***Genni POV***
After Dr. Julia asked her questions, the room fell silent. I needed to explain myself. I wanted, no, needed everyone to be on the same page.
''Thank you, Doctor. That would be helpful. Like I mentioned before, the reason I need the Nanny is the same reason we have trained our warriors to peak condition and have the whole pack on threat level 3. Zachary is coming for us. I believe he is hitting and destroying the smaller packs in a bid to flush out the pack that holds the portal to the goddess realm''.
Sara was the first to speak up. I could see confusion and fear in her eyes, and I felt my heart clench at the sight. Sara is like me, and all the other she-wolves in our pack with children. Their safety outweighs your own ten fold.
''I was under the impression that we are still looking for the portal. Or am I missing something?' With raised eyebrows Sara looked around the room. My heartbeat sped up, and as we are all wolves, everyone heard. Again, they all looked at me, including Jonas. But his gaze was one of complete trust and love. He nodded slightly, and then folded his strong muscular arms across his chest. An action which emphasised his wide shoulders.
''One of the main reasons for calling this mission was to inform you all that Jonas and I believe we know where the portal is''. The gasps around the room came from the men and women, as the weight of the words settled around us all like newly fallen leaves.
Everyone was now on tender hooks to hear the next part of my sentence. Not wanting to tell my friends the horrible truth we had found nearly stopped me talking. Taking a deep breath, I told myself I was not their friend, in this moment I was their Luna.
''As you are all aware, I have certain abilities. As I train myself to hone them, new abilities present themselves. The latest one happened no more than an hour ago. This new ability allowed me to see a vision held within a ball of light that I could hold in my hands. In the vision, I saw Zachary. But what shocked me the most was the sight of my mother in the same vision. I now know my mother is holding back information. Information that I believe is vital in the war to come."
No gasps this time. A wall of silence faced me. The very air in the room seemed to have frozen around me. I had dared to call our Goddess a liar. I had just called Selene out. And the others in the room were clearly terrified by it.
''There is no need for any of you to panic or have fear. I can control my mother, there will be no retribution for what I said. Please, you are all safe from harm''.
Another round of shocked faces surrounded me. And I felt myself falter for a fraction of a second. Then I felt Sapphire pushing forward, and I gladly gave up control to my wolf.
They all saw my eyes turn into the deep sapphire colour, which also seemed to sparkle with the density of the colour. Everyone now knew that Sapphire was in control. Everyone bowed their heads and showed their necks to her, a sign of submission that was not necessary.
''My beloved pack members, please allow me to explain'' a brief pause as everyone in the room nodded once. ''A while ago, when Geniveive and I were gifted our child, Genni and myself confronted our mother. What we call a trance shift, where we can enter a realm where Genaive ive and myself appear as separate entities''.
This pronouncement was met with outright shock, the murmurings of which could be heard echoing around the room.
''From the moment our souls came back together, I was aware of this ability. I had so shown Geniveive how to access it.... ever since. Every time you see Geniveive commune with me, she actually talks face to face with me, not simply hearing my voice. It was during one of these trance shifts that we spoke with our mother. Not only on the subject of our baby, but also a few things that our mother clearly felt uncomfortable with. When the conversation had come to an end, our mother asked to be released from the hold we had on her. On a previous occasion, I had managed to hold our mother for a short time. Showing Genevieve and myself that I was the stronger of the two. That is no longer the case.
Genevieve held our mother so effortlessly she was unaware she was doing it until she was asked to let the moon goddess go. So please believe me when I tell you that you all have nothing to fear from our mother. Geniveive will ensure that''. With a single nod of her head, I could feel her pulling back as I pushed forward to take control. Just before the control passed to me, I heard sapphire say ''you got this, girl''. Although it was short and sweet, it filled me with the confidence I needed to face these people, my people. A split second later, it was my eyes looking out at the awe struck faces that surrounded me. I was also aware of a strong pair of arms encircling my waist, I could feel the heat coming from Jonas's chest and seeping into my bones. Bolstering my confidence as well.
