Destined Queen, Prophesied Warrior

Confessions of the Past and Pledges for the Future

Aurelia led Adrian towards the familiar old, swaying roped-puncheon, his steps in time with hers. They grasped ahold of the course, taut ropes of the bridge and moved towards its center. The bridge's planks creaked, their steps swaying them quietly as they moved across the puncheon. The smell of the forest around them transported their senses into an ethereal otherworld. The fragrance of the night was that earthy, sweet scent of petrichor; the wonderful aroma you detect when rainfall first starts to soak into the soil.

The Blue Moon created a soft glow on the quarry's surface below them and reflected back a blanket of moon dust and twinkling stars stretching across the night sky. It seemed as if they were alive and watching intentively, awaiting a prophecy neither of them were aware of. Aurelia was silent for a moment, embracing the view of her treasured Sanctuary while trying to discern where she should begin the tale of her life before Whispering Woods.

"About 11 years ago, when I was a young girl, only 9-years-old, my father Cassius, Gamma of Silver Moon Pack, lost his life protecting my mother and I from savage, malicious Rogues who ambushed our remote pack. There was a horrible storm that night and I remember being awakened from my slumber by the deafening sound of thunder reverberating in the dead of night. Shadows shifted in my room as the lightning crackled, strobing quick flashes of blue-white light throughout the darkness…"

She inhaled and took a deep breath continuing her tale while Adrian listened attentively. "I remember the ear piercing screams of the the women and wailing children being tossed like rag dolls into already cramped cages. My mouth tasted as if I held a penny on my tongue, metallic, copper-like. That's when I realized a great deal of blood had been spilled. I peeked through the small opening of my window where I watched in horror as our pack warriors, our Alpha and Beta included, were slaughtered. I cried not knowing if my mother or father were still alive or what might come of me if I were captured... or worse. I was in shock and my feet were cement blocks, my fear keeping me frozen to the spot. My father came to rescue me. He kicked down my door and quickly swept me into the protective grace of his arms. He led us to my mother before we started down the pack house's stoned, labyrinth hallways. We were escaping towards an ancient hidden passageway that would lead us safely into the cover of the dense forest surrounding us. That's when over a dozen bloodthirsty Rogues came into view, blocking our escape. My father advanced towards them, protecting me and my mother as he ordered her to get me to safety. The last thing I witnessed of my father was him taking down at least six Rogues before he was overpowered."

Adrian watched her attentively, sympathizing, his eyes showing compassion as Aurelia continued her heart-wrenching tale, "My mother rushed us into the damp, cold tunnel of the secret passage. Our only light being a single low-lit torch that my mother pulled from it's cresset on the wall. Just as we saw the moonlit forest come into view, my mother collapsed to the wet floor in a panic attack, her hands clutching her chest in agony, realizing my father was killed. I watched her almost die from anguish in that very moment as the Moon-Fated Mate bond was severed by my father's death. I wrapped my arms tightly around my mother as we both mourned the loss of my dad. In a flash, she grabbed my hand tightly in hers, doused out the torch's flame and rushed us into the safety of the overgrown thicket inside the forest. His death wouldn't be in vain and my mother vowed to get me to safety. She was willful and able to sneak us aboard a massive ship, which was set to sail across Lake Superior from Canada to the Wisconsin border. When we reached the States my mother, still in agony, heard rumors of a powerful pack nearby in Michigan called the Whispering Woods Pack. When we finally arrived, my mom addressed Alpha Demetrius, begging him for asylum, informing him of the events that transpired which led us to be without a pack of our own. Once were inside the safety of the Whispering Woods pack lands my mother started on a downward spiral into a severe depression. I had to stay strong for her and so I did everything I could as a child to help comfort and assist my mother with everyday responsibilities. I would cook, clean, help her shower and ready her for the day, and after I would attend school. She barely got out of bed or came out of her room. I would console her at night until she finally fell asleep. When looking upon her face, which was always so puffy and streaked from the tears shed of ultimate sorrow, I would pray to the Moon Goddess. I prayed that she would heal my mother and prevent me from having to experience the same loss as her. I prayed that I would never find my mate fated to me by the Moon Goddess."

