mother says as she gives him a hug.

Caliope nods and smiles. "We are, you managed to create a fantastic paradise here, Caleb. This is a beautiful combination of civilization and nature."

"Thank you, we managed to keep working on improvements with the least effect to the environment, and it was a work that my father started, I just managed to continue with his legacy," My father answers as he stands proudly. Dad was always sentimental about our ancestors.

Seth keeps calm, and I try to control my emotions. I feel both calm and excited, and I know it is due to his presence. Perhaps being an Angel gives him the advantage of keeping everything under control.

"I have a theory... and I am sure you might agree on it," I hear Caliope say.

"Go ahead, please," Mother encourages her.

"I believe they are targeting our children..." She says and I gasp, looking at her in shock. Us? Why us?

"Can you be more specific, please?" Dad asks.

"We are probably the strongest creatures in this realm, in this earth. The best of our races, combined and now mated with our children... evolution explains on its own... it might not apply completely on everything, but it would make sense... our children might be their target because they sense their potential... and they might want to... do something with them or to them... I haven't reached that far on my theory... but I think that is why they were trying to get your son, Ian... and they might want to get the others," She finishes and looks at Amra, her husband.

He looks at her and holds his arm around her tighter, then he looks at us. "They don't know we are all working together, and we shall remain together to protect each other. I will work on methods to protect the surroundings."

Dad nods at him. "I might search for another area where we could relocate. I don't want the pack lands to be targeted just for us, but I don't want to leave them helpless either..."

Amra nods again. "Let's figure that out, and from now on, keep everyone in small groups, never alone."

My father nods and everyone seems to agree, I exchange looks with Seth and he looks at me with reassurance. I wish I could do more. I wish I could understand what kind of powers I have, and use them in our favor.

ღ ~~~~~~~ ☽ⓈⒺ☾ ~~~~~~~ ღ

*Ian*

I feel his presence even though he is not looking at me. It unnerves me; he doesn't do anything more than to be around me, without a word, without any action. What is he trying to do with me?

He sat at the park and stays there with his eyes closed, and as usual, he doesn't even move an inch. He is so unnatural it has the pack members alert and away from where he is. 'Maybe you need to go there and talk to him, brother,' I hear Xavier's voice in my mind.

'Why do I have to do that?' I ask with a bit of annoyance.

'Because I couldn't figure out what the hell was happening with my mates until I spoke to them and cleared our doubts, together. He might be just as confused as you... And remember, he helped mom all those years ago, he must mean well,' He answers to me and I nod mentally.

I know the stories of what happened in that battle so many years ago, and how it could have been lost if it weren't for his interference, the first one registered after his exile. So I take courage and walk to him.

He doesn't move at all, even when I know he senses me there. This both confuses me and makes me angry. "I am sorry," he finally says to me and I stop moving.

"What... what are you sorry about?" I manage to ask.

He finally opens his pale eyes, and I feel like I can hardly breathe. Why does he have this effect on me? "I am trying my best not to do anything to upset you, but I might have failed at that as well because you are upset," he says to me.

He is right, and I am suddenly ashamed for it. I sit near him and I notice his eyes following me. I look around us and I see the pack members a bit more relaxed when they see me here with him. Perhaps they feel safer if I am near him and not showing any fear. "I am sorry, too. I am not sure how to deal with this... our mating... and I haven't spoken to you either. I know you must be upset that you had to be mated with me..."

I see him shake his head and a small smile corners his lips. "I am not upset, I feel strange though... this was unexpected, but it's meaning is not of unimportance. It explains many things... and it also means that my Father is giving me a second chance..."

I ponder his words, and I can't deny the reason behind them as he is showing me some vulnerability. "What things does it explain?" I ask now with some level of curiosity.

