Chapter 3:

•••••

Prologue Continued: Rebirth

When I came to, there was a stream with a waterfall between me and the White forest. The scenery was so surreal I felt the need to just relax. But the white forest was beckoning and I would have to go. According to the old books, the white forest is full of the thickest trees ever seen in the sacred lands with green leaves and white roots, it never bears fruit.

It is the main test of the sacred lands and all moon alphas are said to have been reborn there.

"Oh finally, you're awake." A voice said and I looked around to see the orange reptile, coiled up a feet or two away from me. "Why are you here?". I asked.

"I guide the purest of souls, that pass through." It answered in mind link. "But I have never heard or read about you " I pressed. "Well that's because you'll forget everything the moment you get into the white forest, now go take a bath and get going you really do stink." It said, covering it's snout with a part of it's tail.

The water was unbelievably cold, but I did my best to wash up quickly and got out on the other side. I looked back and saw nothing but the stream that went on and on without a shore. I shrugged and walked into the forest.

It was eerily quiet in the forest and I felt the same pressured feeling in my ear, which I had felt when I first stepped onto the sacred lands, it gradually snuck up on me. But this time it was more intense, goosebumps erupted on my skin and I unconsciously began to run trying to get away from the pressure but the more I ran the worst the pressure became.

I ran until I came into contact with a giant black wolf, it had beautiful green eyes.."Kraw ?!! I asked totally unsure, but I know my wolf when I see him. That's definitely Kraw, but how is he there and I am here? I thought. Then he snarled and growled at me and I smirked. Typical, I thought to myself, only Kraw would do that.

I ignored him and noticed the pressure had stabilized, it was still there but no longer increasing and driving me to madness. Then he lunged at me, the nerve of this f**king silly dog. To me, he is only a wolf when he grows some brain, but he Is a dog when he is being irrational, which he is right now.

His sharp canines dug into my shoulder, and I grabbed his snout and slammed it shut on my shoulder, then rolled on to my side, and pinned his hind legs with mine. He struggled to get free for a long while, but I wouldn't loosen my grip.

He struggled for hours on end, but I didn't let up until he flattened his ears , bent his head and whined out his submission. Even then I refused to let him go, he whined some more until a white wolf came into my peripheral vision it looked exactly like Kraw too but it was different in a way, it was powerful, very powerful I must say because its aura alone made me bend my head in submission and I instantly let go of Kraw.

The white wolf instantly went to Kraw, liking his snout and comforting him. It felt oddly familiar but I didn't know why. After sometime they both turned to me and we communicated in a way only you and your wolf can, without words.

They began to walk ahead of me and I followed closely behind. My bloodied shoulder completely forgotten. We walked for a while and I was about to pass out from how tired I was and the loss of blood,

when we reached a clearing that had a small gathering of people, they seemed surreal, do people live in the sacred lands?. I was in awe of them. Some of the men were bare chested with some type of fancy leather pants and leather sandals while three of them wore jeans and tee shirts But were barefooted. The women wore sundresses and sandals.

It looked perfect, but the picture wasn't quite right. "Hello Seb, welcome to the white lands. I am alpha Drake, they are alphas' Stefan, Damien, Luke, Bernard, Trenchard, Mason and Zane. These are our mates. He paused. "We are all moon alphas who have served before you".. " Drake don't confuse the poor pup, just tell him." Stefan interjected on a chuckle.

Drake sighed dramatically, before he continued. " well you have passed the test, you are the new moon alpha." He said. What a joke, I thought to myself and some of them burst out laughing. What is so funny? I asked inwardly, but they doubled over laughing instead even Drake was finding it difficult to keep a straight face.

"We can all hear your thoughts, that's why." He said.

"I haven't fought any epic battles or defeated any demonized beast, so how can I be the moon alpha.?" I asked.

"Seb , people automatically believe you have to fight some epic battles or go through death to be the crowned the moon alpha, but those are just assumptions, the test is more about character, courage, intelligence, fairness and honesty than brute strength. Part of your powers as the moon alpha would be unrivaled strength as it's one of the trademark of every moon alpha." He explained.

I nodded but I still didn't believe them and watched them warily. Then the atmosphere changed suddenly and a woman in an ancient looking white frock, with the front almost like a kimono appeared. I had seen a drawing of a woman wearing this frock in the archives, although the drawing didn't really capture the woman's face.

That pressurized feeling suddenly came back a thousand fold, and I braced myself for impact, but it never came. Instead the feeling just faded away as quickly as it came. She was very powerful I could tell, because I couldn't look her in the eyes and the other bowed their heads in respect to her.

"Hello Sebastian, my name is moon most people call me the moon goddess." She said in mind link.

"You have proven to be the wisest of the three. Let's get your ceremony out of the way then we can eat and be merry." She finished, I nodded my head and I finally felt like I could look up."

There was a long table with lots of foods on it and every one was standing by a chair. Moon stood at the head and I ran up to the table but she beckoned for me to come to her side. Then everyone sliced their palms and put drops of blood in a small glass bowl, the moon goddess did the same before asking me to do the same.

When I was done she took a sip and gave me to drink, then she took some of the blood left in the glass and painted it on my forehead. I felt a stinging sensation, before my blood roared to life. She pointed to something and I saw she was pointing to Kraw and his white Replica.

I looked and couldn't take my eyes of them, but the more I looked at the huge wolves, the more they faded into nothing. Then I felt the powers rush into me, it felt like I had been sucker punched. My body hit the ground and I couldn't explain it, I wasn't staring at the wolves anymore but I could still see them.

Someone clapped in my face and I growled.. Kraw was back!!! " Told you, you were stuck with me." Kraw smirked in my head.

"Calm down Seb, come eat the food is getting cold " Stefan said. He seemed to be the playful one of the group.

" Where is Curt, what happened to him?" I asked. " He killed his wolf, and ultimately himself." Drake said. " I killed Hilary." I stated looking at the moon goddess. " You did what you needed to do to survive, and he was more concerned about revenge that being a good leader."

"After our meal you would be allowed to leave but you won't remember most of what happened here." The woman beside Drake said gently, with a small smile.

" I wish the very best Seb, you and your mate."moon goddess said. "I'm sorry moon, but I don't have a Mate, she was killed." I corrected and wondered how it is that she missed the fact that my mate had been killed.

" Oh.. poor Seb you do have a mate."

"But moon Alpha's only have one mate", I pointed out.

" Yes, moon alpha's only have one mate. Fortunately for you, you were not the moon alpha when you lost your first mate, so you do have a mate, all you have to do is find her." She explained.