Wolf Guardians

Disclaimer: It's that's time again for the disclaimer, so I'll just get right to it. If you find male to male action or relations repulsive and such, then might I suggest somewhere else but here. If you're under age, hopefully you are being supervised (I doubt it), but be cautioned, you have been warned by me and many others here.

Author's Notes: Hmmm! I'm trying to think if I should leave any notes today. Well, none come to mind, so I guess they'll have to wait until next time.

Chapter 3- Restful Hope to the Future

There was a groan from Ardaous' throat, as he slowly came to consciousness. He started coughing and then he opened his eyes. His vision was blurred at first to see where he was. His eyes finally came into focus. He found that where he was the light was dimmed by gray walls. He was sitting with his back towards a wall, and to the right side of him there was a window with bars letting the air in and out.

He felt a tight constraint on his wrists. He pulled his hands up and found out that he was bond to the walls. He very carefully got up and looked out the window. A throbbing pain came from behind his head. "Someone must have threw something from behind, and easy to deploy me into unconsciousness as the council members unfroze from their positions." He said saw he looked up at the moon quarter.

Ardaous looked at the moon and saw his future descendant's face. Then he remembered the dark figure in the room. 'Whoever that was has gotten whatever he wanted, but at what costs?' Adraous thought slowly.

There was a scuffle right outside the window to his captivity. He tried to see what was going on until he met a face with blood flowing from the mouth. He then saw a face he was relieved to see. "Daren what the hell are you doing here?" Ardaous whispered.

"I heard about the situation that you're currently in, and rushed here as soon as possible. Are you okay?" Daren smiled.

"Besides the throbbing from the back of my head, I'm okay. Before another word is spoken, I think someone is setting me up, for something I did not commit." Ardaous rubbed the back of his head.

"Sounds almost like the work of Naz Steveson to me if you ask." Daren thought.

"He must be the head figure of them all then huh?" Ardaous asked.

"He is, and he has a strong hold on what he wants. He'll get his way if it means fair or foul, mostly foul. That's just his way. But my friend, I have grave news for you. It seems that the council has decided that you are to be hung at sunrise. Is there any way I can help you out?" Daren explained the situation.

This was devastating news to him. He thought of his wife and son. He then looked at Daren. "If I am to die, then so be it. Hate to say this but I want you to watch over my family as you promised to me my friend." Ardaous swallowed hardly.

At hearing this from the mage that had saved him, he was not going to permit this to happen, "But Ardaous--" He was then cut shortly.

"Don't worry Daren, if it is who you say it is, then I'll make it more difficult for him to accomplish. My powers have grown you have to admit since I read that book. I will seal my power within my bloodline until the future descendant that we saw in the mirror. To make sure that the book is never found, I will also seal that with my powers. My powers will not surface until his twenty-fourth birthday. At that time the book shall appear to him as well. He's going to need help Daren. Let your great grandson know about the mirror and about him. If what we saw in the mirror is what is suppose to be then we'll make sure it happens." Ardaous smiled remorsefully.

"Are you sure of this Ardaous?" Daren asked sympathetically.

"Yes my friend. I'm sure of this. It must happen. You must go before you are discovered once more. Tell my wife what happened, and please tell her that I love her and my son." Tears came out the mage's eyes.

"Then my friend, I'll be there to see you one last time." Daren put his hand through the space between the bars and held Ardaous' hand.

When Daren left, Ardaous sat on the cold hard floor that had a fine layer of straw. He sat cross-legged style and closed eyes. Light from around him started to synchronize with his heartbeat. "I seal the power within me and the spell book inside my bloodline, until such time when it is the twenty-forth birthday of my future descendant." Ardaous chanted.

The light around him burst then faded away.

Dawn soon approached. Ardaous heard the sound of footsteps coming to his cell. He took a deep breath. He then soon saw the chairman of the mages guild in front of him. "Open the door." He commanded the guard.

"Ardaous for you attempt to murder the council members I sentence you to be hanged, for posing ill intentions, a significant sign of practice of black wizardry." The chairman announced.

"Then let's get it over with, for I have no more powers since they have been withdrawled from me, so I hold no threat to you or anyone." Ardaous said coldly.

"Then if that is your wish, then so be it." The chairman said and walked towards the door that exited the prison.

The guard went into the cell and got Ardaous and followed behind.

