49 - New

49 - New
~Hannah’s Point of View!

The light flashes next to the large male, and an equally large female appears, though she’s a good foot shorter than he is. I finally push to my feet, absolutely humiliated that I’m naked, I cover my breasts without thinking about it.

“Mother! Please help me with him,” Luna shouts, as she seems to move so fast I can barely register it. Then her mother is bending to touch her head.

Something passes between them though the female doesn’t speak out loud. I feel my mates at my sides, and I’m not sure what to think. I feel like I can’t look at the giant male, something is telling me not to.

When the two females begin to approach me, I stand tall. Though still awkwardly trying to cover myself.

“We will be able to grant your wish. But we understand many from your pack have been lost tonight. Had I been here sooner…” Luna trails off, and the guilt is obvious on her face.

Her mother disappears into thin air and I gasp in shock at the suddenness of it. Luna steps forward and places her hand on my forehead. When she’s barely inches from me, I simply don’t know what to do.

There’s not the same aura of power her father exudes, but there’s an obvious air of “other” … of something else. Magic and who knows what.

“Are you a fairy,” I simply ask, as she smiles. I mean how many chances am I going to get to ask her literally anything?

She shrugs but gives a small smile.

“I’m all of you in many ways. All shifters and those with magic,” she says, leaving it at that.

My body suddenly wants to close my eyes, so I do. I guess when an actual Goddess is before you, stop over thinking. It has to be her projecting onto me.

“Clear your mind dear one,” she whispers, and though the task seems basic enough it feels impossible at this moment. But I need to see what she’ll do.

After a minute, a vision begins to wiggle its way in. It’s a clear blue sky day, the sun is high overhead. I’m playing by this very pond, my belly nice and round. Scarlett and my brothers are catching fireflies and giggling. My mates are wearing goofy aprons and cooking on the grill. It’s all plain as day, it’s all literally right there. My mom and uncle, and … both the Luna … and Alpha??

Just then, there’s a weird little flutter at the back of my head.

“Baby? Can you hear me,” Parker asks, clear as a bell.

I gasp and cover my mouth, then turn to look at him sitting. He’s got the biggest, stupid grin on his face. I squeal and turn to throw myself at him. I quickly think of Rafe and think at him.

Can you hear me, I ask in my mind, which seems silly. Tears pool in my eyes because I literally thought I could never have this, share this with them.

Absolutely, he says, just as I again remember that I am in fact naked. I quickly stand and try to cover myself once more.

How about me, my mom’s voice says, also in my head. I giggle and start to jump up and down, until I realize my boobs are giddy with me and I quickly hold them once more.

“I’ve also made some other changes I hope you’re okay with. Lycans will now be a dual shifter. At the next full moon, you’ll all be granted wolves. If there’s a danger though, a true enemy, your lycan will surface. It will always be a part of you, no matter what.

You’ll keep your strong senses and you will still crave blood, I’m afraid that’s just in your DNA. But your wolf will hunt and quench that thirst then. Any shifter carrying the lycan gene will have pups with the same dual nature,” Luna says, putting me once more into an absolute state of shock.

All I ever wanted was my wolf. I never dreamed of a true fated mate so obviously that’s a massive bonus. But a wolf?

Cheers erupt off in the distance, I know it is the direction of the packhouse and I turn that way. Howls break out into the night, and near constant hoops and more cheers.

“Will you--” I say, as I turn back.

To the empty woods. Well, mostly.

“No! But… But…” I trail off, when I see the group of lycans still crowded around.

But no Gods or Goddesses. I wasn’t anywhere close to done with her! Damn it! And the others… surely they have questions they wanted to ask.

Warm arms wrap around me from behind as Rafe’s familiar sweet but woodsy scent fills my lungs. I desperately need it right now, all I want is to cuddle with them both in bed. This is all too much to even try and wrap my head around. If there weren’t so many other people I’d wonder if I hallucinated all of it.

