The Guardian Wolf And Her Alpha Mate
The Guardian Wolf and her Alpha Mate Bonus 11

Alex POV:

Shifting back as we reach the lake edge I gather a beaming

Ophelia into my arms and swing her around happily.

"She's back" I whisper, before claiming her full lips with my own in a soft, loving kiss.

Pulling away, I put her down as she loops her arms around my neck, her body pressing close to mine. Posted by FindNovel.net "I feel whole again" she grins. "I wanted to tell you as soon as possible, but Alice suggested a surprise. I'm glad I stayed quiet." "I'm just glad you're both alright" I mumble nuzzling my nose into her neck, inhaling her scent as I revel in having her beside me again. "I missed you."

Feeling her delicate hands begin to play with my hair I moan into her neck as she silently giggles. "I missed you too Alex" she breaths in my ear. Pulling my head back I raise a brow, my eyes bright with mischief. "I think you'll have to show me, just how much you missed me....tonight." "I was already planning on it" she giggles while slapping my chest playfully. "So tell me about it, how did it go?"

"It was. not what I expected," I admit. Sitting down I tug her into my side, staring out across the clear lake. "Losing Kingsley was a massive blow."

Her breath hitches. at that, tilting her head up to look at me I see tears in her eyes. "I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for Nova and her sister. Nova missed out on so much time with him already, it's heartbreaking."

"Yeah" I sigh. Memories of Nova's anguished scream rushed to the forefront of my mind. "The noise she made. it was brutal Lia. They killed him in front of her. pulled his body apart."

"They what?!" She gasps.

"You heard me" I mumble. "But, f*vck me, you should have seen her after. Jax and her were magnificent, as soon as Kingsley fell they were engulfed in this blinding light." "The Moon Goddess" Ophelia gapes.

"I believe so" I admit slowly. "I will have to speak to them about what exactly happened, what they experienced. But for now I want them to take some time to gather their thoughts. The power that was emitting from them both was something I have never experienced before. It was raw, powerful.. ancient."

"Was anything else said?" Ophelia asks quietly.

"Esmerelda said there is only ever destined to be one

Guardian Wolf at any one time" I muse.

"But there has been two for the past 25 years" Ophelia points out.

"There has" I agree. "However, Kingsley and Nova were never at their true potential. I don't think Kingsley ever was."

"Why?" Ophelia asks intrigued.

"Well for one, Drake withheld a lot of their strength until he was 25. Kingsley also told us it was only in the last year or so that he really grew in size, unlike Kia. She has been growing for a while now, more so in the lead up to her birthday" I explain. "I know, Alice mentioned Nova having to take pain medication before meeting Jax, which I was surprised about" Ophelia admits.

"She's massive. There is literally no other word for her size, Zeus also" I chuckle. "I think being in Jax's company, with them being mates, helped soothe the pain. But I can imagine why she was finding it difficult before. The way they fought after, the way they held themselves, i believe it was Nova and Kia's true awakening."

"It would make sense. Nova was unsure of what her gifts were, I think she was of the understanding that when she turned 25 they would just appear. But with such little knowledge it's hard to find answers" my mate says, her concern for her new friend showing in her eyes.

"Her gifts did begin to appear, the closer to this fight we got, the more we became aware of what Nova and Kia were able to do" I muse. "But when Kingsley passed, it was a whole other level. Not only that, but Jax and Nova are a couple that share gifts." "Is Jax as strong as Nova?" Ophelia asks.

"No, I don't believe so. I mean he's far stronger than any of us and Zeus did kill Cedric❞ I admit. "But Nova and Kia, they are the ones that hold the power. They are an empath, Jax is not. They all can mindlink anyone and I believe all their senses are as strong as one another."

"I have a suggestion" Lia says quietly as she purses her lips and looks forward, her nerves rushing through the bond suddenly.

"And that is?" I ask nudging her gently.

"They speak to the oracle" she whispers as I stiffen slightly.

The oracle is someone who resides in our pack, her knowledge is great and seemingly limitless. But everything comes with a price. "I know what you're thinking. If they go, what will happen?"

"Yeah" I admit in a subdued tone, memories nudging at my mind once again.

"It won't be like last time Alex" Ophelia whispers as her soft hand caresses my forearm.

"How are you certain?" I ask slowly. Hearing her sharp intake of breath I turn to see her pain filled eyes.

"I'm not" she mumbles. "But I'm hopeful."

"Hopeful isn't always enough Lia" I remind her gently.

Falling silent we watch the water ripple slightly in the soft breeze, as we allow our minds to wander. Mine returns to my last visit with the oracle, in the midst of the vampire onslaught that started the war. Sent by my father because he was desperate to gain knowledge on how to prevent so many lives being lost, he requested I find the answer from the one that would know. I warned him of the consequences, that to gain something means to lose something, but he didn't listen..and that cost him his life. "Knowledge is never free Alex" Ophelia says after a few moments. "Do you think it's wise to continue figuring things out as we go along, to walk into the unknown and conjure up these great plans on the spot? Or do you think it's best to gain knowledge, to gain understanding and clarity?"

Sighing deeply, I ponder over her questions. "I think it's their decision" I finally say.

"You're right, it is" she agrees immediately. "We will of course warn them, that it comes with a price."

"And when they ask what that price will be?" I ask her.

"We tell them the truth, as unhelpful as it will be. We never know what the price is, admittedly what your family suffered was horrendous.. worse than could be imagined.

But we know it's not always deaths" Ophelia says gently.

Letting out a harsh laugh I shake my head at the horrid thoughts, "oh it could be losing your fertility, your ability to see, ones you love, homes, memories... I trail off:

"But what we do know is it's never something that has occurred before" Ophelia whispers.

"Don't you think Nova has lost enough?" I ask her.

"I do" she says. "That's why it's up to them. But I don't think its fair to keep the option away from them."

Heaving another sigh I slump back, now lying down I gaze at the clear sky above. A stark contrast to the gloominess that surrounded us throughout the fight. "I will tell them of her" I tell her as she also lies down beside me, resting her head on my chest as I stroke her long hair therapeutically. "They may not even want to" Ophelia reminds me.

"I know" I whisper, kissing her hand softly. "Some way or other though, we need to find more information on Guardian Wolves."

"And we will" Ophelia reassures me.

"I do have something I want to discuss with you though." I say to her quietly.

"Hmm?" She asks, her hand stills where it was lightly tracing my tattoos on my chest.

Taking a deep breath I ask, "How do you feel about stepping down from our positions?"