When we get back to the Diana Pack, Meredith, Declan, and Lucille organize a remembrance ceremony with the other oracles.  While we were still at the Blue Crescent territory, Meredith had asked that we bring back a container of ashes from the school.  We would dedicate them to the Goddess and set up a memorial to those that died. Everyone, and I mean everyone, that was currently living at the Diana Pack attended the ceremony.  Approximately 1,200 wolves gathered on the lawn behind the packhouse. The men who had mated wolves from the Lycaon, Mene, and Cancer packs were still having trouble just standing from the crippling pain of losing the other half of their soul.  The other wolves may not have been in as much physical pain, but they were mourning the loss of their pack, their family, just as much. The oracles each wore floor-length, flowing midnight blue tunics, their feet and heads bare.  All of the other wolves also had bare heads

¡Qué barbaridad!  ¡Ella simplemente los mató! ¡Ella simplemente los mató jodidamente! ¡Justo en frente de nosotros!  (Oh my god!  She just killed them!  She just fucking killed them!  Right in front of us!). I stand there in horror, looking at my mate’s body performing the Goddess’s actions. I can still feel Meredith through the matebond.  Still get occasional words from her.  But it’s garbled.  Like she’s talking to us through water or static.  I understand enough to know that she is aware of what is happening.  That she is safe.  And that she is getting a front row seat to exactly what Santa Madre (Holy Mother) is thinking and feeling.  I am so worried about her and our two pups within her.  When Santa Madre transformed into her wolf, I thought that Meredith’s body wouldn’t be able to handle it.  To cope with the change into the majestic wolf of a godde

I look at Mother Selene, sitting in Meredith’s body.  I see the strain starting to appear around her eyes, the sweat breaking out on her brow.  Meredith’s body is starting to have trouble hosting a Goddess.  Her body is starting to reject the Goddess’s presence. “Mother, are you alright?  Meredith’s body doesn’t look so good.”  Gael and Hakeem, who had been in their own little bubble of happiness, obviously linking with each other, much of the time that Selene had been talking, jerk their gazes to their mate/Goddess. “You are wise, daughter,” Mother Selene smiles at me.  “Yes, Meredith will need me to leave soon.  And, honestly, it is time for me to go.  I have given you all of the information that I can.  There is just one more thing to do.” Selene turns to Lucille.  The woman seems to look even frailer than she did at the beginning of the ceremony.  Her once vibrant and plump features have become sunken

We literally took over the entire waiting room.  I mean, it wasn’t like anyone else was coming to the office today anyway, but we lunas and Arya decided to make the whole thing a party.  We brought music, snacks, drinks, and games. The guys are going to come in during their mates’ appointments and visit for a while before and after, but this day is just for us. “So, what’s today’s appointment about?” I asked Arya. “Well, they’re trying to figure what my fertility schedule is and make sure that I’m completely healed from my surgery.  They are going to clear me for training, combat, and other…activities.”  Arya smirks when she says “activities.” “You mean sex?  I bet Xander and Devin are going to be excited for that clearance!” I laugh.  “You sure you want to hang out with us today?” “Yeah.  Dev and Xan have training for the warriors this morning and a big pow-wow with the generals before our meeting tomorrow.”

Kyle had some of the best mocktails I’ve had, and I think I tried everything that he had available: PG-13 Singapore Sling, Shirley Tonic, Summer Twang, Frozen Apple Margarita, Cranberry Sangria.  And I insisted that he write down his recipe for watermelon ‘nojitos.  Apparently, his alcoholic versions were pretty damn good, too.  We wolves don’t really drink to get drunk.  There’s no point.  Our metabolism is so high that we have to drink about three times as much as a human would to feel a buzz and it only lasts an hour or so.  But Arya and Karamea kept raving how balanced they were and how much they enjoyed them. Though, I honestly felt a little bad for Kyle.  He was definitely used to having women fawn over him, especially in his rather tight and revealing outfit.  But we were all happily mated she-wolves.  We just didn’t.  Though, I did notice that Jaime, the masseuse, kept side-eying him. By the time Dr. H