[56] The Mist

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Someone was touching my forearm.

I could feel the tickles.

Stern murmurs were echoing in my ears. My eyeballs moved here and there. The intoxication was still heavy for my body, I couldn't move easily.

Slowly, collecting the energy, I parted my lips when the sleep started breaking.

"Shhh. . ."

My eyebrows furrowed and I slowly turned my head towards the right. Someone was sitting on my bed. Before I could open my eyes and scream in horror, the voice came.

"It's Mommy, Misty."

Opening my one eye tiredly, I gulped and raised my head from the pillow to glance at the window. The sky was blue and the sun had not risen.

"Mom? Morning?" I mumbled through sleepiness.

She had worn her peach silk nighty and was smiling at me. "Morning. Your breath stinks of alcohol."

As if she had jinxed it. A nerve in my temple  throbbed for a moment, making me wince. It wasn't a headache yet my head was heavy when I tried to sit lightly.

"Your mate brought me Vodka."

She hummed with an amused smile. "If alcohol is required to make you both soften up to each other, I won't point it out. Though, now listen to me, carefully."

I wiped my eyes and spread the quilt around me, looking at her innocently.

She sat beside me and shared the quilt while saying, "You will be leaving tonight."

I blinked quietly.

With a sad smile, she nodded and gulped. "I don't want you to go. No one wants it. But I feel that Gilbert is right to send you off away before tomorrow arrives. There are so many guests here. Some will leave and some will go later. Gilbert, I and Pete will be completely distracted by the meet with the Lycans. I won't be able to keep an eye on you for your safety when I will be all troubled about Natalie standing there as an eligible she-wolf for those Lycans."

I blinked and sighed. "I understand, Mom. I will leave before the midnight."

"I have readied pickles, knitted woollen cloths, clay utensils for Rose. I know she loves clay. Jam, homemade butter—"

"Mom, this is not needed. I am already going with so many memories and love." I mumbled.

She looked delighted at my words. Two tears fell from her eyes. "No. This is my love for you. I want you to have the same feel when you reach the city. The traditional dress, my feather crown, I am packing it all today for you. Kate had specially asked Ryan to bring these special seeds of a herb they grow there in Northern pack. The paste helps with sugar levels and pain in joints. I want you to plant those seeds for Gran there. I will come there very soon and check myself and that day will be way too earlier than your next birthday."

I smiled lightly.

"Keeping those things apart, I have something more important to give to you. It's not a gift. It's. . . my protection for you," she whispered while forwarding her fist in between us.

I lowered my eyes to look at it. She opened the fist and my eyebrows raised.

A very shiny gem was there on her palm.

She smiled and picked up the red thread of the locket, making the red stone twinkle like a beautiful reddish diamond.

"Ruby for my rosy," she whispered.

I blinked in surprise. "What is it?"

Mom gave me a sweet look while wiping her cheeks. She breathed heavily and explained, "Centuries ago, an invisible enchanted border caged the Lycans to protect us. Since then, the cycle of mates was disturbed. Moon Goddess blessed Alpha Rucus when he was hurt and true on his path. But doesn't she loves all her pups equally. While punishing Lycans, her heart broke too."

I gulped while she whispered, "We might be happy and relieved when we guess that Lycans are nearly dead. Our own pack is growing. We are progressing while they are dying. But as the Luna of this pack, I have understood one thing, Misty."

I stared at her in suspense.

She breathed slowly. "The Lycans might be suffering there beyond the borders, caged. But neither were all the generations of Alpha Rucus remained happy. Not a single generation was free from tensions and complicated scenarios. It was hard to make a pack full of Werewolves that came from bitten human. There had been Wars and unacceptance in the beginning. Slowly, it changed."

"But happiness of this pack is never accompanied by prosperity," she whispered sadly. "Gilbert's great grandfather was killed by lightening strike. His grandfather was tortured brutally with silver by Northern and Western pack falsely over a crime that he didn't do. His sister was mated to Northern pack and that's when the equations changed. Gilbert's own father was worried all his life because of plans to think of the wolves who were mated to Lycans. Gilbert's four brothers got killed in the War that they started for their fifth brother who was sent to the Lycan's territory in false beliefs. Gilbert became Alpha unexpectedly and then the incident with Frankie happened."

