Chapter 5 Learning #2
Heaton will always have a special place in my heart. My math teacher Mrs. Wyett, like my English teacher, followed my fathers every whim. She would drill me on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts constantly. I had to be very quick with answers, or I would get the ruler,
but she would slap the bottom of my foot. My desk had a leg holder, designed specifically by her to make sure my foot was accessible. Once I was in the chair I took off my shoe and she would come over grab my left leg and pull it up and strap it in the leg holder which was under the chair.
My foot stuck out the back of the chair and I was always terrified to get hit. I still have a little numbness in that foot. The last text book I had in Math was calculus. Math came easy to me once I came to understand the information, it was just getting to that understanding that took time,
especially since I wasn’t allowed to write. Archer, I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to finally learn from someone who was not hired by my parents, especially now that I know there is so much out there that I was not privy to. Plus, in my opinion,
I feel like learning without the fear of being hit is an added bonus,” I say and giggle a little under my breath.
Archer looked at me with shock and sadness on his face, “I am so sorry Luna. No one should have to go through that. I do have to ask; you said you were raised in Vallmond? I was unaware that there was a werewolf pack there. Vallmond is the vampire territory, though there are many mixed nations,
Vallmond stays vampires because juvenile vampires are unpredictable and can attack. In fear of them hurting others, the rulers thousands of years ago decided to keep others out. The first time your household visited they told us they were from Erebus.
We didn’t question it as Erebus is the werewolf nation. When our people inside came back they too said they were in Erebus, I am going to have to look more into this information.”
“Yes, Vallmond just beyond the forest here, I was being chased out when I ran here so it can't be that far, I’m sure I could bring you there. As for everything else, it's my past, and I would like to leave it there. I don't want anyone's pity,
I figured you would like to know what subjects I was taught so that way we can move forward.” I tell him, smiling.
“Okay Luna, let’s start from the beginning then, with the birth of the werewolves,” Archer began to teach me all about the history of his people.
“The first werewolves on record used to bite humans in order to create new werewolves. Now we do not rely on humans as a host. We have evolved into our own species and have followed our instincts, which helped us to find our mates. We have come to understand the Moon Goddess,
so much so that we have a direct link with her. We have the most power when the moon is at the highest point and is full. There are a few of us that can not shift until the moon is full but they are mostly the omegas, the rest of us can shift at ease, this is another evolved trait.
We do not maintain awareness after shifting which is why we only shift when needed, or if we know we are in a safe situation like the run that takes place on the full moon. There was a mythical item, a Moon Shard, said to make werewolves strong no matter the size of the moon. However,
it had never been seen until the Lycan war, and it has never been seen since. Silver is deadly to my kind if ingested and it is commonly used to restrain us. The pack mentality has stayed the same over the years. An alpha and his luna will rule while his or her chosen pack mates will be their beta,
and delta. While omegas play an important role in the pack they normally do not hold the same authority as the other ranks. If an Alpha is mated to a lower rank, he is to accept his mate and love them no matter what, they will take on the higher level rank once married.
It is the Moon Goddess’ will as to who is a destined pair, and it is sacred. When mating, once the couple accepts each other they will mark each other. Which is a bite right here on your collar bone.”
Archer pulls his shirt down over his left shoulder, and reveals a mark that looks like a tattoo, of a heart filled with flowers and colorful swirls.
“Once this is complete and they heal, they will be able to mentally link with their mate and if they are in power, they can link with the pack but only from within your own territory. Each person's mark is unique and normally reflects their mate in some way. Zeta is the heart of this pack,
and until you came she was the acting luna.”
“What a lovely mark Archer. What does hers look like?”
“Mine on Zeta is an open book with a quill and ink pot” “Sounds lovely, I can't wait to see it!”
I say smiling, “I do have a question, the King and Queen or I guess, Alpha and Luna, they are werewolves right? How come I was never taught about werewolves? I don’t understand why they would keep any of this from me. If they knew I could shift, why not just tell me I am a werewolf,
if I was treated as their equal I would have never felt out of place?”
