The Blessed One

Chapter 6

***Allue***

I looked down angrily at the sand. I couldn't land a single hit on Mark and it was infuriating. Granted I was only 10 but I was of Alpha blood, I was this supposed blessed by the goddess wolf, I should have been able to land one hit. Just one.

Sweat was covering my brow and my hair was sticking to my cheeks.

“You need to calm yourself. You're trying to fight blinded by anger and you will never win a battle that way. Calm yourself. Fight from the heart. Now I want you to take a second. Center yourself, then try again. Remember everything I've taught you so far.”

The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon and dew was starting to glisten on the sand. I took in his words and closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. I had a feeling that I needed to use all of my senses and not just my eyes so I kept them closed. Forcing myself to take in the sounds around me, the feeling of the earth under my toes, the shifting of the wind against my skin.

I didn't reopen my eyes either. My senses growing stronger with their own prolonged use. I heard rustling coming from behind me and I was almost certain Mark was circling me. I felt like a doe, as if I was the prey from the predator. My ears twitched at every sound he made, sounds I doubt I would have been able to hear with my eyes open.

The ground beneath my feet started to rumble and instincts were telling me that I was being approached, and the sounds to my left were telling me that I was right.

He was approaching fast. He was about to strike as I sank down to my haunches and kicked my leg out and knocked his feet out from under him. My eyes opened as he hit the sand and took the opportunity of him being frazzled to pin him in the ground. Within seconds he tapped out. After releasing him I stood up and smiled so big with pride.

Mark looked at me with a delighted grin. “Perfect, little moon! That's enough for the day.”

I walked over next to Damien who was laying in the sand breathing heavily. “You did good today.”

He lifted his head to look at me with a smirk before collapsing back. We had been at the cottage for a week now and training had gone like this every day since. We train hard until the sun rises then we spend the day with Justine learning from her. I almost miss when we didn't have training or lessons. I miss being able to feel free to do what I wish. But those days are long gone.

“Come on, we better head back into the cabin class.” he said before hopping to his feet. He was a couple of years older than me but he still towered over me in height. He was going to be tall like Pa.

“Get down now. Don't come out until Justine or myself comes to get you. Do you understand?” Mark looked alert and worried. His eyes turned a darker shade indicating that his wolf was close to the surface.

“Mark, what's going on?” he looked back to the house and then back at me.

“We have company. Just a couple of Rogues passing through but we don't know whether they are friend or foe. Stay hidden, stay quiet, and stay safe” he went in the house and Damien and I hid in between the dunes with the tall blades of grass sticking out. We were close enough to the house to hear a few conversations but we weren't willing to show our faces. Damiens Crescent moon shape on the underside of his wrist started to glow brightly.

“Damien, look!”

His eyes widened and he looked at me with concern laced over his face. “Allue…” he grabbed my wrists and turned them over. Mine were glowing as well.

“What does this mean?” I didn't even mean to speak my question out loud.

“I don't know. I have only 2 guesses. That it is either someone important to our cause or someone out to hurt us and this is a sign of protection from the goddess.” he mused.

“But if it was someone for our cause wouldn't they glow constantly with Mark and Justine?” he looked towards the house as his brows furrowed.

“Stay here, sister.” he ordered and grabbed his sword. Like hell I was going to let him do this on his own. I grabbed my dagger and gripped it tight. We stalked to the edge of the cottage and peeked in the window and caught the final end of the conversation.

“We know you are from the highland pack. We can smell their scent that lies within your being. So where are they? Where are the Blessed ones?” this Rogue looked angry, he looked weathered and beaten down. Justine was trying to diffuse the situation while Mark was assessing the group. There were about 5 others with him, all of their eyes glowing a dark red.

“It is just my mate and I living here. We left pack life years ago. We wanted a nice quiet life by the beach.” Her voice was shaky but fierce.

“Don't patronize me. I can smell other wolves here. Now either tell me the truth or I will find them myself.” Justine growled at the man and Mark grabbed her hand to soothe her.

Damien and I snuck around to the side of the house Tensions were growing higher and I could tell that the peace talking was getting nowhere. These rogues wanted our heads and they weren't going to stop until they got what they wanted.

“Allue, please stay here. You are most important. I am begging you…” the urgency of his voice forced me to obey. Though I do agree with him he has taken to training better than I have at this point. I gripped my dagger and took in my surroundings.

I heard a growl and all hell broke loose. The sound of metal clanging together was filling my ears. Damien quietly snuck out and approached a rogue from behind. He placed his blade at the wolf's throat and effectively sliced it, killing him immediately.

He moved on fighting the next wolf while Mark and Justine were preoccupied. He didn't see the wolf coming up behind him. He didn't see the blade held in the rogue's hand. Without even thinking I raised my dagger and aimed before throwing it at my target.

A howl of pain sounded, Damien and the rogue dropped to the ground and I almost screamed in fear of me accidentally hurting Damien. The last of the rogues were killed and I ran out to my brother. The rogue had my blade stuck in his back and he wasn't moving or breathing.

“Bràthair…” I whispered. My voice was shaky and I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. Justine ran to me and wrapped me in her arms.

“Oh, little moon. I was so worried about you. Where is your brother?” I couldn't take my eyes off of the duo below me. Mark ran over and pulled the rogue off of him and Justine gasped.

“I didn't hurt him, did I? I didn't mean to. But that rogue... he was going to kill him... please... p... please tell me he's going to be okay...”

Mark looked at me and grabbed my hand and pulled me down to his level. “He's okay, just knocked out. That rogue was easily 115 Kg. You saved him. Look.” he raised the rogers dead hand and in it was a blade that had a purple substance on it.

“Wolfsbane…” Justine whispered.

“He was going to die if he got stabbed with this. He doesn't have his wolf to heal him yet and his body is still young despite the good he did here today. You both saved us. Helped us tremendously. How did you know to leave the dunes? Even with my command to stay?” he asked puzzled.

I held out my wrist and watched as the glow started to dissipate. “Our marks from the goddess had glowed. We came down to 2 options. One was it was someone important to us or our cause, the second was it was a warning of danger. Turns out it was danger...”

Damien groaned in pain as he came to and I rubbed the top of his head. I was exhausted. Today was too much. What was bothersome for me was this was only the start. We had only been here a week and someone found us. How were we found? How many more know of this location? Are we even safe here anymore?

***Translations***

Bràthair - brother