Page 41 of The Hidden Guardian
“What will they do while the men are away?”
“They will link to them via the mating bond and sense if they need protection.”
“Wow, where do they–? How does that–?”
“Well, during the day they will be in the War Room.”
“The War Room?”
“They will go there every day and sit and attempt to telepathically link to their wolf. Those who don’t have the mind speak will go there to the peace and quiet to try to sense their needs. Like that meditative state I mentioned. Their pups will be in the nursery until that time. No distractions.”
I realize for the first time how serious this is for them.
“We are a dying race, at war with the demons. We don’t take any journey outside of the cave lightly.”
“I see.” More and more I’m starting to see that what Renall did for me was unheard of for these people. How he was able to survive is still a mystery.
“So only those with a Guardian can leave the cave? If we are losing pack members and not gaining anymore Guardians, what happens when we run out of mated wolves?”
“That is a time we don’t want to think about.”
“Isn’t now the time to plan and figure that out to protect the future?”
She shrugs. “I think that’s what we are all afraid of. We stick to tradition to keep us safe, but truth is, without a Queen, she left before I was born, we really don’t know where to find more Guardians.”
“A Queen? What did she have to do with this?”
“The Queen offered protection, power, it’s been said that she had a Guardian call, almost like a heartcall that would alert Guardians born outside of the cave. She could heighten their mating calls. Without a Queen, the pack is at a great loss.”
“Then why would she leave?”
“That is something we would all love to know, but she offered us no explanation. Only disappearing into the night of a full moon when everyone was distracted.”
“A full moon?” Right … werewolves.
“Yeah, it’s a tradition for everyone to witness the full moon on the cliff outside. The cave was empty and no one saw her leave.”
Interesting.“Well, she must have had a reason.”
“She took our Alpha with her. Renall and my father knew him very well. Without a Queen or an Alpha, those were the dark days.”
“Some probably say we are still in the dark days,” I point out.
“I agree. But this is all I know. My father as the Alpha. I have known no other way, just what I’ve heard.”
I understand because up until a few weeks ago, all I knew was working twelve-hour shifts and feeding Colton ramen noodles and instant oatmeal. “How did your father become Alpha?”
“It was a warrior fight to the death against each challenger.”
“To the death … so does that mean that Renall didn’t challenge?”
“Renall had lost his Guardian by then.”
“Only a wolf with a Guardian can become Alpha?”
“A wolf without a Guardian is only half a wolf.”
“So he rescued me because heneedsme, not because he loves me.”
