Chapter 25.
I look at Zion while he sleeps serenely. My attention goes to the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. Alert. Yet calm, trusting that Zion wouldn’t be in this deep sleep if an unwanted person was in the house.
“Oh shit.” He said.
A tall, dark, handsome man approaches where Zion and I lay.
I gently got out of Zion’s embrace. Walking closer to him I see the resemblance clearer. This must’ve been one of his brothers.
“Hi.”
“Oh shiiitt. Did I disturb you guys?” Flashy his sarcastic smile while extending his hand out for a handshake.
Aware that Zion barely ever talks about his brother. He only mentioned one out of the four of them.
“Zachary. The second eldest if you are wondering.”
“Azah.”
Zachary whistles softly “You came back Luna.”
Oh. I forgot that I am now a Luna.
Laughing, I said, “I never left.” Depending on how you take it. My body was still here at the Moons Coven.
I sat down at one of the kitchen bar stools.
“Coffee?”
“Yes please.”
Zachary comes forward with two large coffee mugs, placing one on the counter in front of me while he drinks from his.
“So Luna Azah. How does that sound?”
“Weird.”
Zachary snorts with laughter. “Has mom contacted you yet or are you guys hiding?”
“I don’t know really? Mom?”
Zachary raises his eyebrows “yeah you’re part of the family. That mark on your neck should have confirmed it? Interesting mark, different from my mom’s.”
“Oh shit!” Yikes! Again I forgot about the in-laws. Shit.
Zachary read my expression “Don’t worry too much. Well for the most part. Zariah and his wife Deborah may have some unresolved beef with you now that you're a Luna. Zariah and Zion haven’t been in good standing for gods know how long. Besides that you're good.”
“Perfect.” A bitchy sister-in-law is what I need.
“Ugghhhh…” Zachary mumbles as he massages his temples.
“Why did you guys drink so much?”
“Honestly as I get older I ask myself that same question. I'd be lying if I said I was gonna stop. I don’t usually drink this much just when I meet up with Zion. Big bro and little bro bonding time, you know.”
“We need to think of another way of bounding.” Zion abruptly came from behind me, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Yeah like what..hunting?” Zachary replies sarcastically.
They both playfully start to punch each other, the room is filled with Zion’s laughter. Zion's laughter is enchanting, he barely ever laughs but when he does it’s blissful. I couldn’t help but form a cheesy huge smile across my face.
“Awwww look at you guys.. all bubbly in love.. look at her smiling.. just look at that!” Zachary said jokingly.
Zion turns his head to face me. My heart skips to what I see next. His eyes crinkled at the edges and the corners of his lips turned upward flashing his brilliant white teeth. His smile is too beautiful for this world.
“I know. She melts my wall when she shares her captivating smile.”
“Now THAT'S LOVE!” Zachary clapping loudly “if it got you saying shit like that. Oh boy, you are in for the ride of your life!”
Still shy, I’m the first to break eye contact.
“What do you guys want for breakfast,” I ask, burning over what Zion said.
“Oh no... Luna Azah. You can’t be the one making breakfast.” Zachary winks at me “Zion here will do that.”
Zion rolls his eyes then kisses me on my neck where he marked me. His warm lips leave an electric rush of pleasure throughout my body.
“I’ll cook babe, Za-ch-ary here is a picky eater.”
“I have a wife who cares about my health.”
“Yeah, that excuse is dried out bro.”
____________
Once we’ve finished eating, Zachary volunteers to wash the dishes.
“So what are you gonna wear?”
“Oh do I still have to go to that?”
“As much as I would love to have you here with me all day. I think it’s a good idea to spend this day with your friends.”
“OH, GODS! Is this how you felt like a third wheel….” Zachary said.
Before Zachary and Zion could on the doorbell rang.
“Who did you invite?” Zachary asked Zion.
“No one. Who did you invite?”
“No one. Shit if it’s Oli?”
“It’s not,” Zion said with confidence as he rushed to open the door.
“Master Helios, Come in.”
“Helios or uncle Helios I believe you can call me that now. We are now in-laws.”
I quickly stood up from the stool and rushed to give uncle Helios a hug. “Uncle Helios!”
“Ayyyyeee my favourite niece!”
When he started saying that, I was confused and thought Aunt Selene had a daughter. Only to find out she has two boys Yeshua and Yashar. Yashar is one year older than me and is undergoing training to be the next Master of the Moons like uncle Helios.
His hair is dark and braided in a fishtail style that reaches all the way down to his hips. Uncle Helios is lean and tall, not as big and tall as Zachary and Zion. What he lacks in physical features he exceeds in power. Uncle Helios's face looks very young and innocent. This tends to deceive many people who are unaware of his title and powers as a Sorcerer Supreme. Many assume he's a bachelor with no basic training, at least that’s what he wants you to think. Behind that facade of young and innocent, he is notoriously cunning. It’ll be your biggest mistake to ever underestimate him. Training with him was intense and brutal compared to training with my aunt and my mom. He has an uncanny ability to remember everything within minutes. So whatever attacks you throw at him, he will remember it. Giving you no space to repeat the same attack. He has read every book in the town’s library, Moons library and also his own.
During our off-training time, I remember him talking about how he slept in almost every class but passed every test. Every new teacher would at first accuse him of cheating, but always ended up passing the harder test that was set up for him. Later on, they found out his IQ is of a genius level.
“So, how are you feeling?” Uncle Helios asked.
