Chapter 346

Everyone froze. I looked around, and everyone, even my mother, had their mouths hanging open. “Well then,” she whispered as she walked over.

We looked back to Carly, who blinked, and once again her bright brown eyes were staring back at us. I crouched down to her level. “Does that happen often?”

“The goddess?” Her voice was bright once again. She shrugged. “Daddy said she comes when she has a message to deliver.” Carly giggled. “When I have visions, I remember what I see, but when the goddess comes, I don’t.”

“Why?”

“Because she has to put me asleep so she can speak through me. Daddy said it doesn’t hurt me. But I don’t mind. She is the goddess.” Carly spun around and walked back to my mom. “Thank you for helping me hang my curtains.” Then she skipped off to her room.

I stayed crouched and looked up at my mom. “I am out of my depth.”

She laughed. “Every parent feels that way some day. You just happened to feel it on the first day.” She kissed me. “Get Lynn situated, then we can go grocery shopping. I assume it’s for here?” I nodded. “Okay. We will get it all figured out.” She stepped around me to Lynn. “You, my dear, I’m sorry this happened to you. I tried my best to help where I could.”

Lynn teared up. “You helped me tremendously, Luna. I appreciate everything you did for me.”

“I don’t want to do this, but I can see something in your eyes.” My mom leaned her head against Lynn’s. “I see you. Do you recognize me as your luna?” Lynn nodded, and a tear fell. “Then I command you as your luna to survive this. I command you to live.” There was no power behind her words; it was just her words and her position to Lynn that would do anything. My mom pulled back and cupped her face. “Live. Get strong, stronger than you were.” Lynn nodded. My mother’s face grew stern. “Then you come back and you kill that motherfucker.”

Lynn chuckled. “I will, Luna.” My mom lifted her brow. “I will, Ainsley.” Lynn bowed and then turned back to me. “Swear that I won’t be a burden.”

“I, Amy Maclean, swear on everything that having you here will only be a blessing.” Lynn nodded once more, then she turned toward the room and shuffled in. We all stood in the hall and watched as she clicked on the light. She looked around the room and took a deep breath. She turned back, and I saw her lips tremble.

“We will leave you be.” I leaned in to grab the door. “I’ll knock when dinner is ready.” Then I shut the door. I heard her take another deep breath as I turned away. I pretended I didn’t hear her sobbing behind the door as I turned away.

Wendy and Toya both looked sad when I turned around. “Is she going to be okay?” Wendy whispered. I opened my mouth, but my mom was the one who answered.

“She went through a lot at the hands of that man.” Her face was blank when I raised my eyebrow, but she shook her head. “I won’t tell you anything. I don’t know. I just got to see the aftermath.”

“Aftermath?” Toya leaned against the wall.

My mom nodded. “Every day she would be summoned to the pack house, and every day she would come back to the house more broken than when she left. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but she would just shake her head.” She sighed and looked down at the ground. “I made the mistake of speaking to Vince. The next day she came back, she couldn’t speak.” My mom looked away and shook her head. “I’ll head back.” She left us there in the hallway.

Wendy looked back at Lynn’s door. “All we can do is be here for her.” Then we all heard a soft giggle from Carly.

“For them both.” Then she turned and went to Carly’s room.

Toya sighed and headed towards the stairs. “Now that I have my phone, I’m going to go downstairs and start a list of groceries we need.” I smiled. “I’ll text it to you.”

“Thank you.” I waved as I headed back to the closet.

My mom was waiting on my bed when I walked back in. “Ready?” She popped up, and I nodded. She rubbed her hands together. “Good, ‘cause I really want to give my new baby a spin.” She giggled, actually giggled, as she ran out of the room. I turned back to make sure all the doors were shut before I left my room. Then I locked my door and ran down the stairs. My mom was already sitting in her SUV as I walked out. She honked and rolled down the window. “Let’s go.” I hopped in, and we headed out.