Chapter 5

Ayla’s POV

Bria’s voice was a welcome sound; I hadn’t been able to talk with her since the fight. It had been so dark and lonely without her. Even though I had only physically had access to my wolf for a short while. It was horrible when she wasn’t there.

“Bria, where have you been? I have been reaching out to you, but you never replied,” a sob escaped, drawing my mate’s attention.

“I am sorry, I could hear you, but I was wrapped up with Alune; I had to ease her transition into this world once again”, Bria’s sympathetic voice filled my mind.

“What do you mean?” my mind was beyond lost right now; what was she going on about? We merged with Alune on the day of the fight; why would she need aid in her transition?

“Ayla, I can hear your thoughts remember.”

“Then answer the questions, Bria!” I didn’t want to lose my temper with my wolf; none of this was her fault.

“Yes, we did merge with Alune on the night of the fight, but that doesn’t mean she has yet transitioned to our plane. She Is an ethereal beaning Ayla; her realm is different to ours,” Bria stated, but I knew she would have to explain it better and slower for me; it was like I needed a guide to the Exalted for dummies handbook or something.

Right now, I just wanted everything to hurry up; the frustration I felt coursing through my body was unreal. Knowing one of my men was in danger was killing me, and knowing I had to save him was terrifying. Bria seemed to want to chat when I didn’t, yes, I had missed her, and I had so much to ask her, but right now, I just needed answers to get things moving. Archer needed me.

“Okay, I get it, there’s loads more to it than I thought, and you will need to explain it all to me”, I butted in before Bria could carry on educating me in the ways of the Exalted.

“Please, Bria, could you sort this out for me? I need to get Alune to help get to Archer. Aleena said to talk to her, so she must know something” I paused as my thoughts wouldn’t slow down, and I needed a break. I needed to breathe and find my calm as my heart was racing and my mind was trying to catch it up.

“Fine, but we do have a lot to talk about it; I love Archer and Titan as much as you do; I want to get them back, too,” Bria said. But I could tell she wasn’t feeling great, like she was on edge. There was definitely something she wasn’t telling me; I will get to the bottom of it just as soon as I have Archer back safely with me.

“Give me a minute, oh, and Ayla, be ready. Alune is very powerful; as I said, she is still transitioning. She will come through to you, but it might not be as smooth as it is for you and me to talk to each other, not right away anyway,” Bria warned; my nerves went through the roof, the last thing I needed right now was an out of this world mega being assaulting my mind.

Pacing back and forth, I waited for Alune’s voice to fill my mind. I remember the feeling when she had controlled my body before. It wasn’t the same as when Bria controlled our form; it was hard to explain. I’m still me but so much more, and I can hear her talking, and I can feel all the movements she makes, but it still feels like it’s me but not me at the same time. If I thought about it a bit too much, I felt like I was going crazy, so I tended to steer clear of it as much as possible.

The world became heavier and tighter before I had time to prepare myself, even though Bria had warned me to. It felt like I was moving through treacle, and the biggest, strongest guy was squeezing me so tightly I couldn’t take a full breath in.

“Ayla, you wanted me, I gather”, Alune’s voice boomed within my head. I physically shrank away from the sudden sound. Aiden and Axle were beside me in a flash, concern etched all over their faces.

“Alune?”

“Yes, child, what is so urgent that you needed your wolf to fetch me,” Alune asked, a hint of a smile sounding through her words.

“Archer is trapped in the Spirit world, and I need to get him out”, I paused “, but I don’t know how” the last few words were nothing more than a whisper. Traitorous tears slipped from my eyes; I tried so hard to hold them in check, but I never really had a chance.

“I see, and you expect me to pull him out of there, do you?” Alune’s voice sounded irritated.

“What? No, I expect you to help me work out how to get him back” I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice; why was she so annoyed by this? Wasn’t he her mate too?

“It’s taken me this long to transition into your plane, let alone diving right into another; I need time to find my feet again to bond with you and Bria before I think about anything as taxing as world jumping again”, she practically huffed.

Standing there listening to a being I hadn’t even known existed a few weeks ago moan about saving one of my mates was the biggest slap in the face; my breath quickened, and I had to steady myself; the rage I felt toward the Exalted right then was growing rapidly. Her audacity made her think it was okay to speak to me in such a manner. She wouldn’t have someone to merge with if it wasn't for me. I know Bria warned me to be careful as Alune is so powerful, but she had pissed me off!

“Let me get this straight”, I spoke out loud this time; my anger was way too strong to contain it within a mind link.

