The Calling
The Calling
Xander POV
The day has passed quickly. I saw Serafine leave with Alexa, and she’s spent a lot of today with her. I’m grateful for that. I know Serafine will never trust me again. I can feel it in our bond.
It’s strained, and I’m giving her space, as I know pushing her to be near me won’t help.
People are moving around, and the barriers are going up for The Calling. There’s always a chance a child will wander around. So the magic barrier stops them from entering the forest. It also means that they can’t walk into things tonight.
Serafine should take part tonight. Her wolf needs that raw connection, the freedom and ability to do as it wishes. I understand she won’t, but I hope she does. After what I did, I know her wolf needs to heal, and events like tonight give her wolf power, which helps it heal.
“It’s all sorted, Alpha, no child will be able to get through the barriers.”
I nod and relax, knowing that no child can accidentally stumble across it tonight. It’s not something children are taught about, at least not until they are much older.
We’ve never had an incident where a child went walking around on the night of The Calling, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen, so ensuring they can’t access the area is needed.
My eyes catch movement, and I see Serafine. She walks into the pack house, and a few minutes later, her curtains close.
“She should take part,” Killan whispers.
“She’s not ready to,” I reply.
“Maybe not, but how much longer can she deny her wolf its natural needs? How long until her wolf loses control?”
He’s not wrong; she’s missed years of these things, but I can’t force her. “It’s entirely her choice.” Turning, I face him. “You have to remember, until she came here, she was never touched, so expecting her to take part in this, when she’s not comfortable near others, is cruel and will only make her more anxious.”
I get why he’s worried. There are no signs, but avoiding these events impacts your wolf, and when that happens… Yeah, your wolf can just snap and go crazy. It could be at this Calling or in ten years. The fact that there are no warning signs is what is worrying him.
I’m worried. The suppressants she was given didn’t just lock away her wolf; they stopped her wolf’s heat, her bonds, everything, which has made her an even bigger risk.
Still, I can’t force myself to do it, to make her join in when she’s not ready.
“We’ve ensured that the Hollowfang ravens, Stoneback Guardians and Silvermane Hounds were moved and given instructions.” Garrick walks over to me as he speaks.
“Good.”
“I doubt that Gideon will show. Tonight is a night we’re weak, but he can’t force his men to come here and ignore The Calling.”
He can. “He does it with suppressions for many in his pack, so why not his warriors so that he can come here and break through our defences?” I ask.
He stops and considers it before nodding. “You’re right, he can, and he’s the kind who would. That was until he found out about the things we have here protecting us. He would need enough of the serum to defeat them. That will take time.”
I nod at him. He’s not wrong. The serum we use to mute people’s wolves as punishment can be deadly to those who we have here protecting us. He would need a large quantity because every missed shot would be a waste.
“We need to begin moving,” Killan calls out, and he’s not wrong; the moon will be coming up soon.
I leave and stand alone near the packhouse, debating whether I should try to get Serafine to come, but I know it will be a mistake.
Walking in, I go through the house to where her room is. I need to try, I need to see if she will join.
I knock on her door and wait, but she doesn’t answer. She’s not going to. I know she’s worried, but she needs to understand her wolf’s need.
“Serafine, I understand your unease around toro cessfully unlocked! ur wolf needs more power and strength to
heal, and it can acquire it tonight.”
Just Successfully
I wait, but there’s nothing, just silence. Sighing, I rub my face. She’s not going to come.
“You know the path to take if you happen to change your mind. Consider your wolf, I apologise again for my behaviour.”
Just as I turn, the door opens, and she glares at me.
1/2
The Calling
“Don’t apologise,” she says sharply. “I don’t want your apology, not while inside your mind you’re still accusing me.”
My mouth opens to talk, but she holds up her hand.
“No, don’t defend yourself. An apology is meant to be accepting that you made a mistake, but how can you do that when you still believe that I’m the one who told my father these things? How can you apologise and expect me to accept it when tomorrow you may punish me again for another lie?”
She’s not wrong, but I can’t even argue with her about that. So I don’t. Instead, I step back.
“I’ll leave you alone,” I say quietly, then I turn and walk out of the pack house, my woil is clawing at me, punishing me for what I’ve done, and what I’ve caused. He’s right, and she’s right. My apology is nothing, not when I still believe she somehow told her father.
Yes, regret how badly she was hurt, but that doesn’t mean my apology is good enough.
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