Chapter 56

Callista’s POV.

It’s late when Gil walks through the door exhausted, but still ecstatic about today’s events. I’m already cleaning the dishes from dinner. He kisses my cheek then dries the dishes I’ve already washed. He doesn’t ask where the kids are, but he doesn’t really need to, he can feel them, he can feel everyone in the pack. Xavier is helping Calliope in the greenhouse and Callen is playing in his bassinet. “I asked Laurent to be my Beta, but he’s content staying the enforcer,” he tells me.

I wipe my hands then load a plate of dinner for him, the poor guy is practically dead on his feet, but he’s still pushing through. “Who are you going to have as your Beta?”

“I think Vance. Gunther can be my Gamma. They were my recommendations before we left. They’re good guys and they make good decisions.”

“That sounds good,” I mumble, poking fun of his word choice. He softly chuckles. I really have no clue who those guys are, but I guess I’ll find out soon when we all live in that monstrosity of a building known as the Alpha House. I hate the idea of leaving my territory for a crowd of werewolves that don’t even know of my existence. Now Calliope has to be around them. Wolves aren’t bad in general, but the schools aren’t equipped for her. Of course I’ll still teach her, but with her brothers going to pack school, I don’t want to single her out. This is just a mess. Why did Gilbert have to challenge that bastard? He could’ve let Toby handle it, but no…

“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” Gil is looking at me as I fidget with my ring. He cocks a brow waiting for my reply.

I nibble my lip as I look around our little house. This place is more of a home than even the one my dad raised me in. “I don’t want to leave our home to live at the Alpha house.”

Gil’s eyes light up and he smirks with a secret on his lips. I cock my brow writing for him to speak. “It’s the pack house now, as it should be. We’re not leaving our home, I will need to add another room for the boys, though,” he leisurely says then finishes eating. My mouth drops open and I’m shocked into silence. “I’m bringing the orphans to the pack house and turning the orphanage into the safe house for the females in heat. Can you put a spell on the building to keep the unmated males out?”

“Uh, yes. Yes, of course.” Holy Goddess, he’s amazing!

“Thanks, Sweetheart,” he whispers in my ear then kisses my head. He then takes his plate to the sink, but I take it from him as Calliope and Xavier come inside. They almost tackle him with their hugs, but he just laughs it off and picks them up to give them kisses. He flies Xavier around like an airplane then Calliope begs for a turn. I leave them to check on Callen, but I still listen to the kids telling him about their day.

“Daddy. Xavier over watered my bulbs, but I pulled the water out and spread it to the other bulbs.”

“It was an accident.” Xavier hangs his head.

“It’s alright, big guy. Little Callie fixed it.”

“I can feel you now, Gilbert. You’re the Alpha now?” Xavier asks. It’s weird that I don’t feel him, but I never have.

“That’s right, I can feel you now too. You know, you don’t have to call me Gilbert, you can call me daddy if you want.” Gil is hopeful, I know, I can feel it through our bond.

“I know, I just forget,” Xavier answers and Gil smiles. He’s been going back and forth between calling him Daddy and Gilbert since the palace, but he’s doing better. Having Xavier with us feels as natural as having Calliope. He doesn’t seem to have any resentment towards me for what I did. Maybe he just doesn’t understand. I’m sure he’ll ask about it when he’s older. He still asks about Annie every now and then, but he likes living here with his family.

“When are Toby and Annie leaving?” I ask Gil as he sits beside me and rests his arm around my shoulders. I know Toby is a busy guy and has to get back to the palace. Annie hasn’t forgiven me yet, but I don’t blame her. Alpha A-hole, as she likes to call him, put her through hell, but it was my charms and spells that allowed him to do it. I don’t think I would be quick to forget that if I were in her shoes.

“Tomorrow. They promised to stop by first. Annie is reluctant to leave Xavier. They’re taking Flora and her two pups with them.”

“What? Who's going to take care of the orphaned pups?”

“Maxine.” Yeah, I have no clue who that is. Gil smirks at me. “She’s been the housekeeper at the pack house. I moved her and her mate into a room. Also, Laurent’s mate Rowena volunteered to help. She loves pups and has two of her own.”

“What’s going to happen with the Luna?”

“You’re my Luna.” He points out and I hold back a grunt. He softly chuckles and I smack his leg. “Ellen is leaving. She’s going to Sioux Falls to be with Christina. I was going to punish her anyway for her crimes against the females, but since she’s expecting I was thinking of banishment. This works out just fine, but she’s only allowed one suitcase. All of the crap she’s bought over the years with the pack funds are being sold and the money is going to fix up the heat house, as Gunther calls it, anything left over will go to the orphans.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

Gil just smiles. “Not everything.”

The next morning, I take the kids to the pack house to make it easier on Annie and Toby since they have to pack for three more people. Annie is carrying a thick book and has a second chain around her neck. She places her treasures in the back seat of Gil’s SUV, he’ll be dropping them off at the airport since they need more room, then turns to Xavier and Calliope. She hugs them both tightly and says a few words. Toby gives me and Callen hugs and kisses. “We’ll see you soon,” he tells me and I nod.

“Yeah. We’ll be there,” I answer. Annie stands up and looks at me. I don’t know what to say to her so I nod. Her lip ticks up on one side then she slightly nods. Talk about awkward. She turns toward the SUV. “I’m sorry.” I blurt out. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but I am.” She looks at me with her eyes glistening. “I love you, Annie, you’re my best friend and I hope one day you can forgive me.” I wipe a stray tear from my cheek. “I know I messed up. Just please don’t hate me, I couldn’t bear the thought of you hating me.”