The rope was put around his neck. Ardaous scanned the area for the sign of Daren. He spotted a white wolf hiding between a bush and a house. He smiled and took his foot from what was holding him up. The other men saw this and tried to stop him. None of them made it in time.

The wolf turned his head and a tear fell down its fur-covered face. The wolf then took off so it would not be discovered.

Just as Ardaous told him to do, Daren told Layla the tragic news. Layla cried and held on to Daren. Daren comforted her, "It is your decision if you want to move back into the manor. We will still continue to protect you and your son as your husband and I promised each other."

Layla looked at him with saddened eyes, "I will remain here, but will still accept your protection, for I know Ardaous would want it." Layla spoke softly.

When he returned to the manor, Daren went down to the casting chamber and sat down, reliving spells that Ardaous performed. Daren looked at the covered mirror. Daren got up and looked at the stand that the book used to be on. He went over to the mirror and uncovered it. "Show me my great grandson." Daren said.

The mirror then glowed and images of his great grandson flashed. "I will tell him about it my friend, for he will protect your future descendant, I'll make sure of that, so this can all come to an end." Tears came down from his eyes.

Twenty years later Daren's grand daughter gave birth to a baby boy. Daren was so happy when he saw him. "What name should I give him grand dad?" His grand daughter asked.

"How about Rance, my dear?" Daren smiled at her.

"Rance, that sounds like a good and proper name. Rance it is then." His grand daughter agreed.

"Welcome to the family Rance Towers." Daren put his baby grandson over his head.

"So grand dad, how is the mage's family?" The grand daughter asked.

"His family is doing okay. Ardaous would be proud to know that he has two grandson's that will turn out strong." Daren replied.

"He would still be proud of you too, for keeping the promise of watching over his family." She continued.

"Do you mind if I took Rance on a walk in the manor my dear?" He asked as he still cradled baby Rance in his arm.

His grand daughter smiled and shook her head yes. Daren smiled back and went out of the room. Daren took Rance to the chamber and looked at the mirror. "Show me his future with Ardaous' descendant." He instructed the mirror.

Baby Rance looked at the glowing mirror and laughed reaching his small hands out to it. "Look there Rance, it's you in the future. You're so happy with him. One day you'll meet and you will protect him from them." Daren continued to look at the mirror.

Rance grew up so quickly in front of Daren's eyes. Rance loved his grandfather so much, he always loved to hear this stories. Rance was most captivated with the story when a he met a kind of mage. "Grandfather that is my favorite story." Rance, at the age of eight said.

"My boy one day you'll meet someone like that mage. You two will become friends." Daren said with a chuckle.

As Rance was approaching 13, he was told of the spell that Arcamis casted on the two families. Rance was so excited, he couldn't wait until the night of his thirteenth birthday.

On his thirteenth birthday was when Rance could transform into a wolf. After that Daren taught Rance to fight and defend himself. Rance enjoyed every minute of his time with his great grandfather.

Rance noticed that he was different from the rest of the males in the family. He never talked about females or interested in them. Sure he was popular with the women, but never wanted anything romantic with them. He'd rather be looking at the men.

After Rance turned sixteen Daren decided it was about time to show him the mirror, and tell him what lies in his future. When they got down to the chamber Daren uncovered the dusty mirror. "It's just a mirror granddad." Rance said disappointed.

"Don't let that deceive you my boy. Show me Rance's future." Daren asked the mirror.

The mirror glowed and Rance was totally blown away at what he was witnessing. "Why have you never told me about his mirror before?" He asked Daren.

"I was waiting until the time was right. Now keep watching the mirror Rance." Daren explained.

The mirror seemed like it was fast-forwarding through his future. "Pause there mirror." Daren instructed.

The image that froze was of Rance kissing a copper haired man. "Rance, I know about what you are. I've known this for a very long time, before you where even conceived. It's alright with me." Daren smiled at Rance.

"Granddad how did you acquire this mirror?" Rance asked

"Do you remember when you were little, and me telling you about the stories of the mage?" Daren asked Rance.

"Yes, I still love that story to this day." Rance said.

"That was no story, it was all true. The mage's name was Ardaous. He saved my life from the Stevesons. He cast a spell having our aging process decreased. That's why I look as young as I do know. He cast three spells on this mirror to look into the past, present and future. To this day as I promised him, we still protect his family." Daren explained about the mirror and Ardaous.

