38

While his mind went over and over these thoughts, his eyes absently watched the warriors on the field. A few of the older wolves were working with the younger generation, strengthening them and teaching them new things. Hamilton looked pleased with everyone's progress, giving pointers and supervising them all with his usual serious observance. He was a good Beta, his best friend, and Malachi was so grateful to have him in his life.

When the sun had sunk to just near the horizon, the wolves were finishing up and leaving one by one. Soon Hamilton jogged over to him.

"You're thinking about her, aren't you?"

"What gives you that idea?" Malachi scowled, keeping his arms loose against his chest and his ankles crossed, leaning back against the guardhouse.

Hamilton stood with hands on his hips, giving equal attention to his Alpha and the remaining wolves on the field. "Well, I don't know. It's not like it's written all over your face with a black marker. You give dark and brooding Alpha a whole new meaning."

"Thank you for the kind observation." Malachi turned the aforementioned dark stare onto his Beta.

Hamilton threw up his arms in defence and smirked. "Hey, just telling you the truth, brother. And honestly, I've been thinking about her too."

"You have?" Malachi threw him a suspicious glare.

"Hey, not like that. I was just thinking about how good she's gotten at fighting and sparring since we've been training her. She's getting so strong. Remember the other day she was training with me, and ended up knocking me down? She's doing good," the Beta nodded in approval and admiration.

Malachi let a small chuckle escape. He remembered. It had become his habit the last few weeks to come down here after working in his office, and watch the new warriors training. But especially it was Ariella that caught and held most of his attention. There was something mesmerising about watching her spar with the others, her beautiful brown hair with the colourful ends flying around her shoulders, her slender figure gracefully dodging and ducking the play punches and kicks that came her way. She even managed to make falling to the ground look beautiful, and more than once Malachi had resisted the instinct to race over and help her up.

She faced a fair amount of struggles, learning the difficult evasion and defence moves, but she was tough. Stronger than she thought, and Malachi was beginning to see what a strong warrior heart she had beating in her chest.

"Yes, she's good, but are you sure you aren't going too hard on her? The other day before she left, she had bruises on her ribs. Not that she showed me. She'd never admit to being hurt. But maybe you could go a little easy on her, and not let the others fight too hard against her."

Hamilton raised his eyebrows. "Go easier on her? If I don't watch my back, she'll be outdoing us all soon enough. That girl is a viper dressed in sheep's clothing."

"No," Malachi disagreed, shaking his head with a faraway look in his eyes, knowing his stunning mate was anything but a poisonous snake. "She's a daydream wrapped in starlight."

Hamilton swivelled his head and looked at his Alpha sharply. "That is....awfully poetic. Are you feeling okay? Have you bumped your head or something?"

"I'm sorry, I think I just zoned out. I thought I heard you insulting my mate," Malachi growled.

Hamilton just chuckled.

Malachi shared a laugh, then sobered, motioning for his Beta to stand closer. "I worry about her, Hamilton."

"She's fine. Every bruise will only make her stronger. I'll keep training—"

"That's not what I'm talking about," Malachi paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. Hamilton was his closest friend, close as a brother, and he had to confide in someone. "I've... I've dreamt about her. I've had the same dream a couple nights now. She's hurt. Stabbed in the chest. Blood... blood everywhere..."

Malachi closed his eyes against the images that kept playing over in his head. Ariella in the Alpha mansion in the main hall with moonlit shadows creeping all around her. A dark stain growing on her chest, spreading through the white cotton dress that hung loosely on her thin shoulders. She was sitting on the throne-like armchair that his father usually occupied when presiding over pack disputes. The members would file in, bowing and bringing their arguments before Dennison as if he were their king. His dominance and arrogance demanded it.

But instead of his powerful and authoritative posture, Ariella shrank into the back of the chair, a look of terror in her eyes like a hunted animal. Malachi stood in the doorway, his feet fused to the marble floor as he watched helplessly the wound that gaped on her chest. Then he would wake up, covered in sweat, his throat strangled with silent screams.

"Sounds like your daydream is actually a nightmare."

Malachi stared at Hamilton cooly, at the flippant way that he'd brushed off his confession.

Hamilton continued quickly. "Dreams are dangerous, man. They're not real, but they get stuck in your head. Wriggle themselves into your mind and make you think they're real. They make you worried and grow sick over nothing."

Malachi heard his words but discounted them. "I have a feeling about this, Hamil. This isn't just nothing. I've had the same dream, over and over, every so often for a few weeks. It can't just be meaningless."

"Okay, sure. Whatever you say. But Ariella will be fine. We'll keep her safe. You'll protect her, won't you."

