Sapphire POV
OMG!! The crazy old bitch did it. I can't believe she did it. Genni will go fucking mental when she finds out what the old bitch has done. WOW
Gen POV
''My gift, Mother? What are you talking about? What gift''? I may be a little slow on the uptake, but I'm pretty sure I haven't received a gift from my mother.
Surely any such gift would be to return my husband to me?
Three pairs of eyes stared at the moon Goddess. Each with its own question.
''First, I think you should explain to your little friend there what this place is and what you are doing here. She looks like she's having a heart attack''.
I turned to look at Sara, who was indeed looking like she might keel over at any moment.
"Let me", said Sapphire, and I swear I saw Sara's eyes bug out of her face.
She raised a shaking hand and pointed her finger at Sapphire. ''You can speak here, wherever we are?''
Sapphire bowed her head and spoke gently. ''Sara, as you know, Genni and myself are born from the Goddess herself. Which gives us abilities that a normal werewolf would not have. One of these abilities is called a trance shift. It is a realm where Genni and I converse face-to-face with our mother. I, we, had thought no one could enter here. So whatever Mother has to say must be equally important for you to hear as well as us. Do you understand, Darling Sara?'
Sara still looked dumbfounded but managed to nod her head to show she did at least understand Sapphire. Looking at me now, the look on her face had changed to pure awe. I smiled reassuringly. As my arms still held the precious baby, it was all I could do for the moment.
After I realised this, I made to hand the baby back to her mother when Sara almost shouted 'NO, no. I don't want to hold her. She hates me. And I don't feel, well, I mean to say I don't have the same feeling towards her as I do her brother. I'm sorry. I'm such a bad mother''. Sara hung her head while she gently cried. Sapphire walked around her to the other side and sat gently down, covering Sara's shoulders with her tail.
'Well, of course you don't feel the same towards the girl. She is not yours. Is she'' cried Mother. Startling us all out of the tender moment we three were having.
All three of us said simultaneously 'WHAT!!!'.
''Genevieve Darling, you can be quite dense when you want to be, yes? I have heard your prayers, and I have listened to your heartache over the fact your little friend here was pregnant, knowing you could never be. So, when you saved Sara's life by infusing her with a tiny amount of your essence, I saw a way to get around that problem. When you asked me if Sara's child would have any of your powers, I suddenly realised what to do. Mother clapped delightedly at her own words, while the three of us continued to stare at her. All with varying degrees of shock showing on our faces.
''Mother'' I said patiently, "What are you talking about? Please, you're making less sense than you usually do''. Sapphire snorted at that, and Mother pursed her lips tightly.
"Genevieve, I will speak as clearly as possible, seeing as you've left your brain back in the other realm." She sniffed.
''I have given you a baby. That baby!'' And she pointed to the sleeping babe in my arms.
I looked down at her beautiful face. Frowning, I raised my eyes to my mother again, but Sara's sob caught my attention before I could look. Sara was openly sobbing, mumbling words like Thank goddess, ''I knew it'' ''it wasn't a dream''.
Sapphire lay down with her front paws stretched out in front of her, and I placed the baby on them, knowing that this was the right thing to do. While Sapphire gently sniffed and nudged the baby, I put my free arms around Sara and held her while she continued to break her heart.
After the storm had passed, Sara looked directly at Mother.
Sara's POV
I fucking knew it. I fucking knew that baby wasn't mine. I tried to pass what happened as a dream, but I think deep down I believed it. I just didn't want anyone to think I was making stories up. I felt so light-hearted now, knowing that I wasn't being a bad mother. Knowing now I didn't have twins. I just had another baby. I held on to Gen's hands as I swung them out, then pulled her into a hug. I knew I was muttering, I was just so happy that it was over now. And that precious little girl can be with her family.
"When you came to me in that dream, when you explained what you wanted to do. I assumed I had made it up to show Genevieve how honoured I was that she saved my life. But I understand now, and I'm sorry for not realising sooner, your Grace''.
I bowed down low, then turned toward my best friend, a huge smile on my face. I was so happy I could do this for her. So I'd better explain what happened.
''Gen, listen to me, okay? Everything is as it should be now. Let's sit'' I waited for Genni to sit next to Sapphire, wow that was weird to say. But, it is what it is.
''Your mother came to me in a dream just after I got pregnant. Explained to me that you could never have children, and if she found a way to do it, would I be a surrogate for the child? Now, you have to remember, I thought this was a dream. I had immense gratitude for you saving my life, so I agreed. Who wouldn't have agreed to carry a goddess within?''.
