Her Savior Alpha
Chapter 18

Through meditation I could shift, and I’d done it once with Archer, but with Clive and him arguing it was hard to reclaim my wolf and bring it forward. Every part of me requiring soaking and all I wanted to do was rest and eat after the intensive training, but when I stared at the new sinew in my muscles a sense of immense pride welled in me. I was getting there and in a big way. I poked at the small bulge in my biceps now and shifted around to see the line that showed off the division on my triceps. I had no control over my wolf, but I had control of my mind, body and spirit. I found the meditations to be beneficial to me and I practiced what Archer taught me daily.

I’d had a good run with not running into Dane or Reily and Gina. I’d managed to circumvent around the barracks avoiding all of them like the plague. Several changes were occurring inside my body and it was evident all of them were flourishing since my turning. For one a crook I’d had in my finger for the longest while had now mysteriously straightening itself.

As I stared at the rain drops out the window I stretched out my fingers rubbing over my knuckles. These hands had endured much over my short years on earth. Many of the smaller metatarsals in my fingers had been broken by someone in the Mount Hunter crew. Reily had snapped my pinky finger many years ago and I’d had to soak it for a long time for it to be functional.

The healing remedies of chamomile, sea salt and other elixirs mixed from woodland herbs in the forest worked wonders on it, but now my finger had healed itself. The crooked slant of it had evened out as if overnight and I had to keep staring at my fingers to even believe it was real.

“Shit. My fingers.” Flabbergasted at the sight I sucked in a sigh. I was equally excited that Grant was at her current fixation’s house. Fixation, because Grant was fickle and she jumped from wolf to wolf like she changed her underwear.

“Why should I settle down now? I’m to be queen so I have to sow my wild, royal oats. All the male wolves do it until they called to their mate, so why shouldn’t I live a little.” She’d given me one of those queenly snorts and brushed her silky mane with her duck pout.

I wanted to puke when she told me, I could think of nothing worse and to think of my sister humping someone else made me feel ill. I let my mind drift back to my bedroom as I took stock of my body. I lifted up my pajama leg and stared down at my legs. For many years they had been discolored from all the beatings and the consistency of them. For me beatings had become such a part of my life I could tick off receiving one at least once to twice a week for something or other.

All of my bodily changes had to be related to my shifting. This could be the only reason. I wished I understood more about my wolf and had a mirror to see myself when I was changing, but it made all the beatings seem worth while because I had more energy now. Once where I had to push myself in order to complete my chores I was able to finish them with energy to spare. It was hard to completely tell if this had something to do with all the training and eating better, but with all the scarring and bruising I’d taken for granted as just being part of my experience, I doubted it.

My wolf was a keeper! If I could have fist pumped around the forest and howled at the top of my lungs I would have. What a victory! I craved to experience more, and the words of my mother floated into my head as I poked at my legs.

“You’re special Vera. You are so special. Never forget it, if you only know the fate that awaits you, you would not worry ever again.” My mother had cupped my face and kissed the tip of my nose. At the time I’d fussed her away from my face, if only the hands of time would rewind I would have hugged her back again. I missed her affection, and now I’d come to miss the scoldings she used to give me.

“Vera get inside right this minute, you’ll catch a cold out there in the freezing rain.”

“Vera, dinner’s on the table and you haven’t washed up, come on. How many times must I tell you?”

I would never hear the sound of her voice again.

Shocked at the sight of my toned legs I gasped with delight. Normal coloring! I had an even skin tone on my legs. They were like the others. All of the lumps hidden behind my shins which had been kicked in several times by Grant and Reily were no longer. My body - my wolf I suspected was healing the human part of me. Incredible! I touched for a part of the back of my skull which had been hit with one of the thin wooden rods as a weapon by Reily and his cronies had filled out. The permanent lump had gone! No more. I touched more areas on my body from the last beating and found old scars had faded considerably.

I opened the window some to feel the tiny droplets of water on my skin. My wolf was with me and giving me a new lease on life. I was being reborn in a way and loving it. Water dripped onto my skin as I lifted my face to receive more of it. I let the drops kiss my skin as I giggled like I used to when I was a little girl skipping through the woods back at our thatched roof house. How I missed it, but with Archer’s offer to live a new way and a new life all would open to a better existence for me.

I closed the window up quickly as I sent a wish out to the night stars budding in the sky. “Wolf, please come to me, tell me about you. What do I need to know?” I whispered the hope to myself as I got ready to sleep for the night. If Grant stayed gone for the night that would be the ultimate. It was something I was excited about.

I slinked down under the covers and covered myself up to my face as I turned on my side to sleep.

Letting the day fall leave me I fell into a deep, restful sleep. After some time I saw myself. A large white wolf standing at the helm of the Mount Hunter precipice howling loudly at the golden moon.

Vera, can you hear me? This is the best way for me to reach you in your dream space.

Yes I can hear you. Are you my wolf?

Yes. I am your wolf, your guide and your keeper. You have much to learn. First you must write this down on a piece of paper. Listen as I tell you what you need to know.

Okay. Go ahead.

Write down that you are an ancient. You are the keeper. A Lycan wolf with ancient wisdom, healing and transformational abilities. You must reclaim the lineage and thrive.

Okay I will write it down. A floating sensation made what I was seeing feel unreal, but I kept my eyes sealed shut as I knew it was. This was my wolf and now I understood why my mother said I was so special. The Lycan’s eyes were pure gold like the moon’s and twinkled with captivating light as the moon’s reflection bounced off it’s pupils. This wolf could rival Dane’s. It bowed its head to me as it stood proudly with a strong regalness to it. Its chest was open and proud as the wind picked up the hairs on its chest. The snout of the wolf was long and its mouth closed. Continuously it lowered itself in a bowing position as a white stream of light entered through my body.

