The Legacy : His Mate

#2 Moonlit City

Two little legs ran with all might. A couple with a small toddler and this little girl ran like their life depended on it. It was unclear who or what was after them. But the couples panted and gasped for air, yet they did not stop for it. It scared them to get caught. The little girl cried frantically, trying to catch her parents' speed. She wanted to get into her parents' lap because she was tired and exhausted. But it was out of the question. The mother was wounded heavily and bleeding profusely. The man had an infant tied around his neck who was oblivious to everything happening around them.

The little girl could not run anymore. She stopped, just for a while, trying to catch her breath. Her parents urged her to run, but her tiny legs could not step further without resting. The woman sighed. She tore a piece of cloth from her clothes and tied it against her wound. She took the infant from the father's shoulder, making space for him to carry the little girl. 

The man looked at his wife frivolously to encourage her. But the woman was courageous by nature. She returned a determined look, despite her pain. The man carried the small girl, and the family of four were again on their heels. 

But perhaps they had lost more time and hence their advantage now. Whatever followed that family got closer. A sinister grin was clearly audible before an energy ball hit the mother, smacking her out. She lost her balance and fell. The infant woke up because of the sudden jerk and cried uncontrollably. The man and the little girl looked at them with wide, shocked eyes. The man wanted to help the lady, but the lady shook her head, pleading with her puffy, painful, red eyes to run.

"Run, Peter, Run. Save our little girl." The woman begged as pearl-shaped tears escaped her eyes.

Whatever or whoever was after that family, for some vicious reason, caught the lady from her hair, straddling her to get up. An evil sneer folded through the lips of whatever was following them, making the man rant and plea at the same time. The woman was whimpering with pain as tears rolled down her cheeks, but she pleaded with the man to run. He must escape and protect their elder child.

The man looked fervently at his wife and younger child tied against her mother. She was crying her heart out. It set his heart to a thump as overwhelming feelings washed over him. His mind became foggy as he could not decide if to stay and fight for the other half of his family or listen to his wailing wife and escape.

"Please," the woman begged as she screeched in pain when the one after them pressed against her wound. 

The man grunted. He wanted to fight back. But more of them appeared from behind. He knew if he did not escape now, he would meet the same fate as his wife. So he looked again at his wife and the toddler, putting a heavyweight on his heart, he mouthed a sorry. The man shifted into his wolf now that he doesn't need to move in his human form, carrying the elder child with him. Tears rolled down his eyes, but he never looked back, for he will fall weak to see his wife and his younger child. He hoped they lived the day, piercing through the wood before anyone caught them.

"Elsa! Elsa! Wake up...!" Rafael shook her fragile body too many times. Rafael knew she was having those nightmares again. She was rumbling something in her sleep. 

It had become quite the night for Rafael and Elsa. She started seeing random dreams after they escaped from the attack of Wicca. They were mostly the same, about a family fleeing from someone. Elsa has believed that she and her father escaped that deplorable day after abandoning her mother and sibling. She was not sure if the baby was a boy or a girl. She saw no one's face in those dreams. 

But at times, she dreamt of the day when she fell on the edge of the cliff. She believed her father's soul saved her that day before it was Noah. No one can tell if it was possible, and neither had the heart to correct her. 

Rafael did his best to support his Luna. Elsa had her apprehensions to accept the position before their formal marriage. But Rafael was persuasive. It is not that Rafael did not want to marry Elsa after claiming her fully. His mark emblazoned below her collarbone, making his heart pound every time he saw it. But they have mutually decided to wait for Noah to return. 

Lucian, on the other end, has taken over the mantle of council leader of Moonlit city. Rafael had his hands full with Elsa and his pack and the Opals. He still helped Lucian in the matters and had a say, but he has just stepped down to take care of their current situation. Plus, it was Lucian who saved the city that day more than he could. 

The best part was, Elsa had a family to look after apart from the Blackmoon. Lucian had become a daunting brother while his parents cared for Elsa like their daughter. But the only thing that did not change over the months was Elsa's grief over losing Kyra. She still blamed herself for her death and what Noah had to face. She still had not discussed with Noah after ending things with him on an unanticipated note. 

