Chapter 31

Saras POV

We had headed off at first light the next morning and had been traveling with little drama. It's been a few days now, but Prita assures me it's not much further. I let out a giggle as Draven pulls a funny face at me which he matches with a laugh of his own. It has been great traveling with him; he has shown me so much. Recently he has been showing me how to hunt. Around these parts, the black-tailed squirrel is common and tends to be what we eat at most meals. I've yet to catch one, but he tells me I will once I believe it, he believes in me. At least he says he does. Let's face it, I'm not a born hunter. I just wasn't built that way. I think he and Drew would get on. I have been thinking of Drew so much over the past day. The closer we get to the plant they said didn't exist, the closer I am to being back in Domilia with Drew and Katiw and Edward and even Isabella - I know she wasn't fond of me, but I still miss her too. I'm just praying I make it in time to fix everything. "What you thinking about, Sas?" He asks, running his hand through his grey-blonde hair. I shake my head in response "Nothing." That's a lie, I'm sure he knows it is too. He sulks when I mention Drew and returning to Domilia and his reaction leaves me with a heaviness in my chest, so I choose not to mention it.

Prita spoke up, stopping in her tracks "We're almost here." We arrived at a meadow covered with yellow grass as far as the eye can see and directly at the end sat mountains, so many mountains, tall, sharp, and rocky. "Don't suppose this damn plant is in the grass?" Prita smirks at Draven's outburst "Nope. Didn't think so." He twisted his face while saying. Prita and I told him over food last night what the blue narcissus was and why it was needed. He didn't believe it at first. He said he had heard there was such a thing, but as he'd never seen it himself, he decided it was just another false rumor. "What makes you think this alpha is still even kicking it, from what I've heard most don't last a night, never mind 2 and a half weeks, and you're not even back yet..." Oh god, I know he's right but I can't think like that. I have to save him, that's what this has all been about- I don't think I could bare to lose him after all of this. Shaking my head, I said nothing, opting to walk straight past Draven. "Gods, no need to act like that was only stating facts." I couldn't take it, I snapped "you know maybe, just maybe sometimes you could keep quiet! Have you ever considered it?" I argued with him. How dare he be so mean.

For the rest of the journey, I walked ahead straight through the grassy meadow, blades of grass whipping at my ankles. All the while I could feel Draven's eyes burning into me - I know he didn't mean to upset me, but right now I can't help but feel hurt, he knows how much I care for them all. The meadow was much longer than it first appeared, and by the time we reached the base of the mountain, I was ready for a break. "Once we reach the center of the mountain where the sun's rays are warmest, that is where we would find the blue narcissus," Prita explained using her hands to demonstrate where we needed to go. "Do you need a lift?" Draven questioned looking at the exhausted mess I was. "I can do it." He went to open his mouth again and I repeated sharply before he could "I can do it!" He looked at me not giving away any hints, was he angry I shouted, was he pitting the weak tired human, or possibly he was just sick of me - I don't know which. "I know you can. I just wanted to offer." he walked past me and started the trek up the mountain. I'm so not ready for this. I growled under my breath, cursing as my already sore feet began to march one foot in front of the other. It took a few hours to climb the mountain, having to regularly stop to catch my breath. Draven seemed impatient but Prita never showed her emotions - she was hard to read. Draven marched ahead while Prita kindly kept time with me. "Edward is still alive... for now at least." She caved as if she had been trying to hide the secret from me and it just fell out of her. He's alive. Ha, he's alive, and I almost have it. Oh gosh, this is massive. I'm going to save him. A huge grin crawled across my face. "He's alive?" I needed to confirm and she gave me a nod looking amused at my reaction. "Oh, I'm going to see him again." A rush of emotions hit me as I welled up, I never even realised how this was affecting me as I fought back the tears. "How do you know?" I quizzed gently, I know by now Prita only shares what she wants to. Briefly, she hesitated but continued with our conversation, "Edward and I have been friends a long time - his family reached out after he was poisoned. They told me they had a suspect but needed proof. Asked me if I could help in any way possible, that's when I set out on finding out what I could." They have a suspect. That's great. Hopefully this will be all sorted for when I return home to Domilia, Edward will be OK and we can go back to normal. My heart did a little dance at the thought of getting back there, I'd only known them a short time but they were like family to me, in a way I'd never known. As my mind plays over and over, filled with thoughts of Drew and Katie, darkness fills me with dread. A small niggle inside me. I'm probably worrying over nothing but I can't help but do so.