''Anyhoo, I digress. When I woke up from the dream, I considered it just that. A dream. Life carried on, we continued to work on the comity programme. And life was good.
until a few weeks before I gave birth. I suddenly became very tired, but I couldn't sleep. Was hungry all the time, but couldn't eat. And, as you know, when I ended up in the hospital with the news that I was having twins. Well, you were there. At no point did my mind recalls the 'dream'. Or the conversation with the goddess. After I gave birth, I thought I was going mad. I could care for my little man as easily as breathing. But this little one, well. She was waiting for her real Mom. I'm so sorry I made you wait for her. She should have been placed in your arms a lot sooner than today''.
I stroked the now-sleeping baby's soft cheek. With tears in my eyes, I looked at Sapphire and then at Genni ''This baby is the gift your mother is talking about. This baby girl is yours, Gen. She is every inch your daughter. I just cooked her for you''.
Genni POV
''Ours. Ours?''
I couldn't take in what was being said. I looked at Sapphire, and I swear I could see tears in her stunning blue eyes. She placed her large head gently down by the side of the baby and started to shudder slightly, and I knew she was crying softly.
''Mother, is this true?''. I had to have the final piece of confirmation before I let my feelings known.
''YES, Genevieve. YES, it is all true. I am a little put out that you didn't get your gift right away, but then my wolves have never been creatures of wisdom''.
I took in a deep breath and turned to Sara, ''I will send you back to our realm now, I will speak with you there. I need to speak with my mother in private. When you wake up, I will still be asleep. Please take the baby out of my arms and place her in her crib until I return. I promise she won't cry anymore''. I placed my palm against Sara's cheek. The smile I sent her showed her I was not angry at her, and she nodded. A few moments later, the baby disappeared from this realm as Sara did as I asked.
I turned to face Sapphire, I stroked her soft fur and whispered something in her ear that made her tail swish about wildly, and then I turned to our Mother.
''Of all the things you have done to me, this is by far the worse and best thing. It's the worst because you said nothing about it. It's the worst, for if I had known, I could have been there for that baby the minute she was born. YOU denied me that. Not Sara. You spoke to her without my permission. You let her continue to think it was a dream AND allowed her to think herself mad. We are so angry at you for this, Mother.
BUT'' I said, my voice softening.
''You did indeed give me the greatest gift you could''. My breath was coming out as a shudder as I tried to calm down from shouting at her.
''Thank you, Mother''.
'Well, I thought it best after what you and your mate did. You created that, so I created her' Once again, Mother was back to speaking in riddles. I sighed and asked if Sapphire knew what she was talking about.
''I think I do. Do you refer to the knotting that took place between ourselves and our mates?'
'Well, of course, I do. You must have sensed it. It's partly why Jonas is still in a coma. His body has been in transition''.
I looked alarmed at that last part and got pissed off.
''MOTHER, what do you mean? Transition''?
''Fine, again I will dumb it down for you'' Sapphire growled at that.
"You can't just click your fingers and make an immortal, you know. It takes time for his puny human form and his basic alpha body to accept the immortality. His entire body, inside to out, will now be impervious to harm. Just like you''.
''When you and Jonas shared the knotting ceremony, you shared your essence with him. As knotting is only ever done by gods, I was shocked to discover you had done it. I tried to see if the effect could be reversed, but the other elders dismissed my concerns as....''
''As what mother's I asked sternly
''As jealousy. What you achieved by sharing yourself so thoroughly with your wolf and your mates made you both immortal. OK, can I go now!!!!''.
That shocked me out of my anger, as I looked bewildered at Selene. Besides me, Sapphire said ''I do not hold you to this realm, Mother''.
''I'm not talking about you Sapphire. I'm talking about your soul mate there!!! Let me leave!!''
I looked at Sapphire and could swear the wolf had a grin on her chops. ''Gen, your holding mother here with your abilities. You need to let her go''.
I heard Sapphire explain. But I still needed the small shove she gave me to click my brain into gear. There were so many things floating about in it at the moment.
Not sure how to do this, I simply said ''Sorry, Mother. I hadn't realised I was holding you. You may go now''. And with that, Mother faded, but not before I saw something that looked like fear cross her face.
I faced my wolf again, and this time my whispered words were echoed back to me.
''Congratulations, MOM'' and I laughed.
''Come on, let's meet our daughter properly''.