Alpha Loren

“The protection of the Star Goddess’

November 3rd

"So you're fighting?" I asked as Leo drove fast towards the base.

"My army is preparing as we speak, what kind of Alpha would I be if I didn't join them?" he replied. I sighed and leant my head against the window and looking out into the forest. The sun had fully risen yet a darkness hung low from the charcoal clouds rolling in above.

"Try not to be too worried,” he replied taking my hand. "With any luck, we'll fight them off before they even get past the border. My pack is stronger than Alpha Haden's and we should be able to win this as few casualties as possible.”

"Just...be careful, okay?" I said.

He nodded and the rest of the journey was in silence.

Leo soon pulled up into the road leading down to the army base. There were trucks everywhere some carrying supplies, others groups of men. Soldiers dressed in full uniform, armed to their teeth were flooding in and out of the buildings and tents and various pop-up stations.

Only amongst all this did I realise how serious the situation was.

Leo took my hand and lead me forward. The men all naturally cleared a path for their Alpha and I felt all their stares fall on me as we passed.

"Leo, why am I here?" I asked looking around.

There wasn't a single female, let alone one as pathetic as me.

"I have to show you something,” he replied bluntly.

We soon reached a station with tables laid out with hundreds of knives and boxes behind presumably with hundreds more. A man worked behind the table, handing the weapons to queuing soldiers.

"Good morning, Alpha," he said immediately directing his attention to us as we approached. "You are here for the Praesidium Deae Astra?"

The what?

"Yes," Leo said with a firm nod.

The man then reached into a box and pulled out something wrapped in an old cloth. He handed it not to Leo but for me and I just held it in my hand dumbstruck. Whatever it was, was heavy and judging by the way all around us stared at me, kind of important.

"Open it," Leo urged.

I unravelled the cloth to reveal a blade, with an engraved rusty handle. It was small but the end was lethally sharp.

"A knife?"

"It's more than just a knife," Leo said kneeling down in front of me and running his finger along the handle. "It's the Prasidium Deae Astra. In English the-"

"Protection of the Star Goddess," I finished.

He smiled, "Correct."

"And you're giving it to me because...?

"Legend has it that this knife was one of Protestas Loren's five original belongings gifted to him by The Goddess of stars and the Goddess or Neptune. Remember that story I told you about them?" I nodded my head. "Well the other four things are either destroyed or lost, but they are meant to hold some kind of magical power. Every war this pack has ever been involved in this has been given to the Luna so that she can protect herself if she needs to. Hopefully, you won't have to use it, but it's there just incase.”

"So it's a really old, magical knife that is the last of the original Alpha's five belongings given to him by two powerful Goddesses thousands of years ago.... and you are trusting me with it?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Precisely. Don't lose it," Leo said standing back up to his usual (very tall) height.

Leo then turned to someone who had just approached him and began talking about the war preparations as I examined the knife further.

What could be so magical about such a dull looking knife? The blade was tarnished and edged with rust, the hand had seen better days and the thing didn't scream with power and mystery.

"The evacuation of civilians near the borders is 90% complete, defence squadrons have been deployed to every faction and are nearly in place,” the man talking to Leo said. "I suggest you get your Luna and family somewhere safe now. Our intelligence has said it won't be long until Haden's men reach the border."

Leo nodded and took my hand before marching fast back to the car.

He stopped just before we reached it and suddenly removed his t-shirt and handed it to me.

I stared at him, confused as he watched, waiting for me to do something.

"Put it on. It will mask your scent," he said.

"Ew," I said. "And now you're half-naked," I added as he stood out in the open shirtless.

"Haden has your scent and this is just a precaution to make it harder for him to find you," he said forcing it into my hands.

I nodded and shrugged off my jacket and handed it to him which he used to shroud me from the eyes of spectators as I changed into his shirt.

"Smells...fresh," I said.

He then reached into the trunk of his car and pulled out a black t-shirt, black trousers and a pair of combat boot.s

"There's a vault underground in a secret location in the forest. My Mom and my sisters along with some of my other family will already be there. That's where I'm taking you to ensure your safety,” he said putting on the t-shirt.

"Oh, okay," I said.

"Don't be scared, Ella," he said. "No one will ever find the vault and if they do, it's impossible to get into without multiple keys, passcodes and fingerprints.”

He then began to change his pants, throwing his jeans into the trunk and stepping into the army uniform trousers.

"I'm not worried about me, Leo," I replied with a sigh. "I did karate for a year. It's you."

He cupped my face in his hands, "We are going to win," he said confidently as he tied his shoes. "Haden has nothing on my army...and nothing on your karate.”

I nodded and he kissed me.

"I love you," I said softly as a tear escaped my eye.

"I love you too," he replied pulling me further into his chest.