"As I have said, there aren't the moments to explain. I cannot risk the others acquiring knowledge of our conversation. I must hurry. You shall ascend, and it will be your task to fulfill Ba.s.sorine's role as the G.o.d of War. That's all I can share right now."

The Book of Immortality did not wait for a response. Instead, it imparted the power of the G.o.ds to Mosley, enlightening him to their ways. The knowledge of everything the Book knew to be true-or rather, what the Book portrayed to be the truth-was forced into the wolf's mind like an avalanche mowing down a tree-covered mountainside. Even the fact his wife was not waiting for him in Heaven, and her soul only rested inside one of the Book's many pages was now known to the wolf. This. .h.i.t Mosley hard. All he could do for what seemed to be forever was stare at the Book and wonder on which page Luvera's soul rested. Mosley tried to organize his thoughts, but found the task to be overwhelming.

"Mosley!" the Book said as he opened his binding and clapped it shut to capture the wolf's full attention. "I regret that I must strip you of your mortal agency. Exaltation is not a choice, it supersedes free will. It is the ultimate sacrifice. Once you've ascended, you'll have agency as an immortal being."

Mosley's just stood in stunned silence.

The Book continued. "According to the laws on my pages, the G.o.ds must choose one being to replace them in the event of their destruction. Because of this, your mortal life has been terminated."

Again the Book waited for a response, but Mosley only tilted his head in confusion.

"You may return to Grayham to say goodbye to those you love," the Book added. "But before you return to Ancients Sovereign, you shall bestow two gifts on anyone you choose. But you should search your mind. Ba.s.sorine hoped that you'd bestow your gifts on a specific individual, but as I have said, you may impart the gifts to anyone you so choose.

"These gifts must be something to aid this individual through life. The gifts cannot be love or wealth, or give this being the power to control the free will of others. Again, Mosley, I'm sorry for stealing your mortal free will, but there are actions that you must accomplish, my friend. You must do this to ensure the safety of Ba.s.sorine's secrets. Your actions are key to ensuring a better future. Search your mind, Mosley. I've given you everything you were meant to know. The Peak grows short. Now go."

The Book disappeared, leaving Mosley to teleport wherever he wanted. Eventually, Mosley spoke, but there was no one around to listen, other than a few blades of gra.s.s that were beginning to wake up and moan.

"I don't want to be a G.o.d," he confessed. "You should've asked me first. I want to spend the remainder of my Peaks on Grayham." His head dropped and sadness filled his tone. "I didn't want to know that there wasn't a Heaven, or that my wife's soul was placed inside a book ... even if the book does have a soul. How can I rid myself of this pain?" The wolf lifted his head to the sky and howled. "I don't wish to mourn my wife again! Can someone talk to me ... please?"

A long, silent period of moments pa.s.sed before the wolf howled again. "What a way to become a G.o.d! Steam rises from a pile of garesh with more pomp and circ.u.mstance than my supposed exaltation!"

Mosley continued to search his mind for anything that would provide comfort. The longer he thought, the more he realized that he had always aspired to be like Ba.s.sorine. He eventually realized the power he now held. He could command the feelings of loss for his wife to hide from the forefront of his mind. He could choose his moments to mourn, and he would be able to deal with his emotions later.

As soon as the pain subsided, Mosley thought. Hmmmm! This G.o.d thing may come in handy. The wolf looked around the garden. A sinister smile appeared. I bet I can mark all my territories at once from the highest of heights now. I wonder ... how accurate would I be?

Mosley lifted his leg and shot out a spurt over 100 paces, and it hit the trunk of a tree just like he wanted it to. The tree uprooted and rotated like it was turning to face him. The gestures its limbs made were clearly filled with curses.

The wolf smiled, and then he lifted his leg again. During this moment, his stream arced across the garden and hit the limbs of one of the bushes that was still in the process of waking up. The wolf grinned as the bush uprooted just like the tree, but rather than curse at him by flailing its limbs about, it chose to move farther away to escape being hit again. As it rustled away at a rapid pace, it shook its leaves to rid itself of the moisture. It was clearly just as annoyed as the tree had been.

As much as he wanted to stay and play, Mosley knew he did not have the moments to prove his territorial dominance to the rest of the garden. He had to be back on Ancients Sovereign by nightfall, so he needed to get going, but first, he had to try his new name on for size.

