Warrior Luna and Her Dispell Poems

Worries

Azriel sat behind his large mahogany desk, his expression grim as he mind-linked Tim and Dana, Delta family and dear friends. *"Come to my office, both of you and Dana. Now."* The urgency in his mental tone left no room for questions, and within minutes, Tim and Dana were striding into the room.

The moment they stepped inside, they were surprised to see not just Azriel but also his mate, Lora, waiting for them. The air in the room was thick with tension, and Tim, always perceptive, immediately sensed something was amiss.

"Is everything okay?" Tim asked, his eyes narrowing suspiciously as he glanced between Azriel and Lora. His protective instincts were already rising. Dana, standing next to him, shared a quick glance with her mate, clearly picking up on the unease in the room.

Azriel motioned for them to sit. Once they were all settled, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his fingers steepled together. "I wanted to ask how Bella is doing," he said, his voice calm but with a hint of something deeper, something that set Tim and Dana on edge.

Dana, smiling softly, answered, "She's doing wonderfully, Azriel. I couldn't ask for a better daughter. She's kind, smart, and strong... What is this about?"

Azriel nodded but remained silent for a moment longer, his jaw tight. Tim's sharp eyes didn't miss the subtle tension in his friend's posture. "Azriel," Tim said cautiously, "what's going on? You're not the type to call us here for idle chit-chat."

Azriel sighed, meeting Tim's gaze directly. "Years ago, when you adopted Bella, we all agreed that the secret of her lineage would remain between us, the four of us, and the royal family. No one else knows about her true origins. It was for her safety."

Tim and Dana exchanged worried glances. Dana was the first to speak, her tone gentle but laced with concern. "Has something changed, Azriel? Why are we talking about this now?"

Azriel’s face darkened, and Lora, sensing the growing unease, reached out to squeeze his hand. "We don’t know for sure," he admitted. "But something has happened."

Dana and Tim leaned forward, the tension in the room thickening as they waited for Azriel to continue. He took a deep breath, the weight of the conversation heavy on his shoulders.

"As you know," he began, "my sister Kaia is a seer. She has had visions in the past, most of which have helped us avoid disaster. But her latest vision... it was about Bella."

Dana's heart skipped a beat, her motherly instincts immediately kicking in. "What did she see?" she asked, her voice a little higher-pitched than usual.

Azriel glanced at Lora before returning his gaze to Dana and Tim. His voice was low, grave. "She saw Bella being taken away from the pack."

Both Dana and Tim shot to their feet, alarm written all over their faces. "Taken?! By whom? How?" Dana’s voice was filled with panic, and Tim looked ready to spring into action.

"Sit down," Lora said softly, standing up to calm them with her presence. "You know Kaia's visions. They’re not always set in stone. The future can change depending on decisions and actions taken beforehand. This is not a certainty, but it is a warning. We need to be vigilant."

Tim, still standing, placed his hands on the back of his chair, his knuckles white from gripping it so tightly. "Azriel, what exactly did Kaia see? Is it an outside threat or something within the pack?"

Azriel shook his head slowly. "Kaia wasn't able to tell exactly who or what would take her. The vision was too unclear for that. But the danger felt imminent. She saw Bella leaving, being taken forcefully, and there was chaos surrounding her departure."

Dana pressed a hand to her chest, her heart pounding. The idea of her daughter being in danger filled her with dread. "What can we do to stop this?"

"First," Azriel said firmly, "we need to keep this between us. Bella couldn’t know about the vision. We don’t want to alarm her or cause her to act recklessly. We also don’t want the pack to become paranoid."

Tim finally sat down again, rubbing a hand over his face as he tried to process the situation. "So, we need to keep a closer eye on her?"

"Exactly," Azriel confirmed. "We need to watch over her more carefully, ensure she’s never left vulnerable. She may be safest here at home for now, but we need to be ready for anything."

Lora nodded, her face softening as she added, "Bella's grown up to be strong, both physically and emotionally, but she's still vulnerable in ways we don’t fully understand. Her lineage... it makes her different."

"Do you think this has something to do with where she came from?" Dana asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Azriel's jaw clenched. "We can’t rule anything out, Dana. That's why I wanted to talk to you both today. Whatever threat Kaia saw, it could be connected to her past. We need to be vigilant but also subtle. If we stir up suspicion, it could alert the wrong people."

