Chapter Nine

Serenity’s POV

It had been just over a week since the Biennial Autumn Ball had occurred, and Quinn refused to leave my side. He even went so far as to get permission from Alpha Derrick to take a test, which allowed him to pass multiple grades so that he could have the same classes as me. And, of course, with Quinn being the very definition of genius, he passed with the highest grade the pack educators had ever seen. 

Before Quinn had taken the test, though, he had proceeded to tell Alpha Derrick and Beta Jace his exact vision, which caused him to enter the Ball without permission. They showered him with praise once they had heard the entire story of how Quinn had seen a vision of what Erica's clique was planning on doing to me. 

Alpha Derrick and Jace began to let Quinn and me train with them to help us be a little more prepared to protect ourselves. However, I figured that the real reason wasn’t so that we could protect ourselves but more to defend ourselves until they could arrive to save us. Quinn was transferred into my senior classes and given full authority to punish anyone who dared to look at me wrong. But perhaps the most intriguing development, in my opinion, was with Quinn and his visions. Alpha Derrick decided to employ a witch from a neighboring pack to help him strengthen his visions. 

The witch's name was Willow, but she couldn't come till the end of the month, so it would give us more than enough time to complete her cottage, which was being built next to our parent's house.

***

About a week after Quinn had transferred into my classes, Willow was set to arrive. She was supposed to be coming around 5:30 in the evening, so after classes, Quinn and I would head to Mom and Dad's place and make a nice meal for everyone, Willow included. 

Quinn nudged me right before the final bell of the day rang. "I just got a text from Alpha Derrick. He needs to see me before we meet Willow tonight. Will you be okay going home by yourself?" He wholeheartedly questioned. 

"I think that I can manage one afternoon without my little brother's protection," I said as I patted him on the shoulder, the dismissal bell ringing in the background. 

***

Upon arriving at our parent's house, I decided to get some fresh air and have a little time to myself before beginning dinner for everyone. Quinn was meeting with Alpha Derrick, Mom was still working her shift at the infirmary, and Dad had gone out patrolling the borders of our pack's lands. 

To make the most of my time, I raced to my old room and changed into a white tank top, black skinny jeans, and brown knee-high hiking boots. After pulling my hair into a ponytail, I grabbed a blue zip-up hoodie and tied it around my waist before stepping out on the back porch. 

The cold, biting winter air licked across my bare skin. It sent a shiver through my body. It didn't take long before I adjusted to cool, brisk air. 

Ever since I awakened from the coma, I had begun to feel more and more like the werewolf I was. My body temperature rose from 97° to 101°, and though that was still far less than the average werewolf, which was 108°, it still made me way more tolerant to cold temperatures. Even though my internal temperature had increased, my skin was still chilly to the touch, which made adjusting to the cold much quicker. My hearing has gotten even better. For instance, if someone was over a football field away, I could make out parts of what they were saying if I was to concentrate. My 20/20 vision got even better, if possible, not to mention that I could now clearly see in the dark. My sense of smell also increased, but its increase was nothing compared to my other improvements. 

Stepping off the porch, I bound towards the woods. Even though I could not transform into my wolf, racing through the forest was far more accelerating than ever before. The trees blurred as I dashed smoothly through the woods. Sweat further cooled my skin as it beaded across my forehead, and my heart thundered wildly inside my chest. 

How can anything be better than this?

With my newfound speed, I quickly came to the hidden waterfall clearing I had stumbled upon a few years ago. 

The clearing was a rocky alcove; the only way into it was through a small passage in the side of one of the mountains on the Silver Moon's territory. This crevice opened up into a small clearing. A beautiful field of day-spring crystals completely covered the ground. Day-spring crystals were tiny, almost rose-like white flowers. These flowers would only bloom on the eve of the blue moon and were extremely rare. However, after discovering my secret Alcove, I realized they grow year-round. They were called this because the flower part hardens on nights of a full moon, turns into a transparent crystal, and glows a beautiful aqua blue. Located on the opposite side of the opening was the most beautiful waterfall that poured into a small crystalline pool so clear you could see the bottom even though it was more than 20 feet deep. A sizeable purple flowering weeping willow tree stood to the left of the entrance. Each time the wind gently blew, the purple petals of the Willow tree fluttered through the air. 

Taking a deep breath, the beautifully floral scent of the Day-Spring Crystals fills my entire being. Something about this place calmed me, and after not being here for quite some time, there was almost a relief that washed over me as if I needed to be here. I walked further into my secret place and turned to face the entrance. Then, I let myself fall back into the field of day-spring crystals. Laying enveloped by the flowers, I began to feel dizzy, and my head ached. I could feel my body temp rising, and my hands began to shake. My skin felt like it was on fire, and my heart thundered erratically inside my chest as I lay amongst the Day-Spring Crystals. 

Am I dying? I wondered as it became increasingly difficult to breathe.

I let out a cry of agony as I began to cough up blood. Then, there came a familiar voice, the voice of my wolf, Artemis.  'You're still not strong enough to handle the full force of our strength, but if I don't intervene, then a part of us will surely die. So I will save us, but you will be greatly weakened for a short while.'

I nodded in agreement as my Artemis continued, 'Okay then, you must do and say exactly what I tell you to. Now get to the water.'

Painfully, I began to pull myself towards the water. With each torturous inch, I dragged my body through the Day-Spring Crystals as horrifying, burning cuts erupted from the touch of Day-Springs petals. The air began to wheeze in and out of my scorching lungs. My vision began to blur from the blood that had started to spill from my eyes. 

And just when I felt as if I couldn't go on, my wolf spoke once again. 'You can do this. We are stronger than you could ever imagine. There is only a little bit further. You must push through.' 

I nodded my head and pushed past my limits. With my teeth tightly clenched, I held my breath and let out another cry of agony as I finally touched the edge of the water. 

'Good now, repeat after me, and you must be touching the water. In the name of the moon goddess, I, Serenity, command you! Freeze.'

I nodded, wiped the blood from my lips, and placed my hand on the water's surface, "In the name of the moon goddess, I, Serenity, command you! Freeze!" 

Suddenly, it felt like a spark of icy cool light ignited within my core, racing out through my arm and into the water before me. Crackling ice raced across the water and up the waterfall, where it fanned out from there, freezing everything within my secret hideout. Almost immediately after everything froze, the agony I had been going through began to lessen.

I let out a sigh of relief when my Artemis spoke once again. 'I know that you are tired, weak, and in excruciating pain because I am as well, but you must leave this alcove before you give in to weariness and pain.'

Why can't I just rest here until I wake up?

'Because our loved ones are searching for us, but more importantly, if this alcove unfreezes before you wake up, then we will die.'

What!?!

'Please, you must hurry. I can't keep us awake for long.'

I pulled myself to my feet and stumbled towards the opening. My body ached, pleading to stop, but I knew I had to push on. 

'P…please h..hur…ry…' my Artemis stumbled over her words as she spoke them, giving me every ounce of strength she held to help us make it out of the alcove alive.

As I stepped from the opening of my secret place, a great wave of torture washed over me, and my head began to swim with dizziness. I had only stumbled a few steps out of the opening when everything went black.