Rance was still in shock. He turned around to the image in the mirror and looked at the copper haired man. He couldn't help but feel something inside of him stir. "Ah I see you find this young man to be attractive yes? " Daren asked Rance.

Rance gazed into the eyes of the man, "I can't quiet explain it but yes."

"Rance my boy, you must promise me, as I promised a friend protect him with every ounce of your heart. He is your future soul mate. He carries something in him that our enemies want, and they must never get their hands on it." Daren continued to see the trance like look on Rance.

"I feel in my heart that I love this man Great Grandfather. There is something about him, that makes my heart pulse faster then I've ever felt. It's almost like I can feel his heart's warmth, his gentleness." Rance continued to stare in the mirror.

"He probably is filled with warmth in his heart and is gentle, but there is a power, Ardaous' power sealed in him, and so is a spell book that the Stevesons want. They will do anything to get their hands on it. So my boy, you now know what your future holds for you." Daren put his hand on Rance's shoulder.

Rance just stood there, "I feel with all my heart's content, to be with this man, and protect him at any costs."

"Then we must get to work. We must protect his family my boy." Daren started to go up the stairs.

The mirror stopped glowing and the image faded away. Rance soon followed Daren upstairs. "You must keep this our secret Rance, nobody must know the mirror exists." Daren explained.

Later on that night Rance heard footsteps outside his room. He got out of his bed and opened his door a crack. He saw most of the men from his family run down the hall. The door opened all the way. This took Rance by surprise. "Rance you should be in bed." Rance heard Daren's voice.

"What's going on grand dad?" Rance asked.

"It's the Stevesons causing trouble again. Stay here and protect the other's if there is trouble here okay?" Daren asked.

Rance shook his head. He watched Daren join the rest of the men. He then heard wolves howling. Rance then got an idea. He went down to the chamber, carrying a torch with him. When he was inside the chamber he was standing in front of the mirror. Then mirror then started to glow. Rance backed away from the mirror. An image formed in the mirror. "Rance, great grandson of Daren." A voice from the mirror spoke out.

"Wh-Who is it?" Rance asked.

The image came into view. "I am Ardaous. Do not worry, this is only a spell that I put on the mirror. I knew one day that you would come to this mirror and want to look at my descendant in the future. Daren might of told you what he carries within him. I know that this is breaking more then five laws of nature, but I will take you in the future, but you'll not been seen, so you can meet him up close." Ardaous smiled.

The mirror glowed brightly. Soon Rance glowed and went into the mirror. The next moment he found himself in another place. He looked around and saw the copper haired male sleeping. Rance went over to his bed. Rance smiled, as he looked at his face. He tried to move the male's hair when the male woke up and looked at him. Rance moved back thinking that he saw him. The male threw the sheets off, and looked around. The male went and turned on the light to the room. When he couldn't see anything, he looked in the mirror, "Okay James it's late at night and you going crazy to think someone is here."

"His name is James." Rance said to himself.

James smiled in the mirror looked over his right shoulder and saw Rance. James turned around and saw no one standing there. He looked in the mirror again and still didn't see anything. "Okay I'm going back to bed." He laughed to himself.

Once the lights were off and he was back in bed asleep Rance went over to the bed again. James was lying on his back, Rance leaned over and kissed James on the lips. A smile then grew on James' face. The room then started to fade around Rance. Rance found himself back in the chamber. He looked at the mirror and it wasn't glowing anymore. "Show me James." He said to the mirror.

The mirror glowed and images of James flashed in the surface of the mirror.

When Daren arrived back home he decided to go to Rance's room. "Rance, is everything okay here?" Daren found Rance wasn't in the room, "Where could he-"

Rance had removed the mirror from the wall and laid it on the floor and kept looking in the mirror. Rance was too focused on the mirror he didn't notice Daren was watching him. Daren finally broke the silence, "I thought I'd find you here."

Rance looked up at Daren, "You're back."

Daren walked over to Rance, "We'll put the mirror in your room so you can see him at anytime."

Rance looked at Daren and smiled.

From that day Rance started to train harder. He always was thinking of James. This made Rance more focused on meeting him and kissing him. Daren noticed Rance's determination, and thought it was finally time that Rance could join him at night against the troubles that the Stevesons made.

The Tower family followed wherever Ardaous' descendants went. Rance and Daren followed some that traveled to America. * * * * * * * * * * * *

The year is 2004, and James was finally getting off work. He said bye to his fellow coworkers and went to his car. When he got to his car he had a funny feeling that somebody was watching him. He then shrugged the feeling off and got in his car. When he was traveling home he looked at the scenery, "I love it that I live in the Rocky Mountains of Montana."

