Destined Queen, Prophesied Warrior

Departure

Aurelia's eyes fluttered open from the horrendous smell of ammonia and alcohol. She could hear the rhythmic beeping of monitors and the buzzing of the bright fluorescent lights. She managed to bring her hand up in order to shade her eyes as they adjusted to the intense light of the room.

"Thank Goddess! She's awake now. She had quite the fainting spell so don't overcrowd her." Aurelia heard a soft, though authoritative, voice announce.

She gazed in the voice's direction and saw an older, small she-wolf with short white hair and soft sienna-colored eyes. She noticed the wrinkles around her kind eyes and aged hands as she approached Aurelia to check her vitals. "Evening, Aurelia. My name is Cora and I'm one the Head Healers. How are you feeling? Any dizziness, headache, or blurred vision?" Cora asked her as Aurelia shook her head side-to-side, silently answering no.

She lifted Aurelia's eyebrows up and shined her penlight into each eye checking the reaction of Aurelia's pupils. Satisfied with the result, Cora instructed, "You seemed to have had a panic attack which in turn caused you to faint, dear. Your vitals are strong so I am going to give the okay to have you discharged. Don't take part in any strenuous activity for the remainder of the evening." Cora removed Aurelia's IV catheter, unplugged her from the monitor and departed the room, making way for a worried Adrian and Carissa.

"I'm so sorry that I put you under so much stress, Evie. Are you feeling better?" Her mother asked distraught rushing into the room.

Aurelia accidentally, out of habit, rolled her eyes and replied, "Mom, I feel fine. Emphasis on fine... I really don't know what came over me."

She watched as Adrian hurried to her side, taking large strides. When he reached her, he anxiously sat by her on the small cotton sheet atop her medical bed. She felt the mattress shift under his weight as he placed his arm around her waist, his whole left side pressing her in a sheltering embrace. Goosebumps danced across her skin from his touch.

Knowing her wolf, Amerie, was comforted by her mate's connection, Aurelia nestled her head into Adrian's strong chest for consolation. "You caught me… before I fell." She noted, remembering her body had not come into contact with the hardwood floor of the Recreation Hall.

Adrian stroked the back of his hand gently across her face, taking a wayward piece of her golden blond hair and tucking it lovingly behind her ear as he shook his head yes. "I'll always be there to catch you…" Adrian promised and continued, "even though we haven't fully completed our mating bond, I can already feel the link that we share. You feel it too?" he asked as his eyes shifted and became as blue as the depths of her quarry. She knew his wolf, Damon, was worried for his mate just as much as Adrian.

"It's hard to explain, but yes. Amerie and I feel it too. I felt your relief as you entered the room and saw me awake." Aurelia admitted. "I felt you when you crossed into our lands, you know? It's strange how powerful our bond is. I always thought that mates find each other when they meet face to face, or are in close proximity to one another. I never imagined that one could feel their Moon-Fated from so many miles away."

She peered towards her mother who seemed so forlorn. She reassured her. "Mom, I really am okay. It wasn't your fault. There was so much that transpired today and many changes that were happening in a short time. I was just overwhelmed is all, I promise."

Upon hearing her daughter's words Carissa's face brightened and she slowly began to relax. She watched the way in which Adrian held her daughter tentatively, yet passionately in his arms. She noticed the way Aurelia looked into his eyes as if he were the only one there. Carissa seemed to notice her daughter finally allowing herself to accept her Moon-Fated, even after witnessing the bond almost destroy her after her husband, Aurelia's father, gave up his life protecting them. Carissa was overjoyed to learn that her daughter's Moon-Fated Mate was the King of All Alphas. She had always known that Aurelia was a special wolf, not just because she was her firstborn daughter and born under a Super Blue Blood Moon, but because she showed empathy to all those around her.

"I love you Aurelia. Always know that you are special, so very special. Remember your words to me, 'This isn't goodbye, it's only an I'll see you later' okay?" Carissa stated gently as she approached Aurelia and kissed her softly on her forehead.