Aurelia pushed back the tears which were beginning to form and swallowed the lump in her throat as she resumed her tale. "After Alpha Demetrius lost his Moon-Fated, a human named Raquelle, he and my mother bonded over their shared sorrow and eventually came to love one another. I'd often find myself coming here, to my Sanctuary, and speaking to my father's Garou spirit about my life. I always found myself keeping others at arm's length for fear of loss. When the Rogues attacked my home pack lands of Silver Moon, I lost so many people that I cared for… friends, family, hell I even missed the familiar and friendly faces of the merchants from our market. They're all gone now and only my mother and I remained, the two and only survivors of the former Silver Moon Pack. I've had to relive that same nightmare in my dreams ever since … it's as if there's something about that night that I'm missing. Something Selene wants me to see because I don't believe Our Moon Goddess would be so cruel." She finished, no longer able to hold back her tears which were steadily flowing down her face.

Adrian lovingly cupped his hands to her face and wiped away her tears with the soft caress of his thumbs. He raised her chin and gazed empathetically into her tear-filled eyes as he replied, "Oh, Aurelia… my Moon-Fated, I'm heartbroken by the story of your grief-stricken past. Please know that I'll always be by your side; to love and protect you as well as those you love. I recognize your fears and pledge to always think of our safety. I swear whole-heartedly to love and cherish you always. My pack has access to a vast amount of records pertaining to every pack, even those that weren't in our care. Aurelia, I vow to investigate the details of that fateful night for you and help you to find closure. I've waited my whole life to find you… I know we haven't known each other long but please trust in the power of the Moon-Fated Mate bond, trust in me, trust in the wise Moon Goddess Selene that she'll watch over us both. I can't express how moved I am in this moment with you. I'm yours Aurelia."

They stood together in silence, looking at the silver glow of the Blue Moon, listening to the soft splashing of the quarry's waters brushing against its embankments as they held one another. Each of them treasuring this raw, emotional moment between them.

Aurelia broke the silence as she nuzzled against his shoulder and said, the tenderness in her voice apparent, "I can't express how grateful I am right now... to be in this moment with you. I'm thankful for your attentive listening, for your understanding, and for offering to help me gain closure and investigate the details of my home pack's demise. I admit I've habitually feared the mate bond and when I'd find my Moon-Fated however, I'm grateful and utterly blessed to be yours Adrian."

She raised onto the tip of her toes, lightly pecked Adrian's nose and gave a small smile as she mentioned, "I think our packs may start a search party for us if we don't get back to the Recreation Hall soon. I seriously am praying they saved us some of that delicious spiced cake. My mouth is already salivating just imagining those flavors exploding across my taste buds!"

"You had me at spiced cake!" Adrian winked and laughed heartily, briefly raising her into his strong, protecting arms. They creaked along the puncheon, swinging in sync with the bridge until they made it to the Weeping Willow tree that hid Aurelia's Sanctuary.

He swiftly moved them through the maze-like, draping branches of the tree and into the moonlit clearing. When he placed her down onto the forest floor, they held each other's hands as they walked, electric sparks rising between them as they headed back towards the Recreation Hall, listening to their footsteps quietly echoing off the smooth stone path.

They began to hear the melodious tunes of the string orchestra mixed with the sounds of laughter coming from the Recreation Hall. They couldn't help but smile as they smelled the delectable scent of spiced vanilla and succulent citrus buttercream.

Aurelia laughed and loudly rejoiced, "Thank Goddess there's still some of that scrumptious spiced cake!" Aurelia felt lighter than air tonight as she finally allowed herself to open up to someone, exposing her worries and suffering. She wasn't going to dwell on the sadness of the past tonight. She was going to enjoy this time she had remaining with her family, her pack, and her Moon-Fated Mate because tonight wasn't a night of sorrow. It was a night of celebration and by Goddess that was exactly was Aurelia was going to do!