He then looked at the mirror and noticed a black SUV was following him since he left work. "I knew my intuition was right, there is someone following me. I'll lose them." James said and his foot pushed the accelerator more.

The SUV followed quickly on catching up. This was starting to get James pissed off. He put on more speed, but not matter how fast he was going, the SUV never lost any speed. The SUV then went into the left-hand lane and speed up. James' car and the SUV were lined up together. It then got closer to James' car. "Holy shit they are trying to kill me!"

The SUV pulled away then came back for another impact. James stepped on the gas and pulled ahead. The road turned a sharp turn and James lost control of his car, and it started to flip. His car flipped four times until it came to a stop landing right side up.

The SUV pulled up and stopped. The window rolled down a man with slicked back hair, and wearing black sunglasses smiled, "He's dead. No one could survive that, now let's go."

The SUV turned around and left in a hurry. As soon as the other SUV left and past the vehicle that was also following James, a male stepped out of their vehicle and quickly rushed to James' flipped car. The driver's window was broken in pieces. The man put his finger on James' neck to check if he had a pulse. "He's still alive, thank god." The man said.

The man was six-foot and two and a half inches tall. He had dark wavy hair, and very tanned skin. The man then stood up and whistled. Soon, there was howling near by. Out of the woods six men showed up. "Help me get him out of the car. He's still alive. He needs medical attention." The man said.

"Right way Rance." One of the men said as the other men went over to the car.

His tired squealed as he stepped on his brakes hard. When he turned his car leaned to the left and started to flip over. Then his vision slowly got blurry and dark, and James past out.

James shot up as he finally came to consciousness. He was breathing hard and sweat dripping down his face. "Are you okay young man?" A voice asked from his left side.

James looked and saw a man dressed him a doctor trench. "Where am I, who are you? What am I doing here?" James spat out questions to the man.

"Whoa hold on there, I'm Dr. Phillips. You are at the Tower manor. You got into a terrible car accident. It's a good thing that my client called me and told me about the situation. You need to lay down and rest." The man answered all of James' questions.

"Now if you would excuse me I must get the man who got you out of your car, and tell him that you're okay." Dr. Phillips zipped his bag that he carried his bandages and other instruments, and headed out the door.

Outside the doctor looked at Rance, "Rance, he's very lucky that you where following him. He's awake right now, but a little confused to what happened. I think that it is up to you now to explain to him why he is here. He'll be asking more questions I'm sure of it. But I must leave, but if his condition changes just give me a call."

Rance took a deep breath of relief to hear that he was conscious, "Thank you doctor. I'm sure that he'll give me the whole twenty-question process. Don't worry I'll give you a call."

Rance shook the doctor's hand and started to turn the knob on the door.

James heard the twisting of the doorknob. It soon opened. James watched as a tall dark haired man entered the room. They both looked at each other for what seemed forever. 'Whoa! This man saved me?' James thought to himself as he checked the man out.

The silence was broken when Rance introduced himself, "My name is Rance Towers. You're in my family's manor. That was a bad accident that you must have been through."

James didn't know what to say, cause he was still checking out this stranger that saved his life. He finally snapped back to himself, "I'm sorry about that. Thank you for saving me Rance Towers. My name is--" James was then cut off.

"Your name is James. James Matthews." Rance said and stunned James.

"How did you know what my name was?" James asked.

"Well, by your license, and don't get mad at me, but my family has watched over your family line for a long time. So you can say that I was following you." Rance admitted.

"You were stocking me??" James started to have panic in his voice.

"No not stocking, more or less protecting you." Rance added.

"Sound more or less stocking to me. So why has your family watched over my family then, and if you where suppose to protect me, then why didn't you protect me until at the very end when those people tried to run me off the road?" James started to question.

"I will tell you in a short time. Right now I have orders from Dr. Phillips to make sure that you rest. So if you don't mind and holding the questions until later?" Rance asked.

James couldn't help it but checking Rance over and over again. "Is there something wrong with me?" Rance asked.

James snapped out of his checking out, "Oh I'm sorry no nothing."

Rance smiled, "So you were checking me out then."

James turned very red when Rance commented about him checking Rance out. James started to smile a little. "I'm sorry I couldn't help it. I know that you're not that way." James admitted.