It wasn't a question, but Malachi answered emphatically. "Of course. That's all I want to do; protect her from this. From whatever is haunting her."

"And you wouldn't do anything to hurt her, would you?" Hamilton clenched his jaw and gave his Alpha a very pointed stare.

Unsaid words passed between them, and Malachi swallowed hard, rebuking his suddenly dry throat. "Of course not."

"Good." Hamilton took a deep breath and released it slowly before repeating, "Good." Then he tilted his head and regarded the Alpha in a way that made him uneasy. "You do know, that in order to keep her safe, you have to keep her close, right?" He lifted his hand and pushed back lightly on his Alpha's chest.

"She needed the distance. I needed to let her go," Malachi instantly defended, shoving his Beta.

"Okay, I get that." Hamilton automatically slipped into his fighting stance, and watched Malachi for his next move. The two had sparred like this many times before, talking out their issues while refining their bodies into skilled fighters. "But how much space are you going to give her? She can't get to know you from a distance, man."

"And she can't get to know me up close, either!" Malachi snapped, lashing out at Hamilton with a well placed kick.

The outburst surprised them both, and Malachi looked away in apologetic shame. "You know why I'm doing this."

Hamilton pursed his lips and slowly nodded as he got up, rounding on Malachi with a sly move that sent them both rolling onto the ground. "It still doesn't feel right—"

"Nothing about this is right!" Malachi was the first to regain his feet, and tackled Hamilton around the waist. "Thanks to my prideful and arrogant father, we are still paying for his mistakes."

Hamilton took the fall before adjusting his momentum and springing back up, behind Malachi. Sweat rolled down his muscles, glistening in the glow of dusk as he exerted himself. His hands hung loose by his side as he spoke, "I know. But we can't keep letting the past affect us negatively like this. Someone once told me that the pain of the past can break us and make us weak. Or it can forge us into something even stronger."

Malachi wondered where he had heard those words, unsure if he should believe them. Nevertheless, they resonated somewhere in his soul before he pushed them aside. "That's not an option when the past is eating at us, draining us. And what are we left with? Scars, and disloyalty. Distrust. Death. Ongoing problems that are threatening us right now. My father's ignorance to the truth, his blindness, has done more damage than even we can know," he spat to the side at the distasteful words, then he leapt towards Hamilton with a clenched fist.

Hamilton couldn't argue. They all knew the problematic legacy left by the previous Alpha. He deflected the blow by grabbing Malachi's wrist and twisting it around. He spoke in uneven breaths, panting from the exertion he used against the strong Alpha. "Then that's why you need your mate to work through it together. You're stronger with each other--"

Malachi started to contradict him, but Hamilton pushed on, pushing him down to a crouch. "Listen, man. You can't keep pushing Ariella away. I get that some crazy stuff is going on, but that can't be the reason to ruin things with your mate. Everything that's happening, the deaths and disrespect, is just extra. It's just life. But the bond between you and Ariella is sacred. It's eternal. Don't lose sight of that." He released Malachi and took a step back, giving the Alpha some space to process the contradictions in his head.

Malachi dug his fingers into his hair, lowering his head until his arms rested on his knees and he was staring at the vibrant green grass between his feet. "You make it sound so simple."

"It has to be. Or else everything in life would be so complicated. Mates are meant to make it all easier."

"That's not how it worked for my dad."

Hamilton snorted. "Your dad was some sort of twisted exception."

"He failed three women. I don't want to fail even one." The Alpha's voice was quiet, muffled even.

"And you won't. You won't fail Ariella."

"You're sure right, I won't. Which is why..." Malachi rose quickly and angled his body for another attack, giving Hamilton little time to ready himself. But the Beta was always ready for anything. Malachi knew what he was doing, so he feigned his move and swung his body around the other way at the very last second.

Hamilton took the hit and fell heavily, having missed reading his Alpha correctly like usual.

"You okay, bro?" Malachi extended his hand to help him up.

"Just got word from Jasper," Hamilton huffed, explaining the brief diversion of his focus. "He's been patrolling the crag by Sunset Falls. Says he caught sight of a rogue lurking around the border. You remember Zander?"

"Rogue Zander?" Malachi snapped his eyes to Hamilton's, and read the same agitation in them that he now felt. Both wolves were instantly alert and ready for the threat.

"The one and the same."

Taking a deep breath, Malachi let a hundred thoughts run through his head. This kind of trouble was the last thing they needed. "Did he say what he wanted?"

Hamilton shook his head, but replied anyway. "I think we all know what he wants."

"And this is my doll, I named her Sandy because her hair is yellow like sand. She looks so pretty in this pink dress, don't you think?"

