Chapter 18
I pushed Leah back as I heard our mate leave. I knew the nightmare was coming into effect, but I needed her to rest. I knew a nurse was there, but it was nice to know he was trying to protect us, especially after the family visited her. I don’t know who that older man was, but something about him made me shiver. The moon goddess wanted me to stay out of sight, but I needed to protect my human. Our mate may do the same, but something about that man made me want to reveal myself, to prove that my human’s one of them. It wouldn’t have been for his benefit; it would have been for Leah’s. Something tells me all this is going to get worse. I needed to protect my human more than ever now. I know I can’t open my eyes to see who was there, but it wasn’t long before whoever our mate asked to look after us left the room. As soon as the door closed, I opened my eyes. I sniffed the air, and his scent was still there; it calmed me. I felt my body relax slightly. I looked around and knew that Leah wanted to leave; I couldn’t stop her, but what were the chances of our mate catching her in the act and even carrying her back to the room? I was floating on cloud nine. His voice and his scent made every part of me want more. I could feel the tingles running through me. When I reveal myself, she will want answers and even feel the tingles more; for now, it will be like an electric shock to her. I will give her the answers, even about Carson, but I must ensure she is safe first. I lean back in the bed, praying that the moon goddess will give me the right to come forward to protect my human sooner. Something was weird, and I knew I had to be here for Leah, even if it was the voice inside her head. I couldn’t help the amused feeling I had about that. I know when humans get wolves and hear them for the first time, they sometimes think that they are crazy, and the way Leah has been lately, there was no exception that she would feel like that. I had no intention of scaring my human, but I wanted to be there for her. Also, craving my mate was on the agenda, but that may be a bit longer as I know I must convince her about our kind and how our life works. I listened if anyone was coming, but there wasn’t anyone there. I sighed. I knew I should rest, but my thoughts about that night would sink in whenever I was alone. I wanted to kill the man who did this, but I didn’t even know who he was. He was never in Leah’s life or her father’s. I feel my eyes start to close and let the tiredness come as I close them. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was there, and knowing what our luck was like, someone would walk in and see the change. As her eyelids close, I push Leah toward the surface, letting her take over. I moved to the back of her mind and settled in. I lay down and placed my head on my paws, only for a slight brightness to appear, making me move up to look at the light. I knew who it was; I had been waiting for her to come to me. “Tala,” my mother murmurs, “I know you have been waiting patiently to reveal yourself to our child, and it is nearly time.” I felt excited at the thought. “I know I have been cryptic about why I kept you back,” she continued. “Our child will be going home, and after everything I witnessed, I believe she won’t be safe in the hands of the people who are supposed to care for her. Everything is starting to surface, and I need you to help guide her.” I gave the moon goddess a nod. “Tala, my child,” she said. “You may present yourself in four days but can’t shift immediately; I need you to wait.” I frowned. “Why?” I asked. “Tala, so eager to be a wolf,” she said. “You will, but it can’t be within the pack. When she is ready to, you will know.” “What about our mate?” I asked. “Will he help us?” The moon goddess was quiet but spoke softly. “Yes,” she said. “He will and is already proven to be a true mate to her, but he has to wait till she accepts everything.” I stared at the light, but something intrigued me to know more. “What aren’t you telling me?” I asked, knowing there was a slight chance that the moon goddess won’t tell me. I was met with silence. I sighed. Well, I will have to figure that one out alone. “You are one pushy wolf,” my mother muttered, making me cock my head to the side, trying to figure out whether she was joking or not. But I could hear her voice change slightly, “I didn’t mean anything by it,” she said. “Leah will be thrown more or less to the wolves soon, there is a huge threat that will come, and it involves someone close, but it may change as everything is never set in stone when it comes to this type of thing.” I couldn’t agree more. “You will reveal yourself to Leah in a few days,” she said. “Still mask your scent, but you must help her understand the true meaning of all this; you both may learn something.” “Are you trying to teach me something?” I asked. The moon goddess laughed. “You may think that,” she said. “I know you have been patient about all this, and no wolf should be doing what you are doing. Thank you for everything you have done, even that night with the rogue.” I didn’t say anything. “The rogue isn’t the only one behind all this,” she muttered as the light faded. “There are more at play, but having your voice here in the pack will guide her to being who she needs to be, and with the two of you joining as one will come soon, more quickly.” I gave the nod. “I will always be with you,” she said. “I will see you again soon, my child.” As soon as her last sentence was said, the light was gone. I looked on in the darkness, but I was happy. It won’t be long now. I can reveal myself to Leah, but not in my proper form. Part of me was concerned about why we had to do it away from the pack. Still, with everything that was unfolding around here, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to do something to Leah, but the question thats on my mind was, who would attack a defenseless human? I place my head back on my front paws and let my eyes drupe as tiredness sets in. It wouldn’t be long now, Leah; I will be with you and protect you from whatever is coming. I let a yawn escape as my eyes closed. Knowing it would be time to reveal myself to her, I needed to be well-rested. I had no clue what would happen when I did come close, but I needed to be prepared for anything. I needed to protect my human.