Chapter 16 Xander and Serenity

Zane POV

I watch as Star shifts into beautiful ginger coloured wolf, except for her feet covered in white fur. Her coat almost looks like it is glowing. She was so beautiful. Xander howled in anticipation, he wanted out, but I wanted time with Serenity first. She walked over to me, and I stroked her soft fur. I knelt and placed my head on hers as I stroked her fur. Asher yelped, and she turned her head and walked over to him, and nozzled him then licked him. You can see that they have a special bond. It was beautiful to see. The way they interact with each other. I took my shorts off and shifted into Xander.

Xander POV

The moment Star told us of her story about the pups and the dead woman, a feral groin and relief flooded my human, and I knew the realisation dawned on me. I couldn't help myself. I took over Zane's body and kissed our mate. She wasn't my second chance. She was my first and only chance. My human thinks too much, and he makes stupid decisions for us all the time, always bedding she-wolf, not our mate. I told him to dig our mate's body up to get a better look and scent of our mate, but no, he wanted to preserve the body and respect blah blah—stupid Human. I was created to protect my Pack and Mate and now the moon goddess descendants. From the moment the little pup spoke to me, a rush of memories flooded me, of a past life as the guardian of the goddess. A memory so long gone that it was hard to comprehend and believe. Until today.

As serenity barrels into me, knocking me off my feet literally, I can finally get to meet my mate, not just her human. I have waited my entire life for this moment. Getting to my feet, I bow low in a sign of love for her. She is so beautiful. Her fur next to my Jet black one is so bright and illuminating. Remarkable.

"My Love", I called to her. Placing my head onto her head.

"My Wolf", she utters. The yips of the young pup our mate claimed as hers came up behind us. He doesn't say much, but there is something off about the young pup. It's a shame that he is a bloodling, I remember his sister said that I will know how to help him shift to his human, since it sleeps within him, say. I must remember to speak to Zane about that. The urge to mark my mate and make her mine is too powerful.

"Don't you dare?" Zane tells me, but he stupid he should have marked our mate long ago?

"Let's Run," Serenity said and took off. The little pup ran after her excitedly. For a moment, I was stunned that she left me. Taking off after her felt exhilarating. Chasing her is my new favourite thing. The little pup is also so fast, faster than a regular pup is supposed to be. Relaying this thought to my human Zane. He agrees and urges me to catch up with our mate. She ran until we came to a clearing in the woods and stopped. Panting heavily, I came up beside them. She turned and walked to me, nuzzling me, and then she pounced. It was beautiful playing with her in the woods like that. I never wanted this moment to end.

"We will have our chance to mate my wolf, but the young one is here now. I will let Star know that we need our time together later tonight. I promise," she says. I nuzzle her neck in anticipation.

"Year, my dear mate. Tonight I shall make you mine" she pulled away and nipped at my ear.

We rubbed up against each other as much as one could as a wolf. A few moments later, I noticed Serenity frantically sniffing the air and spun in a circle.

"Asher, where is he?" she asked manically. Taking a deep inhale of the surroundings, I nipped at her and took off in the direction of the young pup. He probably just went exploring. The further we got into the woods, the closer we got to the border of our territory. This kid must be lightning because he got out this way really quick. We only took our eyes off him for a moment. The moment we spot him edging to the boards, I let out a growl calling him back. It rattled the trees slightly around us. He was staring into the dense wood-like he's searching for something. I came up beside him, looking out in the woods and inhaling.

"What is it?" I ask him as I notice Serenity fighting with her human changing back. I smelt nothing, but my years as Alpha taught me to be prepared for everything.

"Something different" that's all he said and walked back to Serenity who was fighting her human. Asher barked, and they stopped and rushed closer to him. She barked furiously at him, and he lowered his head in submission. I took a second look at the woods before ushering them back toward the lodge as Serenity kept up her whining at the young pup, about safety and being cautious. I think. When we got back to the lodge, shifting back I noticed that I was late for pack training. I made a mental note to speak with the pup about why he ran off and what he thought he smelt.

