The Ancients by Rena Wilson

“You know after we first met, I would shift into my wolf form every night and patrol.  It calmed me being near you, my mate.”
    “Stalking me, huh?” she cracked a smile.
    “Ah, there is my feisty mate!  I was wondering where you went.”
    Rian doesn’t immediately reply.  She ventures off the trail a bit to sit beside a small river.  We sit for a minute listening the water. “I am normally so in control.  I have amazing magic thanks to the Goddess.  I always knew my wolf was in me, but meeting you made her a more dominate part of my life.  This stupid prophecy has always hung over my head.  I never actually thought I would need to do anything with it, yet here I am having to come up with a way to save the paranormal races! Me!  I am no savior.”
    “It will be okay, Rian.  You are not in this alone,” I pull her so she sits with her back to my chest wrapping my arms around her.  “We will figure all of this out.  The prophecy doesn’t define how you do this.  Prophecies are funky like that.”
    I feel her giggle, “Yeah, wish they came with instructions.  You are right though.”
    “Of course I am.”
    She turns her head to look at me, “Funny.”
    “Come,” I stand.  “We have to go back.  Just remember what I said.  I think this will all come to fruition and then we can finally get to the most important thing.”
    “Which is?”
    I smile, cupping her face with my hands, “Well, making you my mate, of course.”  I dip my head and brush my lips across hers.  “Told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”   
     
    Charles
     
                  “Dwarf!  Where are you,” the snotty witch screamed as she barged into my shop.
                  Upon hearing her voice Fred flees to the outside.  “Traitor,” I mumble then louder, “You are talking loud enough to wake the dead, witch.”
                  “Ah, there you are,” she replies.  “Do you have my items?”
                  I sigh deeply, “Not going to ask if I am alright or ask how I got your stuff?”
                  She raises an eyebrow, “Why would ask questions about things I do not care about?  Where are my items?”
                  “You think mighty highly of yourself even for a de Molay.  Come to the back room, I don’t wanna touch any of them again.”
                  She brushes past me to the back room.  I follow her, “Now before I release them from where I stashed them, I want that necklace brought out and the life debt removed.”
                  “You think I would renege on this?”
                  “You seem like the type who would like to have a reputable thief in your back pocket.”
                  The pretty witch laughs lightly and produces the necklace, “I see you are not a dumb dwarf.  I showed you the necklace, show me the items.”             
                  I am still weary of bringing the items out, but she will not be able to take them until I remove the ward.  Waving my hand removes the magic showing the knife, flint and amulet.  “Just like you asked, now the life debt.”
                  “Put your hand on the necklace,” she instructs me.  I feel her begin to weave power around, “The debt is paid, the deed is done, release this soul, he owes no one.”  The power breaks the crystal on the necklace effectively releasing me from the life debt.
                  “Wow, didn’t think you would actually do it,” I say as I release the ward surrounding the stolen goods.  “Now don’t take this the wrong way, get your stuff, get out, and never come back.”
                  “Charles, Charles,” she is mesmerized by the objects.  “Good work.  Soon, you will be begging to come work for me.”
                  “Think not, lady.”
                  “We will see about