I am helping you heal. You have taken many unnecessary beatings Vera. Your parents are incensed. You are to be respected. The battle of your parents was not your fault. It was inevitable. It’s been too long and it’s time for you to stop blaming yourself for such matters.

Thank you. I feel broken. I’ve carried shame for too long.

Yes. You have. Wake up now.

Flexing my toes as the sun streamed in I inhaled the morning after scent of rain. I sat up yawning and stretching out my body. I looked down again to check it wasn’t some sort of weird joke, but no, my hands were more youthful than ever and all the broken bones in my fingers had all but healed. There was still a tiny scar between my fingers were Reily sliced me with a kitchen knife three years ago. A terrifying incident I would never forget, all I saw was the pain and white hot rage festering in his eyes. He hated me that much. I ran a hand over my forearms as the memory bruised my thoughts. What? Shit. No way! I stared down at my forearm where the coyote bite marks from the battle my parents endured had gone. There was no bite mark. Running my hand over my arm I felt how smooth it was. All I could see was the tiny downy arm hairs that existed.

The burden of the battle I carried with me everywhere like an overstuffed backpack had been lifted from me. There were no reminders of it anymore.

I peeled the covers back gently, picking up a crumpled piece of paper from my nightstand. Wiping the sleep from my eyes I saw what I’d written on the paper.

I am an ancient Lycan wolf with mystical powers. I must reclaim my full power.

Gasping with shock the secret revealed to me, I revisited the faint memory of standing on a mountain top. My wolf! Was I a Lycan? How did I not remember writing it down? Was it all just a dream? Flipping my hands over twice, the answer was clear, but I was having a hard time believing it. I quickly stuffed the information into my backpack by my bed not knowing what to make of it and wanting to speak to Thelma and get her opinion.

I followed my normal morning routine although nothing was normal. My whole world had been turned upside down. I was a Lycan wolf, what did that even mean?

Mentally I put a plan into action to go see about it at the library and replace out. As I towel dried and prepared for the day I wished like I always did for no-one to be in the kitchen. I would collect my food and be on my way. I got my wish and was able to eat well enough with neither Grant nor Dane bothering me. The day only got better as I trained with Archer and finished my chores faster than normal. I made small talk with Thelma, but didn’t mention the note I wrote to myself. I wanted time to process my feelings and what the next steps were.

I’d never been more eager to rest and sleep than ever. Again on the second night I was met with my Lycan and they gave me more instructions and insights.

You have to be diligent. There is an insider who has given you away. It will become clear in due course.

Why can’t you tell me now? Please alert me to them. Apparently I spoke like a grown up in my dreams. Who was I there? I could never see my body I could only see the wolf standing in front of me.

No. I will not. You must learn and these things will remain veiled to you for this is your experience. You must walk your path and earn your stripes. Trust you are doing well and all is on course. Don’t forget this message Vera.

My chores become quicker. I could complete then in less than two hours. A profound change was taking place in me and for the first time ever other wolves in the Mount Hunter pack where taking notice in subtle ways. I would walk into the mess hall to restock plates for the lunch rush and they would stop talking and stare at me. There was discomfort, but no heckling, more of a stand offish energy almost as if they wanted to be nice, but there pride and ego wouldn’t allow it. I would smile at this, more victories were being won. Maybe it was my wolf standing in me. From what I experienced in my dream I would have done the same thing. While the wolf bowed to me all I wanted to do was bow to it.

As I hummed and collected the freshly dried towels from the dryer and Grant passed me beady eyes roamed over me. “Been training I see. I will have to challenge you to a duel. Doesn’t mean you should start thinking you’re any good.” Her bitey snarl affected me less now I knew about the Lycan. I had no idea what that meant, but to me and in seeing it in my dream I was aware it was significant and if I was to put my wolf up against her wolf I would make a mess of her. If only I could gain control of my wolf then I would put on a show for the whole of Mount Hunter.

“We’ll see. If you decide to challenge to a duel,” I smirked as I let her cocky comment roll off the back of my well formed shoulders.

“How are you feeling so confident these days? You think because Clive and Archer have taking a liking to you that you’ve got it going on now? Well let me tell you when I make Queen you’re going to wish you never lived. You thought Dane’s beatings were bad, but you wait until I reign supreme.” “You aren’t going to be given the throne any time soon Grant. Dane is still in great health and he is not a man to give away power to a female. He’s told me that so many times.”

Doubt covered Grant’s face as she stood with her hands on her hips and a flip of her ponytail.

“When did he tell you that huh? Everyone on Mount Hunter knows I’m his fave. You are so jealous.”

“No jealousy from me. The golden child is the most weak minded. He’s doing me a favor. Without Dane’s beating I probably wouldn’t be as quick as I am now. I have to thank him for that,” I remarked softly as I folded the pristine, white towels and placed them in their cubby holes.

“Shut up! You are so infuriating. I’ve earned my position.”

Cocking an eyebrow at her with a lopsided grin I put the nail in the coffin. “You are protesting a little too loudly. Are you sure?”

“You are overdue for a beating. Why does your skin look like that? All glowy? What are you doing?” She commanded as she turned over my wrist presumably searching for the coyote bite mark. Her angry eyes darted from my smiling face back down to my arm. She raised her other hand to slap me and instantaneously I grabbed it and almost crushed the tendons attached to her wrist. Her mouth formed in an O. “Let go of me! Let go!” My eyes blazed with fury as my wolf coached me through the moment and Clive sauntered in behind her at just the right time. He grabbed Grant’s arm as her pouty lips fixed to say something.

“Come on fighting machine. You have other things to do this morning. Let’s go.” He dragged her away from me and I breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time laughed freely.

My wolf was very smart and every day my time at Mount Hunter was coming closer to the end.