Emerald picked up the doll from its place amongst other stuffed animals, and smoothed out the dress that was covered in flowers, ribbons, and buttons. Her side of the room that she shared with her sister was all soft and girly with pretty pink things everywhere, while Savannah's side was decorated with unusual things like smooth rocks from the creek, slingshots made from sticks, and curious leaves dried between books.

The two Alpha daughters were opposite in many ways, but so alike in their love for their family and friends.

"It's gorgeous," Ariella agreed, patting the doll and looking about the room. When Ariella and her mom came to visit for the day, both girls instantly pulled her upstairs to excitedly show her their latest gifts and toys. Now while Emerald was proudly pointing out her neatly arranged collection, Savannah sat in the window seat flipping through a book.

"And this is Mr Bunny. I got him from Daddy for my birthday last year. He has the softest fur. Feel it?" Emerald held up a stuffed bunny rabbit and Ariella patted it.

"He sure is soft. And he's got a really cute face. And he even has whiskers," Ariella inspected it closer before tickling Emerald on her neck and arms with the whiskers. The young girl's happy giggles and smiles brightened the already sunny room.

"Cale hates that rabbit for some weird reason," Savannah said with amusement. "He tried to throw it in the lake when Emmy brought it to school."

"But it's okay. I kept Mr Bunny safe. I'd never let that mean little wolf hurt you, would I?" Emerald stroked the stuffed toy and talked to it in a soft voice.

"He's not as mean as Justin." The comment came from the future Alpha who had her nose back in the book, a scowl on her cute face. Suddenly she laughed. "Hey, It says here that a special type of sumac plant gives you an itch. Should I try and put some in Justin's jacket? It would be so funny to see him scratching all over!"

"What are you reading?" Ariella got up from her kneeling position to sit beside Savannah. The sunshine glided in the open window and illuminated the pages that consisted of words and simple sketch diagrams.

"It's a botany book my mom gave me last week. It's been in her library for years and when I found it, I couldn't stop looking at it, it's so interesting! So Mom said I could keep it," Savannah grinned with excitement. "It's full of so many cool facts, all about the plants that grow around here. Some are used for medicine, some are used to add flavour to food, and some are even poisonous." Savannah's eyes sparkled with delight as she rubbed her hands together.

"Sounds like you need to be careful with what you pick," Ariella flipped through the pages, recognising many flowers and herbs that she'd seen across the years in her meadows and forests. Memories of being pricked with thorns, stung with bees, and sneezing from a faceful of pollen skipped through her mind. Despite all this, she loved nature, and it seemed Savannah did too.

Her eyes caught on something, one word in the description of a plant.

Madness.

The small shrub, Madenolia insansum, grew beautiful blossoms that came in shades of white to blush pink. It was under the poisonous section of the book, coming with a warning to steer clear of it as even a brush of the petals could allow the toxic residue to infiltrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. Though little was known about it, it was believed the toxin could reach the brain and destroy neurons, over time resulting in insanity, or madness. It only grew on the very high mountain tops, somewhere near the present location of IceSword Pack.

Madness.

The voice of Jasper the warrior haunted Ariella, and she recalled the unashamed look of disgust as he spoke of his previous Alpha.

Had Dennison come into contact with a poisonous plant, thus slowly losing his mind? Could this explain his reckless and abusive behaviour?

"Do you mind if I borrow this book?" Ariella asked Savannah, her fingers lingering on the yellowed pages as ideas flew like birds in and out of her mind. She needed to look into this more, and maybe do her own research.

"Sure. Why not. I've read lots of it anyway. Mom said she'll buy me some more updated books all about plants, since that's the kind of thing I like to study. Maybe when I grow up I can be a botanist, or haughty callchist, or what's it called?"

"Horticulturist," Emerald pronounced the word perfectly around a few missing baby teeth, as she re-dressed her doll in something blue. "But won't you be Alpha when you grow up?"

"I can still study plants. Maybe I'll plant a whole farm of mango trees, and strawberries, and make my own plant of strawmangoes! Or I'll discover a new plant in the forest when Justin isn't following me like he does all the time—" she gave an annoyed roll of her eyes— "and it will be named after me!" The young girl waved her arms around expressively, her light brown hair swaying in its ponytail back and forth over her slender shoulders.

"You can be anything you want when you're older, Vannah. Including Alpha, and horticulturist, and master storyteller!" Ariella laughed and gave her a tight squeeze before slipping the book in her bag. She was just beginning to rise when Isaiah came toddling into the room and straight for his big sister Emerald.

"Emmy, I wanna pway. Pway with me, Emmy." He wrapped his arms around her neck and fell over into her lap, disrupting her work on the doll.