"h.e.l.lo!" he shouted. "My name is Mosley, and I am the G.o.d of War!" He trotted around the garden and continued to shout. "Hey! Look at me, you insignificant beings! I am Mosley, the furry G.o.d of War!"

The wolf liked how his new ident.i.ty sounded. It had a ring to it. As he lowered his head to sniff the gra.s.s, the wolf felt a poke from behind. One of the bushes was awake, and it had decided to plant its roots where Mosley was standing. The bush rustled, determined to push itself into his spot.

Mosley turned, growled and then lifted his hind leg.

The bush reacted and scurried away as fast as it could to avoid Mosley's stream, but its efforts to flee were not good enough. The wolf judged the bush's speed and then released a powerful stream of urine that hit the bush and sent it tumbling.

Delighted in this small victory, the wolf trotted over to the bush as it picked itself up off the ground and eventually regained its balance back onto its roots. The wolf boasted, "I'm Mosley, the new, dynamic, vigorous, vehement, forceful G.o.d of War. Don't challenge me, or I shall mark you all with my G.o.dly smell." He lifted his back leg again and peed in the direction of the closest grouping of bushes. The stream hit the ground and splashed a number of them. Annoyed, each bush uprooted, shook their limbs and then hurried away to another spot in the garden.

The wolf redirected his attention to the bush that he had caused to tumble. He extended his right, front paw and used one of his nails to point at the plant. "You shall bow before me, you foul smelling floral being. This nail could strike fear throughout the expanse of this garden. Remember me, for my stream is to be feared." The wolf opened his mouth and breathed on the bush's limbs. Just like Shalee had done on the griffin's platform, the plant fell asleep as its limbs drooped toward the ground.

A random thought popped into Mosley's head. His smile widened as he shouted, "To all the giant cats of the worlds, I will shed, and you'll choke on my deadly fur b.a.l.l.s!" The wolf laughed and then another random thought entered his mind. I wonder if I can fight better than my ability to talk garesh.

A moment later, Mosley concentrated and thought of Sam's face. Before he knew it, the new G.o.d of War was standing in front of the human.

Sam and Shalee were caught off guard by the wolf's sudden appearance inside Sam's preparation room beneath Angels Arena. Shalee jumped up from the bench she was sitting on and raised her staff while Sam reacted by throwing himself into a defensive posture and raising his fists.

Mosley overreacted. He closed his eyes, and his defensive instincts took over. He blew on the humans in an effort to protect himself, and since he was now a G.o.d, his breath filled the room like wind.

Hearing two thuds, the wolf opened his eyes. Ouch! he thought.

Seeing the awkward position Sam had landed in, Mosley shook his head and continued to think, That's not good. That had to hurt. Normally, the wolf would have panicked, but instead, he grinned. Good thing I'm a G.o.d now, or his leg would not mend before his fight.

With nothing more than a nod, Mosley commanded Sam's leg to slowly twist out from under the fighter's body. The crunching sounds the bones made as they ground against each other caused the wolf to cringe as the appendage shifted into its proper alignment. After a few more minor pops, the leg finished mending.

Another nod was given. Both humans woke and slowly got up off the floor. Mosley looked at their confused faces and produced his best, cute, wolfish grin as if nothing had ever happened. "Hey, guys. Did you miss me?"

Shalee leaned Precious against the wall and crossed her arms. "Mosley, you scared the bejesus out of me. Since when do you know how to pop in on us like that? And how did I end up on the floor?"

"Yeah, what the heck was that about?" Sam added.

Mosley was not sure where to begin. He decided he would answer their questions later. "I have much to say, but most of it will need to wait until we have a greater number of moments available to us." He looked at Sam. "I won't answer any of your questions ... so, for now, I will say that Ba.s.sorine has been destroyed. He's no longer the leader of his own pack."

"Destroyed?" Sam snapped. "What are you talking about?"

Mosley shook his head. "That would qualify as a question, Sam. I said I would not answer them, so don't ask. I need you to listen right now. I'm here because Ba.s.sorine was destroyed, and it was his choice that I take his place amongst the Collective."

Mosley stuck out his furry chest. "I am the new G.o.d of War, but not as powerful as Ba.s.sorine ... I think. Anyway, for now, I have two gifts for you, Sam ... if you'll allow me to give them to you. It was, after all, Ba.s.sorine's wish that I do so."