Serenity POV

Shifting this morning felt right for some reason. Just having Xander next to me filled me with something I never felt before. I felt it from the human, but the intensity seemed to be different. I wanted to make him mine now, but the Star kept reminding me that Asher was here with us and impressionable. Too young for such a wolfly display of affection. Tonight I tell, tonight I will make him mine. A shift in the wind alerted me that Asher was missing. I spun around frantically looking for him, I can't lose him. A whimper left my throat. I didn't know I had in me to do. Xander nipped at me and dashed off. I followed behind him, catching up with him. Catching up to Asher, he was standing there staring into the woods and beyond. It was weird. I pounced on him. Snarling at him, he bowed his head low in submission. Chastising him felt wrong, but he scared the fur off me. My heartbeat was erratic, and I could barely breathe. Star kept fighting me to come to the forefront, but she can't speak to him in her human form since she refuses to accept the witch side of herself. It wasn't until we found the twins did she accept her wolf. It was because of Asher that we are closer than before. I remember she was scared of him, and I would have to take over and take care of him. We have created an unbreakable bond and now even more so that she has accepted him. Princess is a weird-smelling pup. I have never smelt her kind before, she smells like a wolf-like her brother, but she also has a mineral scent to her that I can't explain. But the goddess told me to be patient, and all will be revealed soon, so I have to trust in that. Heading back to the pack lodge, I noticed a few men and wolves outside fighting, and I paused for a moment. Already calculating if it was me how I would attack and defend myself.

Xander shifted back and got some shorts from a nook in the wall, handy. I must remember that spot. Hopefully, there will be something for Star. Zane stroke my fur one last time, saying

"I need to go train with the men. I will be back. Breakfast will be ready in 15 mins; get dressed, and I will be right there". He said and kissed me.

"Serenity, did he just kiss out a snort, like he would my nose."

"Yes, you're not the only one who likes kisses on the nose, " I told her, rolling my eyes at her. Signalling for Asher to follow me, I took a few steps until I realised he wasn't following me. I turned to see him following after Zane, dashing over to him. I pulled him by the scruff, and he whimpered.

"Train, like a real wolf, please mother", he whines and gives me those puppy dog eyes that I could never say no to. I look out to the men who were so much bigger than him.

"Not today, today you observe and watch. For one week, I promise, and then if you still want to, I will speak with Zane about training you. Ok, he nodded his head. And I left him and headed to my room to change. Once I was comfortable, I went in search of my girls.

Star POV

Looking into the princess room, she was curled up with her stuffed wolf bear. Gentle, i nudge her to wake, this girl is a dead log.

"Come on your highness, time for breakfast" she groaned and put her arms around my neck. The top she was in was twice her size. But she was adorable.

"Let's find sister,", I told her and left to find Nina on the second floor.

Nina was already up and moving about when I got to her room.

"Hi, i was just coming to get her ready," she told me once i entered her. She was in the clothes she's been wearing for the past couple of days. Princess motion for me to hand her over to Nina, so I did. "Let's go, breakfast is calling me, and then we need to decide what's next for us," I told them as we made our way to the dinner area.

"Where's Asher?" she asked.

"He's watching the men train, he'll join us after," I told them and guided them into the dining hall. It was much busier now than when I first got there this morning.

Everyone stopped and stared at us when entered, it was awkward, to say the least. Some sniffed the air and then the whispering started. The emotion emitting from them was confusing my scenes. I raised my eyebrow at everyone and stared right back. Making my way over to an empty seat, I told the girls to sit whilst I got them a plate from the food buffet. Some people went back to eating whilst most just watched me with curiosity and indifference. Working as a waitress, I learned to carry multiple dishes in my hand so it was easy to navigate around the room once I filled the egg, bacon, and sausages plates. It all smelt so delicious.

Sitting at the table I could feel their eyes on me.

"They're all staring at me," Nina muttered.

"Let them stare, as long as they don't worry about it." but I could see that this was making her nervous. Sighing, I asked

"Would you like to eat in your room"

"Yes," she was quick to say. We got up and left and headed back to her room. We ate, but my mind was now panicking because if she is uncomfortable here, we will have to leave. Serenity was not up for that. Sigh.