Chapter 959 A Powerful Creature

• Lila’s POV
• Hazel instantly knelt to the ground and bowed her head low in respect to the guardian. The rest of us did the same. The guardian, Aura, scanned us with her beautiful blue eyes with an expression unreadable, yet filled with serenity. She was beautiful and fierce at the same time; it was almost intimidating and difficult to look at her for an extended period of time. “Guardian of Earth, thank you for coming,” Hazel said, speaking in a tone that was low and direct. “You have summoned, we have come,” Aura said, looking down at Hazel. “Tell me, daughter. Why have you summoned—” Her voice broke off and she looked off in the distance at nothing particular, as if something had just called for her. She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes while she floated to the ground until she was kneeling beside Hazel. She pressed the palms of her delicate pearly white hands to the hard mass of the ground and took in another deep breath. It seemed like she was smelling something, or maybe she was just taking it in. But what she was taking in, I wasn’t sure. We all remained silent, not daring to speak while she intoned herself with the earth and felt the ground with her hands. Then her eyes opened, and she let out a gasp before floating back into the air and resuming her spot just above Hazel’s head. “Darkness…” she whispered. This time when she looked at us, I saw that her eyes were glistening with sadness and remorse. If she wasn’t already porcelain white, I would have thought she had gotten whiter, but that couldn’t have been possible. A single, sparkling, tear escaped from her left eye and washed over her cheek. It didn’t drip from her though, it disappeared once it reached her chin. “The earth weeps with pain and agony,” she spoke in a tone so low I had to strain to hear her. “Darkness had touched down and it hurts the earth in its core.” We all remained silent, Hazel bowed her head lower and the rest of us did the same. Aura looked down at Hazel, nearing closer. “How did this happen?” Aura asked, her tone, though still musical and light, was firm and filled with power. “What has happened to my earth, daughter.” “I’m so sorry, Guardian…” Hazel said in a tone that shook with each breath she took. I thought she now sounded weak and frightened, but this guardian didn’t bring me the same level of fear and I was confused by Hazel’s reaction toward her. She did this spell with such confidence, and now she appeared so frightened. “It was my sister… she had turned from light a long time ago and is now allied with darkness. She had summoned him to your earth and he is here to do harm.” “Zagreus…” Aura breathed, taking a deep breath once again. She didn’t say his name like a question; it was more like she was facing him directly and she was greeting him. But he wasn’t there; it was only us, and Hazel answered her anyway. “Yes, Guardian…” “Your sister Jasmine was the one who summoned him?” Aura asked, though she didn’t sound surprised, more like she was disheartened. “I’m afraid so…” Hazel said sadly. “I am so sorry…” “It is not your fault, daughter. You did not summon him to my earth. You did right by summoning us though,” she said simply. “However, I cannot defeat darkness. My job is to not fight but protect.” “Guardian, we summoned you today to protect us from this darkness. We don’t know what Zagreus and my sister are planning. We are frightened and we need protection. We don’t know what more to do,” Hazel said, looking up at the guardian. Aura looked amongst us for a moment and then to my utter surprise, her gaze fell upon me. My breathing got caught in my throat and we stared at one another for what felt like a long time. She held my gaze, and something flashed in her eyes. “What is your name child?” She asked, lowering herself so she was at eye level with me. I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat before answering. “Lila…” I answered, but my voice came out weak and soft like a little girl. I was instantly embarrassed. “Yes, of course,” she whispered as if she should have already known my name. She stared around my face like I was some kind of science project that she needed to study. She reached her hand out toward me and I remained frozen, staring at her with wide eyes. Her fingertips grazed the top of my cheekbone and her touch left a cooling sensation in its place. I saw, from the corner of my eye, Enzo tensing, unsure of what was happening and who was touching his mate. “Your wolf, what is her name?” “Valentina,” I answered, my voice coming out stronger this time. She tilted her head with such curiosity, that she almost looked child-like. “Valentina…” she repeated in a low whisper like she was testing the name out on her tongue. “Bring her forth.” I found myself furrowing my brows together, confused by her request. But before I could ask her what she meant, I felt my body shifting and morphing into my wolf. Val had taken control and took on her full form. Soon, she was standing tall and proud in front of the guardian of the earth. I heard my mouth gasping from a distance as she watched what was happening. Everyone else was staring at us with wide eyes, unmoving. Aura just looked pleased as she stared around the face of my wolf. She reached her hand out and stroked Val’s pure white fur. Aura’s fingertips grazed Val’s shoulders and down her narrow and long body. “You are quite a beautiful creature,” Aura breathed in wonder. “Thank you, guardian,” Val said with a voice so strong I couldn’t help but be proud of her. At first, I didn’t think Aura would be able to hear her because wolves only spoke in one mind, but Aura smiled as Val spoke to her. “Your powers are quite impressive,” Aura continued as she stared into Val’s eyes. “You are very powerful.” “I am a Volana,” Val explained proudly. “Yes, indeed. But you are different. Your powers range a lot larger than a typical Volana. I never sensed powers as strong as yours before. It’s incredible.” “What does it mean?” Val asked, curiosity clear in her tone. “It means you could be powerful enough to defeat darkness,” Aura said simply. “You are what this world needs.” Val had so many more questions but wasn’t sure how to answer them. “In due time, all your questions will be answered, daughter,” Aura said, as if she could read our minds. “But for right now, it is protection that you seek, so protection I will give you.” I heard Hazel sighing in relief and the others relaxing just as Aura withdrew her hand from Val’s fur. Without Aura instructing her, Val gave me full control and I shifted back into my human form. I thought for sure I was going to be completely naked when I shifted back, and I was bracing myself for the embarrassment I was about to feel. But to my complete amazement, when I shifted back, I was still in my clothes, unripped. I stared down at my clothing with my mouth hanging open. “You have enough power to feed my children,” Aura continued, and this time she was speaking to everyone because her eyes traced over the circle. “The energy is incredible; it is as if we never left the earth grounds. They will be very happy here. I will leave them to protect you, however, I must protect the earth grounds because, without my protection, it will surely fall.” “I’m sorry, Guardian, but your children?” It was my mother that asked. Aura looked at my mother with a thoughtful expression and a small smile dancing on her lips. “You are the mother of this powerful wolf,” Aura said smoothly; she didn’t phrase it as a question, but my mother still answered. “Yes; I am Luna Selene. Lila’s mother.” “You are powerful too, but she is a bit more than you. You, however, have strong genes,” Aura said kindly. “Yes, daughter. My children.” She motioned for the orbs of light that danced around her and they continued to giggle. “They help me protect the earth and now I appoint them to protect you and your people,” she explained, they began to glow brightly as they danced around her features, lighting her up in rays of light and color. “I have 4 children to represent 4 of the elements. They can each protect up to a city line. But only one territory for each of my children.” “We can choose 4 territories?” Hazel asked, looking amongst the rest of us with a frown. “Yes; they can protect every pack within their given city or town,” Aura confirmed. “How long will we have your protection for?” Diana finally spoke, turning Aura’s attention to her. “We are attached to the strongest power and will only survive if that power is still thriving,” Aura answered and then she turned to face me. “As long as Valentina is able, we will be able to protect the areas you appoint us to, Lila. Indefinitely.” “What?” I gasped, wide-eyed. “Me?” Then, Aura smiled. “It is your wolf that keeps us here and makes it possible for us to protect you. Valentina is our main source of power.”