Moon Bound

Marisol

My favorite thing about walking in the forest is hearing the leaves crunch under my feet. The sound motivates me to keep going no matter how tired I get.

This is what I need at the moment.

Being close to nature is the only peace that I can receive in my somewhat hectic life. I love it more than anything.

I get lost in my thoughts as I hear the birds sing. Sometimes I even join in and sing to them and they will sing back at me.

It is one of the very many things that make nature so enjoyable.

It didn’t take long for me to reach my destination, the lake in the middle of the forest.

It is similar to the one where my life was saved years ago. Maybe that’s why I have such an attachment to it.

I slowly lowered myself to the edge of the lake and looked down at my reflection.

A slow frown comes across my lips as I observe myself.

All of my siblings look the same. Brown hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. They all look like a perfect match set. Anyone who sees them together knows that they are a family.

Then there is me.

I used to look like them at one point until I was saved by the moon goddess.

My brown hair had turned into a platinum blonde that most people assume is white. My blue eyes had changed to a dark brown, and my skin is pale. I can stand out in the sun for hours, and nothing will change. I won’t tan or get sunburns.

The only thing that I had in common with my family is my small, pointed nose that was slightly upturned.

I am sure every time anyone sees a group photo of all us together their eyes immediately go to me.

They probably don’t even think that I am a wolf based on my height. Most female wolves are five-eight to five-ten, while I am barely five-two. I have met pre-teen wolves that tower over me.

People who see us, probably think that I am a human that they adopted. Maybe even just a distant relative. I am sure that they would never think in a million years that I am a part of their immediate family.

The odd one out.

I feel my shoulders sag slightly as I let out a sigh. I can’t let my sad thoughts ruin such a lovely place.

I hear a branch snap to my left, and my head immediately whips in that direction.

The tension leaves my body as my eyes fall onto the cutest little fawn watching me.

I smile brightly as I look at it.

Deer are rare on these lands, so I’ve never seen one in person.

As I observed the deer I noticed that it was walking with a limp. I soon realized that a piece of its front right leg was missing.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for the little thing. I wonder what would attack it over here.

There were rarely any wild animals on these lands because of us wolves.

I slowly stood up, I didn’t want to make any sudden movements because I knew that it would take off in an instant. I want to show the deer that I don’t want to cause it any harm.

The small deer observed me as I walked slowly towards it.

One of the biggest things on the pros list of being an adopted child of the moon goddess? Animals love and do not fear me even though I am technically a predator to them.

A soft coo left my mouth as I stepped closer to the deer. When I was within arm’s length it stepped closer to me. It must know that I can help heal it the way it was acting, that or it had plans to attack me.

I slowly reach my hand out to stroke its neck gently. The deer moved closer to me once again, its hooves brushing up against my sneakers. I began to move my hand slowly down south still in a petting motion.

The palms of my hands glowed and turned white as I reached to place my hands on the wounded area. As soon as I made contact my vision turned white as well. I heard the deer make sounds of protest but it stayed perfectly still.

The corner of my lips tips up as I feel the wound starting to heal slowly.

Things like this are what make all of the sadness that I endure worth it.

Once the deer’s wound was completely healed, I slowly lowered myself down onto the forest ground in an attempt to catch my composure. It wasn’t hard to heal the deer, and it didn’t drain my energy but it still occasionally makes my brain a little foggy.

Once my entire body made it to the forest ground I shut my eyes and sprawled out my body. I might be here for a while.

I couldn’t help but let a giggle escape my mouth as I felt the deer start to lick the palms of my hands. No doubt trying to show me its gratitude.

When I finally did open my eyes I realized that it was getting close to sunset. That means I should probably start making my way back to the cabin.

The last time I stayed out past sunset Benjamin was ready to call the moon goddess to have her come retrieve me from where I was.

I began to sit up slowly, still not wanting to startle the deer when I heard Izumi frantically calling my name.

This frightened the little deer and caused it to run away. I couldn’t pay it too much attention though because Izumi sounded distressed, and it takes a lot to rattle her.

“Izumi! Izumi! What happened? Are you okay?” I screamed back as I scrambled to get up. I listen for her voice and begin to run in the direction that I heard it.

She and I nearly crash into each other, but that does nothing to stop her panicked state.

“Marisol! Marisol!” She takes a deep inhale of breath before continuing. “Ben, he had a vision!” She screamed excitedly.

I placed my right hand on my chest.

I felt like my heart was going to explode from how hard I had been panicking. At the same time though I was relieved nothing bad had happened. I know that she gets excited when Benjamin and I receive visions, but this is more than normal.

