My Fated One

3. FIRST MEMORY

POV (ABELIA / AURORA)

One stroke, two strokes, and a flurrish of blue to the flag to tie it all together. I could feel sweat beading up on my brow as I took a deep breath and let my body finially relax. What was suppose to be a calming afternoon of painting had turned into something that demanded my body obey the wims of a creative spirit I did not know I had. Drained and dizzy, I tried to gaze at the finished piece in front of me. But before I could make sense of it, reality hit. I could hear the the murrmers and whispers of my Nanny and the next door neighbor's maid chatting outside the window and what they were saying was causing my brush to slip from my fingers and rattle to the floor.

"No" I screamed, as I threw open the front door. "They cant! I wont let them!" I cried, as I took off running towards the square, as my Nanny's voice trailed behind me.

"My Lady, stop! You can't interfere!"

But there was no way I could obey that order. Even if the Alpha cut me down for my disobedience, I wouldn't let them win. I wouldn't let them take the one person I had left in this world. The one person that understood me, cared for me, and promised to never leave my side. For without him how would I survive in this lonely world?

"Lucas Livingstone!" A voice barked out, causing my whole body to freeze as tears welled up in my eyes. No, I was too late. Quickly, I tried to break through the crow that had gathered but it was too thick, too narrow, making it impossible for me to reach him. How could this be happening? Who talked? Who spoke? Who told the King and his Court about us?

"Under the orders of King Albert the second, you are here by commanded to travel forth with this royal guard to the capital of Norweden and attend his Highnesses Royal Academy. There you will learn the ways of the knighthood and be of service to his Highness and the Crown Prince. These are the duties of one that is born Moonlight-Touched. Do you understand and accept them?"

"Does he accept them?"

"Like he has much of a choice."

The people whispered, as I tried to push past and ignore their words. He had to have choice, there had to be another way. Yes, he was strong. And yes, he would be of help to the King one day but not now. Not when I needed him. Not when my very life depended on him. There was no way he would..

"It would be my honor and privilege to serve his Majesty and attend his academy."

"NO!!!!" I screamed, losing all sense of propriety, the moment I saw him kneel and place his hand over his heart.

"No? Who dares refuse the Crown's orders!" The official barked, at least he was now telling the truth. They were orders, not a request. But I was not given much of chance to really think about this, for the guards had suddenly pulled out their swords and were pointing them at the towns people. Causing them to dispersed and part like the Red Sea and reveal me as the perpetrator.

"You? A child! What right do you have to speak against the King?" A second official growled, as he raised his sword high. "For your insolence. I sentence you to..."

Yet before he could finish that sentence a comforting warm body raced to me and wrapped its arms around my quivering frame.

"Please, don't! She is but a child of six years old, she does not know any better."

"Broth..." I gasped, as he pulled me to his chest allowing me to hear the pounding of his heart as a growl vibrated inside him. He was just ten years old, a child himself. How could he be so brave, so fearless, that he could stand against a pack of soldiers armed to the teeth with swords and authority? Didn't he care about his life?

"Its alright now. I've got you." I could hear his mind link resounding in my head, instantly causing me to curl into him and whimper.

"I do not care what her age is. For it does not account for the fact that she has insulted the Crown and as such she must be.."

"My Lord!" My brother intergested. "She is my sister! My family. If I am to server the King, willingly, I ask that you spare her."

"Willingly? You dare make a demand of..."

"Do you honestly wish to cross me then?" Lucas growled, as he removed his hat revealing his white blonde hair and golden glowing eyes. I could hear the gasps from the guards, for no one had seen or heard of a Moonlight-Touched wolf in nearly a decade and yet here one was. A young, proud, regal, creature of legend, who was now bristling in irritation at a royal official of the court.

"If I am not mistaken I am to serve the King, not you my Lord. Which means you don't matter near as much as I do." He said with a smirk and a bow as he gave me a wink.

"Why you little..."

"My Lord, you mustn't." One of the guards said, as he looked to my brother and then to the official. "The boy is far too important. Even if he disrespects the Crown, it will be your word against his."

"But that urchin, he just."

"I know, but even so look at what he protects?"

The sinister calculating stares of those men caused me to cower, as my brother quickly pulled up my hood and tighten the clasp around my neck, so as not to reveal my secret. Our secret that could cost me my life, if the court ever found out, that not just my brother carried the blood of moonlight.

"Very well." The official said, a he returned his sword to its sheath. "I will pardon the child, only because I rather not spill blood on such a momentous occasion."

"Thank you Sir, for respecting my authority." My brother mused, with a cocky grin, causing the official to huff and storm off.

"We leave in ten!" He snarled. "Don't you dare keep me waiting."

"Pompous ass. I could kill him with just one strike." My brother growled under his breath, as I buried my face into his chest and clung to his shirt.

"Lucas, no. You can't leave." I cried. "The Alpha will kill me without you." I could feel his body tense at my words. It didn't matter what he said, there was no way he could protect me if he was gone.

"Abelia, he won't. He wouldn't even dare."

"But he will."

"I promise you, he won't lay a finger on you." He said, a he cupped my face with his hands and wiped my tears with the soft pads of his thumbs. "I swear, me leaving and going to join the Academy is the one thing that will protect you, that will keep you safe."

"No, you didn't?" I gasped, as I covered my mouth and backed away from him.

