Augustine took Emmanuelle's hand and pulled her to him. Then he placed his hand on her arm, and they began to walk through the catacombs.
"We have received a message." "Very good. And, what does this have to do with me?" she interrupted at once. "The Council is asking us to guard a human," he announced casually. Emmanuelle immediately stopped walking and looked up at her clan leader. "A human?" "An unborn human," sighed Augustine as he, in turn, turned his head toward her. Emmanuelle looked around, then laughed. "I heard your request. I've heard your request, but before I do, can you confirm that you haven't drunk the blood of a drug addict?" Augustine laughed and nodded. "The order came from the Council, my sweet. So, against all odds, you are the best choice to serve as the child's guardian when her soul enters the cycle of reincarnations. Your lack of appetite has always worried me deeply, and it now seems you were born to serve this cause." Emmanuelle blinked rapidly before swallowing her saliva loudly. "Are you telling me that I have your permission to maintain a friendship with a human? That I have the right to live among them?" Augustine simply replied with a smile. Emmanuelle jumped on his neck and let herself be carried by him. Then she grabbed his face and began to place many kisses on his cheeks. "I promise you that I will do a good job. I will make you proud! Ohlala!" Augustine continued to walk, keeping her on his arm as she listed the things she would need. "Do we know where the child will be born?" "Absolutely, my sweet. However, we don't know when yet, and it may be today or a century from now. Time is so unimportant," murmured Augustine. "Why do I have the foul sensation that you are sulking at my joy?" she complained. Augustine stopped moving, like a marble statue, and sighed. "For here I am again, alone for a few more decades at best and a hundred years at worst. You are the last child born of my blood, and I made it my duty to raise you jealously when your parents chose to sink into the stone sleep. Your quest bodes nothing but loneliness for me." "You can come and visit us. Why do you have to be so tragic every time?" scoffed Emmanuelle, rolling her eyes. "You are still young, sweet Emmanuelle. When you've lived through the ages as I have, you'll soon realize how essential a family is. And, I will not risk mixing with men. I have, alas, little of your mastery nor your control. I must go away so that you can learn to live among the cattle without the risk of influencing you," he observed. Emmanuelle placed a hand against Augustine's cheek and caressed the red-rimmed eye of the vampire leader with the pad of her thumb. "You're trying to change," she remarked with a big smile. "I'm trying, my sweet. I'm trying, but it's not easy when I've always quenched my thirst whenever it was felt. Unlike you, I can't stand the hunger that burns my insides." At last, he laid her down on the floor, then opened a door leading into a large hall with many trunks. "I have taken the liberty of having your things packed. Leave this evening before the desire to keep you close to me again overcomes me." Emmanuelle had to stand on tiptoe to kiss the vampire's cheek. "I will write to you," she promised him. "And I will wait for your news to reach me every night," he replied, bowing._ Harry, 18 years old._ "Don't worry, Harry. Everything will be fine." "You have Alpha blood in you. No one else is more qualified than you." "Did you see his wolf?" "Praise the Moon Goddess. Your father has left the pack an heir! "Too bad your parents will never get to see your Alpha ceremony, Harry. They would be so proud." "He looks much older than his eighteen years. It will be easier to establish his authority over the pack." "The Red Moon is counting on you, Harry. "He's a little young, though, isn't he? Do you think he'll be okay? "His wolf is a real war machine, and they say he's already mastered it to perfection. "He's chosen a Beta already, you think?" "The rumors are that he chose Connor." "Connor? Yes, that would be a good choice. He'll make a first choice second in command." "Do we know how his parents...?" "A rogue killed his father. A treacherous attack. His mother's heart cou
Harry entered with a determined step. He was reassured to know that the Mad One had not yet arrived. "Hey, Harry, hi! Welcome to the Crossroad Cafe!" the two young Wind Tribe members said in unison. The brother and sister standing in front of him shared some common features. They both had wavy black hair and brown eyes that shone with kindness. They wore a black T-shirts with the Café logo. The young man had dark jeans, while his sister wore a long skirt with ethnic patterns. She had a ring on each finger. "Aiyana! Mat!" greeted Harry in turn. The Red Moon Alpha hurried to the bar, where his friends, with whom he had played so much as a child during his visits to the Café, were standing. "We'll have to be careful what we call you from now on," Mat said, patting Harry on the shoulder. The redhead took a seat in one of the high chairs at the bar and grinned brightly as Aiyana placed a bowl of vanilla ice c
