Chapter 30

Aleena’s POV

Something changed, something I have never felt before, and I don’t know what it means. My world is different to that of the shifters—all shifters, not just the werewolves. Most races live ignorant lives. Unaware of anything around them that doesn’t directly impact their lives. This is why I am seen as a myth or a legend if you prefer.

Magic is an everyday thing to me; it’s as natural as breathing. Sadly, most want to exploit it, so my race is much smaller now than it once was. We never used to hide away. We were once one of the most respected and dominant races this earth had ever seen. Then some became greedy and wanted our power for themselves. They soon learnt it’s not something that can just be taken. It is our whole being, our life source. Take our power; you take our life, meaning the power dies too!

When the world shook earlier today, I knew something big had happened; I just didn’t know what. So, I wasn’t overly surprised when I received visitors this evening.

Michael came down the darkened corridor again with Axel and Archer Chase, but this time he brought another boy and his adopted daughter Ayla; I hadn’t seen her for years. She was only a child when I first met her. She won’t remember it, though. Children never can until they reach a certain age. The tension was so thick around them all it was kind of uncomfortable.

“Aleena, we need your help”, Michael spoke first.

“Is this to do with the power shift that happened today?” I ask simply.

“Power shift?” he had no clue like I thought.

I saw it then, a glow coming from the girl’s hand. It shone out like a beacon. The more I watched her, the more I could see the strands of power snaking their way out of her and going straight into the Chase brothers. It led directly from her to them; they were linked, that I was sure off. The more I watched them, the brighter the power shone.

“Ayla, it’s you”, I breathe.

“Pardon me?” she replied, looking at each of the men with her in turn. “What’s me?”

“You have no idea how important you are, do you!” I could see it all now; I couldn’t believe this was happening. Thinking back to the time spent with Michael and reading those scrolls, something tugged at my mind, but it wasn’t strong enough for me to realise that the events depicted in the old scrolls were the same.

“I’m sorry, what? I’m nothing special, I’m just me, and can we stop for a second? How do you know me, and I don’t mean to sound rude, but you’re an Elf; you shouldn’t exist” Ayla let the words fall from her mouth like a waterfall.

“Ayla, sorry, this is Aleena, she is an old friend of mine, she guards our Archive. She is invaluable to us,” Michael introduced me.

“I know I must seem strange to you, but in time you will learn all about my people and me” I smiled at her; I honestly couldn’t believe this was happening. I didn’t want to freak her out, so baby steps it was.

“Aleena, we needed to see you discuss something we saw today to see if you could make sense of it,” Archer tells me he’s got hold of Ayla’s hand. His strand of power glowed the brightest right then.

“Okay, maybe we should go somewhere more private,” I tell them. “Michael, which room would you like to use today.”

“I think maybe the restricted room again, no one can enter without my permission”, he decides.

“Remember, stay close and do not wander,” I told them.

“What’s going on?” Aiden asks

“Just follow us and be ready to feel a bit shit, “Axel politely tells him.

Running my fingers over the runes on the old wooden door, I called the magic needed forward. As soon as I step over the threshold, my ears pop. It wasn’t long until I heard the others following; as always, there were a few groans from those not so used to this kind of travel.

“Stay with me; it won’t take long,” I tell them and plough on ahead.

The restricted room was exactly as we had left it. Books and scrolls everywhere. But the two we found were still on one of the tables. Moments later, I hear Michael step through and close the door. Then multiple sounds of heaving and moaning.

“I’ll give you all a minute” I smile.

“Aleena, I hope you have even the slightest understanding of what is going on, as right now I don’t have a clue” Michael looked beyond lost.

“I’ll do my best, old friend”, I try to reassure him

“Okay, I think I’m ready” Axel looked up at me, hand still on his knees.

“Me too,” Archer adds.

“What the heck was that” Aiden coughs; I couldn’t help but laugh; his face was priceless.

“Aleena, we were wondering if you had a clue about those images we saw the other day; remember the image of three guys and one girl,” Archer says. “We went for a walk and found the same image inside a cave.”

“Honestly, before, when we first saw them, I was clueless, but today, when the power changed, it sort of shifted. Then I saw Ayla, and you three, then something clicked,” I tell him, “I think I do know what is happening here.”