"Abelia, dont be like this, not when we only have a few minutes left to say goodbye."

"Goodbye. You..You promised me!" I wailed, allowing my golden eyes to glow with fury and heartbreak, as I shook my head at him. "You swore. You gave me a warriors vow you would never leave me. That you would stay."

"Abelia, stop this." Lucas said firmly, as he began to look from side to side and notice the crowd was once again taking an interest in our family maters. "You need to relax and accepted this."

"Accept this?" I snapped, causing the ground to slightly shake. I could feel it, the betrayal, the lies, all of it culminating in a power coursing through my tiny body that needed to be released.

"Damnit, Abelia. Do you want them to know? Do you want them see?" He hissed through his teeth.

"Yes." I hissed back, causing my brother to look at me in shock and fear.

"Why? Why would you..."

"Be...Because if they know about me then maybe the King will want me too." I sobbed, causing my strong protective brother to crumpled to my side.

"Oh Abelia, you know they don't let girls into the Academy."

"Yes, but maybe..."

"Lucas Livingstone, I see congratulations are in order." The cold hard tone of the Alpha caused my voice to squeak, as Lucas placed a protective hand on my hood and pulled it down so as not even my eyes could be seen.

"Alpha Rodin, my dear Uncle, am I to assume you are here to say good bye?"

"Of course, what Alpha does not want to send his best warrior, even if he is his arrogant nephew, off in good spirits."

In good spirits? Who was he fooling. Ever since my brother and I were born Alpha Rodin had made it his personal mission to destroy us. Just because his children did not carry our ancestors blood it did not mean we deserved to be treated like this. Moonlight- Touched wolves were supposed to be herald as gods, heroes of our kind, meaning we should have been honored and protected. But instead it was a curse, that caused our twisted Uncle to imprison me and hide my brother from the court. Which meant that what Lucas had done would cause the Alpha to demand a pound of flesh, and with my brother out of reach I was doomed to be it.

"Shhhh... easy Abelia. Trust me." Lucas mind linked, as he patted my head and stood up to face our demon.

"Does this parting mean we are in agreement now?"

"Agreement? I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about." The Alpha said, as he looked down at his claws while my brother narrowed his eyes and took a step forward.

"Is that so. I would like to think after all our games of cat and mouse you would know by now what I speak of."

"Watch yourself boy. He is your Alpha!" Beta Gregory barked, causing my brother to let out a laugh.

"He is your Alpha, your leader, not mine. At least not anymore."

"Why you ungrateful little..."

"Careful Beta Gregory, I answer to a higher power now. Isn't that right Uncle?" My brother said, as he pointed over to the blue robed knights, instantly causing the Beta to snort in disgust.

"Which means Alpha Rodin, if anything happens that causes me distress while I am away. I will make sure to come back personally and deliver the King's justice as he sees fit. Am I making myself clear?" He said, as he mouthed something that not even my ears could pick up.

"Don't worry young nephew. I promise as long as things remain as they are, nothing will cause me to invoke such measures." The Alpha said, as his eyes landed firmly on me. "Isn't that right, my little neice?"

I thought I was going to be sick. There was no way this man could be trusted, not after everything he had put us through.

"Brother no." I cried, as I pulled on his leg and begged and pleaded, but the look on his face told me he had already made his decision. And there was nothing left to be discussed.

"You will be fine. You will be safe. And when I return knighted I will kill him and set you free." He said, causing a lump to build in the back of my throat. For I could see that his pupils were dialated and shaking with a bloodlust I had never seen before.

"But what if..."

"There are no what ifs Abelia! Because what will be is what I wish it to be. Remember that, for I am blessed and powerful. And one day, the world will know you are too."

And with that he was gone. I watched as he entered the carriage with its royal blue flags and gold plated rimmed wooden wheels knowing that the last image I might ever see of my brother was his back as he left me behind. He was a naive fool. For if I was blessed and powerful then why did I feel so shackled and held down by this world? He had to see the error in his thinking. For he was escaping, while the door to my cage was being locked tightly shut.

"Little Princess, don't think I haven't forgotten that you have disobeys me." The Alpha sung out, as I let out a shaky breath and turned to face my Alpha, my Uncle, my blood, and my monster alone.

"I'm sorry." I gulped.

"Your sorry? And what pray tell are you sorry for...hmmm... could it be the fact that you almost ruined everything by stepping out into the light of day when the King's bloody Court was here. Could that be it!" The Alpha snarled, as he charged at me ready to do god knows what. Quickly, I bowed my head in submission hoping it would appease his anger.

"I didn't mean to. I just couldn't let him leave."

"You didn't mean to. You couldn't let him leave?" The Alpha laugh as he grabbed my face and twisted me up to look at him. "Oh, my dear sweet neice, he did not leave he ran." He snikered, as I could feel big ugly tears welling up in my eyes as my cheeks stung from his sharp claws. "And do you know why he did that? Why he chose to run so far away from..."

"FATHER!"

A voice shouted from across the square, causing the Alpha to pull back his hand and for me to stunble to the ground. So much for not being able to lay a finger on me, I thought, as a blonde haired, blue eyed boy walked forward with the same air of importance and confidence of one destined to rule. For there was only one person in this world that could still the Alpha's anger, could quiet his rage, and that was his son. Thomas Greyworth.