My whole sleep was gone. I was now fully awake as she further added, "By Moon Goddess' grace, now things are better and could be further perfect. Alyssa and Leo have become our family. Soon, Kate will give birth to another pup. Yet there are still some flaws. Keira isn't happy. Natalie's future is uncertain and so is of Pete."

She glanced at the shiny Ruby stone that was in a shape of a drop. It looked like it was covered with black flames.

"I don't believe in Mystics very much, Misty. I have never gotten transparent vibes from them. They always seem mysterious. My wolf screams at me whenever I talk personally with any of them. Why won't she? We are always scared of the keen eyes that can read our souls. And only wolves with magic in their eyes can do that," she whispered.

"But I am the Luna of this pack. To break these sorrows and curses, I will do anything. Even if that includes putting my faith into magic and these talismans," she said while hanging the ruby stone and observing it. "Luna Elsie had suggested to power a talisman for me when Eva wasn't agreeing on accepting Leo. I denied because I wanted Eva to do what she wanted."

I smiled at her.

She breathed hard while continuing, "But now, I don't want to take any kind of risks. If I can chant prayers to my founders and Goddess. I must power talisman and hand them to my pups for their protection too. Elsie was delighted when I told her to make one for each of my pup. I had met her last year and she showed me five different kinds of gems. She asked me to label each gem with my pup's name."

"Emerald was for Natalie," she said while I smiled in agreement. "Green depicts jealousy which she possesses at times yet she is the most innocent and softest female I know. She is ethereal and Gilbert's heartbeat."

"Sapphire one was for Eva to calm down her anger like a silent and vast ocean. Seeing the Amethyst, I knew it was my Thomas. Calm, composed but the life of the party too. The encourager in building familial relations and always up for communication. He is the positivity of our home. He is the meditation of my life. He is the healing herb of my family. He is the laughter. How refreshing it is for me to see Gilbert to raise a cheerful son like Thomas?" She said while chuckling lightly.

"What did you choose for Pete?"

Mom's smile faded. "Black Onyx. Working hard all day, my pup loses his thoughts and wishes. This stone will protect him from such ways and help him recover his energy in the night sky. Elsie was happy when I said his name. She told me that it is for a person who must always require spiritual awakening."

My eyebrows furrowed.

"When world turns rough, your saint soul turns darker in extreme emotions of regrets, vengeance and power. Pete needs that awakening again and again, no matter how many his spirit will be put down by the circumstances. He is Rucus' new descendant and it makes him a target for many eyes. He needs protection from such unknown fears and stress."

She smiled while resting the pendant on her palm. "Without a single thought, I knew you are the ruby. Sunlight in my life. You came when I was surrounded by mess and chaos. You bring smile to my face and my heart, Misty."

My heartbeats risen in fascination.

"If I worship Moon Goddess because she is the owner of silver that can kill me. Then, I worship you too because you are the owner of gold in my life. I am so proud of the lady you have grown into," she said while opening the lock of the pendant.

"In ancient folklores, Mystic Lunas used to wear rubies for the rise in their power. They were called warriors and believed in wearing rubies to already offer the blood to the opponent as a greeting. A healing is required when you are away from your family. This Ruby strengthens the blood link. Years ago, Beta Iago had asked me to tie it in your arm. But Rose never allowed and neither I believed in such stuff. Now, I do with all of my heart because I don't want any more problems in my pack and you are a part of this pack."

She leaned ahead and wrapped the black thread around my neck, locking it.

"The life is red. Love. Blood. Lust. Fire. Anger. Evil. It will heal you in every way. Whenever you feel lost, just remember that your heart has no room for resentment. Whenever you feel surrounded by evilness, touch this Ruby and remember the first reddish Ray of sun that falls on the dark Earth. You have to be that ray, always."

Pulling herself back, she adored my neck. I touched the cold stone, smiling at her happily.

"Thank you so much, Mom." I whispered out while wrapping my arms around her and hugged her tight.

"Thank you so much for coming in my life, love." She whispered on my shoulder. "I can't believe that the days will come again when I won't be seeing you everyday," she choked out.

I rubbed her back while controlling myself as my own throat was vibrating in emotion.

"Same, Mom. But there is a saying, Absence makes the love grow fonder."

