Chapter Twenty-Two

Zions pov

“Come in Leo” I called out to my brother who was waiting for me outside the door.

“What’s on the docket for today Luna.” He said bowing as he entered the room.

“Look who’s settling in nicely.” I teased as he walked in. He was dressed in work out attire.

“We are going to work on your shifting, if you would follow me Beta Leo.” I told him teasingly before he followed me out the door.

We walked down the hall, the pack house staff bowing as we passed them.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this Beta stuff. Everyone keeps bowing. It so weird.” He complained.

“They are showing their respect to you as their superior.” I explained he nodded but I could tell he was still a little uncomfortable.

We took a long walk through the woods where my surprise to him was waiting. I wanted to show him my new favorite spot.

“We would be there in no time if we were in wolf form.” I whined, feeling my feet burning.

“Well if you can get me to shift today , we can run back easily.” He retorted

Twenty more minutes walking and we arrived at the waterfall. His eyes gleamed with admiration of the regal sight in front of us.

“My little creek in the void was nothing compared to this.” he said and my head snapped in his direction. He caught me staring and my tears began to seep in that moment.

“What?” He questioned, I shook my head and wiped my tears away quickly.

“Nothing. Okay let’s get started. When I first shifted it was in a moment of panic when I was attacked and Mi pushed through to protect us.” I explained

“Your going to attack me?” He cocked his head to the side in confusion.

“No silly, after learning a bit more about our power I have a few ideas I want to try with you.” I tell him and he nodded with approval.

“Okay hold my hands, I’m going to pull on my wolfs energy, and pull on yours creating a link, as I shift you should shift as well.” I explained to him my plans and he did as instructed and placed his hands in mine.

I focused my energy and I could feel Mi push forward as I felt the heat of my eyes beginning to glow. Me and my brother held eye contact and I watched his eyes burn bright yellow as Ohthere pushed though as well.

I felt my bones begin to dislocate and rearrange quickly, I closed my eyes as I watched my brothers face turn to a painful grimace as his bones snapped. His breathing was heavy but he didn’t cry out.

Our hands let go of each other’s as my hands became paws. When I opened my eyes , and my brother was a sight to behold. Ohthere’s fur was shiny black with frosted white tips his eyes glowing as bright as the sun. I watched through Mi as she hopped up and down and howled in excitement.

‘Come and see’ I mindlinked my brother as Mi walked over to the river. He peered into the water gazing at his wolfs reflection.

‘I knew he was gonna look badass’ Leo blurted out his thoughts through our mindlink. I bursted out in laughter. It was such a boyish thing to say.

Mi nuzzled Ohthere, the abrupt jolt causing him to fall into the river. Mi fell on her her back rolling and howling in amusement before she saw him breech the water line before jumping right on top of him.

The siblings climbed out the water after splashing each other back and forth for a few minutes.

Mi and Ohthere laid in the grass exhausted watching and listening to the river flow.

‘So this is what living feels like.’ Leo said through the mindlink. It sounded as if it was a private thought, that he didn’t realize came through the link. I didn’t respond as I let him have his thoughts to himself.

After a few moments I was ready to head home and get a shower.

‘Race you back.’ I called out as I got a head start before he noticed my challenge.

He chased me all the way to the courtyard before nipping Mi’s tail. Mi turned and growled. I noticed my mate’s presences as they approached us, watching the wolves tussle a little.

Mi turned and ran to them and Ohthere walked over following his sister. She nuzzled Iliam’s leg, and she felt his unknown frustration coming through the bond as did I. He ran his fingers through her fur and the contact calmed him, his mood now filled with adoration as they connected. She walked over to Ethar and at first we felt the same frustration before he smiled and knelt down.

“Hey princess.” He said aloud rubbing his nose to hers. She pulled back and motioned her head toward Ohthere as if to say “look at him.”

“Is that Leo!” They said in unison as their eyes grew wide in surprise.

‘Ohthere meet my mates.’ I introduced through the mindlink.

“Ohthere? A strong Viking name. Means warrior if I’m not mistaken. It’s fitting.” Ethar said aloud with approval as he pat my brother on the head ruffling his fur. Iliam mimicked Ethar'sactions ruffling a little more aggressively than Ethar to annoy my brother. Ohthere growled snapping at his hand.

Iliam pulled his hand back. “Little brat.” He whispered grinning at at the handsome wolf.

Mi’s happiness was gushing through as we watched the happy scene unfold in front of us.

Ethar’s Pov

I was dosing off as I waited for Iliam and Zi to get out the shower. They had been in there way to long to be washing. Zi was no doubt giving Iliam his long awaited reward for being such a good pup today.

I rolled my eyes at the thought, as I felt their arousal through the bond.