"I found your weed!" Draven yells from up ahead. I couldn't help but jog to him, tripping on a small stone as I ran. Automatically, my arms shoot out in front of me as I brace for impact. Instead of the hard slap of stone against my skin, I'm left with tingles running through my arms. Glancing up, I look directly into his grey-blue eyes, the tension sizzles in the air though I pretend not to notice - it doesn't matter anyways, I'm going back to Domilia, back to Drew and Draven is going back to a life where he doesn't have to save me every hour of every day. A burden, that's what I am to him. Luckily, I won't be for much longer. Prita cleared her throat, causing me to step away from Draven. In her hand she held 5 deep blue flowers. The flowers have a trumpet-like shape to them and 6 blue petals surrounding it. It is beautiful, that for sure, but it doesn't seem that special. "It looks like a daffodil. This is going to save the Alpha?" I am sure I look as convinced as I sound. "Have faith Sara, take these to an apothecary. They will make the elixir and feed it to Edward. If we are lucky, he will recover."

"And if we're not?" anxiety floods my body.

Prita smiles, "Hmm. It's time we parted ways, Sara. Climb back down the mountain and carry on the road east. You will come to a crossroads. Go north as far as you can until you come across a stone archway. If I recall, you know the way from there."

"You're leaving?" Prita nodded at me to answer the question. I nodded in return, "Thank you for your help, Prita. Thank you, Draven. I am so grateful to you both." A sadness washed over me as I said goodbye to my companions. I may never see them again. Turning away before, I gave myself time to doubt. I may not leave them if I don't go immediately. An exasperated sigh sounds behind me and I turn round to see Draven shaking his head at me. "You need some company for a few more days. Gods knows what would happen if you were left alone." He jested, honestly my heart sang knowing we still had time together.

"Its settled then. Be on your way. You must know it is a dangerous journey. For a wolf, it would take 4 days, for a human it may take much more. The first 2 days' hike could surprise you. Keep your guard up. As nobody ventures in the everleas your next 2 days should be quiet. This is how long it should take you to reach a stone archway - you know what to do!" Prita warns us. Draven throws his cloak on the floor and shifts in what seems like one swift motion. I will never tire of seeing that. It's as if I could read his mind when in his wolf form, the way he looked at me, we just connected. Without wasting any time, I hopped onto his back, finding my placement easily now. As I turned to say my last goodbyes to Prita, I saw she had gone.

Draven moved through the mountains at an intense speed, the wind blowing through my hair, at this moment I felt it. Free. I have never felt more myself than right now, the excitement of travelling at such speeds in places I could only have dreamed, achieving the impossible. One day I will probably wake up and find myself back at home with this all being nothing but a dream but until I wait I want to enjoy every second. Lifting my arms above my head I throw my head back immersing myself in the moment, with complete trust that Draven had me and will not let me fall. This feeling is intoxicating.

We found the path without issue and started down the road, keeping our eyes peeled for the dangers we were warned of. For all of our worries, it has been a peaceful journey, so much so that Draven shifts back and we've been walking together for a while now. "How did you end up in Domilia?" He asks as we walk through the idyllic landscape. Feeling totally relaxed in his presence, I laughed a little, "honestly I don't really know." He gets the most adorable confused look on his face but says nothing to fill the gap, so I continue. "I know it sounds nuts! Ok, hear me out..." he laughs with me as I tell him all about it, "... so the last thing I remember, it was my birthday - my 19th. My family back in Settersfield had arranged this whole ball for me, which, let me tell you, was more a surprise to me than anyone."

"Do you not get on?" He butt's in to ask.

"Erm, no not really..." I shook my head, feeling indifferent about this. " ... I get the impression they've never been too fond of me, the youngest in the family- the unwanted surprise. Yeah, that was definitely the case for my father." Draven listens on but doesn't comment - that man gives nothing of what he's thinking away. "So anyway, yeah, there was a party planned. I vaguely remember it, but it's cloudy. Anyways, I don't know what happened. The last thing I remember was coming around and I was surrounded by wolves, covered in mud and blood and Drew was holding me..." I was sure I heard Draven growl, it caught me by surprise causing me to pause, but I quickly carried on. "... I only remember bits and pieces if I'm honest. There are times something seems familiar but it's just not really there - I know that doesn't make much sense." I trailed off waiting for Draven's response.

