Omega Bound Chapter 145

Ayla

See how far I can shield. Okay. I can do this. I take a deep breath and will myself to relax. I visualize the threads within. The thread of my gifting shines bright blue and I visualize myself taking a hold of it. "A gentle tug and hold will let out your shield. A strong yank will wield a weapon." Aramana explains from within my mind, and I am glad to hear her voice. "You have been pretty quiet lately." I mention in hope that my wolf will open up to me more. "I have been planning for upcoming threats against our pup." Aramana replies back, but I detect a hint of apprehension in her voice. "Planning for threats or thinking about worst case scenario?" I ask her only because I know that I catch myself doing the same. "A little of both, child. I fear for our pup, but we have strong mates." "That we do." I offer her reassurance. "The fates also knew what they were doing when initiating the mating bond between us. We have to trust in it, but we need to prepare." Aramana explains, but I hate that she doubts herself. "Maybe you and Ronan need to spend some time together." I suggest. It is important that they spend time together and I think it could help her have more confidence in herself. When I think about it. She hasn't been "a wolf" very long in terms of her freedom. We are both growing into ourselves. "You are a fierce, strong, brave she-wolf Aramana. I have seen you in action and felt your control. Don't doubt yourself."

"How is it coming down there?" Thane asks, and I almost forgot what I was supposed to be doing. I hold up a thumb to him and shake my shoulders out, finding my thread again and I give it a tug and hold on to it. I can feel the shield leave me. A slight tug forward as it escapes and I open my eyes to see the blue swirling orb around me. Nowhere close to Thane, but it is there regardless. "Good little wolf. Now visualize it expanding." he offers a suggestion, and I close my eyes trying to imagine the shield growing and engulfing him, but it doesn't move. I peek one eye open after several attempts and see Thane watching me with his hands on his hips. "Nothing." I state, shrugging my shoulders. "Try slowly tugging on it and see if it reaches out further." Again, I try to relax and will myself to pull further, but I can't feel that I can pull on the thread of my gifting anymore. I open my eyes again and see Thane patiently waiting. That seems to be the story of my rescue and life moving forward. Thane patiently waiting for me.

"When I yell 'shield' I want you to bring it back out alright?" I nodded that I will. "Think about when I was lying in bed. Aramana helped you identify that I was poisoned...." How could I forget? I went from the heartbreak of Thane in his office to devastation that he could die. "See me lying there, unresponsive. Visualize my labored breathing. How I looked knowing on death’s door....SHIELD." Thane yells and I immediately pull myself out of the horrible memory to tug on my thread of gifting. The shield is larger than previously, closer to him this time. A smile plays on my lips as I try not to get too excited for my accomplishment. This is just the beginning of training it. "Your gifting is heavily tied to your emotions. Every time you have actively used the gift; your emotions have been extremely heightened. We need to sharpen your ability to use the gifting and more effectively so that you can use your shield no matter the environment, situation, stressor, or emotion. It might come down to a mental image you need to envision to get the shield out to the size you need it to be, but we will figure it out. "I hope the mental image isn't you dying each time. I don't think I can take it." "You do whatever it takes to keep yourself safe. I don't care if you need to visualize my decapitation. If that is what it takes, you do it. Now, again."

I repeat the exercise, attempting to push out my shield without the gut-wrenching memory but it doesn't reach the same distance. "Again." he states, and I repeat the tugging over and over again. I lose count how many times he has me try. "The more you use the gifting, the stronger and easier I suspect it will be. Now, I want you to see if you can hit the tree behind me." He moves out of the way and points to the tree. I take a deep breath and feel for the thread within me and give it a hard yank. The shield shoots out of me more concentrated from my chest and almost makes it to Thane, but not quite. "Okay, not bad. I am glad that I am still in one piece. Try again little wolf. This time I get angry then yank it." Get angry first. Okay I can do that. What makes me angry? Not a whole lot. I know what used to make me very angry. Or who for that matter.

I scowl and can hear Aramana snarling inside my mind as she sends me a mental image of Della on my porch. I yank that my gift thread as hard as I possibly can. The tug in my chest at the release of my power is forceful and I catch myself stumble forward a bit. The streak of my power flies past Thane and hits the tree he was once in front of. He covers his head with his arms as the tree cracks in two and within seconds he has me thrown over his shoulder and runs us out of the way. The tree topples over on itself from the force of the shield. Birds fly out of the forest as the ground shakes from impact. Snow and frozen dirt fly up from the ground with the impact of the tree. The tree and its numerous branches rest passed the area I was standing in. Thane turns back around to survey the damage, but now all I can see is the house and Thane's rear end. Which I have no complaints about.

Thane slides me down the front of his body. "Thanks for saving me." I laugh and brush myself off. "Always little wolf. Forever and always. Look at that." He turns me and I survey the damage. The whole giant tree was shattered in two. "That shot would have for sure killed another shifter. Apparently, your gifting is tied to very strong emotions and the severity of which you feel that emotion affects the strength of your gifting." he explains. "So, if I am feeling murderous, my shield will do the job?" "Precisely little wolf. Also good to know for training going forward. Do I want to know what you were thinking about?" "No."