“Yes, he and I receive visions and help people find their soulmates,” I said with a slight laugh. “Izumi you already knew this.” I slapped her shoulder playfully before starting to walk around her.

“No! You don’t understand.” She grabbed my shoulders hard. Probably hard enough that it was probably going to bruise. “He. Had. A. Vision.”

“Izumi, I understand. You don’t have to pause after each word. I know that he receives visions.” I started to walk around her back to the cabin. “Let’s go ask him about it.”

She grabbed my wrist and turned me around. “He had a vision about you.”

I paused.

I feel frozen in time.

My mouth feels dry and I don’t know what to say as I watch Izumi jump for joy over me finally finding out who my mate is.

I think I am going to pass out.

“Come on! He didn’t want to tell me who it was before you found out! Let’s go! Go! Go!” She exclaimed before placing her shoulder into my stomach and lifting me up. I shrieked as she circled her arms around my legs to keep me in place and then started to run.

I began to laugh as she ran full speed through the forest with me hanging over her shoulder. I couldn’t even be sad at the thought that I would never be as fast or strong as her. The only thing on my mind is that I am about to find out who my mate is.

Izumi has yet to put me down even after she nearly knocked over the front door to our cabin.

I was still busy laughing at her enthusiasm, she might be more excited about me finding my mate than I am.

She finally put me down on my feet in the living room, and Benjamin couldn’t help but laugh at how excited she was as well.

“I’m assuming that my mate couldn’t help but tell you what happened?” Benjamin asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m sorry I really am. I tried.” She said, causing Benjamin and I to laugh at her some more. We both know how she gets when just the topic of my mate gets brought up, so it’s never hard feelings when it comes to her.

“Come, let’s do this,” Benjamin said as he grabbed my hand and led me to the couch. Even though I’m consenting to him sharing his vision with me, it’s better to sit when it’s happening so neither of us ends up collapsing on the floor.

“I’m nervous, do you know who the male is? Is he a wolf? A witch would be pretty nice-” My rambling is cut off by Benjamin cupping his hand over my mouth.

“You ramble when you are nervous, just take my hand and you’ll see.”

He removed his hand from my mouth and held it out to me. I placed my hand in his but, my nervousness took over and I started to pull away.

Benjamin quickly grabs my hand before I can completely pull it away. “It is going to be okay Marisol.” He reassured me. “We both are here for you.”

I nod.

I know that he and Izumi will always be there for me, just like I will always be there for them.

I slide my hand back, before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath of air.

The anxiety from this is killing me.

Benjamin squeezed my hands a little tighter before my vision turned white.

For the most part of the vision my sight is blurry, except for one part I see a tiara being held by hands that are very large in comparison. That same crown was being slowly placed upon my head.

Benjamin slowly removed his hands from mine. I had to keep my eyes closed for a few seconds as I tried to comprehend the vision.

Blurry visions are very common with us, and they usually clear up the more that we accept the vision.

“Did you see what I saw?” Benjamin asked.

My eyes were still closed as I was still trying to understand what I had just seen. “I didn’t really see a lot, just me with a crown on my head.” I open my eyes and I shrug. “Guess we’ll just have to wait for more information.

“Marisol, you have been doing this for a good five years now, you should know what the vision means.”

“Will someone tell me what it means? I really want to know!” Izumi said excitedly as she jumped into Benjamin’s lap.

Benjamin cupped Izumi’s mouth and pushed her into his chest, probably in an attempt to silence her. It rarely works.

“Marisol. In the vision you were sitting on a throne and a tiara was placed on your head.” Benjamin said.

“Yes, I saw that. I don’t see how that has anything to do with who I’m mated to. Maybe the moon goddess is giving you more responsibility and now this is something other than mates.” I suggested. “It is like a promotion!”

Benjamin rolled his eyes at me. “I’m gonna have to spell this out for you aren’t I?”

“Only if you want to,” I said before shrugging.

“I’m ninety-five percent sure this means that you’re mated to the Alpha King.”

I felt my throat tighten up as I tried to come up with a rebuttal, a reason why he couldn’t be my mate. There were too many to choose from.

Me?

The Alpha King’s mate?

I was born a runt.

The only reason that I am alive right now is because I was handed over to the moon goddess.

My wolf and I agree that shifting is worthless because it’s so painful that I end up passing out.

I don’t have the abilities that most wolves have, my hearing isn’t as good, I am not as fast as other wolves, and I definitely don’t have the stamina to keep up with other wolves.