"OK, let me get this right. You. A human. From the human realm. End up in Domilia, surrounded by wolves, covered in blood and mud, with zero memories of how you got here. Have you not wanted to go back home?" We kept strolling as we spoke.

"I mean, yeah - I've thought about it but I have no idea how to even get home. I've asked Drew a number of times what happened that night but he just clams up, tells me it's best I don't know, and won't discuss it further - no one will." I shrug my shoulders, accepting this is my life now. Draven stops dead in his tracks, his face is like a stone. "You don't find it odd he won't tell you? Why are you allowing him to dictate your life to you? The state you turned up in and he won't tell you why, it's not right." His voice is thick with accusations but I just brush it off, "I trust him, he cares for me. Plus, I really don't know if I would want to go back. The truth is, I've always felt like I didn't belong anywhere and I like it here." I beam at him and his gaze softens.

"You've nearly died. Countless times and I've only known you a few weeks."

"Pfft, that was nothing - I had that handled!" I laughed, nudging Draven in his shoulder playfully/

Nudging me back, laughing, he replies "Oh really?"

"Mhmmm" I suppressed a giggle, "if anything, I saved you..."

"Oh, is that how it was?" His smile matched my own as we bantered.

"That's how it looked to me." He grabbed me as I was unready, tickling me playfully, which of course left me in fits.

"Hmm, yes I can see you are prepared for any attack." He jokes as he stops tickling. I bit my lip smiling as his hair falls over his stunning grey eyes, as the sun hits them they look a clear blue color - they are beautiful. Butterflies swirl inside me as we play, giving me a feeling of joy I haven't known for some time. "I still don't like the sound of this Drew guy." He points out as he placed me back on the ground. "I'll bare that in mind," I assure him.

Still walking, we come across a small village in the distance, a number of large huts on a picturesque plot of land. As if on queue my stomach growls, we decide we should rest and hopefully get some food, so we head towards it in hopes of them being helpful. We were silent as we approached, we were on edge. Prita had said our path was one of danger but that couldn't have been further from the truth. So far we've had nothing but a pleasant journey. Maybe this is where our luck runs out. My jaw drops as we closed in on the homes, it is made up of maybe 11 huts, and there were children running around playing and laughing. In all my time here I've seen a tiny number of children. There was more here in this tiny village than there has been everywhere else I'd seen. There was a man and woman, approaching their faces showed concern. "Can we help you?" The woman asked, her eyes traveling from Draven to me. She was a curvy woman, but not overweight - she just looked like a mother, she was dressed in a longsleeved tan cotton dress with a waist-tied apron hanging on her hips. Trying to show my lack of ill will, I smiled, "We have been traveling. We have been for some time. We are hungry and tired and were hoping you would be kind enough to help us?" I indicated to Draven and myself, as both men stood tall staring at each other, both ready to strike if needed. Luckily for me, the woman returns my smile, "Please come." She gestures toward one of the wooden huts. They are quite large and each has a straw roof. They sat us down in some hand-woven seats outside while the woman went inside. The men still said nothing. I can't tell whether they are trying to work each other out or if it's like a contest. The one who speaks first loses. Tapping my fingers against my leg, I prayed the woman would return soon. There was a gentle warmth to the breeze and the sounds of children laughing filled the air. The man looked about 40. His brown hair hangs down his back and he has a small beard, he reminded me of a lumberjack.

