Chapter 28 Liza #2
The pack listened with rapt attention, hanging on to their alpha’s every word.
“Tonight, we celebrate a new chapter in our pack’s history,” Dominic announced, pride emanating from his voice. “My son Tyson has found his mate, Liza. They will take on the responsibilities of leadership and become the future of our pack.”
The announcement was met with an excited murmur. It went without saying that this was a momentous occasion, a changing of the guard that marked passing the torch from one generation to the next.
I was shocked that he’d publicly acknowledged me after having been so against our pairing. Did he know I was an omega?
“Tyson has proven himself to be a worthy successor. He will make a strong king, one who will lead our pack with loyalty, wisdom, and compassion,” Dominic continued, his chest swelling. “And Liza is a powerful and intelligent wolf. Together, they will be a force to be reckoned with.”
The anticipation among the pack members grew. This was the beginning of a new era for their pack, and the excitement was palpable.
“I stand before you tonight to announce my intention to renounce my title as alpha once Tyson officially takes Liza as his mate,” he declared with a sense of finality in his voice. “It is time for me to step down and for my son to take his rightful place as the leader of our pack.”
The pack members nodded in agreement, showing their support. They knew he had served their pack well and that it was time for him to enjoy his well-earned rest.
The clouds shifted, revealing the full moon in all its splendor. My wolf lunged, causing me to react almost violently to the pull of the moon. Ty held my arms and stepped in front of me, blocking my view from the others as I trembled. I’d never felt this way.
“I know this is new for you. It can be overwhelming.” Ty put his lips against my ear and whispered, “Remember that the moon is our guide, our strength, our source of power. We draw from it, but we don’t let it control us.”
His words reassured me, and I soon found myself calming down, better able to control my body’s reaction to the glow of the moon.
Just then, Dominic raised his head to the full moon above and let out a long, piercing howl. It was a signal to the pack that it was time to shift and run together, celebrating their unity and strength. The pack quickly shed their clothes and shifted, taking off in all directions.
Ty kissed me on the forehead. “Are you ready for your first real run?
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I smiled at him as anticipation shivered through me.
I closed my eyes and allowed my wolf to move forward, no longer holding her back from what she desired.
My muscles twitched with anticipation when the familiar feeling of transformation took over.
As I shifted, my senses sharpened, allowing me to see and hear with a clarity I had never experienced.
My wolf also seemed more alert than she’d ever been before.
I ran through the clearing, not stopping to worry about Ty. My instincts kicked in and the moon was my guide, pulling me deeper into the forest.
The leaves rustled beneath my paws as I ran through the woods, feeling the cool breeze on my fur. Every sound, every scent, was magnified, and the woods came alive around me. I could hear the soft rustling of leaves, the chirping of crickets, the hooting of an owl in the distance.
I kept running and running, the trees passing by in a blur. It was almost as if I didn’t have control over my speed or direction.
Ty growled behind me, like he was telling me to stop.
I couldn’t.
I ran for what felt like hours, though it had probably not been longer than forty minutes, but instead of continuing to streak through the fields and the woods, my wolf came to an abrupt stop.
I panted, trying my best to force oxygen into my burning lungs. My entire being froze. My shift was immediate, and I stood completely naked, trying to take in my surroundings.
I stood in a field of lavender. My nose pricked from the strong scent as my mind whirled, trying to make sense of my location.
My knees shook when I heard, “Liza,” in Ty’s warm rich voice, though it was a whisper from just behind me. I ignored him and continued to walk, stopping in front of the brush of bushes, my breath hitching in my chest as my heart pounded.
“We shouldn’t be here, Liza. It’s not our territory. Let’s go home,” Ty pleaded a little louder, as though he thought I hadn’t heard him call my name. Still, I ignored him.
There was no turning back now.
I didn’t know where I was, but I couldn’t leave.
I had no idea what was leading me or pulling me, but I was on autopilot, neither seeing nor hearing, only feeling as I navigated through the dark woods. The moonlight illuminated my path as my heart beat faster and harder with a sense of anticipation.
My hands instinctively reached out, caressing the trees as I passed. They seemed to be singing to me, welcoming me. The words home, home, home echoed like a siren in my mind, calling me to where I needed to be. To where I was meant to be.
The moon seemed to shine even brighter as it rose higher in the sky, casting a silvery light on the trees and illuminating the path ahead of me. The night was alive with energy, and I felt strangely connected to the earth beneath my feet.
Suddenly, images filled my head. I was running through these exact trees while a beautiful woman with my face chased me.
She laughed and told me that princesses weren’t meant to get so dirty, but her smile was wide, and she wasn’t chastising me.
She loved seeing her little princess this way, so wild and free.
I frolicked, giggling, leaping high, attempting to grab the tree limbs above me. I was happy and safe.
My breath caught somewhere between my lungs and my throat as I continued to walk. I picked up speed, certain I was getting closer to my destination.
More images popped into my mind. There was a bright full moon. Several people sat in its glow, feasting and laughing together. I sat in the middle of the table, surrounded by love.
A handsome man leaned down and spoke in a soft voice, telling me how blessed they had been with their princess, their honor, and their joy.
A sob escaped my throat, and tears streamed unbidden down my cheeks. I could sense Ty walking by my side, but he no longer tried to stop me. He had to know it was no use. Something greater was happening here.
I broke into a run as several more memories flooded back into my mind. They came in waves, almost overwhelming me. Clutching my chest, I squinted, trying to see where I was going through the tears that wouldn’t stop coming.
I broke through the trees and fell to my knees. My emotions overwhelmed me because I finally understood where I was. I wasn’t lost at all. I knew exactly who those people were in my memories and in the dreams that had haunted me since the age of four.
I remembered everything as I stared at the house in front of me. It wasn’t quite the same as my old one. The coloring was different, but the design was the same.
It was a home fit for a royal family. A home fit for my family.
A man was silhouetted on the back porch.
As my eyes focused, I realized that I knew him.
Not the man, but the boy he used to be. He’d come to our house every day to play with me.
My parents had told me he’d always protect me.
It was the boy who had taken my hand and fled with me into the woods to escape being killed by the bad men who had attacked our home.
That boy was now a man. My voice cracked as I said his name. “Stone.”
But that boy had a different name. He had been Castro. I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten him.
I covered my face with my hands as I suddenly saw the man at the end of my dream. His words rang in my ears. He would make sure I was okay.
The face became clearer, and I slowly turned to Ty.
My heart felt as though it was shattering into a million pieces. This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t be fate’s design.
Something wasn’t right.
I remembered the face of the man with the bloodied hands that had reached for me and taken me far from my home.
His face was now crystal clear.
That man had been Dominic Keller.