I might as well be a human. A human who can heal people, and stuff but still human nonetheless.

Benjamin placed his hand on my shoulder. “Alright, Marisol I can see the wheels turning in your head and I know the thoughts that you are thinking aren’t nice ones.”

I didn’t even notice that Izumi moved to the other side of me until I felt her arms wrap around me. “You’re perfect, just the way that you are. The moon goddess chose to save you for a reason, and now she has chosen you to be our Queen. So don’t you even think about saying anything self-deprecating around me!”

“Fine, but I also don’t have time to be anybody’s mate, like at all. I have to help Alpha Kane win his mate after the stunt that he pulled, and then after that, there will be another wolf and another wolf and another-”

Izumi grabbed my face, dipping her thumb and pointer finger into my cheeks, effectively ending my rant. “Ben does the same thing that you do and he still has time for me.”

I shake my head slightly causing her to let go. “That’s different!” I exclaim. “If I really am the Alpha King’s mate he’s not gonna move in here with me like you did for Benjamin, and he sure isn’t gonna let me go to different wolf packs to help others with their mates. He is going to demand that I stay with him at all times.”

Benjamin and Izumi both sucked in air, and I knew that they knew that I was right. This is bad news for me.

“That doesn’t sound too good.” Izumi agreed.

“Exactly so for now I am going to get a good night’s rest so I can start making my way to the South-Western pack. You can keep getting visions of me and see that the crown and throne were nothing but accessories for a costume party!” I exclaimed

I got up to go to my room but was stopped when Benjamin grabbed my arm. “I will let you know if I see anything else in my visions, but just so you know being in denial isn’t going to help you in the end.”

He let me go and I continued to walk away until I got to my room. I softly shut my door before leaning on and sliding down.

Tears roll down my cheeks and I don’t even bother wiping them.

The Alpha King can’t be my mate.

It doesn’t make any sense.

-

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I don’t just look tired but I feel tired.

That is not good news because the journey that I am about to take is going to be grueling for me. For any other wolf, it would be a piece of cake but me?

I scowl at my reflection.

After crying on the floor for a good twenty minutes last night, I packed a backpack full of things that I would need for the trip that I’m going to make.

First a walk to Alpha Kane’s pack, and then he and I will both go to the pack that Willow is a part of together.

I made sure to get up, and do all the things that I needed to do before sunrise. It would take a regular wolf at most three hours to get to Alpha Kane’s pack.

I don’t get the luxuries that most wolves have.

It’ll most likely take me five or six hours to get there.

I splashed water on my face hoping that it would help wake me up, but I had no such luck.

I heard my bedroom door open and then looked to see Benjamin standing in my doorway. “Hey, I know you wanted to leave a bit early so Izumi whipped up a light breakfast for you.”

I smile after hearing the kindness that Izumi has gone out of her way to show me.

She and Benjamin always go out of their way for me, and I hope that I will be able to pay them back for it someday.

“Alright, I’ll be out there in a minute,” I responded.

I quickly grabbed my backpack and threw it over my shoulder as I exited my room.

As I walk towards the kitchen I hear Izumi giggling. When I make it there I see Izumi and Benjamin dancing with one another.

I silently watch and admire the love that the two of them have for each other.

Seeing them together washes away my nervousness and how tired I am feeling.

Benjamin noticed me first and slowly pulled away from Izumi. Izumi looked over her shoulder and smiled at me before grabbing two plates that had scrambled eggs and sausage.

“When do you think you’ll be back? Will it be in a day or two?” She asked as she placed the plates on the dining table. “I think that we should have a girl’s day. It’ll be so much fun!” She exclaimed as she sat down at the table.

I smiled softly before sitting down.

I know exactly what she means by a girl’s day.

It would most likely consist of her attempting to convince me to walk up to the Alpha King and mark him in front of his entire pack. Knowing Izumi she will make it seem like it is the most logical thing in the world.

I feel myself blush at my thoughts.

Benjamin and Izumi start to laugh, and I feel like I might as well have said my thoughts out loud.

I pick up my fork and shove some of the eggs into my mouth.

“I’ll take that as a yes, so you’ll be back in two days and we will have the ultimate girl’s day!” She beamed.

She was practically jumping up and down with excitement.

As much as she would probably torture me with her self-affirmations and self-love encouragements how in the world could I say no to her?

“I’ll probably be back in three days, but yes then we can have a girl’s trip.”

“Yes!” She exclaimed.

I smiled and shook my head before focusing on my food. I would soon have to say my goodbyes and start my journey to the South-Western pack.