“Yes, the people portraying themselves as your parents are werewolves. I’m not sure why they would keep basic knowledge hidden from you Luna, my guess would be because the Moon Goddess or even your inner wolf would have told you the truth, but maybe we can find out more answers as we continue.
You are a lycan. Lycan were created to bring harmony to the now six lands. We used to be one people, until the werewolves wanted to be the better of all races. The Moon Goddess wanted to once again bring harmony so she created a new race, the lycan, that's when the territory Pleiades came to be.
Your people and werewolves are very similar, the main differences are the Lycan are larger and more powerful, all ranks can shift at will and can maintain awareness after shifting and though silver hurts, it is not deadly to you.”
The world was much larger than I had been taught, and there were so many people around the world I had no knowledge of.
He asked at the end of the day if I would like to come back tomorrow so he could teach me about the different territories.
I nodded with excitement; I was ready to learn everything I could.
Archer and I then made our way through the side door of his office.
It opened to a massive library. “All of these books belong to the Pleiades Pack. Please if there is anything you would like to read, help yourself. I do ask if you would please stay on this level for now, I would appreciate it.
I have clearance to go down into the ancient tombs but you are new to our pack. I know you are our Luna and Aylin will get you clearance but just for now I think it best that you stay on the first floor.” I nod and yawn at Archer.
“Okay Archer, I will see you tomorrow.”
After a day of learning I was very tired but more importantly, I was hungry, so I made my way down to the kitchen where another table of food was set.
I grabbed a plate and went to sit in a large chair by the fireplace.
As I bent down to sit a little giggle came from behind me and I spun around.
“Oh, excuse me!” “It’s okay Luna, you can sit with me” Asher said as he patted the chair beside him.
We sat close to each other while I ate my food, and we watched the fire.
“Hey Luna, do you know any songs you could hum?” Asher asked.
“Yes I do, would you like that?” I asked. Asher simply lay his head on my lap and nodded. So, I began to hum a song that I had heard in my dreams since I was a child. To my surprise, Asher started humming it too, and added in a few words like, Queen, kindness and sins.
"How do you know this song, Asher? I have heard it in my dreams since I was a young child but never knew it to be real." I spoke.
"Oh, my mom used to sing that song to me too. It's the song of the prophecy. About you Luna and how you were sent to us for the great mending." He says, matter of fact. I look at him and continue to hum, wondering who hummed it for me since it certainly wasn’t my 'family'.
When the morning light streamed onto my face, I knew I had fallen asleep, and not just me but Asher too.
The small boy was still lying across my lap with a small grin on his sleeping face.
I don’t know what came over me, but I started to run my hand through his hair.
I closed my eyes remembering one of the few times Marcella and I had a relationship before she changed.
My father had just belted me and my tiny body was hurting and bruised.
“Mommy, mommy, I need cuddles,” I cry out to her.
She pulls me up onto the couch. I breathe in the comforting scent of woodsmoke and I rest my head against my mother's warm lap, letting the crackling fireplace wash away the winter chill.
Surrounded by these amber flames, her gentle fingers tracing my hair, the anxiety that usually plagues me dissolves. Here, I believe I am entirely safe.
The embers crack and pop, a familiar, rhythmic percussion that grounds me whenever my mind threatens to wander into the dark, alone places I normally try to hide.
I bury my face deeper into the thick knit of her woolen nightgown, breathing in the scent of apples and cinnamon.
It’s a sensory anchor. Time seems to slow to an absolute halt in this pocket of the living room, shielded by the walls of the home I always try to leave behind in my fragile little mind.
Above me, the quiet, steady rhythm of her breathing sets a gentle pace for my own racing pulse.
I feel the soft, sweeping brush of her fingers parting my hair, a quiet, wordless reassurance that I am not alone, and that the heavy shadows we carry can be untangled.
In the warmth of the firelight, the anxieties I face because of my father are reduced to mere flickers on the wall.
I close my eyes, secure in the sanctuary of her lap, and finally allow myself to just breathe, as I slowly fall asleep.
I was four years old.