Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 25 – The Future

As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning.“– Criss Jami, Killosophy

Kiya Five Years Later

Life was good. Five years ago, I never thought I’d be in the position I am now, loving life. It was a dream I believed I could never reach.

But I did.

After

my adoption, I changed my name. With the desire to keep my past in the past, I felt it was necessary to abandon the name Halima Lane, for that identity held too much pain for me. Adopting the surname of my parents, my name was now Kiya Guerrero, meaning ‘Righteous Warrior‘.

I have a wonderful family that treats me well and sees the best in me. I have an amazing group of friends and my pack had been nothing short of supportive. Every single person I hold close to my heart pushed me to do my best. I credit them for helping to cultivate me into the strong woman I am today.

I am a rising Junior pursuing my major in Child and Adolescent Development at San José State University. College was one hell of a trip but being surrounded by many people was a world I’ve come to appreciate.

As for

r my position in the pack, I was now a Delta, a rank reserved for the top five highly skilled warriors of the pack, each in charge of specific training specialties. I was the adopted daughter in the Alpha family, but I wanted to work for the things 1 want. The desire to be a strong werewolf stuck with me since my bonding to the pack. I refuse to be weak and spoiled. I wanted to earn my keep and I wanted to help defend the pack from the plethoric threats we’ve received over the years, including what I used to be, rogues.

Under Gamma All’s leadership and the oh–so flamboyant Delta Galen’s training regimen, I crawled up the ranks within two years. I fought hard and trained harder in the training specialties which included, but were not limited to hand–to–hand combat, weapon warfare, and wolf battle. Garnet Moon cultivates warrior wolves for a good reason, and I wear my title with pride and honor. I specialize in hand–to–hand combat.

Alpha Anthony and Luna Alesia rule over Garnet Moon, successfully honoring the legacies of the Alphas and Lunas before them. Now a married couple, they have a two–year–old daughter, Ximena.

My niece was cute as a button, minus the constant drooling she does. I was still waiting for the day she could finally pronounce “Auntie“, or Tia in Spanish. But for now, I was all right with the drooling and baby babble. At least I knew she is happy to see me when she scampers my way. Anthony was strict and domineering with his members, yet a select few see the softer side of him. Alesia was still a kick–ass Luna with power coursing through her veins, but she was an absolute mushy mess with her husband and daughter.

My parents have been taking advantage of their retirement. Since the pack establishments generate enough money, they planned an overseas vacation twice a year together. They have been to every continent at least once, except Antarctica. Once, they took me with them on a trip to Paris, France. I’ve obviously never been, but I immediately fell in love with the French culture.

I have so many photos saved from that trip and gained ten pounds from croissants alone. I couldn’t help it; they were full of buttery goodness!

California and she was living there as their Luna.

25 – The

another niece or a nephew

and Jacqueline were still at each other’s throats, as expected with twins. Both had found their mates. around the same time, a phenomenon no one expected. Dwayne’s mate was Olivia, a she–wolf from one of our allied packs, Twilight Dusk. As the

human, an international student from Nigeria, and loves Jackie with every fiber of her being. They graduated together last year, and Abi moved into the territory shortly after. It took her parents a while

Born into the pack, she is a year older than me at twenty–three. She was smart. We go to university together, although she is a senior, she was already in college by the time I completed my accelerated high school

major, I often see her making compounds and other unique things when motivated by her curiosity, she was responsible for developing the Anti–Spray, which helps disguise our scents whenever warriors and Deltas were deployed for missions. I wouldn’t say

there were some days it liked to creep up on me and ruin my day. I still see Mayra, although my sessions were now once every other week. I decided to not go on medication for my PTSD and depression,

was in a brief relationship with Gamma Ali until we decided it would be best if we stayed as friends. He found his mate, Zainab. I

to be a Delta was tough, but on one particular day, it was the hardest session I’ve ever endured. Under the scorching rays of the sun- drenched in sweat, I’ve had moments where I wanted to give up, that I wasn’t meant to be a strong wolf. Self- doubt gnawed at me and wouldn’t stop until I surrendered

male warrior was giving me a tough time, flinging taunts and insults whenever I landed hard on the grass. Normally, the banter was all in playful fun, but the intent behind his words was malicious. His ego was inflated, and he made sure to remind me with every kick and punch he threw. Coming from a background where I was constantly told I was worthless made the impact of his insults reach

But something happened.

confidence shining through, but the sensation took on a supernatural feel. Power burst from me, shining brilliantly whilst I was behind its moon–colored shield.

I went to sleep did Selene reached for me and told me what that incident meant.

– The

wolf in existence, but I also have superpowers. According to Selene, many creatures on earth serve as avatars for a specific god or goddess, and one benefit of that was sharing their powers over what they

terrified me at first because it’s a foreign phenomenon I didn’t

but quizzical and intelligent, the woman swooped in and taught me all I needed to know about avatar information and the management of my powers. She

the selenite crystal, a gift from her. It had helped me keep my abilities under control as a physical barrier, so they don’t go haywire with my fluctuating emotions. I haven’t fully mastered my abilities, so they were more on

hope that one day, I’ll have total control over them

friends, basking in on this glorious day. The powdery sand twinkles underneath the sun and the water glitters with magnificence. I walk along the beach dunes with Sapphire at my side, both of us in bikinis with

the sharp whistles and woos from both human men and werewolves around us, we found a decent spot to lay our towels down to relax. Children shrieked in excitement all around us, building sandcastles or catapulting themselves in the cool sea.

gorgeous day, isn’t it?” I ask Sapphire in awe, laying on my stomach. The cool breeze licked at my skin, gently cooling my furnace–like body down. I heard a soft shuffle beside me, I turned

cast on the glittering sand. Her blue eyes had that far–away look that meant

It’s a joyous occasion! No final exams, no irritating professors, not deadlines…” I retorted. Sapphire will graduate next semester while I have a couple

not what I meant.” She whispered, tossing me a knowing look.

analytical chemistry classes, and she

of me wishes they could be mates, but that