"No, Isaiah! Don't ruin my dolly. Sit back," she tried shoving him off, only for him to become interested in her neat line of stuffed animals. With chubby fists, he picked one up and scattered all the rest.

"No! Be careful, Ziah, don't mess with my things." Emerald was getting frustrated and Ariella knew that though she loved her baby brother, his innocent actions would quickly upset her.

So Ariella rescued the situation before anyone started to fuss or cry. "I'm going to go see if Mom needs help with lunch. Why don't you come with me, little man?" Picking him up, she carried Isaiah downstairs and left the girls in peace.

After lunch, she tidied up the kitchen and washed the dishes with the girls, giving their moms a chance to relax and chat.

Later in the afternoon after training, Charles came by and led Ariella to the library as promised.

After their discussion last night of her unusual dreams, he told her of some ancient books that had remained in the Alpha library for generations. Mostly filled with speculation, the books spoke of good and evil spirits, their interaction with reality, but most importantly, the Interealm where they resided. Ariella wanted to know how much was factual or based on matters of the heart. Was it just spiritual and dependent on personal faith in invisible beings? Were angels and demons actually real, or thought up by overactive imaginations such as hers?

"So you'll find down here, in this corner, the oldest books on the territory," Charles showed her the tall bookcase that rose a few feet taller than her, the shelves sagging under leather bound tomes. Layers of dust say undisturbed between the spines. "Chesca's great-great-grandparents, the founding Alphas of Steelheart pack, had them brought over the sea from the temples before they were destroyed. No one has read them for centuries, but I'm sure they say something about what you're dreaming of. Even if you don't find out anything for certain, it might be helpful to know that others have experienced similar things."

"Thanks," Ariella murmured and began lifting a small book from the shelf nearest her eye level. The scrollwork on the worn leather was intricate and intriguing.

Otherworldly.

For the next half hour, she paged through drawings of different creatures, ancient wolf portraits and sketches of extinct animals. Some were obviously embellished by imagination, but nothing matched what she'd seen in her own visions.

Not even the pictures denoted as spirits of Tartarus were like how she'd envisioned Hamilton on the first night she'd stumbled onto his territory.

"You won't find what you're after in the mythology section."

Ariella nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the book she was holding. "Don't scare me like that!" she squeaked. With a pounding heart and unsteady voice, she sank into an overstuffed wingback chair and glared at Luci.

"Not my fault you were so engrossed in a weird book that you didn't hear your best friend walk in. Don't give me that look! You think I deliberately snuck up on you like some creepy demon? Is that what you take me for?" Luci scoffed and lightly punched her friend in the arm before collapsing beside her, sitting half on her lap and dangling the other leg over the edge of the chair.

Ariella squirmed under her weight but didn't mind the proximity. "Let's see what you have here...." Luci peered over her shoulder at the open book and couldn't hide the amusement in her eyes. "You really think you're going to get answers from here? Just look at how crazy that picture is! Like I said, you need facts not myths."

"Oh, and I suppose you know exactly how to recognise a demon," Ariella sighed and closed the book, putting it on the table that was already stacked with similar books she'd discarded.

"I have my ideas. Here, what about this book?"

Ariella took the offered book and read the title. "Science and Alchemy in the Modern Age. This book is anything but modern," she thumbed the faded hard cover.

"It was for its time. And written by a highly reputable philosopher. My dad has a whole collection of her stuff. She was a dreamer, like you. But I doubt she just had dreams. Don't you know that Francis wrote predictions that have come to pass?"

"Some call her a prophet."

Ariella spun in her chair and saw Gabby browsing another bookcase. "Well, looks like the whole gang's here for a party."

The soft-spoken blond just smiled.

"Any excuse to get out of training," Luci mumbled and pressed her lips in a smirk.

"I thought training was over. My dad came straight here—"

"His training is over," Gabby interrupted Ariella. "But Gamma Roman's been making us do post-training training, if that makes sense," she said with obvious disdain towards the extra work.

"Something about tightening security," Luci added then brushed aside the topic. "So, Gabby, you tell our darling Ari what you know about Francis Ainsworth."

"What is it you want to know?" Gabby pinned her brilliant blue eyes on Ariella, a seriousness taking over her features that made ice crawl in Ariella's veins.

"Anything. Everything, to explain what I'm seeing. When I sleep, when I awake, I don't know anymore what is real or what—"

"Why does it have to be either real or fake?" Gabby took the book from her and flipped through it.

"Well, it can't be both," Ariella said slowly, confused. None of this made sense.

"You've heard of the Interealm?" Gabby suddenly asked her, and she nodded slowly.