“I’m good!”
“It’s your birthday today.”
“Oh, gods not you too!”
Uncle Helios bursts out laughing . “Just like Eos, you hate surprises and your birthday.”
“I thought my mom likes birthdays, especially her own?”
“No. She likes them because your dad does, but if she had a choice she wouldn’t put much effort into her own birthday.”
“Let’s sit down.”
“Master Helios” Zachary reaches out his hand to greet him.
“Zachary, what are you doing here?” Uncle Helios asks.
“Mom called, she wanted all of us to be here for Zion’s day.”
Uncle Helios is quiet for a moment. As if he is contemplating on what to say to this. We all sat down in the living room waiting for uncle Helios to speak.
“Zion won’t really be celebrating.”
Confused. We all decided to say nothing and wait for uncle Helios to elaborate further. I looked over at Zion and he didn’t seem surprised or confused. What is he hiding from me?
Uncle Helios continues, “ you remember how your first shift was?”
Zion grimaces in pain and nods.
“I believe you’ll experience it once again.”
“Zeus doesn’t want to shift. So how will that be possible” Zion said.
“Ahh. Yes.. yes..” uncle Helios stands up, pacing back and forth lost in thought.
“You’ll force him. And that’s why it’ll be painful. I have not yet figured out why Zeus isn’t shifting but I do believe tomorrow will be the perfect time to force him” Uncle Helios said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. With all due respect Master Helios, what happens after he shifts? Will you or any of us be able to control Zion? Let’s not forget he’ll be a full-grown dire Alpha wolf.” Zachary mentions with concern.
Helios smirks devilishly. This is the type of smirk that says, “go ahead underestimate. I’ll show you.”
“But who said it’ll be a person?” Uncle Helios asked.
“I… uh.. wait for what?” Zachary was lost for words.
“How uncle?” Curious to know what’s his plan in all of this.
“How indeed.” Uncle Helios looks at Zion who is pretty calm throughout the whole conversation. Showing no signs of concern in Uncle Helios' plans.
After a long silence, Uncle Helios says, “The Luns Garden will.”
“Zion is this true?” I walk to where Zion sat.
Zion takes my hand and pulls me to him, suggesting I sit on his lap.
“Your grandmother buried my mother and father there. My mother’s spirit is the garden. The trees, flowers, the lake I sent you to help temporarily restore your connection with your spirit. That was her. She opened our mate bond between us that we couldn’t feel before. It’s one of the powers The Great Dire pack holds. We are deeply connected with the spirit world and to the Moon Goddess.”
Zion sends a warm smile to me while rubbing my thighs.
Now thinking back I may have seen Zion in my dreams or maybe.. “In my dreams before, did I see you?”
Uncle Helios answers “You saw Zion’s mother. The first time people take a glance at the garden many see a white wolf, and then she quickly disappears. That’s her. She may have already known you were her son’s mate, and so she probably visits you in your dreams.”
“But I saw a blue wolf too? That would’ve been Yeshua.”
“No. Without Yehu, Yeshua was not born to be a werewolf. It’s complicated. To shorten it, Yehu's spirit chooses which body he will inhabit. Just like the Moon of Goddess and other Gods and Goddesses chose which family to carry out as their vessel. Hence why they call it the Genesis gene. One family for eternity. You saw either Yehu or Jaxon spirit blue wolf. Not Yeshua. Yeshua is a sorcerer like me.”
“Oh,” I said disappointedly.
“So how will Luns Garden help?” Zachary asked.
“Zion will do his transformation at the Luns Garden. His mother will know what to do during the process.”
“That’s it?” Zachary and I synchronize.
Uncle Helios burst out laughing “Yeah. That’s it.”
“Zion, do you have anything to say? I feel dumb right now, like dumb. Did you know?” Note to self and thank Zachary for asking this question.
“Yeah, somewhat of an idea, just waiting for Helios to confirm.”
“And you didn’t bother to tell me!” I said punching him in the chest. Knowing damn well he didn’t feel anything. He took my hand before I could punch him again and pressed it on his chest.
“You we’re already worried too much. You couldn’t sleep because of my dreams, and I couldn’t sleep because of the dreams and you.”
“You can’t hide what you are feeling anymore Azah.”
Fuck. I forgot.
Uncle Helios changes the topic “Now that part is finished. Let’s talk about Luna Azah Safaa.”
“I just remembered that I need to start getting ready.” Quickly got up before Zion could hold me back down to his lap. Behind me, I hear my uncle and Zachary laughing. Arriving inside our room, I see a dress laid on the bed. No. No way. Just as I am about to yell for Zion, I see him already leaning on the door staring at me.
“You don’t like surprises I know. I would like you to make an exception though, at least like my surprises.”
Lost for words suddenly forgetting what I was about to say. Instead, I just say “ok.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
He gently kisses my forehead. “I have to head back to town first. My brother will drive you to your birthday event. I’ll be there later on.”
“Yeah sure.” Trying not to sound too disappointed. It’s not like he's gone forever. His arms wrap around me and begin to kiss me, softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that makes me cling to him as if he is the only solid thing left in this world. I didn’t want to let go. We stood there for a moment both breathing heavily. He slightly loosens his hold on me, clinging on to him more.
“Don’t leave.”
“You know I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t.”
“Azah.” He's saying my name with his deep sensual voice always sends tingling sensations throughout my body.
“We have forever remembered. ”
“Fine.”