"Elsa... Wake up!" Rafael embraced her in a warm response to give her the comfort and warmth of the mate bond. They had a special relationship where they could feel each other's intense emotions and pain. They could share their powers and feelings. When Elsa's heart stopped pounding, her breathing evened. She woke up from her nightmare to find herself next to Rafael's chest. 

"How do you feel?" Rafael asked in a soft voice, trying to make her feel better. He wanted to fetch some water for her, but Elsa had tightened their embrace. So he allowed herself to relax in his embrace.

"I feel much better now. Rafael, I can't help but feel someone is trying to reach me. What if my mother and sibling survived that day? What if Wicca is lying about their death? I had abandoned them once. I must find them now." Elsa whispered in a shaky voice. She was trying to hide her tears. 

"I promise we will. But after you have recovered fully, and I don't mean just how fragile you look." Rafael coaxed. 

Elsa shrugged, coming out of his embrace to look into his eyes. Rafael was too protective of her and did not want her to go out anywhere. The truth is, Rafael was scared that someone else like Anthony would crave her powers and would try to use her. They had gone through a lot. Also, Wicca had threatened them already. And for some reason, Elsa's power did not affect Wicca. So he was too possessive and insecure to let her go out of his sight.

"I am fine. Look, I have gained weight too. And I can fight without using my powers. Yesterday, I took Jander one on one as well. I am also training with the earth dagger at times with Lucian. Lyrianna and Amelia are teaching me everything about how a Luna should be. I think I am ready to face it, Rafael, to face Wicca and find my family." Elsa tried to make Rafael understand.

Elsa could feel his anxiety every time she wanted to go out of this place. She knew he was scared that something would happen to her. But how long can they live hiding from the truth? Wicca was out there. And God knows why she had not appeared after that fateful night. She must be up to something eviler. She needed to find it and stop it before things go the way they did, as with Anthony. 

"I have sent wolves and have asked the council to find more about your missing family. We are yet to receive any positive information. The council, nor the vampires, no one has any idea about the water dagger nor they have any idea about a witch called Wicca. So, someone who is immune to your powers and can hide from the entire world for so long is dangerous. Let's wait for something concrete before making a move." Rafael tried to put some sense into her. 

It was the truth that Rafael and Lucian had tried a lot to find more about Wicca. But she vanished into thin air after hurting Noah that day as if she did not exist. They have to be more careful with an invisible foe. 

Elsa sighed. How was she going to fight that logic? She knew how hard Rafael has been trying to find answers for her using whatever contact he has. He even had taken Elsa with him once. But Elsa could feel something was missing. The place from where they ran felt so familiar, and yet she could not remember where it was. Plus, lately, she has been feeling like someone is trying to reach her. 

Elsa did not implore it much. She knew how it was going to end. She decided to talk about this with Lucian. He was the only one who perhaps can make Rafael understand that she needed to look for her family. They can not sit hand in hand and wait for another battle to come to their city's doorstep. 

Rafael fetched her some water, and she gulped down entirely only to realize how thirsty she was all this while. She cuddled next to his firm chest, trying to forget all those tormenting thoughts itching in her head. It was going to be a long sleepless night again if she cannot calm her qualms. 

But this time, Elsa soon fell into sleep. It could have been the little talk they had or the way Rafael caressed her hair, but she fell into a slumber, only to dream again.

For the first time, it wasn't hazy like the other ones. Elsa was standing inside an enormous room that had a royal feeling. It surprised her that everything about this room felt familiar. Near the window stood a woman looking outside. She appeared graceful with magma-red hairs and a slender body. She was tall like Elsa. Elsa wondered if it was her mother. Elsa called out to her to see her face. But before this woman could turn, her dream ended. 

It was already morning, the sunlight passing through the curtains, glistening her pale skin! Rafael had already left without waking her up. A new day waited for her. 

Elsa sighed with exasperation. Time to get those running shoes and talk to Lucian. She must find her family before it is too late.