She hummed while weeping silently on my shoulder. I kept hugging her until she pulled back and wiped her cheeks.

Her green eyes had turned bloodshot.

"Why have you started to believe these talismans all of a sudden, Mom? It's not the first time you have met Mystics. Right?"

She nodded lightly. "Frankie's mate, Ilona is a mystic. She has always suggested these stuffs. But I was afraid of magic, Misty. As a Luna, I believe in orders and actions. Making a lifeless object, powerful by the means of prayers and spells. It scared me. Mystics have always been mysterious. But it's Pete's reign now. I will do anything to protect you all."

It was not funny to see Mom to be worried about Pete's reign. Last night, Gilbert was worried too.

"Don't you have faith in Pete?"

She gave me a sad look. "I am the biggest cheerleader for my pups. But you know what happened the night of full moon? The rabbit. Pete's discomfort. We might be protected from Lycans because of the borders. But as neighbors, we are meant to affect each other in any way."

I touched my ruby and remembered how Declan had talked about Chelsea's clues.

"Mom, does this black thread depicts anything too?"

She gave me a confused look. "Not really. We use black threads a basic for headgears, pendants, bracelets, etc." A smile came upon her lips when she said, "Now as your werewolf mother, I couldn't order silver chain. Gold attracts attention. Steel just. . . I don't know. I will ask ask Rose to get you a silver—"

"No. This thread is good. I am a Werewolf's daughter. The Luna of Southern Pack. The Land of Rucussa," I said, animatedly. "The silver affects me too. Even if not, I will have the feel that it does."

She chuckled and kissed me on the cheek. Her lashes were all wet from crying.

"One more thing I want you to remember," she said slowly. She grabbed my shoulder and showed me wide eyes. "Mist is not a barrier between two things."

My lips parted in surprise.

"Mist makes things look beautiful. Whether it's a hazy morning or a dark night forest. No matter if a mountain is the highest, it looks appealing when covered by the thick Mist," she whispered with all the softness in the world. "Walking into the Mist is most realist thing. Just like living in the grey. We don't know where we are, in good or bad, or in both. We don't if we have started or reached the end. Or maybe, we are just in the midst of the Mist."

I smiled through glossy eyes.

She squeezed my shoulder and gave me a proud look. "Because in the midst of mist, is the truth hidden. Be it mysticism or any other mystery. You are not the barrier. You are the bridge. The path of recovery. Healing. That's what you are for me."

"I don't blame him for what your mate thought of me," I whispered quietly.

Mom shook her head at me.

"No one knows what he thinks, Misty. Not even his mate. Even when I mark him, I can only see what he allows me to see," she whispered. "I have often done the same. That's a space we give each other for the good."

I blinked slowly. "Why?"

She smiled at me and her next words brought chills down my spine.

"There are some stories that you can never tell anyone. They are meant to leave this world with you only."

* * * *

The beginning of my day had already happened with a precious gift.

After our conversation, Mom chose to stay with me and we slept for two more hours. Slowly, the day started when we woke up and were engaged in different tasks.

When I had came here, I had nothing but a pair of bathroom slippers and a duffel bag full of two track suits, a night suit that I was kidnapped in. Mom said that I didn't have to worry about the packing. She would do that for me on her own.

She told me to just enjoy my day and night. An hour before the midnight, Pete would take me away to the city in a car.

Getting done with my routines, I stepped downstairs for the delicious breakfast. Aunt Kate was all chirpy about the kicks she had started to feel from the pup inside.

"When will he come out?" I asked while chewing on the tasty sandwich.

"Two months," she replied with a smile.

Keira was eating quietly and so was Eva. Natalie looked more tensed than yesterday and I knew the apt reasons behind it. The mighty Alpha, his brother and Beta had already gone to clear the grounds and prepare for today's feast and rituals.

To my surprise, Pete stayed until the breakfast. Nirvan and Ivan were present too. They had already done the breakfast but Mom was extra lovey-dovey to everyone today. She asked them to eat more. Later, Rico and Blake, our cousins too had arrived as they had some discussion to do with Pete after the breakfast.

I nodded in amazement. "Cool."

"Pass me the sauce," said Pete while sipping on the milk.

Ivan decided to pick the bottle and so did Keira. Both looked at each other and slowly, Ivan left the bottle with a blank face.