"Everything is already packed and prepared for your departure to the Royal Storm Riders Pack lands. Please promise me that you'll write to us my darling daughter." Aurelia could feel the wetness of her mother's tears as she placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

She savored the smell of roses before her mother broke away and Aurelia promised, "I swear by The Moon Goddess that I'll write to you and the boys until it's safe to come and visit you again, mama. I love you!" She watched as her mother slowly turned from her medical bed and headed for the door, taking one last glance at her daughter before she exited the room.

Adrian placed a strong arm around his Moon-Fated's shoulder and another under her knees, as he lifted her swiftly from her medical bed, bridal style, and nuzzled his head against hers as he spoke, "Are you ready, My Moon?"

She found that she could only nod in agreement as she was literally made speechless. His voice alone sent a surprising shiver through her. Not to mention the way in which her body turned to butter every time he touched her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her heart was beating rapidly in her chest from their spiritual and physical connection.

Adrian began to carry her through the winding linoleum hallways and through the glass doors of the Healer Atrium's entrance. There was a caravan of four, enormous obsidian carriages which greeted them as they exited. Adrian lifted Aurelia into the landou as she would have had to jump just to get inside and seated on top of the carriage's sleek, black velvet seats. Adrian chuckled, probably thinking the same thing as she, when he stepped into the carriage with ease and placed Aurelia tenderly in his lap.

"King Alpha Adrian, future Queen Luna Aurelia" they were greeted and asked, "are we ready to depart?" The voice had come from their driver perched atop the coach box. He was a small he-wolf with sandy brown hair and ash-colored eyes set deep into his thin face.

Aurelia smiled at the driver as she heard Adrian reply, "We're ready Leander. Please mind-link the others so we can make our way home."

Adrian whispered, his tone seductive as his breath tickled her ear, "Are you ready to come home, My Queen Luna, My Fated?"

Aurelia, breathless, formed her reply. "My Goddess, I don't know how you manage to form coherent thoughts right now." She giggled as she added, "Just your touch leaves me craving more of you… I can't wait to see your, I mean our home. I'm nervous, but I look forward to meeting your family and the rest of the pack."

Adrian growled, ecstatic, his chest rumbling in satisfaction sending vibrations through Aurelia's soul, warming her entire being. "You have no idea what your voice and your touch do to me, Aurelia. I'm so happy that I've found you. Many she-wolf's have tried to be with me, or to 'arrange' a marriage with me by meeting with my father, but I turned every single one away. I wanted nothing to come between me and my Moon-Fated once I found her. I didn't want my Moon-Fated to hold any resentments or feel like she had to compete for my heart. I've been waiting so long for you and now that you're here, in my arms, I feel whole. I can't wait to show you our home." Adrian professed.

Aurelia took his face in her small hands and placed gentle kisses on each side of his cheeks, his forehead, and his nose. She finally found his lips where she planted a passionate kiss of appreciation. Finally, breaking away from their heated embrace, they watched out the rear window of the landau, looking at the dark forest passing them by. The fireflies, glowing haphazardly, were the only light source as clouds began to cover the moon and darken the starry night sky.

She inhaled, taking a deep breath and holding it in her lungs, trying to bottle the smell of spruce and pine from her home at Whispering Woods. Their caravan meandered along the winding dirt road, crossed the borders of her pack lands, and into the dead of night. The clip-clop coming from the Clydesdale horses' hooves helped keep Aurelia's thoughts grounded as they made their way towards her new home; her Moon-Fated's home at the Capital Palace inside the lands of the Royal Storm Riders Pack.

She didn't know if she was this Chosen, Prophesied Wolf, but what she did know was that she was absolutely thankful of the Moon Goddess's selection for her Moon-Fated Mate. She enjoyed being wrapped in Adrian's arms as she let go of The Pack Elder's warnings, her fears, her nightmares, and let herself relax, enveloped by his intoxicating scent, and drifted off to sleep imagining what was in store for their future.