"Okay, okay. Hold up a moment. What gifts? And why would Ba.s.sorine want you to give me anything? And what do you mean, you're a G.o.d? How's that possible?"

Mosley smiled. "Sam, you're unable to refrain from questions no matter what the circ.u.mstance. I expected as much. Allow me to put it this way. All you need to know is this: I am one of the G.o.ds now, and I'm here to give you two gifts. Do you want them or not?"

Sam looked at the wolf. He did not believe a word Mosley was saying, but he figured it would be best to play along. The last occasion he had failed to play along, a sword had chastised him. "Well, of course I want your gifts. Lay them on me, buddy."

Sam's voice was filled with sarcasm, but a big smile appeared on his face to soften it. Despite his lack of belief in what the wolf had said, he reminded himself that he was on a new world, so maybe there was something to this after all. Besides, he could not afford to look foolish again-it hurt too much both physically and mentally.

Mosley sniffed the corners of the room as he continued. "We both know your rise to glory will be a savage journey. I want to help. The gifts I can bestow will expedite your growth."

Mosley stopped in one of the corners and curled his nose at the foul stench. A spot of blood had landed there from one of the arena's combatants as he had been attended to by the healers. The spot was dark brown and dried out. "Nasty. This being smelled as bad as you, Sam. The men of your species carry a horrid odor."

Sam looked down at the blood. "Okay, okay. How often do you need to tell me I stink before you think that I'll get it? Can't you just get on with whatever the gifts are rather than chastise me about my odor? What kind of friend are you anyway?"

Shalee covered her grin with her hand and waited for the wolf to respond. "I have thought about what to give to you, Sam, and my decision is this: I want my gifts to be a natural part of your being and increase your abilities."

Sam nodded. "I like the sound of that." The fighter was glad he had not been so quick to judge and had given his four-legged friend the chance to prove himself.

The new G.o.d of War continued. "I shall bless you with greater strength. You'll be able to lift the weight of your body, amplified by six. For my second gift, I'll enhance your ability to react. In my opinion, the greatest of pack leaders would have sought gifts like these. Your body will move as quick as your mind can think. You would like both gifts, yes?"

Sam nodded. "Of course, I would. It's not like what you're saying sucks or anything like that. So if you're going to give me something, it might as well be enhancements like those."

Mosley chuckled. "With these gifts, you just might survive the arenas on Grayham ... but I doubt it."

Sam shrugged. "Okay, okay. So what do I have to do? If this works, Mosley, you'll be my favorite G.o.d."

Mosley laughed and looked at Shalee who was clearly excited about Sam's gifts. "I think he better control his emotions, or he's going to burst from the excitement," Mosley chided, and then his tone changed. "Shalee, you do not need a gift. Only Sam is our problem cub."

Shalee nodded. "I totally agree. So what does he need to do?"

"Nothing," Mosley replied. "He only needs to allow the gifts to flow into him."

Without hesitation, Sam piped in. "Then start flowing already."

Mosley trotted over and touched one of his paws to Sam's left foot. The transfer of power was instantaneous. The fighter felt an electrifying surge course through his body-not painful, but rather a soothing current that ma.s.saged his cells as his anatomy accepted the gifts. He could feel his strength increasing. His feet felt lighter as he watched his body change. He looked at Shalee to confirm what he thought he was seeing was actually happening.

The sorceress-in-training nodded. Sam's body was, indeed, growing bigger and stronger. Shalee took a step back and watched the effects the gifts were having. Sam's height was increasing. His arms, legs, chest, back, and neck were all becoming thicker. Sam's new look was wonderful, and though she had always subconsciously desired him since their first encounter inside the temple, she really liked this new Sam.

Sam's five-inch-taller frame balanced the additional weight. He had just enough body fat to look healthy, yet he was cut enough to look shredded. His shoes had burst open, allowing for the expansion of his feet, and his pants were not only too short, but torn.

Shalee grabbed Sam's old pair of fighting trunks and made him put them on. Sam dropped his pants, and for the first series of moments since their arrival, Shalee saw the fighter in all his glory. His shoulders were broad, his arms were like cannons, his jaw line was tight, and his abdomen called to her-and the rest, well, Sam looked delicious.