“My dad’s alive. I don’t know what she did, but his heart started again. Mom says he’s still in a bad way, it’ll be a long recovery. But he’s breathing and that’s more than he had been doing. Maybe he still had some light left somehow. Four more are now alive that they thought for dead but there’s still a dozen or so killed that were probably too far gone…” he trails off.

The group of lycans begin to walk toward me, and for once in my life, I’m utterly speechless. They’re going to have many questions, how could I be the one to answer them? How can I face the pack, knowing they fought this battle for my family and lost so much?

I close my eyes as tears stream down my face. I feel faint and then suddenly, my legs seem to go out. I’m overwhelmed beyond words, and my mind just can’t compute it all. Everything just shuts down.

~The Next Day~

I groan and nuzzle into my pillow, feeling utterly exhausted. I slowly open my eyes and yawn. A grin spreads across my face as I take in Parker’s cabin. It’s familiar but also like a distant dream in a lot of ways. I sit up and realize I’m not only alone but very naked.

Instinctively, I lift my arm and take a whiff. Huh, smells clean.

Then it’s as if a swift punch of air hits me square in the face when I hear an unfamiliar laugh. My mom’s laugh follows, though I think I’ve only heard her do it once. My hand immediately goes to my forehead.

The pond. The battle. The … visitors? Was it real??

I toss off the covers and make my way to the door which is cracked open. I hear Parker, Oliver, Oscar and several others. How the hell are they all fitting in the small cabin?

It was real. There are more lycans. The Goddess, she appeared and she…

You up baby? You hungry, Parker asks, inside my head. I gasp and cover my mouth, then spin and press my back against the wall.

It’s … real. Holy … SHIT!

I quickly look at my hands expecting them to somehow be different. Do I feel different?

When is the next full moon?

I realize once again that I’m naked, and dash to the dresser, pulling out a shirt and shorts. I have zero idea where I can find a bra but this is better than nothing. They all saw it last night anyhow.

When I come down the hall I see that another table has been set up in the living room, and there’s many gathered around, eating. The smell of sausage and bacon hit my nose instantly, and my stomach protests with need.

“There she is. Slept like the dead I guess,” Oscar shouts, pointing. I give a weak wave, unsure what else I should do.

The next hour is a near blur as I get introduced to all the lycans. My mom has already cozied up to a male named Samuel, who is from somewhere around Peru. I instantly have concerns about that match but there’s just too many other things swirling in my head.

Parker is still very weak, honestly he looks like shit. The sage has been working to help heal him, but there’s so many that need it right now. I need to face the pack, that much is evident. But what could I possibly say or do?

I help to clear the table and begin to tidy up from brunch when the door opens. The room falls silent, as Luna Patricia steps in. She looks awful, and likely hasn’t slept. Rafe is immediately at her side, pulling her in for a hug.

“I just wanted to come in person and give everyone the Alpha’s wishes. He wants to hold a ceremony tonight to pass on the pack. It’s time for the next generation to take over and with two Alphas it will be in very capable hands,” she says, nodding.

I freeze at her words, and then Scarlett also pops in the door just behind her.

“We will be ready for the new Luna too,” she says, matter of fact.

Behind her, she pulls a garment bag over her shoulder and a box in her hands.

“Let me help you with that,” Oliver says, quickly moving to take the items.

“To the new Luna,” Parker says, raising his glass of juice.

I open my mouth to protest, though I don’t even know what I would say. There’s a body behind me and my brain tells me it’s Frederick.

“What an honor,” he simply says, though his elbow nudges me.

My mouth opens and closes many times as everyone seems to look at me expectantly. I’m suddenly extremely hot and I feel like passing out again would be better than this.

“Come on girl! Let’s try on this gown,” Scarlett says, breaking the tension.

I nod quickly, and when Oliver walks by with the things I quickly get behind him and follow. I watch as he puts the items on the bed, winks at Scarlett and walks out. She shakes her head and puts her hands on her hips.

“Those two! Ugh! They’re way too stubborn for their own good! But they sure are cute,” she giggles, then moves to shut the door.

I fall onto the bed, and bury my hands in my face.

Goddess help me.