Chapter 382

I nodded. “There is still so much you don’t know, and we don’t have time to explain it all today.” I turned in a slow circle. “I honestly wish we could. But every time you come over, we can come here, allow the girls to play, and we can talk in more detail. But…” I crouched down, trying to figure out how to make this place more protected. “Yes, there will be a war.”

“How are you so certain?” She looked terrified. I could see her twist her fingers.

“Because I know how the king feels. He wants to rip all the rot out at once. The rogues. The alphas. The men and women that turned their backs on their kind for power.”

“But you could be wrong.” She tried again.

I closed my eyes and I felt the shift. I was no longer alone. “No, my dear girl. She isn’t.” I felt my body turn, almost as if Nix was in control. But I looked beside me and my two wolves were watching with me. I heard a few gasps, and I turned back to watch.

“Who are you?” Rick stepped in front of his mate, but the person sharing my skin chuckled.

“Come now.” We walked closer and I recognized the voice. “I know I don’t appear often, but you have heard my voice a time or two, Rick.” The goddess raised my hand and cupped his cheek. “I will keep your secrets, as long as you keep Amy’s.”

I watched as the realization hit him. “Moon Goddess.” He whispered in awe, and then dropped to his knees. “Save my daughter.”

He bowed down again. “I don’t care if it costs me my life. Just cure her, spare her. I promise I will go with you willingly.”

We watched him on the ground and tilted our head. I realized that, much like when Nix was front, I counted the goddess as an extension of me. Her voice was light when she called back to us, “That’s because I am. You come from me, mind, body, and soul. We are intimately intertwined.”

But we turned to Rick and crouched down. “I cannot interfere with the lives on this earth directly. I can maneuver, but intervention is expressly forbidden. I can guide.”

Rick looked up and tears were falling down his face. “She’s only ten.”

I nodded, but Shelly slammed to her knees next to her husband. “Please, goddess, mother. You must feel our need, feel our pain. Can’t you do this for us?”

We cupped both of their faces. “I cannot. I did it once, and this is what it brought.” There was a flash of a memory I saw years ago, the first werewolf, a man in a damp forest, changed for life. The goddess closed her eyes, and I knew I was right. “I cannot, will not, risk the lives of all of my children.”

Shelly sobbed. “But she’s my little girl, and she’s going to die.” Rick and Shelly wailed, but the goddess kissed their foreheads. “If you don’t help us, we lose her.” Shelly clutched at our hand.

“Silly girl.” The goddess kissed her again. “I said I cannot interfere, but I didn’t say I hadn’t already sent you the answer to your prayers.” She lifted their faces up to meet their eyes. “Amy knows exactly what she is prepared and able to do to save your girl. Trust in her.” I saw in the reflection of their eyes that my eyes glowed a soft blue-white. Almost like Rowan’s eyes if he had magic. “Follow her. She will show you the way.”

“Yes, goddess,” Rick said instantly.

The goddess turned to Shelly. “I came today for one reason: to reinforce what Amy is telling you. War is on the horizon. A war like none we have ever seen and if it isn’t handled in the next moon cycle, then all will be lost.” The goddess’s voice turned sad. “The ones that are moving in the shadows are poking the hornet’s nest. Humans are taking interest where they shouldn’t. My children have hidden away, but nowhere will be safe if they keep pushing.”

Her words bounced around in my head, but I could feel her pulling away.

“What do you mean?” Termen called.

She turned to Alannah and Termen. “Congratulations on the pup. If you make it through the next month, he will be so loved.” The goddess smiled at them.

“He?” Alannah’s hand shot to her belly, and then I saw her face harden.

We nodded. “To answer your question….” She sighed as she fully stood again. “If this war goes on too long. If the alphas keep pushing for power. You will be found. And nowhere I can give you will be safe, not anymore.” Nowhere she gave us? Where was she talking about? But she continued. “The humans will find you, and you will be killed.” I could feel her shiver.

The sound of tiny running feet was all I heard before a soft voice finished. “And the ones that survive the human extermination will beg for death; they will make sure of it.”