The kind lady came back out, her hands filled with two bowls of food. "Here you two go." Her voice had a twang of an accent I didn't know as she handed a bowl to myself and Draven. Hungrily, I grabbed the bowl and said my thanks. "Wait!' Draven growled as I went to dig in. I tilted my head, unsure as to what he was going on about. He stared the man in the face, "try some." I was mortified these people were treating us as guests and he had the nerve to insult them. Opening my mouth to say something, but I quickly stopped when he looked at me, my mouth bobbing like a fish out of water. Grabbing my spoon, the woman, as kind as ever, took a spoonful of the warm white food and ate it. "You can never be too careful." she smiled, pulling a fresh spoon from her apron. I gave Draven a "see I told you so" look but he didn't crack yet. He just kept staring at the man his bowl held out to him. The man didn't break a sweat, he poked one of his fingers into Dravens bowl, when he pulled it out it was covered in the white sauce, he placed the finger straight into his mouth and sucked it clean, raising his eyebrows at Draven when he had finished. Draven gave me a go ahead, a head nod and I did not hesitate again, spooning the food into my empty stomach. It was like a hug in a bowl, warm and comforting. The woman tells us about her life here, "I'm Iris and this is my mate Luke..." she pointed around at the many children running "... and these are some of our great, great, great, great, great grandkids." She and Luke make eye contact and you can see all the love they share. "It is so nice to hear how much you love your children Iris, they are lucky to have you as their mother." I meant it, I always felt a small pang of sadness when I saw mothers treating their children well, I always wondered where I went wrong, and caused me to not deserve that kind of love. "Oh no child you misunderstood, these are my children, they're our grandchildren x many times over." Her laugh was warm and bubbly as she tried to explain. What was she saying. I could not, for love or money, understand. Hoping Draven got it, I looked to him for assistance but he looked just as lost as me. I had hoped it was a wolf thing that I just didn't pick up on. Luke said nothing still but watched us react. "I'm sorry, we don't understand what you're saying, Iris, how could these be your grandkids, never mind great, great great great great great grandkids... did I say enough greats?" My eyes travel over each person here it's like Luke and Iris have their own language. "All of our children didn't find their true mates, some found them but were not accepted, Igar and Hayley found their mates. So, over time, we lost most of our children but they each left behind the next generation and the cycle continued."

"Doubtful." Draven just chucked his opinion into the conversation.

"Hmm, what is it you ain't believing, son?" Luke spoke for the first time.

Looking to me for support, Draven said "How can that be, true mates, they don't exist anymore. They died out when people stopped claiming them. Great grandkids, how old would that make you? Something isn't adding up. True mates, ha, that's nothing but an old wolves tale. How old would that make you anyways?"

"I'm 193 and Luke here is almost 200."

My mouth dropped open, they could not be that old, there was barely a wrinkle between them. "It's funny you call it an old wolves tale, Draven, when you are clearly sitting with your own." I looked around to see who else was about, but there was only us there. Looking vindicated, he smirked, "She is human." He didn't have to tell her she was wrong, he knew she had to be. The happiness of winning was brief as he glanced at me with sadness in his eyes. "You keep telling yourself that boy," Luke piped in.

"It's true. I am human. Honestly, though I'm still so curious about your story, I've been around wolves now, some in their 70s/80s, and look old enough to be your grandparents. How do you look so young?"

"It's a gift from Seline our mother goddess. She gifts wolves who connect with their true mate a number of abilities, one is an extremely long life to thoroughly embrace a lifetime together." she walked over to her husband and lay in his lap. It was a beautiful sight to see.

"So you are a pack of wolves but what element are you from?"

"There's no one element here, Sara. Love takes all forms. Mates often have different elemental control, and the pups may have something different entirely, one constant we've found over our years together- you only get one element to control, no matter what made you up."

"What are your elements? If you don't mind me asking?"

He smiled and started to shift, his massive paws thudding into the ground as it started to pour down, Iris seemed to soak it in before shifting herself, her eyes growing as she dug into the dirt, and flowers started emerging from the soil blooming in front of our eyes. A smile beamed across my face, it was magical to see. "Stay and rest here tonight and if needed tomorrow too, we can spare the room. What is your course?" Luke asked gruffly. I was surprised by his open offer, he didn't seem to be happy we were here.

"Thank you, we will accept your kind offer. Sara here needs to get to Domilia, we've been told. It's a few days' travel." Draven spoke up on my behalf. Iris blurted out before she had time to consider her words, "Domilia is no place to be right now, with the war."

"What war?" Iris and Luke exchanged glances. "What war?!" I repeated, my voice getting uncontrollably louder. My body began to shake as panic was flooding it. "It's said the Vampyres and the wolves are at war. Rumor has it one of the Alpha's children fell victim to the war." The area span out of control as my chest rose and fell faster. I can't believe what I'm hearing, it can't be true. Please just let everything be fine. Oh god no. Please tell me it's not true. "Which child?" I whispered. They just looked at me with pity. I couldn't breathe, the area spun faster and faster till I was sure I was going to land somewhere completely different. The last thing I remembered was hearing an almighty thud. "please be safe."