The Great Wolf: A Legacy of Kilkenny Novel Book Three (The Legacy of Kilkenny Saga) (6 page)

I watch as everyone hangs from every word Pru says.  She
goes on to reiterate what Quinney said about reporting anything suspicious. 
It’s hard to hide my irritation with everyone for keeping this from me, but I
do my best.  Dolly and I walk around to each of the alphas and make sure
they’re okay with the plans for protection.  I sense confusion, but there isn’t
much I can do at this point to clarify anything.  It isn’t as though anyone has
kept me in the loop.

Quinney comes over to me and asks if we can have a private
conversation.  I invite him up to my room, although I’d rather go swimming in a
sea of jelly fish.  His demeanor is intimidating, by the way he moves and talks,
he reminds me of Lurch from The Addams Family.  Oakley and Pru are going to
stand guard, but before we go up to my room, Quinney sends Jace to
sweep
it.   Come to find out, Jace is the sorcerer I sensed earlier.  He’s going to check
for bugs; just to be sure we’re not being spied on from within.

****************

Quinney and I take a seat in the small sitting area of my
room.  I sit perfectly still, waiting for him to start the conversation.  Pru’s
always praised him as someone who’s wise beyond his years. 

“Thank you, for agreeing to talk to me.  It’s an honor to
meet you,” he says sincerely.

“Thank you, sir.”  I didn’t know what else to say.  I sit
through the awkward silence; wishing for someone to come rescue me.

“Abel, I want to make this quick.  As you know, I’m a shaman
and I’ve had visions about your pack.  When I say pack, I am meaning all pack
wolves.  You’re the leader of everyone, whether you’ve taken charge or not. 
One of the alphas from an American pack has made a deal with a Middle Eastern
terrorist supernatural group.  They’re planning on abducting Pru.  She’s one of
the only shamans in America and unknown to them, she’s going to be in my
position in the coming years.  I know she wants to protect
you
, but
she’s the one who needs protecting right now.  Oakley isn’t capable of
protecting her; he won’t think logically when his heart is involved.  You’re
going to be the one to keep her safe.  My visions don’t come with a time-stamp
or expiration date.  What I can go by is her looks and what I see going on
around her.  Most of my visions happen relatively quickly, typically within six
months.  Some of the visions have taken a year to happen.”

I concentrate on what he’s told me, trying to absorb it as
best as I can.  He watches me earnestly as I think it through.

“What can I do to protect her?”

“You’re powerful Abel, so powerful in fact, you’ll be the
strongest supernatural being in the world.  The minute you take your intended
place as the Great Wolf you’ll gain the knowledge about everything.  You’ll know
every detail of every person who carries the wolf gene.  With power comes
danger.  If you don’t harness your abilities, you’re a danger to those closest
to you.  Everything will be tenfold.  You can’t be in two places at once
though.  This is what I see, Pru doesn’t have a wedding band on and her hair is
the length it is now.  I’m thinking the trouble will happen while you’re in
Ireland.  You must not share this information with anyone; including Dolly. 
Other people are open to vision quests, you aren’t.  If you give the
information to someone else, they may pass the information to the terrorist.  Unfortunately,
you’ll have many burdens you’ll carry alone.”  The intensity of his words pound
me like an iron fist, punching me in the gut.

We sit for a million moments before I find the ability to
speak again.  “Is it a
fact
that she’ll be abducted?”

“No.  Everything in our future is subjective to what we do
to correct a path we may have traveled if not warned.  She means a lot to me
too.  I’ll do what I can from my end to protect her.”

I sit stunned. 

“I’m going to show you some techniques I use to meditate. 
Once you’ve become aware of your inner strength, you’ll need to focus on how to
harness the power.  There’ll be times you’ll have the stress of the world on
your shoulders and meditation will help you ground yourself.  Let’s move the
furniture over and we’ll sit on the floor.”

We move the furniture and sit down on the floor.    I can’t
help but wonder when the last time the floors were cleaned.  But Quinney
doesn’t seem to mind. 

Girls pull off sitting in middle of the floor facing another
girl, much better than two men.  My Doc Martens are clunky feeling as I sit
Indian
Style
.  Quinney sits without any issues, so I work on looking comfortable
in front of him.  He stretches his arms out with his hands palms-up, in front
of him.

“Take my hands,” he whispers.