“You come here, expect to merge with me, saying I’m some almighty chosen one, my life gets ripped from the norm and turned upside down, and that’s okay, yes”, I drag a long lung full of oxygen in “, but, it’s too much to ask for you to guide me to save one of the men I love when if I’m not mistaken, you need me to have my three mates for us to work!” the last part I all but screamed, I dragged my fingers through my hair, my whole body was shaking, my skin felt itchy, and I was beyond angry. How dare this being come here and demand so much of me yet not offer a speck of help in return? Well, I am done. I will refuse her and find a way to push her out. If she treats me this way, we will not work out.

“I see; I can hear your thoughts, child” Alune sounded amused, which pissed me off. I didn’t like her.

“And?” I shout, throwing my arms out to the side.

“I get your annoyed, and I can tell you love this boy very much”, she continued “, and in a way, you are right. I do need him to keep you safe so we can work together to fulfil our duty”, she sighed “just so you know, that burst of sassiness you had there was my influence on you coming through, you see we are already working together!”

“How can you act like this isn’t even important to you? How can you expect me to do whatever you want me to if a part of me is missing?” Aiden had placed his hand on the small of my back; he calmed me when I needed it, making it so I could talk to this ancient stuck-up bitch without screaming. I may not be the most outspoken person, and I may not be the boldest, but I sure as hell with fight till the death for my mates, so if she thinks every time I have a bit of fire in my belly, it’s because of her then she will be sorely mistaken.

“Breathe, we need her; you know we can’t get to Archer without her help”, he whispered into my ear; his warm breath tickled my neck as he spoke, setting butterflies off in my belly; how on earth could he manage that when I was feeling so fucking angry, he was something else.

“I’d listen to your boy if I were you, young lady!” she warned me; I scowled, knowing I had to do as she said as I had no choice, I needed her to gain access to Archer. I exhale and close my eyes.

“Look, Alune, I’m not asking you to dive in and drag him out for me. All I’m asking is for you to show me the way to get there, and I’ll get him out myself” everything fell into place right then; I would happily go into the spirit world and get my man myself. I didn’t need anyone to get him for me; I just needed someone to open the door.

“And what good would you be to me if you go and get yourself hurt or worse, killed” she questioned me. If I could see her, I’m sure she would have her hands on her hips, tapping her foot, waiting for me to reply.

“You will have to trust that I can do this”, I sighed, looking over my shoulder; Archer was on the bed, his peaceful face twisted; I hoped beyond belief he wasn’t in pain. My heart ached, and I knew I had to do whatever I could quickly.

“Ayla, listen to me”, she spoke, breaking my thoughts of Archer. “I can feel your love for this man, and I do fully understand the importance of him and how not only you but I need him. I can’t go to the spirit world for a couple of reasons, not only because my body is not ready for that kind of transition but because there is someone there that I cannot be near, it would be dangerous for all if I ever tried it” she explained, her tone much softer now. I frowned and looked at Axel; he stepped up and linked his hand with mine, knowing precisely what I needed right then.

“Okay, but surely there is something I can do”, I urged her.

“Yes, I can help you open the pathway to that world, but I cannot step in there with you; I’ll be no more than a voice in your head; my powers will be lost to you, do you understand? I cannot help you there. It will do more harm than good” I felt the importance of her words, and I nod.

“I understand”

“I will need help from someone on your plane. This isn’t something I can do myself, not right now”, she started, but I cut her off.

“Aleena! She is talking to her elders. She said she needed to speak with them, and I was to talk with you!” can she do it?”

“Who is this, Aleena?”

“Oh, sorry, Aleena is an Elf. She has magic! Crazy, I know, but she is amazing,” I gushed, never realising how much I liked the elf myself until then.

“I know what an elf is”, Alune chuckled, and I felt my cheeks flush.

“Sorry”, I mumbled, feeling stupid.

“Your elf friend will do nicely as long as her magic is strong and she can hold her own, then yes, she is exactly what we need!” Alune smiled, and I felt it throughout my body.

“Great! When she returns, we will get started” I felt like I could dance, scream, cry and sing all at once. Finally, something was going to happen. “Wait! How will I reach you without Bria getting you for me?”

“Oh, I can hear you, child; I just choose when to make myself known; just call my name, and I’ll answer”

I wasn’t sure if I should feel relieved or annoyed; all those times I had needed to clear my head from the fight with the Sun valley pack and with Archer gone, neither Alune nor Bria had answered my call; they had left me here on my own to grieve a man right in front of me, yet worlds away at the same time.

“They both have some explaining to do after this!” Trust me; I was going to make them tell me everything once Archer was safely back with me.

“You ok, Princess?” Aiden asked me, kissing my cheek.

“Yeah, I think so; that wasn’t as bad as Bria made out it was going to be!” I told them it concerned me a bit, and Bria was insistent that I needed to be careful, yet Alune didn’t seem half as scary as she made out.

“Maybe you’re stronger than you know”, Axel added, but I think it was something else together; I guess only time will tell.