Chapter 572
Everyone turned to find the Moon Goddess staring at us from the corner of the room. Even my mother and Wendy came out when they heard the voice. As soon as they stumbled out of the bathroom door, they dropped to their knees.
“Moon Goddess,” my mother said, dropping her head to the floor. “Please forgive Alannah’s earlier words. A scent of fear drifted from her. “She is hormonal and emotional at the loss of her mate; she didn’t mean it.”
Wendy was next. “Please forgive her.” She bowed to the floor, and together they stayed there.
The Moon Goddess looked confused for a second. The emotion seemed foreign to her ethereal face. “Rise, Luna.” She stepped forward and reached a hand down to my confused mother. “I am not here to punish the new mother. I am here because I am paying a debt.”
My mother sat back on her heels, eyes growing wide when she saw the offered hand. “What do you mean?” She slipped her hand into the Goddess’s and stood. “A debt?”
The goddess nodded. She turned to Wendy. “You too, little one. Rise.” Wendy slipped her hand into the goddess’s and stood next to my mother.
The three of us near the bed stayed silent until they turned to us. “Hello Alannah. Your mate has told me lovely stories about your time together. He hasn’t stopped talking about you for years.”
“Years?” Alannah turned to Ternen. “I just lost him…”
Ternen smiled a little sadly. “Time moves differently here.” He sighed as he put his back against the headboard with her.
The goddess nodded as she came to the end of the bed. “I slow time for souls. That way they have the time to process their loss, their death, so that when they come back to watch over their loved ones, even though it’s still fresh for you… for them it’s not. And they can watch over you and help you through your grief.”
“Why?” Alannah shook her head. “Why take him and then force him to watch over me?”
The goddess came closer, sitting next to where I was crouched, and reached for our hands. “Silly daughter.” She smiled a soft smile. “I don’t force anyone. I can tell you almost every soul that I pull home comes to me with a request already on their lips. Before most even realize that they have died, their first and only concern is their loved ones. Ternen here, came to me begging to come back. His only concern was to watch over you and his pups. He didn’t care if it wasn’t allowed; it was his only request. He gave up all his chances of reincarnation just to stay and watch over you.”
Alannah gasped as she turned to her mate. “Ternen, no.” She went to reach for his face but froze. “I’m not worth it.” She opened her mouth to say more, and she screamed as another contraction hit.
He just gave her a sad smile. “You are worth everything.”
The goddess turned her gaze to Ternen. “Take your mate’s hand.”
He turned to her. “We both know I can’t. I’m not here.”
The goddess waved her hand. “Am I the goddess or are you?”
His mouth dropped open, but he lifted his hand to Alannah’s, and the moment their hands touched, a soft light filled the room. Alannah cried out and clung to him. “How?” He turned back to the goddess as his hand was crushed by his mate.
“Because I promised you when you came to me I would not have you miss this moment. You deserved to be here with them. So this is my last gift to you. Also, I know Amy cannot stay here, and she would have worried about your mate too much.”
The contraction ended, and Alannah took in a deep breath. “Ternen…” She looked down at their hands. “I can feel you.”
He smiled. “Yes Anwyl. The goddess…” He nodded towards the goddess on the bed. “She gave us this last gift.”
Alannah turned to the goddess, and her lips trembled. “Thank you.”
The goddess just reached out her hand and cupped her cheek. “Today has been the hardest day of your life, but I promise it will get better.” She turned to Ternen. “You can be here the entire night. You can stay for one hour after the twins are born so you can hold them, and hold your mate. But then…” She trailed off. “I’m sorry I can’t give you more. But your story has come to an end.” The goddess brushed a kiss over Alannah’s brow and then vanished.
Ternen nodded once before standing and gathering his mate in his arms. “Where do you need us?” He turned to my mother.
“Near the end of the bed.” She pointed about halfway down, and he nodded.
He stepped onto the bed and placed her between his legs, her back against his chest. “We got this, Anwyl.” Alannah nodded once as a new contraction hit. Her hands wavered, looking for something to ground her, and Ternen slid his hands into hers. “Breathe, baby.”
A shuddering breath came out of her lips before a scream ripped through the air. My mother dropped in between her legs, and I saw her pale a little, but she turned to me. “Go, sweet girl. I have them.”
I pulled out my phone and double-checked something, and I was happy to see it was possible. “Wendy.” I waved her over. She jogged to me as I tucked my phone away.
“Yeah?”
I leaned in and whispered softly to her. “Can you figure out a way to record this? Ternen shows up on camera, and I think Alannah will want to remember this.” Wendy spun on her heel and left me there. turned back and kissed Alannah’s temple. “I love you both. Take care of these pups. I can’t wait to meet them.”
My mom pulled back enough to meet my eyes. “Make sure my mate is alive, baby. But be safe.” I nodded once and left.