Solum

Chapter VI
                    
Part II

Aria never was one to throw caution to the wind. She couldn't remember a time when she wasn't calculating her every move. Thanks to Reagan, she'd learn to be submissive; head down, no talking unless spoken to.

It was the only way he knew how to keep them safe from the guards. He had always been her guide, once he even relayed to her the abundant life lessons his late mother had passed on to him.

One of them being not to socialize herself with strangers. So following Celene was the last thing they ought to be doing.

At this time dusk was falling. The forest was changing into a symphony of sounds from every creature of the dark. The wind had ceased it's calls. All was still in the night, well, all except the supernatural beings conversing in the middle.

An owl sat perched upon a branch not too far from them, watching shamelessly. Every now and then the owl would release a hoot, proclaiming it's merriment of their exchange.

Celene stopped mid step and turned to them. Her brown eyes were warm and welcoming as she brandished off a smile. She beckoned to them with an encouraging nod, "Come, yes?"

There was that voice again, smooth as silk and sweet like honey. One favoring that of a mother singing lullabies to her child. It alone made Aria inclined to want to comply with her demands.

Still, she was wary. She looked to Gage -something she found herself doing often lately- curious to gauge his reaction, only to find that he'd already decided. He stood behind Celene, averted from going any further by the general and his growling wolves. In which he countered with a low snarl of his own.

"And you?" Celene turned to Aria.

"If she wants to stay then so be it. Let the coyotes have their meal." Gage's cynical back talks were to be expected. In fact, he appeared bored. His irritation for Aria's stalling made well aware when he tapped his foot and crossed his arms. Not to mention his stomach still had not received a meal.

"Fine," Aria puffed. She eyed Gage as she walked towards them, purposely elbowing him along the way. "It's not because of you so get that through your head." Knowing him, she made ample sure he understood that. Her resolve was solely based on the fact that she would need help to save Reagan when the time came. Nothing else.

"Wise choice," Celene smiled, "We should get going. There's been a few rogue sightings in the area."

"Night time is when they prey on the weak," General Andros spoke ominously. He looked to Aria as if referring to her directly.

"Humph," scoffed Gage, "Was that supposed to scare us?"

Speak for yourself, Aria thought. She had been watching the bushes, half expecting a rogue to spring out of them.

"Leave the children be Andros," Celene reprimanded.

Any attempt to get close to Celene was immediately halted by the general. When his wife scolded him for it, he responded, "Precautions my dear, we know nothing of these people." So Aria and Gage followed from a distance. The wolves watching them carefully also gave them reason to.

Celene led the group alongside the general. He walked with his hands wrung behind him and a very erect posture. His skin, once pale but now kissed tan from the sun. The two were talking amongst each other, bits and pieces that every once in awhile Aria would catch on to. But one comment the general made stuck out to her.

"The girl, what a peculiar set of eyes she has."

Celene refused to go into much detail pertaining to the subject but she nodded in agreement. Which left Aria wondering the reason why.

It wasn't long until they reached a secluded area hidden deep in the forest. This area of the forest held a beauty like no other. The trees sparkled against the sun that shone brightly. The flowers seemed livelier. The birds somehow chirped louder. Even the colors of the flowers were brighter.

Everything seemed as if bewitched by a certain magic. The clouds, Aria noticed, were out and the sky was a vibrant blue hue. A complete contrast between the section of the woods they had just left. The whole thing was strange to her and she scrunched her face in confusion.

At least she hadn't  been the only one affected by the strange phenomenon. Gage looked back, pointing an equally bewildered finger at the trees that separated the two sections of the woods. "How- what the hell is going on here!" He exclaimed, he looked at Celene and the general suspiciously.

"Magical, isn't it?"

Celene's vague answer wasn't enough to to put Aria's mind at peace. Her head still filled with questions, questions that she'd settled on not asking. She still was unaware of their agenda and didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.

Both the general and Celene ignored Gage's demands for answers.

Wooden logs fenced the area for miles, only a single gate allowed entrance into the otherwise confined territory. The place was sprawling with wolves, some hidden in the bushes, armed for attack. While others were positioned, in their human forms, at the center of the stronghold.

"Ma'am. General," one of the guards standing at the entrance gave an acknowledging nod to Celene and a rigid salute to General Andros.

"No need for such formalities Kieran. As I've told you before, call me Celene."

Kieran blushed a deep red, "My apologies ma- umm, Celene. It won't happen again," he fumbled with his words.

"No worries, all is forgiven."

Kieran sent a hand signal to the guard in a wooden tower some feet away.

"Raise the gates," Someone yelled.

On cue, the gates opened with a creaking groan, revealing dozens of log-style cabins.

"Welcome to pack six, region four," Celene announced, arms extended outwards as she made her rather dramatic entrance.

A mixture of scents wafted up Aria's nose. Some smelled of spices, courtesy of the women to her left, huddled around a giant pot stirring tirelessly. While others of metal from the blacksmith hammering away at the weaponry he was crafting.

None more than the distinguished scent of blood from the two wolves sparring in the middle.

"Enough!" Celene commanded, more so to the wolves who looked to be nearly at the brink of death. That was all but enough for them to end their fight and shift. "You are to train, not kill one another," she said to the two teenaged boys. They nodded and looked down to the ground in shame.

"Do not blame them dear, they were only following orders. We must prepare them in case of attack," the general stated.

"They are children general, not soldiers that you can mold to your will," Selene replied, her tone held an edge to it. "Now run along to the infirmary," she told the boys. A frown graced her face as she inspected the cuts and bruises that marred their bodies. The boys ran off. If  they were in a great deal of pain, they did little to show it.

"As you wish, but if we do come under attack again, just know you were warned." General Andros stormed off, not before he mumbled something about Selene being a stubborn old woman under his breath.

Gage was nowhere to be found. That is, until Aria spotted his curly brown hair amongst the women stirring the pot. He slurped away as the women handed him bowl after bowl of a questionable soup. She heaved a sigh but Selene on the other hand, found the sight to be amusing and laughed. Her long dreaded locks draped down to her back, moved from side to side when she did.

"Don't think I can't feel your stare," said Celene abruptly. Her smile never faltered but she did turn to look at Aria, "What is it that you wish to ask?"

Aria had no idea where to start. She wanted to ask why she'd so graciously taken a Solah, let alone two, into her pack. Wanted to know about the strange occurrence that had changed the forest from night to day in a matter of minutes. And most importantly, she wanted to ask her for help in saving Reagan.

With much hesitance, Aria answered, "I-I wish to speak to your alpha." If she wanted to save Reagan that was who she would need to talk to. By the end of her sentence, she'd gain enough confidence to look up into Celene's surprisingly hardened eyes.

Everything stopped. The women were no longer stirring. The blacksmith had stopped his work. Even the children had ended their game of ball and turned to them. Everything was quiet, it wasn't long before hushed whispers spread through the pack like wildfires.

Aria squirmed under the scrutiny of the pack members' gaze. If she had known saying that would cause this much of a disturbance, she would have gladly kept her mouth closed.

"It's best not to speak of such things," Celene said glumly, "Our world has dealt with our share of Alphas to last us a lifetime."

"Why's that?" Aria pressed. All of the secrets and questions was getting to her and she was dying to get them answered.

"They were cruel and merciless in their quest for power," Celene was still frowning, her eyes stared off into nothing in particular.

"Never mind that," she clapped her hands, having snapped out of her trance, "Allow me to escort you to your cabin."

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Why do you think Selene took them in? What do you think was the cause of that strange phenomenon. So many questions so little answers. I guess you'll just have to read on to find out ;) As always leave a vote if you're loving this book.