Pete noticed and took the bottle from Keira. "It was good to see the rituals happening last night. Tonight, Mother please keep your voice less edgy. You sound like you are a wailing mystic."

Nirvan and I chuckled as Mom came out of the kitchen with spatula in her hand. "Wait until your mate arrives. I will wail edgier and sharper."

"Seriously, bro. Alphas can sing better than that," said Blake laughingly, trying to tease Mom who went back to the kitchen with a shake of her head. "Ellie and I were just waiting it to be done. But oh, the feeling is lovely when the Lunas announce us bonded."

Aunt Kate smiled while Nirvan shrugged his shoulder. "Too bad, my mate is a little pup for now. Didn't shift yet."

"All unshifted pups are not little," said Natalie, completely offended.

Eva rolled her eyes. "Calm down. He is just frustrated that he has to give us all one big feast for having one of the fairies as a mate."

Pete smirked at Nirvan. Ivan too smiled at his brother.

"White hair grand-pups for Iago, Erh!' Aunt Kate said while laughing hard.

Mom returned with two glasses of milk for Keira and I. "Ah! I always wanted diversity. It is lovely to see the Hidden Furs getting linked with us."

Nirvan was all red in shyness with the talks.

Aunt Kate nodded while Ivan told them, "Mother is very much delighted."

Nirvan smiled and glanced at his brother. "Though, it doesn't matter from what pack or what hair. Mother adores both of her sons' mates. She has lined up dresses and moments to spend with them."

Keira stiffened while Ivan too froze in his place. Aunt Kate smiled tightly.

"She waits, desperately." Nirvan said, knowingly.

Keira looked at Ivan who was already staring at her. Both had longing in their eyes.

"And so do her sons," said Ivan, looking at her with all the emotions and confidence.

Eva smiled kindly.

I was only staring at her when her nose scrunched up all of a sudden. She sniffed more and her eyes widened. A loud laughter escaped her and Pete immediately. Even Ivan was coughing to hide his snickers.

All of them looked at the door to the drawing room. It took a moment for Thomas to appear with a yawn and exhaustion in his eyes. A big smile and chuckles escaped him when he observed the goofy faces around. Aunt Kate gasped and smiled to herself.

But Mom was already coming out of the kitchen with spatula in her hand. Thomas jumped up as she gritted her teeth and ran towards him.

"Mother, I can explain!"

"You shame of a pup! I told you to wait!" She said while running behind him. "Where were you all night? Guest house or the jungle?"

"Guest house!" Thomas started dodging her attacks and jogging around the dining table. "Pete, explain mother how she treats me!"

I raised my eyebrows in question. Nirvan smiled at me cheekily.

"Thomas got laid."

My eyes widened and mouth opened in utter goofiness. What the. . .

Thomas jumped as Mom hit spatula right on his forearm, lightly. "Owww! Mother!"

"Rituals! Tonight's rituals!" She said while Thomas chuckled and kept squealing.

"What can I say? She couldn't resist me."

I cringed while Eva gagged. "Mother, leave him. The deed is done. Your saint of a pup is no more the saint."

Nirvan snickered along with Ivan.

Pete nodded in amusement. "Oh yeah!"

Natalie gasped. "Goddess! Brother! Don't make me die in cringe."

Mom crossed her arms and walked back to the kitchen, muttering curses like 'young-blood' and 'wild pups'.

Nirvan immediately asked, "Show us the marks!"

Thomas immediately widened his eyes. He made a shocked face and explained to Pete. "Brother! She is not a wolf. She is a tigress!"

He raised his shirt and showed us his back.

Aunt Kate scrunched her nose while laughing hard. Pete and Ivan gulped while Nirvan was shaking his head in longing. "Man, looks like, I will have to wait for years for adventures like that."

Eva, Natalie, Keira and I were all rolling our eyes and covering them.

Because Alyssa's claw marks were all over Thomas' back. Looked like they seriously had fun the whole night. And the marks were so fresh for a Werewolf who could heal, meant that even in the early morning. . . I needed to halt my thoughts to stop myself from puking.

"She is amazing," said Thomas, dreamily. "I can't believe I ignored her for a whole year. She is completely different from how I had judged her to be."

Natalie didn't look convinced.

Nirvan commented, "Love

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