The door slowly opened, creaking through the silence of the night, before the Alpha Black slowly entered the building. He wore only a pair of pants that he had put on after returning to human form and walked past the other two Alphas without glancing at them. Then he sat on a chair at the end of the table and waited. Wayne patted Harry on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit to the right of the Mad One. Finally, he took a seat on his left and waited. However, Wayne's wolf sniffed curiously at Black but remained silent for fear of angering the black wolf. Wayne flinched when he noticed the Mad One staring at him. Then he shook himself and cleared his throat. "Well, Harry. I don't suppose your father ever told you about this because it's a secret of the utmost importance. We need to take... well, I need to take the time to explain to you why you are here tonight. But also why the Red Moon Pack and the Serene Moon Pack exist," Wayne bega
Harry remained silent, completely shocked by the announcement Wayne had just made. How could this be? He was the descendant of a long line of Alphas. And yet, he couldn't deny it. His wolf was submitting to and recognizing the authority of the Mad One. "Out," Alpha Black merely articulated with a deep sigh. He got up from his chair and walked out unceremoniously, keeping his hands in his pants pockets. Harry and Wayne stood up and followed him. "Go to the back. You know where to go, Alpha Black. No trouble at the front of the Crossroad Café," Old Al announced calmly. The Wind Tribe leader had not moved and continued to smoke quietly as he leaned back in his chair. Black merely nodded, then moved with a firm foot toward the backyard of the Café. The other two Alphas followed him but kept a distance of five meters behind him. Wayne put a brotherly hand on Harry's shoulder, then laughed softly.
They didn't have time to continue their exchange when they both cried out in pain. They hadn't had time to see the Mad One running toward them, nor had they been aware of the danger. It took the powerful impact of Alpha Black's fist against their ribs for them to realize what they were in for. Till rolled to the side and hit the trunk of a tree. The impact was so brutal that the wolf's body shattered two more trees in the process. He immediately sat up, shaking his head to regain his composure, when he felt a hand on the back of his neck. A small bark of surprise left his mouth as he felt himself lifted into the air and launched again toward the center of the field. "Gee, I never thought I'd see a wolf fly in my life," commented Old Al, handing Wayne a beer. "I didn't either. Thanks for that, Old Al," Wayne replied, patting the dusty ground beside him. Alo gave him an amused look, then sat on the ground while he lit another cigarette. "Don't mess i
Harry was lying on his back, his lungs were on fire, and he was coughing from the heavy impacts on his ribs. He turned over onto his stomach, propped up on his elbows, and spat blood into the dusty dirt of the vacant lot behind the Crossroad Café. "I think that's enough for tonight. A year that I've been training you, and you're nothing like you were when I said I'd take care of you," Wayne said warmly as he pulled on his red and white plaid shirt. Harry let his forehead fall to the floor. With every exhale he made, dust rose from his nostrils and his eyes burned from the intense perspiration of physical exertion. "I know I can do more, Alpha Wayne," Harry said before grunting under the pain. The healing power of his wolf was in full swing, and the now nineteen-year-old could feel his ribs repairing and repositioning themselves in his rib cage. "Oh, I'm sure you can do more. But there's no need. You gave us a hell of a hand during the harvest. The omeg
Wayne had leaped forward and caught the girl before she fell to the ground. His eyes went wide, not understanding why his body had reacted so quickly to a woman who had no connection to him. Then he was startled when he saw Harry beside him. "Holy crap, it's Jane!" the young wolf declared. He had recognized her from sometimes playing with her when they were kids. "Let's hurry and go into the Café and call for help." When they reached the front of the Café, Old Al was already waiting for them there and beckoned them inside. "I've already called Alpha Black. He's on his way," said the Wind Tribe leader as a golden glint shone in his eyes. Old Al pointed to one of the large couches near the large fireplace, but the girl let out a howl of pain as she clung desperately to Wayne. "I know this is uncomfortable for you, Alpha Wayne, but it doesn't look like she wants to let go," Al said simply, placing a hand on Jane's forehead. The Wind Tribe leader close
Harry, 20 years old, Southern United States. The shadowy figure of young Alpha slipped through the woods without making a sound. Then, when he finally heard the muffled sound of voices, he stopped walking and raised his fist in the air. The two warriors of his pack, whom he had chosen to accompany him, stopped in their turn. They were fully clothed in the black combat gear provided by the Council, evidence of the mission's sponsor. On their chests was embroidered the badge in black thread: the letter C in Gothic lettering planted by six swords. The six swords represented the six significant races on the Council: vampires, witches, werewolves, elves, mermaids, and fairies. At first, dragons sat in the place of fairies. But, these creatures had chosen to give up their position since they were very few and had much more secrets than all the others. However, its voice had absolute priority whenever a dragon appeared before the Council. Since drag