Page 21 of Threads of Fate

It was in the woods that Gideon really let himself be free. Divested of the trappings of human society, he embraced his senses, running and hunting side-by-side with the other predators in the forest. He learned to show gratitude for those creatures who taught him and those who sustained him.

He was one with nature and one with his wolf.

It was on one such summer afternoon, during Gideon’s seventeenth year, after a long morning spent in the garden, that his inner wolf grew restless with the slow, tedious work of weeding and watering. He was set to present the following year, and in his mother’s mind, there was no doubt he would be an alpha.

All he had wanted was to run, but she had been growing more and more tired lately—her buttery scent tinged with fatigue, her eyes shadowed by something deeper than worry. So, he had pushed through, determined to finish the chore.

Throughout the day, he made sure she sat quietly in the shade with her book, bringing her lunch or visiting to chat about this or that. But once he’d gathered enough for their dinner, he’d begged to spend his afternoon doing what he loved most. She often told him he was becoming a wild wolf, the veneer of his manners worn thin, often lamenting that her homeschooling couldn’t polish some of his sharp edges. But she also insisted that a rough edge or two made the diamond more interesting and no less valuable. She waved him off with a tired smile and closed her eyes for a nap in the shade.

On fast feet, Gideon raced into the woods on the well-worn path, following his nose. Gideon never got lost; he knew every inch of the wood within ten miles of his cottage and the pitfalls that lay within. He stalked a small family of white-tailed deer and spotted two large cats and so many small prey animals he lost count. He felt the urge to run and run and run, the burning in his legs a pleasure, so he pressed on harder until he burst into an open area with a small waterfall and the sun shining on several rocky outcroppings. The clearing was right out of a fairy tale.

Suddenly hot and thirsty, Gideon removed his shirt to lie on a flat rock and gulp the clear water in large handfuls. He rolledover and nearly rolled right into the lagoon, uncharacteristically clumsy. And then did, as a clear tinkling voice laughed. He floundered, afraid he might drown, but instinct had him standing up in two feet of water.

The laugh sounded again.Gideon, you amuse Us.

The voice came from a small person, neither female nor male in the traditional sense, but androgynous in the most beautiful of ways. Their skin glowed with a light that came from inside, and it occurred to Gideon that he should be frightened because his woods were not occupied by humans of any kind. That there was an otherworldly figure in a white gown sitting at the edge of a lagoon that had never existed in any of Gideon’s previous travels should have been alarming, but…it wasn’t.

Gideon listened to his instincts and felt only a sense of peace. The forest animals weren’t quiet, and he knew they could sense danger long before him. He was safe, for now.

Come and sit.They gestured to the edge of the rocky outcrop nearest them.You are not afraid.A statement, not a question.

“No.” And They nodded.

Tell me then, Gideon Carnell, why do you stalk the animals? Is it their fear you crave?

The question was a test—he knew that—but he answered truthfully anyway. “I don’t think they fear me at all. I am just practicing my skills. We share these woods.” Gideon hadn’t ever thought about why he spent his time learning the behaviors of the animals around him, why he cared to protect them and learn from them. “I…don’t know why I do it…I just need to do it. Am I weird?”

They smiled.We like weird, Gideon. You are indeed a very special young man.

The sun dimmed a bit as a cloud passed overhead, and the wind picked up slightly. It smelled as if it might rain. Perhaps a storm was coming.

He shifted on the rock, suddenly uncomfortable.

Alright, Gideon, We’ll get right to it. We know you appreciate knowing where you stand. Do you know who We are?

The glow intensified, and, like a mirage, Gideon caught a glimmer of many bodies, of many faces, in the corner of his eye. The image burned his eyes a little, and he quickly looked away; he saw his own shadow on the rock beside him.

“Yes,” he whispered, and hedid. This was The Moon Goddess—creator of the Werewolves, divine protector of Their children, and the source of every blessing in body, mind, and spirit. Gideon’s breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, the thought of his mother filled his mind.“Have you come for me? Am I…dead?” If he was, who would care for his mother?

Another giggle, although this time it sounded like it was composed of a multitude of voices.

Not at all. You must live a long life and protect your mates. The world is changing, and We find it so hard to reach our children in the cities. Oh, they still pray to Us, and We still love them, but We could not resist you. Here in the forest, where the veil is thinner, We can see that your wolf’s heart is true.

“What must I do?” He knew the next words would change the direction of his life, and he couldn’t wait.

Why, that’s easy, Gideon: you must love. Six will find you, and together, you will find the last. Don’t despair or lose hope. But Gideon, the journey will be painful sometimes and surprising. But if you are strong, you can protect them, and never be afraid to call upon us. We can hear you.

“But I’m not even seventeen. How am I supposed to do all that? I live way out here.” Gideon had pulled at his hair with both hands.

You no longer have to hide. We are sorry for that. It was beyond Us.

They looked genuinely sad for a moment. Not for Themselves but for him, and he felt the ruffle of something like a comforting hand slide over his hair.

The sun darkened again and when he looked back, They were more translucent than before. Fading as the sun set.

You should go, dear heart. We must soon be high in the sky. Go. The storm is coming. Trust yourself, Gideon. And trust your mates.

And They were gone.

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