Page 11

Chapter Eleven

RENALL

“R enall. Home.”

The two words I understand from Rawe-tum. Two words I never in a million years thought I would hear from the mouth of my true Guardian. Yet, here we are, less than a day away from Luna Cavern, and my feet are growing heavier and heavier with every step.

We pass the cliff where the pack likes to watch the full moon. We’ve arrived at the east entrance. The cave is right over the next hill and down the river into the lagoon. I glance back at Rawe-tum and she’s glancing out over the edge, her eyes taking everything in. Her golden hair glistens in the high sun. The sun has turned her shoulders, her forehead, and her cheeks very red with sunburn. It casts her hair in a reddish hue. Before running away, she wasn’t outdoors much, which is odd for a Guardian. I think what has me so on edge is that the Joining can’t come soon enough, I would like to know all about Rawe-tum. What makes her tick? What her powers are?

That’s another reason I hesitate to bring my Guardian into the cave. I don’t know what kind of situation I’m bringing her into. I didn’t exactly leave on good terms to find my Guardian mate. Well, that’s the understatement of the century.

What’s the worst that can happen? We are banished or killed?

Outside the cave we lose the power of the pack. If the hunters were to find us again, we’d be goners, especially with Rawe-tum being untrained in our ways and not understanding her Guardian powers. This is the only option at this point, for us to return to the pack and face the consequences together.

My feet still at the edge of the forest that ends abruptly falling into the lagoon below. I turn to face my Guardian. Rawe-tum meets my gaze. Her hair sticking to her forehead with sweat, “What?”

“Rome.” It’s the only word I know to explain to her that we’ve arrived.

“Home? We’re here?” Her face breaks into a toothy grin as her eyes wander across the view of the waterfall pooling into the green lagoon below us. “It’s beautiful.”

I don’t know what that means, but the awe in her eyes says it all. I wish I could freeze time and bottle up this image and her smile. She is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. The bond between us tingling with the warmth of her relief, and possibly a twinge of happiness. It’s a drastic difference from her anxiety and sadness the past few days. I would risk certain death to keep her feeling this way.

Although I know the biggest test still stands before us. I reach my hand out for hers. Her hand is slick as she takes it without hesitation, but that smile has already disappeared. The smiles never linger long, her mind is always thinking of what she has lost. All I can do is to keep them frequent, no matter how short they last. With a single leap, we jump into the air and plummet into the clear waters of the lagoon.