Shalee lost herself in the fighter's physique. He would get all her attention from now on. The moment had arrived for her to become Sam's. She ran off at the mouth, saying things that were out of character and downright unladylike-things best left to the imagination as she stared at his body.

Sam and Mosley glared at Shalee in disbelief.

Embarra.s.sed at what she had just said, she blushed. "I'm so sorry. I don't normally act like a fool. I don't know what came over me." She reached up with her hand and fanned her face. "Goodness-gracious, it's hot in here. We should just forget that I said anything."

Sam looked at Mosley and winked. "Looks like you've given me more than two gifts, buddy. The ladies won't be able to resist me now."

He turned to Shalee and smiled. "I'm glad you like my new look. I've always liked yours as well." He addressed Mosley once again. "You really know how to hook a guy up."

Sam looked down at his new six-foot-two-inch, 250 pound frame and marveled at its splendor. Excited, he blurted out without thinking, "Well, I'm sure Shalee and I can make some strong babies now. What do you think, Mosley?"

Mosley rolled his eyes. Neither human seemed to have any self-control at the moment.

Shalee looked at Sam. Her mood went from anxious embarra.s.sment to utter surprise and softheartedness. She moved close, looked into his eyes, and spoke with tenderness. "Do you really look at me like that? Am I special to you? You've actually thought about me having your kids? I was surprised to hear that. If only I had known."

Mosley rolled his eyes. His moments were filled with awkwardness as Sam pulled Shalee to him to give her a kiss. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to skip chasing after you."

Shalee smiled and stroked Sam's face, saying everything without speaking a word. They allowed each other to feel the pa.s.sion they had both avoided.

Mosley cleared his throat. "Sam, shouldn't you be preparing for your fight? You're practically naked."

Nodding, Sam kissed Shalee again and then headed into the village. He needed to find a new pair of pants since there were only four more fights before the arena headmaster would call his name.

Shalee stood in silence as she watched Sam leave the room. Her heart was at peace. No woman on Grayham could be happier than she was at this very moment.

Mosley broke the silence. "Shalee, I hate to ruin your desire to mate, but I need you to listen. Did Sam tell you everything Ba.s.sorine told him? Do you know your packs on Earth were destroyed?"

Shalee frowned at the way Mosley phrased his question. "He told me some of it, but I was extremely tired when he did. I know Earth was destroyed, and I'm not sure how I feel or how to deal with it. I miss so many people, and it's hard to believe they're gone. I've been trying not to think about it. All I do is cry."

The wolf responded as tears ran down Shalee's face. "Ba.s.sorine brought you here for the purpose of mating with Sam. He hoped you would form a union and have cubs of your own. But it appears Sam failed to tell you that."

Shalee wiped away the tears and responded with a sniffling chuckle. "That little devil. He was going to pursue me no matter what I said. I could've played much harder to get if I'd known that." She sighed. "I think that's adorable."

"I'm glad you feel that way," Mosley responded, "but there's a much larger reason you're here ... much, much larger than having Sam's cubs."

"As if having his kids isn't enough of a responsibility already," Shalee reasoned. "What else would Ba.s.sorine add to it?"

"What I did not know until being enlightened and receiving the power I did from the Book of Immortality was that Ba.s.sorine told the Book many secrets after it was created. Shalee, did Sam tell you about the Book of Immortality?"

Shalee thought a moment. "He said its pages are filled with the souls of the dead since Heaven and h.e.l.l were supposedly destroyed. The idea of a book holding souls in its pages sounds fake and made up to me."

Mosley sat on his haunches and scratched the fur on his neck with his left, rear paw. "I a.s.sure you the Book is not fake, but holding souls is only part of what the Book does. It also contains the laws of the G.o.ds. The G.o.ds must live by this charter no matter what." The wolf paused. "The information I'm about to share with you was given by Ba.s.sorine and protected by the Book. Ba.s.sorine did not share this information with anyone else. I would not know it now, but it was Ba.s.sorine's desire that I be informed. The Book and Ba.s.sorine had plans of their own, though I don't know to what extent their planning will effect the future."

The wolf took a deep breath. "One thing I do know is that you will grow quickly and have abilities far greater than any sorceress before you. Your G.o.ds of Earth spoke with Ba.s.sorine before you were born. It was a secret meeting that only Ba.s.sorine and these earthly manifestations knew about. It was during this meeting that Ba.s.sorine asked these G.o.ds not to share the information they kept between them ... and they didn't. The pact was sacred.

