The presence of the Goddesses was overwhelming. It surprised her that her knees hadn't buckled yet. Leto's kind and welcoming smile. Hecate's cool yet stern gaze. Artemis's curious incline of her head. It was an unexpected trio to come across. But perhaps, not so much unexpected. Lily was the first to follow Leto up into the ruined temple. The Wolves that acted as a barrier had curved around Lily as well in the same protective manner. Though, she believed it was more so for the sake of the Wolf that resided in Lily now than the Human counterpart. Amira took her place alongside Artemis without question. The Huntress placed a hand on Amira's shoulder and gave her a squeeze of reassurance. There was a silence between them, but words didn't need to be spoken. There was an understanding between them that a shared look was the only thing necessary. Rayleigh trailed along after Amira quietly. She seemed out of place here. Was she questioning her own beliefs? Willow was aware that Rayleig
What a way to stand out. Rayleigh silently observed the other women that accompanied their Goddesses. She was unaware of Lily's devotion to Leto or if there was devotion at all, but the Goddess seemed rather doting on her. Like a mother to their child. Then there was Amira alongside Artemis, but instead of a parental figure that Leto aired for Lily, Artemis and Amira were as colleagues. A mentor and student, perhaps. Artemis had taken off her bow and was going over step by step of its creation while Amira listened intently. Rayleigh was mildly aware of Amira dabbling with bows over the past year now before crossing the waters to retrieve the Werewolf Queen. She just wasn't aware of how seriously Amira was taking the Hunter role now. Rayleigh glanced back as Hecate, a towering presence, glided in alongside Willow. Willow, a soft and innocent woman, looked out of place beside the night Goddess. Hecate, who not only radiated with otherworldly beauty but also had a confidence about he
"Explain to us what you have learned so far of Karmina." Hecate requested as she linked her hands in front of herself. "She's tucked herself away in an abandoned mansion a previous Werewolf King had lived in." Amira stated. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded up map she had put there earlier. She laid it out over the table. "Based on Willow's previous visions, the location is marshlands surrounded by plains or dead trees." "Would you know the locations of where Nox was at one point?" Lily asked Leto. Leto inclined her head with a slight frown. "I am afraid once I gave life to the Werewolf King, his whereabouts were none of my concern." "And that is where you failed." Hecate clipped. Willow gave the Goddess a stern look, and the deity turned her chin away. "You're not exactly guilt-free here either, Hecate." Willow added in. The Goddess scoffed softly, but her posture eased slightly. "Even when we questioned Xander, he has a minimum recollection of how they
Dim light flickered in the small shack. The full moon hung high above, displayed as a witness. A man paced in front of the building. His sandy blonde hair ruffled countless times from the impatience he felt and the growing knot in his stomach. He was nervous, yet overwhelmed with excitement. The common feelings of child birth. A yell paused his next step and turned him to the window. The curtain had been closed for privacy, but he could see the silhouettes of two midwives shifting in and out of sight. He caught the scent of the two women that were assisting, and his Mate. He sensed her pain and wished he could relieve her of it. Then it came. A baby's cry. He stared as the door opened after what felt like ages. When it finally opened, one midwife stepped out, cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms. She met his gaze and smiled warmly at him as she nodded. "Come, Beta. Meet your daughter." The woman said as she raised her arms slightly in gesture to the infant in them. His heart
Lily pinched the bridge of her nose and folded her arms across her chest. "I'm sorry, what?" She repeated her question to the strangers at her vacation home. "A descendant? Of whom?" "Oh, well..." Willow brushed her fingers through her short black hair. "It's rather complex to explain." She lifted her gaze to Lily. She could see the regret flicker in them for a moment. "This wasn't how I hoped to share this with you." "What she is trying to say..." Dante rested a hand on Willow's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "She's sorry, along with the rest of us, to have dropped in unannounced and dropped this bombshell on you." He glanced over at Jayce. "You know I do not have any ill intentions towards you or your family. None of us do." "I hate to disagree with you." Jayce growled softly while he maintained eye contact with Aiden. Aiden returned the glare in kind. "This will not be some Alpha versus Alpha fight off, is it?" Amira asked as she looked at them. When the two Werewo
His hand ran over the space beside him. He grudgingly opened his eyes to find his Mate missing from his bedside. He sat up and glanced around the open room. The gentle crash of the waves came in through the open balcony. Salt. Seaweed. Lilies. Tangled in with the mix of scents that drifted into their room, Jayce pushed himself out of bed to search for her. Ever since these strangers arrived, she had been quiet. Distant. He couldn't blame her. How could one fully comprehend the bombshell they dropped on her so suddenly? Without even knowing who she was? He stepped out onto the balcony after tossing on sweats to find Lily standing out on the beach. He sighed to himself as he silently admired her for a moment. The full moon shined brighter than usual this night. The scatter of stars that blanket the sky and no cloud in sight to block the view. Moonlight enveloped her in radiance. Her golden locks shined nearly a blinding white. Angelic. Jayce froze as he thought of that. After what t
"Mom, do we have to go back now?" Myra whined. "We didn't even swim with the sharks yet." The Wolf pup pouted with disappointment. Lily smiled sadly at her daughter as she zipped up her luggage. "I know, sweetie, but something came up and your father and I need to handle it right away." Myra hopped up on the bed she finished making. "Is it about this Karmina lady?" "And how do you know about her?" Lily asked as she rested her hands on her hips. "You weren't eavesdropping, were you?" "No." Myra avoided Lily's gaze. Lily inclined her head and continued to stare at her silently. Myra finally looked at her and rolled her eyes. "Okay, I did. It's not like you all were quiet, anyway." "Myra." Lily said disappointedly. She looked at her daughter for a moment. She reached out and ran her fingers through her blonde hair with black streaks. Unnatural to many, but Lily adored it. She loved how different the children were compared to other pups. Was that another reason for her identity cris
Erica burst into laughter. "I'm sorry. This is a joke, right?" She asked them. Once everyone settled in, Willow explained the situation to her. As expected of Erica, she laughed at the hilarity of it. Jayce sat out for a moment to get the children settled and to take care of a few things in the Pack House. Their sudden arrival back home with no notice set off an alarm to his security, and it was safest if he handled it away from the house. Lily didn't object, though she wished he was with her to go through this ordeal a second time. Thankfully, Damion, her other moral of support alongside Erica had arrived shortly before Jayce had left and filled him in on the unexpected guests. To say the least, Damion was equally not as welcoming to the bunch as Jayce originally was. She knew he smelt it in each of them. Their distinct differences. Especially Zalakai. Lily set down a small tray on the coffee table with cookies and pasties. "I have tea, coffee and water if anyone would like any."