“Thank the Goddess” Michael threw his arms up in the air. “How do we sort it; how do we fix this triple mate thing” he almost shouted.

“Michael, I told you there is nothing to fix” Ayla finally spoke

“It’s not right, Ayla; it’s not the normal way of things”, he answered her

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the right thing or the normal way, or even if you like it or not, all that matters is I love them! all of them!” Ayla was angry. The light shining from her, visible only to me, shone brighter.

The three Brothers all turned to look at her as she said she loved them. They adored her, too; it was so clear to see. They would die for her if they needed to. She was correct; there honestly wasn’t anything to fix.

“Alpha Michael, I speak for all of us; we are mad about Ayla, we love her with every part of our beings, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for her, there isn’t anything wrong that needs fixing,” Aiden told the elder with such passion.

Michael looked annoyed, confused and worried all at the same time.

“Aleena?” he pleaded with me. “Well?”

“I’m sorry, my friend, they are right, there is nothing to fix, but there is plenty to behold,” I tell him. “Ayla and the Chase Brothers are much more than you or I could ever imagine. They are going to change the world as we know it,” I tell him.

“Aleena, you say you know what is going on, then please tell me straight” Ayla looked at me, surrounded by her men. “What am I?”

Watching her, I note how the power ebbs and flows from her very being and how it connects her to the three brothers; I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. I was taught as a child many years ago about the Exalted.

The Exalted were the name given to the first of their kind. There was one for every race; legend told that when the world needed it most, an Exalted would be reborn and shape the world back to what it was initially meant to be. The Exalted always had three others with them. Their forever mates, Protector, Warrior and Provider, their bond was unbreakable and eternal.

“Ayla, you are an Exalted,” I say, knowing she still wouldn’t understand for a while. “You are Alune. The first wolf shifter.”

When spoken aloud, the magnitude of what was going on hit me; I was in the presence of one of the Exalted; I fell to my knees and prayed.

“What are you doing” Ayla stammered. “Get up, please!”

“Which one of you protects Ayla the most” I look at the three brothers.

“We all do”, Archer answered.

“Yes, I know, but which one has done it the most in total” I ushered; they thought for a moment.

“It’s me,” Archer said

“Okay, which one attacks for Ayla the most,” I ask again

“I don’t know; I guess that might be me”, Axel answered

“Finally, the provider, who comforts her the most, I’m assuming it’s you” I looked to the last brother

“Yeah, I guess I am super protective of her”, Aiden agrees; his brother’s also nods.

“You are Alune reborn, Ayla. It is written in ancient history that when the world is in need, it will call forth one of the Exalted, whoever can fix the problem at the time. An Exalted is always surrounded by their three destined to be, bound by eternity Mates. The Provider, The Warrior and The Protector” I point to the three young men around her. “It may take some time for you to understand all of this and be able to control your power, but I can already see it flowing from you and linking the four of you together.”

“I don’t understand?” she mutters. “I’m Ayla. I’m not Alune?”

“You are Ayla, yes, but you are Alune as well. Have you ever done something you can’t explain or know you shouldn’t be able to do?” I ask her; the look on her face tells me she has.

“I guess yeah”, she admits

“And your wolf, can she answer questions about things you wouldn’t know?” I probe

“Yes, but everyone can ask their wolf questions,” she reasons.

“Yes, but most wolfs can only answer on what they have seen through your eyes. They would be brand new like their human counterparts. Whereas you can ask your wolf things, and she can help work out the answer from past experiences.” I tried to tell her as gently as possible; she was on overtime right now; I didn’t want to overload her. “You’re special, Ayla; there was a reason Alune chose you.”

“I need to sleep; this is all a bit too much right now”, Ayla finally says, looking rather pale and ready to be done for the night.

“Michael, we can pick this up tomorrow, oh and Michael,” I say.

“Yes?” he answers

“Do not try to separate Ayla from her guardians. It will only end badly for everyone. They are destined to be, if you like it or not,” I warn him; he looks forlorn but nods in understanding.

“You three!” I call to them

“It is your duty to protect, defend and provide for her. Make sure you do; more than just the werewolf’s lives depend on it!” I tell them, driving my point home.

“She is my life; I’d give mine for hers!” Axel states, and his brothers wholeheartedly agreed.