I sit at the barstool as Hunter places a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of me. I smile at the plate and rub my hands together. I hear Hunter laughing at me and I glare up at him. When his smiling face looks at mine I am only reminded of yesterday and our steamy encounter.
"Can we talk about something?" he asks sitting beside me and forking his food.
"Sure."
"I've been thinking about what Roman said yesterday," he starts. I was really hoping that part of yesterday would not be the part on his mind. "He's right. It has been unfair of me to not have you in Black Night."
"Roman wasn't right. I will be a part of this pack when we think it's time," I assure him.
"No, during this time, with the rouges and all, it's dangerous for you to be packless," he tells me. "It doesn't have to be today or tomorrow for that matter, but we should think about it being soon. Maybe start planning."
"Are you ready for that?" I ask him, turning in my seat to face him.
"Lee," he said, reaching and grabbing my hand. "I want you to be my Luna."
"Hunter," I repeat after him, smiling. "I want you to be my Alpha."
"Good," he laugh, kissing me. Our syrupy lips sticking together, making us both laugh. I felt guilty for not telling him about my dream now.
"Hunter, can I tell you something?"
"Anything," he assures me.
"I had this dream the other night," I gulp, thinking over exactly what it was. "The Moon Goddess was there, and she told me that the legend about the species contest was true. After that she told me... this is weird, she told me I was her chosen fighter."
"What?" he looks at me confused. "When was this?"
"The night in the packhouse," I tell him. "Also, the entire time she was scared of someone named Inti, coming ad getting her."
"Inti? Are you sure?" he asks with a new urgency.
"Yeah, Inti."
"That's what the vampires call the Sun God," he says standing up and going into his office. I stand and follow him. He picks out a book and opens it.
He flips through pages and pages until he stopped on one. "Inti or Apu-punchau is the patron god and ancestor to the Incas. An Incan tribe in South America is said to be the birthplace of vampires." He hands me the book to read it for myself.
"I-- I didn't know," I tell him, completely surprised. "Is this real?"
"The Moon Goddess came to you," Hunter repeats, trying to believe the words himself. "I doubt it was a dream, you can't dream of something you had no prior knowledge existed."
"I know the legend though," I add. "This can't be real, Hunter."
"One sec--" he cuts himself off, turning back at the bookshelf; pulled off another book. One right next to the one I had read earlier. "Here: 'and Inti went to the south, finding a tribe strong in his way, forcing the gift upon them.'"
I pull the book from his hands and skimmed the pages. He looks over the same book I had read earlier. "'So it was Mama-Quilla, the flying moon, went to find her people, far from the south to a land unknown. There she met with the Alpha, who accepted her gift.' All the stories say the same thing the people of the Moon Goddess accepted the gift of the gods--"
"While the Sun God forced his will upon his people, making them inept to walk in the sun," Hunter finishes for me. "This says something about the bloodline."
"A human born and a pure-blood joining to make the savior, I know. My parents fit that profile," I inform him.
"This could be real," Hunter tells me. "Nickie told us a vampire was controlling her, maybe it's the vampire chosen."
"That makes no sense though, if he know where I was, why didn't he come and kill me?"
Hunter growls at the mentioning of me dying. He closes his eyes, trying to think rationally, "I don't know."
"My head hurts, can we discuss this more later?" I ask, closing the book and setting it on the desk. I walk out of the office and back to my pancakes. I just wanted to forget this whole thing. Fighting a vampire, solo, was a death sentence. Hunter must have realized this as well because when he comes in to sit by me, his eyes stay fixed on the ground.
&[]
The forest was darker, with no moon or stars to be found. Though there was something new with the scene, someone new, I should say.
"Hunter?" I ask, running to him. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.
"Where are we?" he asks me, letting me from his grasp. He reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers.
"My land," Moon Goddess speaks, revealing herself again. "Sadly, I can only bring wolves here who are not in control of their bodies, like when sleeping."
"Moon Goddess?" Hunter stares in awe at her before bowing.
"No need, Alpha Hunter Sherwood Oliver, I know you hold respect for me," she holds up her hand in a stop motion. "I haven't much time before Inti finds me again and you wake. Lucifer is planning something and I don't know what."
"Lucifer?" Hunter asks, not recognizing his name.
"The Vampire warrior," she adds for him. "He is going to try and break you. Hurt you in many ways, don't let him. I need you strong, Lee."
"Why not just hurt me directly?" I ask.
"He can't, it's in the rules. Until the day of battle, neither of you can harm or order the harm of one another. If you do, automatic win for the others. He is going to try and hurt your family."
"Red Sky," I say in realization. "Why target Black Night then? Before I knew my mate was the Alpha?"
"Because he knew Hunter Oliver was your mate. Somehow Inti got into my domain and found the name of your mate," she informs. "He knows that mates are an asset to a wolf's abilities. He planned on killing you," she says, pointing at my mate.
"How can I protect him?" I ask, no demand, of Moon Goddess.
"Lee, I don't need protecting," Hunter protests.
"Tell me," I demand again, not listening to him.
We hear rustling in the leaves, like last time. "Remember when a full mate bond is formed, the mates are one."
&[]
I wake up to see Lee sitting on the side of the bed. Her head in her hands, rubbing her eyes. Though our mate bond was weak, I can feel her being upset I crawl over to her and place my hands on her back, rubbing her shoulders lightly.
"It's gonna be okay," I coo in her ear.
"He's targeting you to get to me, your pack, Red Sky, my family. It's all my fault," she whimpers, on the verge of tears.
"It's not your fault," I promise her. "I'm a big boy, I can handle myself."
"What about Black Night?"
"My warriors are strong, and with you helping us train, we will be stronger. Lucifer and his men won't touch us," I assure her, knowing in my heart it was true. "That battle could be months, years away for all we know. Let's focus on the present, let's plan your official pack welcoming."
"Well tell me your pack's tradition," she says, wanting the party to be following the tradition of the pack. I just want her attention off the fight, planning her ceremony should be happy.