“I don’t hate you, Giselle.” She whispers and I wipe more traitorous tears from my face. “I’m just not ready to forgive you. Not yet, but I’ll get there.”

I nod my head grateful that she doesn’t hate me. Toby wraps his arm around her waist to wave goodbye to everyone else. He helps her to her seat then slides in beside her. I’m so glad they have each other, they’re the best people I know. As the SUVs drive off I place a charm over them for safety then wipe my nose.

“I miss Annie,” Xavier says.

I take the kids' hands and look down at Xavier. His blue eyes sparkle with unshed tears, he’s trying so hard to be strong. “Me too, kiddo. It’s alright, we’ll see them real soon.”

“Can they be here for my birthday? I’ll be 5.”

“We can ask. You know Toby is the king so he’s very busy,“ I remind him.

“I know. Is daddy going to be gone long?” He continues to chatter as we walk back to the house.

“No. He’ll be back in about an hour or so.” The Beta and the Gamma both nod to me as they carry playground equipment from the heat house. I don’t know which is which, but at least I’m not invisible to them. I guess I should stop trying so hard to be invisible. I am the Luna now.

Three weeks later, Bells greets us as soon as we pull up outside of the palace. “Gelly bean,” she squeals as she pulls me from the SUV and into a tight hug.

“Hey, Bells. Is Aria nervous?”

“I think she’s more excited than nervous. What about Little Callie, is she ready?” She asks as she pulls Calliope’s door open. She jumps down and into Bell’s outstretched arms.

“I think she can handle it.” Gil and Xavier come around the SUV for more hugs from Bells. I pull Callen out of the car seat. “Is everything ready?”

“I think so. Aria is making the wreaths now.”

“I want to help!” Calliope announces. Bell takes her hand and leads us into the palace.

Nothing has changed except the obviously oppressive absence of Grandmother. It’s almost alarming how empty the energy feels. Calliope looks back at me with eyes that tell me she feels the emptiness as well. I feel some of her energy lingering in the room she inhabited and some of her trinkets, but it would be like comparing a zap from static electricity to a thunderstorm. There’s also an ominous feeling within the hall that is almost suffocating. “Have you not cleansed the palace yet?” I ask Bells.

She shakes her head. “No. I've been avoiding it.”

“We can do it tomorrow night. The moon will still be full,” I offer and Bells nods.

Victor is reading in the sitting room and the kids rowdily rush to climb him like a mountain. He laughs it off and plays with them until Calliope breaks away to say hello to Aria. Aria is all smiles and she stops what she’s doing to get us. “Giselle, I wasn’t sure which flowers to use for your wreath. I can’t decide between yellow tulips, lavender, or daisies, so I haven’t made it yet.”

Calliope holds hers up. It’s white roses for her innocence. I see the other that she’s finishing up is pink orchids symbolizing grace, that wreath clearly belongs to Bell. “How about Lily of the Valley?”

Aria thinks for a minute. “I can’t remember the meaning.”

“It symbolizes trust.” Annie enters the room and the kids rush to hug her.

“Among other things,” I remind her. “I’m thinking of humility.”

Annie presses her lips together but doesn’t say anything more on the subject. “I’ll go pick them,” she volunteers and Aria nods.

“Me too!” Xavier grips her hand tightly.

I nod and look at Calliope. “Go help them.” She jumps up from her seat and Annie offers her hand to stroll out of the room. I’m not forgiven yet, but that’s okay. I know forgiveness takes time.

Tonight’s ceremony is only for the four of us witches. Aria never received her true name as our mother was a dark witch. Along with the white lilies, laurel creates the purity circle, enhancing the wish for success. This ceremony is normally performed on newborns, but witches need their true names to reach their absolute potential. Aria’s strength has increased, but even Calliope has stronger magic.

Calliope enters the circle followed by Aria, myself, then Bells, who closes the circle with a Laurel. Aria stands in the middle of the circle while the rest of us hold hands and sidestep clockwise. Aria closes her eyes, raises her arms to the moon, and slowly turns counterclockwise. She opens her eyes and reaches out for Calliope's hands. They spin in a circle then we re-join hands and side step. I take hold of her hands and we spin in a circle, the Bells take her spin. Aria raises her arms to the moon and we rejoin our hands and raise our arms up. Our eyes turn white as we chant, asking the Goddess for a name. The breeze picks up and, as one, Arias's true name is brought to our lips. “Edeline of the Amaryllis Flower,” all four of us say in unison.

Aria turns counterclockwise and thanks the Goddess for gifting her a name. A beam of light engulfs our circle and our hearts are filled with a loving warmth. I look to the other witches in the circle and I know they feel the same. Calliope can’t contain the feeling and tears flow freely down her pink cheeks. Aria turns to face me and I see she’s just as emotional as Calliope. The light fades and we end our ritual.

“Thank you so much!” Aria blubbers as she hugs us each in turn. We adorn our cloaks and return to the palace where our loved ones await us.

“Did it work?” Gilbert asks. He picks Calliope up and wipes her tears away.

“Yes it did. Already I feel more powerful.” Aria answers. “I’m going to go to my room. Again, thank you.” We all give her quick hugs and she leaves us. Gilbert and I say our good nights to everyone then take the kids to bed.