"Your G.o.ds were asked to give you the ability to absorb energies that live around you. Ba.s.sorine asked them to allow you to channel these energies at a much higher level than those who are normally able to do so. He requested that you be given a gentle heart and a strong will. This is why you learn so quickly and are so kind. This is also why you're so stubborn and display such drama. You have the ability to become a G.o.ddess without having to ascend. You could be the most powerful woman, even more powerful than the G.o.ds on Ancients Sovereign, without having to live on the G.o.d World."

"My Lord in Heaven!" Shalee exclaimed. "If my mother was here, she would soil herself. To know her little girl was so blessed ... wow ... me, a G.o.ddess! I don't know about that." She reached down and pulled at the fabric of her dress. "Oh my goodness, Mosley, I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe if I become a G.o.ddess."

A few moments went by before Shalee stopped daydreaming and redirected her thinking. "What did you mean by 'energies?'"

As Mosley gnawed at the end of his paw, he responded between nips. "I don't think it's possible to fully describe what these energies are. Allow me to improvise. I shall call them miniature beings that cannot be seen ... beings that live around us. Only certain beings can absorb them. They flow into your body when you command magic and become a permanent part of you."

Shalee held up her hand. "Just a second ... I mean, moment. You're telling me that these life forces enter my body and just stay there? What happens to them once they're inside me?"

Mosley smiled and adjusted where he was gnawing to a spot between his legs. He managed to continue their conversation during his exploration for the source of irritation. "Let's say that these life forces are the building blocks of your magical foundation. The bigger you make your foundation, the stronger you'll become. The power you'll eventually command will be tremendous."

Shalee placed her hand to her chin. "You make me sound like I'm gonna be some kind of Jedi knight or something. Why would Ba.s.sorine ask the G.o.ds of Earth to do this for me? Why choose me?"

Unsure of what Shalee meant by "Jedi knight," Mosley ignored the reference and continued. "It was not that Ba.s.sorine chose you. It was more a matter of the order of your birth. After they spoke of Sam's abilities and what skills he would carry throughout life, they sent him to Earth. The G.o.ds then found an imperfect soul. Your soul, Shalee, was also incomplete. Joining imperfections can form a completed being. I don't know further details of how to explain what this means, but I can say you were simply incomplete. This was the only way for the G.o.ds to fix your deformity. In the process, you became the one they chose to bless. Perhaps they felt sorry for you."

Shalee frowned. "You're saying I'm special only because I was messed up. That puts a damper on how I feel. How's a girl supposed to live life knowing that she was no better than a mutt? I-"

Mosley stopped her from continuing. "I know many mutts who have lived valued lives, Shalee. Be careful who you insult. Mutts have feelings, too."

"Oh my goodness, Mosley, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Nodding, the wolf stepped forward. "Despite your flaws, the knowledge the Book of Immortality pa.s.sed to me revealed that Ba.s.sorine has plans for you, but I don't know all of what they are. Ba.s.sorine was the G.o.d of War for a reason, and he never failed to create a strategy."

Shalee's brow furrowed. "How could Ba.s.sorine have plans for me? Don't you mean, he had plans for me? Wasn't he destroyed?"

"I said what I meant to say, Shalee. Ba.s.sorine has plans for you. This plan involves the Book. When the Book of Immortality was created, Ba.s.sorine liked the idea of its creation, but he didn't trust the others. If any of the G.o.ds found a way to take control of the Book, someone would need to be strong enough to take it back. You are the only being with the potential to summon the power necessary to do this. I know nothing more."

Shalee stood in silence for a fair series of moments before she responded. "Mosley, I don't think I'll ever be powerful enough to fight G.o.ds. I can't even fathom that concept."

"Someday ... you'll be able to, Shalee, I a.s.sure you."

"With that kind of power, there must be a ton of temptation to go along with it. What should I do?"

"I want you to be careful, and though you're going to learn how to command magic like no other before you, unexpected danger will find you because of it. Don't use your power unless you must. Avoid attracting attention."

Shalee laughed in frustration. "Sam Hill, Mosley, how can I become powerful if I don't train? It doesn't work that way. I need to use my power in order to grow."

"I understand how your power works, Shalee, and I know you must command it to build your foundation. Just consider yourself warned."