Oakley would have a field day if he saw me holding hands
with another man.  My guys never ask to hold my hand.  I do as he says, taking
his hands into mine.  The awkwardness of the situation dissipates and a rush of
calmness washes through me. 

“Abel, you can open your eyes now.”

I’m sitting in the same position with the exception of my hands;
they’re resting on my thighs.   “What happened?”

“I gave you the skills you need to meditate,” he states.

I check my watch and twenty minutes have passed. 

“You doubt me?  Close your eyes and concentrate.”  Quinney
says and stands up.

I’m amazed as I close my eyes and I
know
how to
meditate.  “How?”

“You’ve had it inside of you, I brought it forward to the
front of your mind.  You have many talents, you’ll figure it all out,” he
admits.

“Do you think Pru’s going to be hurt?”  The thought hadn’t
crossed my mind that anyone would ever abduct her.

“Abel, it doesn’t matter what I think.  I’m not cluttering
your mind with any one-way thoughts, you need to consider all options.  I’m
sorry,” he shrugs his shoulders.

“Will I always be alone?  I mean, you say I can’t talk with
my pack-mates, but will I ever be able to tell someone?  Does the Great Wolf
get a mate?”

“Oh yes, Abel, you’re going to have the most caring mate. 
She’s going to challenge your thinking, hold you when you lose good friends. 
She’s quite a young lady.  My visions for you are clear, and yes Abel, you’re
going to find the true love of your life.  She will help carry your burdens,
but she’s just a wolf and won’t have the capacity to carry all of them with
you.  She will love you with a passion fit for a king.”  Quinney smiles to
himself.  “You’re a lucky man.  One thing you’ll need to remember in the dark
times, it’s better to have loved and lost, than never to love at all.”

I lump forms in my throat, “You mean she’s going to die?”

“Yes.  Keep in mind, things can change.  Abel, life is a
gift and living isn’t always measured in years, its measured on how you lived. 
I could talk all day about the philosophy of life, right now; you need to
concentrate on your friends and enjoying the Olympics.   Good luck my friend,”
he says and pulls me into a hug.  Oakley and I don’t hug much, so this would be
another one of those things the guys would tease me about.

“Thank you, your candor is refreshing.  I’ll watch Pru, this
will work out, I won’t allow anything to happen to her.”

****************

“Oakley has this in the bag, he’s the fastest shifter I’ve
ever seen,” I say to Brianna.  Her father gave her permission to sit with me
during breakfast since we haven’t seen each other in three days.

“Azezal is competing too.  He’s one of the fastest shifters
in Ireland.  He was brought into our pack when I was a little girl, I think
he’s 23.”

She looks adorable in her team uniform; it’s green and white
with orange lettering with her pack name.   She smells like she’s fresh from
the shower.  Our warm up suit/uniform is blue with a red stripe down the side
and white lettering with our pack name.  I insisted we keep The Phelan Pack,
since they are the founders of the pack.

I cut a blueberry muffin in half and hand it to her.  We sit
in silence as we eat our muffin.  She’s bouncing her leg up and down nervously
and I’m ticking off events in my head.  Pru is whispering to Oakley, probably
giving him a pep talk.  It’s noisy in the makeshift cafeteria.  I close off
everyone around me with the exception of Brianna.

“Your dad actually let you sit with Abel this morning?  I’m
surprised since he keeps a tight leash on you…pun intended,” says Brianna’s
friend Violet.  Her uniform is white with green and orange lettering.

“Ha, ha, you’re funny, sit your skinny butt down,” Brianna
says and flicks a crumb at her.  “Abel, do you remember Violet?”

“I do,” I reply.

“He’s not a moron, how could he possibly forget me?  I mean,
I’m unforgettable,” Violet says sarcastically.

Pru would have had a conniption fit if she heard someone
compare me to a moron.  It isn’t as though she called me one, but Pru would
have found it annoying.  After spending the day around Violet, I’ve come to
realize she’s obnoxious, but harmless. 

“You did not just compare him to a moron,” Brianna whispers
in Violet’s ear.

“COMPETITORS IN THE MALE SHIFTING EVENT YOU ARE TO REPORT TO
THE WEST FIELD IN FIVE MINUTES.  AGAIN, MALE SHIFTING EVENT COMPETITORS, YOU’RE
TO REPORT TO THE WEST FIELD IN FIVE MINUTES.” 

A voice booms overhead.