Tim, who had been quiet for a few moments, finally spoke. "We’ll watch over her like hawks. I’ll ensure her training is more intensive without her knowing why. We can stay close, but not suffocate her."

Dana nodded in agreement, though her face was still pale with worry. "We’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, Azriel. You can count on that."

Azriel stood, his expression softening as he looked at his old friends. "I know you will. You’ve always treated Bella like your own. We just have to stay strong and trust that we can change whatever fate Kaia saw."

As they stood up to leave, Dana looked back at Azriel one more time, her voice soft but determined. "She’s our daughter, Azriel. We won’t let anything happen to her."

Azriel nodded, his heart heavy with the burden of what lay ahead. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For everything."

--

Bella sat at her desk, trying to focus on her schoolwork, but her mind was elsewhere. She woke up with a dull headache, the result of a sleepless night spent replaying the events of the evening before. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the vivid flashes of her encounter with Asher. His confession, his touch, the way he looked at her, it was all too much, and she still couldn't fully believe it had happened.

*He has feelings for me,* she thought, her heart doing a little flip in her chest. It was something she had secretly prayed for, and now it was real. Yet, it wasn’t over. Three long days stretched before her until Asher's birthday, when they would finally know if they were fated mates. The anticipation made her anxious, but beneath it all, a quiet hope lingered. She wanted those days to pass faster, to know for sure if they were meant to be together.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden, familiar clatter of heels clicking across the classroom floor. Bella groaned inwardly. The popular girls had entered, led by none other than Diana, as always. They were louder than usual today, their chatter excited and animated. Bella kept her head down, hoping to remain unnoticed, but Diana’s voice carried over the hum of the classroom like nails on a chalkboard.

"I still can’t believe Asher kissed me," Diana boasted, her voice full of smugness. "He definitely knows, deep down, that we’re meant to be mates. I mean, it's obvious we have a connection."

Bella felt her stomach drop as the words sank in like a cold shower. The memory of Asher kissing Diana the night before flooded her mind again, but this time, it wasn’t accompanied by the same heartache. Instead, it was annoyance—pure frustration. *Great,* she thought bitterly. *Just what I needed. Three days of torture from the wannabe Luna.*

She let out a long breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. Diana’s misinterpretation of Asher’s actions was not only irritating, but it also made Bella feel vulnerable in a way she hated. She knew the truth of why Asher had kissed Diana, but having to listen to Diana’s delusional belief that they were destined to be mates was going to be pure agony.

*"Moon Goddess, help me get through this,"* Bella prayed silently as she tried to block out the obnoxious giggles coming from Diana’s clique.

Diana continued, flipping her hair as she regaled her followers with every detail of the brief kiss. "He didn’t even hesitate. I know he feels something for me, I can sense it," she said dramatically, pausing to make sure everyone was paying attention to her.

Bella clenched her fist under the desk, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something she’d regret. Her wolf, Banja, stirred inside her, pacing with frustration at hearing Diana speak about Asher like he was already hers. Banja urged, *We know the truth, and that’s all that matters.*

Bella nodded internally, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Banja was right. Diana’s words were nothing more than hot air. She didn’t know the real Asher, not like Bella did. And as painful as it was to hear Diana’s version of the story, Bella reminded herself that in three days, everything would become clear. If they were mates, there would be nothing Diana could do about it.

Still, the waiting was unbearable.

The rest of the class passed in a blur, Bella’s mind wandering between the present and the future. When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, she quickly gathered her things and made her way out of the room, eager to avoid another run-in with Diana. But as she headed toward the exit, she overheard more of Diana's boasting.

"And just wait until his birthday," Diana was saying, her voice dripping with confidence. "That’s when we’ll know for sure. I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time before he claims me."

Bella felt her entire body tense, but she forced herself to keep walking, her head held high. She couldn’t let Diana’s words get under her skin. She had to trust the bond she shared with Asher, the connection they had built over years, not just the past few days. And most importantly, she had to trust the Moon Goddess.

*In three days,* Bella reminded herself, *we’ll know the truth.*

But as she stepped out into the fresh air, her heart heavy with anticipation and doubt, Bella couldn't shake the feeling that these next few days would be the longest of her life.