From Here to Ecstasy

Recap:

We both got into bed and snuggled up to each other, falling asleep quickly. We slept solidly for five and a half hours. It wasn’t much sleep, but it was better than what we were getting.

I was getting out of bed when I heard a howl coming from inside the packhouse, making me jump out of bed, clothe ourselves, and teleport to the room I heard the howl coming from.

What the fuck?

Griffith’s POV

“What’s wrong? Why is Griffith howling? Is he hurt?” I questioned without taking a breath. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him.

“He’s getting his new power. He was running a high fever, then he was freezing. And, now this. I can feel his pain, but I can’t block it from him. I’ve tried. I don’t know what to do to help.” Autumn wiped her tears away angrily. “I’m an awful mate.”

I walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. “You’re not a bad mate. Mom had to go through this with our dads. He’ll be okay. Let’s see if us three, uh, us five can help him.” Autumn looked at me as if I was crazy as Haley and Kaley showed up.

“How in the hell did you know they were on their way?” Autumn asked.

I smiled. “I have my ways.” I laughed at her facial expression and pulled Winter in for a hug.

We walked over to Micah, all of us laying our hands on him as he screamed and howled. It wasn’t a pretty sight or sound. I tried to pull his pain to me, but something was blocking me from doing so. I could tell the rest of my family was feeling the same way I was feeling. I felt defeated, worthless, not good enough to be a Beta.

Wait, what?

We were hearing his thoughts, but we couldn’t do anything to help. “Winter and Autumn, you need to talk his wolf through the pain. He’s confused and is feeling too many negative emotions,” I told them.

I heard Autumn and Winter talking to Peace, making sure he heard them. I helped amplify their voices. I could tell it was helping and Peace, Micah’s wolf, was calming a little. The more they talked to him and explained the more Micah’s wolf calmed down. It was helping Micah. He was breathing easier and he wasn’t shaking as bad. I knew we were close to the end of his trial. And, yes, it was a trial. Our grandmother was making sure Micah and his wolf were worthy of the power bestowed upon them.

Autumn and Winter started breathing easier. I knew it was hard on them to watch him get his power, knowing he was going through the pain because of them. Micah could handle the power. I knew he would never abuse his powers. I only hoped his next power was easier than this one.

I watched as Micah’s eyes opened. He looked around at all of us and smiled. “I passed my trial. Thank you for helping me. The more I fought the pain the worse it became.” He looked at Winter and Autumn. “Thank you for explaining what was going on to my wolf. And, quit worrying about me going through more pain. I would go through anything to be with you two.”

Autumn and Winter launched themselves into Micah’s arms, crying and laughing. I knew they were relieved and didn’t want to see him in any more pain. I was accidentally reading their minds. And, I hope I never read their minds when they were in Micah’s lap again. I felt as if I needed to wash my brain out.

“Think about our beautiful mate. It will clean your mind.” Blaze snickered. “Or, dirty it up some more.” Blaze laid down and covered his eyes with his tail.

“Thanks, Blaze, for dirtying my mind even more,” I told my wolf as he snickered. He sounded funny, but I knew he was trying to snicker.

“Hey-” he tried to say as I cut him off.

“So, what power did you receive?” I asked, curious to see what he could do.

He smiled and disappeared, showing up beside me, still holding on to Winter and Autumn. “I can teleport.”

“Cool-” I tried to say but was cut off.

“And, I can do this.” Micah turned into a bird, a mouse, and Haley.

Uh, what the hell?

“Holy crap, batman! That was cool!” Haley yelled out, looking at Micah mimicking her.

“I can’t believe you can change into a person,” I exclaimed as Micah changed back into himself. “We can change into anything other than people.”

“What? Am I bad in some way?” Micah asked me as he panicked.

I shook my head as Autumn and Winter laid their palms on his face. “You are not bad, nor evil. Our powers come from the Moon Goddess. Do you think she would give you the power to corrupt you?” Autumn asked him as I nodded my head to her words.

“No!” He gave them an apologetic look. “She would never corrupt me, of that I am sure.”

“So, it makes you good.” Winter smiled at him. “No wonder it hurt bad for your powers to come through.” He looked at Winter, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You got two powers at one time.”

“Oh, now I understand,” Micah marveled.

“Come on, Micah, well, if you feel like helping me. I have a ton of work to do,’ I explained.

“I’m coming to help,” Micah voiced as he hugged Winter and Autumn.

“We can help, too. We were trained by mom,” Winter remarked as she gave me a look mom had perfected.

“After we all eat. You will need your strength and Micah needs food,” Willow explained as she grabbed my arm and pulled me to the dining room, a room I hadn’t been in yet.