He looks at me and I feel some kind of a pain in him. "I didn't understand why I was drawn to care or want to help during the war that was happening... I could care less, many wars were fought before, and I didn't have to intervene. But not this time, I was anxious and angry for the small mistakes that some were doing. I felt angry that they were losing. I guess there was a greater power already pulling me to help... and I did, I felt drawn to your mother, and couldn't stand to see her affected by the Necromancers... I had to help her... and so, for the first time in millenniums, I came back to this realm and intervened; I helped her wake up before your father lost his temper, and I aided them by showing how to defeat their enemy. So I believe father was giving me a second chance... and you are proof of it."

I can't argue his logic, because I completely believe it. I nod at him and he gives me a smile. "I understand..." is all I manage to say.

And so, we remain quiet and just looking around. It feels strange, but also comfortable. His calm helps me calm myself and makes my doubts dissipate quickly. I might be able to do this after all. Perhaps there is some hope in us.

ღ ~~~~~~~ ☽ⓈⒺ☾ ~~~~~~~ ღ

*Xavier*

Zana watches from the window and has her hands on the frame; she has been curious about my brother's mate from the start. I understand that, as so am I.

I stand behind her and wrap my arms around her, she first stiffens but then relaxes. My lips brush her neck and she already forgets what she was looking at. I love how submissive and shy she is, it wakes up the protector in me.

She turns around and looks at me shyly. 'Is everything ok?' She asks.

I nod and lean to kiss her forehead. 'Yes, everything is ok... I just wanted to hold you, is that wrong?'

She blushes and shakes her head. I love how she blushes, and I lean in to kiss her sweet lips. She moans and melts in my arms, and this stirs something in me. But I have to control myself, as we can't be caught in the Command Center doing more, her parents would kill me.

I feel Dana getting close and I tilt my head to the side, not letting go of Zana. She walks in and gives us a smile. 'Your father is on his way here... just felt you could use a heads up before he catches you making out...'

She says with sarcasm but also humor. I have managed to understand her special temperament, and she is a box full of fun and surprises. I chuckle and walk to the main room holding Zana's hand with mine, and catch Dana's hand with my free hand as I pass next to her. She giggles and follows me.

As I reach the main room, I nod at uncle Gideon who is watching the surveillance cameras with aunt Agape. As on cue, father walks in and smiles at us. "Hello everyone."

"Father," I say as I bow my head, and my mates bow as well.

"Alpha," they say almost in unison together with uncle and aunt.

"I am glad to catch you here, I want to see if we can find us a remote area to relocate... until we know more, there is a possibility that they might be targeting our children..." He says this looking at uncle and aunt.

"And you suggest us what? To move the pack? To move only our children?" Uncle asks as he sits in front of the screens. In other situations, it would be uncle Alex and aunt Cara's job to work here, but father left them both in charge of the research and protection of our assets in the cities.

Father shakes his head. "We would have to move there if Caliope's theory proves to be true. And I can't let our pack members suffer the consequences... I need to protect... We need to protect them all."

Uncle nods and looks at aunt. "You know those lands better than us, where should we go?"

A long time ago, aunt Agape was the most ferocious female wolf my father and mother ever faced as an enemy, that was until they realized her fake mate was manipulating her. Now, she uses all that she learned in her past, to protect and help her new pack, our pack.

She looks at the screens and I walk closer to observe. Dana and Zana sit on the corner together. Father walks to us too and watches Agape search for something. "If I remember well, this area was the richest. We used to move a lot, but returned more than a few times there because of the number of natural resources; plenty of trees with fruits, a waterfall, and some caves. I think it could be the best location."

My father looks at the area she pointed and we see the highlighted zone. Then looks at us and nods. "Let's think of all possible angles of attack in case we move there. Only us... the pack shall remain here, unaffected by any of this."

We nod and I look back at my mates. They smile at me, reassuringly. If what father says is true, and we move to that location, someone needs to remain here to protect our pack and lead them. If not me, then who? This is not a comfortable situation in my mind, this is my job, and I don't take it lightly to be replaced.

ღ ~~~~~~~ ☽ⓈⒺ☾ ~~~~~~~ ღ

Author's Note:

This is an on-going story, please be patient as the chapters get published, and support with your comments, as that is the best way to encourage any author!

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