***Greg POV***
I was struck dumb after listening to my Luna describe how she 'held' her mother and stopped her from leaving the realm they were all in. Even though my brain knew this was my Luna talking to us all, I couldn't stop the emotion from exploding out of me. ''You had the strength to hold your Mother. Your Mother, who is Selene, the mother of all wolves. The freaking Goddess and our creator. My Luna. I once again pledge my life to you and this pack. I am in complete awe of your power. Please allow me the honour of serving you in this life and the next''. When I was finished, I knelt before her.
My Luna.
I was aware of the tears staining my checks, and I felt soft fingers brush them away. Turning my head, so I could look at the person who did this, my eye locked onto my Mates. The mother of my child and the other half of myself. She wiped my tears as her own fell. Sara was also on her knees. As was everyone else in the room.
We were all in the presence of a goddess. Whether Genni knew that to be true or not. I knew. Sara knew. As did everyone else. After I had proclaimed my continued devotion to my Luna, so did everyone else. When we were all kneeling around her (including our Alpha), I felt an electric currant flow through my body. I didn't know what it was, I had never felt this sensation before, but it didn't scare me. Quite the opposite, I could feel the love Genieve had for me. The devotion she had for Me. Her pack member. I could only conclude that everyone else felt the same sensation as me, as everyone had the same look on their faces, which presumably was on my face.
Staring up at my Luna, the sudden knowledge of her existence fell upon me, and I shuddered under its weight. I held Sara's hand in mine as she held Molly's. We were all holding hands as we renewed our original vows.
Geniveive smiled down at us all with such love shining from her eyes. It almost took my breath away, and I thought to myself 'What I wouldn't do for this women'. Or Goddess, more like.
My Luna.
My Goddess
***Genni POV***
I was overwhelmed, although Greg was the first to reiterate his loyalty to me and our pack. He was quickly followed by all this other. The look of love shining back at me was truly magnificent, and I could feel it sink into my soul. And I thought to myself 'what I wouldn't do for these people'. I could feel Jonas smile as he rested his lips close to my ear. He was the first to stand up after kneeling, and I immediately went back into his arms. He had not moved since and had been speaking softly into my ear. I leaned back against him for a second or two.
'It was all going to be okay,' I thought. Sapphire spoke next and said in a light playful tone, 'I told you they would. They are devoted to you, as you are to them'.
I just hoped I could stand up to the challenge that would soon face us. all. I couldn't let these people down. I couldn't let my pack down. Or any other pack, for the matter. I needed to get to work. Hilda had arrived. And was ready and waiting for me to join her.
Looking at Dr. Julia, I said in an even tone, 'I would appreciate it very much if you could send the Pack members you think would make good Nanny's to me as soon as they are able. Like, today if they can?'
Julia nodded at me. Peter was the next person to speak. And his words had us all crashing back into the reality of the situation, like some sort of wrecking ball against a wall. ''Your Grace, you have yet to tell us your suspicions about the whereabouts of the portal?''.
Peter left the question hanging in the air. Waiting for me to address it. ''You are right, of course. It is only a feeling at the moment. Jonas and I both have it and can't shake it'.
I felt Jonas tighten his arms around me, and I was very grateful for the strength he gave me.
''Jonas and I believe the portal to the Goddess realm is right here, in our pack. It's the only thing that makes sense. Zachary clearly doesn't know this. Hilda was one of the witches who put the first protection spells around us. Why? Why here?''.
''Jonas thinks that as the pack has expanded and grown in size. We have had to spread our packlands over more acres. To accommodate everyone. In doing so, we unintentionally expanded into the area that holds the portal. We still don't know its exact whereabouts. But, we are sure it is held within our pack borders. Which, in essence, means we are sitting ducks. And Zachary will sooner rather than later realise the direction he needs to follow is the direction that leads to me!''.