Oakley and Pru stand up abruptly.  All of us at our table
stand and applaud as they walk by.  Dolly is behind them, she’s beaming as she
leaves to join the women competitors who are competing right after the men.

“Your pack really likes each other, don’t they?”  Brianna
asks.

“We do,” Bryon answers.  He puts his hands on my shoulders,
giving them a light squeeze.  “You ready to get over there?”

There
being the field.  It occurs to me that Pru has
left. 
Shit,
 I think to myself.  “Yeah, we need to go.  Bri, I’ll see
you at lunch?”  I’ve never asked her if I can call her Bri, but it happens
without me thinking.

“My dad said I can, I’ll see you then…bye,” she smiles at me
and my heart jumps a beat. 

“Bye.”

Walking away with Bryon and Shaynie, I find I’m already
counting down the time until I see her again.

“You really like her; it’s all over your face,”  Bryon says.

“I suppose I do.  I’m trying to remind myself we’re leaving
soon, but that’s tough when she’s around.”  The competition is about to begin. 
Everyone has to sit in the bleachers.  Two screens as big as the kind in a
drive-in are set up so we can see the activity on the field.  One of the
screens is for the women’s shifting and one for the men’s shifting contest.  I
check my watch, it’s 6:29 am. 

“This should be epic, Oakley is faster than anyone I’ve seen
compete before. He could win the gold,” Shaynie says as she flanks my other
side.

“He will.” I look out onto the field to get a visual of
Pru.  “
Everything okay?  How’s Oak doing?  Is he freaking out?”
 I think
to Pru.

“He’s pumped.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he started
prematurely shifting before they start timing them.  I saw Shaynie and Bryon
sit with you.  This place is secure, I’m not picking up any bad vibes.  Oh, gotta
go, the MC is about to blow the whistle.  See you soon!”
Pru replies and I
see her turn around and face the judges. 

Argentina has only one pack and their superstar is a guy
named Alfredo Castro.  He could be mistaken for a horse jockey if seen at a
racetrack.  We saw him out at one of the pubs one night and the girls were
flocking to him.  Alfredo is going up against the alpha of the Cary Pack.  It
has to be about thirty two degrees out and their only article of clothing is a
pair of shorts.

The fans in the bleachers are chanting for their favorite
pack.  I take inventory of who’s here and can tell there are witches, faeries,
and other shifters here.  One of the judges is fae.  Their eyesight has the
ability to track every moment of every day.  Nothing is too fast for them to
register.  The judge is from the Seelie Court and has a reputation of being
fair.

Everyone stands for the Werewolf Games prayer and opening
announcements.

I STAND BEFORE MY LIEGE WITH HONOR

I SWEAR TO MY PACK TO SERVE THEM WITH THE GIFT I’VE BEEN
GRANTED

TO RESPECT MY COMPETITORS BY COMPETING WITH ALL OF MY WILL

TO SERVE WITH DIGNITY

TO PROMISE NO BLOOD TO BE SHED WITH ILL WILL BY MY HAND

I MAKE THIS VOW BEFORE GOD, MY PACK, AND THOSE WHO’VE GONE
BEFORE ME

FOREVER AND ALWAYS I’LL BE A WOLF WITH PRIDE

Every wolf, including the children, throws their heads back
and let out a howl.  How the witches were able to silence our howl to the world
is beyond me.  In my head I only hear the cry of my pack.

Shaynie loops her arm through mine and whispers, “the pledge
always makes me cry.  Isn’t it amazing to hear us all howl as one?”

“It was pretty amazing.”  For an instant, I don’t see Pru. 
My eyes are scanning the field until I get a visual on her.  Next up is Oakley,
he’s cool as he walks out onto the field.

Shaynie grabs my arm and is squeezing my elbow as we wait
for Oakley to perform.  “Shaynie, you’re going to break my arm if you squeeze
any harder,” I tease.

She lets go of my arm and laughs to herself.  “Sorry Abe….
I’m trying to be calm but my wolf is antsy.  Are you doing okay?”

“My wolf is jittery too, this place is intense with energy.”
I drape my arm over her shoulder and pull her close as we wait for the whistle
to blow.  Inside of my head, I’m chanting, “
you can do it
,” over and over. 

“
Shhhh, you’re going to break his concentration
,” Pru
mentally says to me.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize I wasn’t blocking my thoughts to
you guys.  I’ll keep my thinking to myself
.”