"On the contrary, who said I wasn't gay?" Rance then surprised James more.

"You're gay?" James couldn't believe what he heard.

'Boy James you are so stupid, why did you say that?' James thought that he must have looked like an ass.

"Yeah I'm gay. Been that way as far as I know." Rance added.

"You probably have a boyfriend then." James asked.

"No not really to tell you the truth. I'm as single as they get." Rance told James his marital status.

James just took a deep breath. "But you should get some rest, you've been through the ringer." Rance said, and leaned over James and kissed his forehead.

James was totally caught off guard when Rance kissed his forehead. He turned a little red and felt warm inside. He watched Rance head towards the door, "Goodnight." Rance turned off the light and closed the door.

As he laid in the dark he just couldn't get his mind off of Rance kissing him. "I can't believe what he just did. I don't even know who he really is, except his name and he kissed me." James said in a soft voice.

When Rance stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him someone spoke to him, "Moving in for the kill already cousin?"

Rance turned his head and noticed his cousin Vance was leaning up against the wall. Rance laughed a little, "You always had a way of saying things Vance."

Vance was about five-nine, in very good shape by the tell of his muscles he worked out avidly. He had green eyes, and short blonde hair. Vance just smiled at what Rance said.

Later on during the middle of the night, James just couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned, but questions kept popping up in his head. Then the image of Rance flashed in his mind. James smiled and felt warm inside. 'James you have to admit he is something good to look at. He's what makes you melt into human mush, just admit it.' He thought to himself as he imagined how kissing him would feel like.

The door to the room he was in popped open. James closed his eyes acting like he was sleeping. Rance stepped inside with a robe on him. He closed the door quietly behind him. He went over to the bed and sat beside James. "You're finally here in front of me. I've been waiting for this moment since the day that I first say you. I've fallen in love you and knew that your where my destiny. I knew from that moment what I had to do. I had to protect you in any way possible. I just only hope that you will care for me the way I care for you, even though you don't know who I am, and what's going on." Rance said softly and grabbed James' hand and squeezed.

James smiled and squeezed his hand back. Rance cocked his head, "You're not asleep are you?"

James giggled to let Rance know that he was right and he wasn't sleeping. "I couldn't sleep, no matter what I did. It's just my body knows that I'm not at home. It takes a while for me to sleep if that happens." James opened his eyes and looked at Rance.

Rance tried to avoid eye contact. "Don't be scared of me, I don't mind if you have a crush on me. It's more of a compliment, I'm flattered actually." James tried to assure Rance.

"Well it more then just a crush to let you know. I really love you." Rance admitted.

"Well, there isn't anything wrong with that is there?" James asked.

"No not really." Rance asked.

"How old are you Rance?" James asked, thinking that he couldn't be more then 29.

"Are you sure you wanna know?" Rance was a little reluctant to say how old he was.

"Yeah. You have to be in your late twenty's early thirty's I'm guessing." James remarked.

Rance couldn't help but laugh, "Alright if you wanna know, I'm 611 years old, and I'm serious."

James' jaw just dropped, "611 years old? But how is that even possible, cause you still look younger?"

"Well, a mage long time ago bestowed a gift on my family that our aging process slowed down. It may sound ridiculous, but it's true." Rance informed James.

"Well, I guess anything is possible." James was still a little shocked.

James then looked at Rance and notice Rance was looking into his eyes. They didn't say a word. Rance slowly leaned over to James, and their lips met in a kiss. This totally took James by surprise, but then he went with it as he thought it felt pretty good. Their lips partrd and both couldn't keep their eyes off each other. "I've been wanting to do that for the longest time." Rance smiled at James.

"Well, I've been wanting to know how you kissed when you kissed me on my forehead." James chuckled out loud.

Rance laughed with James. "You don't mind if I sleep with you tonight do you?" Rance asked.

James just looked at Rance like I can't believe he just said that. James thought for a while, "I guess...it wouldn't hurt anybody, yeah it's okay."

James moved to the left side of the bed, letting Rance lay on the right. "Well, now let's try to get some sleep then. I've got a lot to tell you about me, my family and more." Rance put some covers on him.

James laid on his side with his back to Rance. He was slowly drifting to sleep when he felt something tingle on his back. He looked over his shoulder and saw Rance moving his finger all over his back. James just smiled and closed his eyes.