I was almost out cold, before I felt a strange feeling wash over me. I was pulled into what felt like a dream. When my vision cleared and my gaze fell to the goddess standing over the River Of Fates.

“I was wondering when you would be making an appearance.” I told her before walking over to stand beside her.

She chuckled at my statement. I watched her walk over to Yggdrasil The Tree of Life pulling an invisible thread that turned to an orb of light in her hands.

I remembered The Tree of Life, and the River of Fates from old norse folklore that was now collecting dust in my library. As if reading my thoughts she spoke.

“As the oldest Alpha to ever live Ethar, your knowledge never cease to amaze me. In the beginning I held a grudge against your grandfather for defying me. Throughout the decades I watched you grow and learn. You never had it easy but you always followed your heart instead of following fate blindly. I grew to respect you for it.” She admitted.

She knelt down and put the orb into the river. We both stared as it took the shape of what could only be a memory. But who’s?

“Even though you turned away from fate to spite me. It never made you an unjust ruler or a bitter soul. You led with kindness, you led ruthlessly, always fighting for what you believed was right. I watched the people love and fear you for it.” She continued.

“Im going to show you a story to old to be written in any literature you possess.” She explained motioning toward the vision in the river.

In the river I watched a woman give birth to a set of twin girls. The eyes of the twin that arrived seconds before her sister were glowing bright green, the second baby’s eyes glowing bright red. The woman giving birth was dying on her birthing bed. With her last breaths she whispered in the ear of the oldest girl “Neoma”. She turned to the sister in her arms and whispered “Hella” before the life faded from their mothers eyes.

The vision forwarded to a small village, Neoma had long dark hair down to her waist, Hella’s hair was bright red the same length. The girls were no more than fifteen years of age. Fear came across their faces as loud bells rang though the village. A group of savage men attacked the village and I watched the girls run for cover. The village leaders fought to protect their woman and children, but were defeated in the end. When their savage leader came across the eldest twin hiding, a disgusting smirk crept up on his face as he grabbed the Neoma by her hair and yanked her up. He dragged her from the hut. Hella listened to her sisters screams but fear kept her frozen and well hidden.

When Hella was sure the men had moved on, she crept out of her hiding place. Walking over the bodies of her village family, tears streaming down her face.

She stood outside and fell to her knees hunched over as she realized she was the only one left alive. Her thunderous scream erupted from the small girl. Even though I was watching the past unfold in the river, Hella’s scream radiate through my body and brought me to my knees.

I watched as a sinister darkness engulfed Hella , the shadow taking the form of a man’s body but from his aura I could tell he was anything but human. He knelt down and Tilted the girls chin up to meet his burning gaze.

“Sweet child.” He soothed as he hugged her in his arms.

“I am Hades. God of the underworld. I can take away your pain. I can give you the power to take revenge on the savages that wronged you. I can give you the power to avenge your sister and your village. In return you give me your humanity.” The God bargained. Tears staining her cheeks she looked up at him and nodded her head. The man kissed her forehead and I watched them vanish.

The scene forwarded a third time where a Neoma in what looked to be her early twenties hung from chains in a dark cold cell. She could be heard whispering what sounded like a plea for death as she heard the door creak. Neoma’s plea was answered when a bright white light engulfed her and her surroundings. She opened her eyes in the same place I was standing now only the Goddess standing above the River of Fates was someone else. She reached her hand out for the young Neoma to take and walked her over to the river.

“My name is Celesta Goddess of the moon. I have watched you my child since you were born. Your fate was sealed as your mother took her last breath. I have watched you suffer as you were broken by the savages that took you. Unable to intervene until now. I heard your plea and I offer you this reprieve from your suffering.” She spoke to the girl as she cupped her hands and dipped them into the river.

“With this gift, I offer you immortality. I offer you the curse and power of fate. I will teach you everything I know before taking my place amongst the dying Gods. When you choose to join me in the heavens, you will offer this same gift to another to take your place just as I have chosen you.” She explained to the girl. I watched Neoma drink the water from the goddesses hands before the memory faded.

“I always wondered what happened to my sister, Even as the goddess of fate I could never see past her memory of the day our village was attacked. She said walking over to the tree placing the thread back on it. I gathered myself before standing and watching her.

“When I created the wolves , I bestowed the shifter gift to a small village just like my own. I gave the people the power to defend themselves against the same savagery that claimed my life. In those times, Wolves were the mosters that men feared. In turn it seems my sister bestowed a similar darker gift to others. Instesd of the power defend, she offered them the power to destroy.” She said almost like she was realizing it at the same time I was. She sat at the throne chair in the room as she pondered the new information.

“She saw my beloved children as the same savages she vowed to destroy. Not only my children but any force that held dominance over humanity.”

“My sister Hella, Goddess of the underworld.” She chuckled not even addressing me but instead thinking out loud like I wasn’t even standing before her.

“What does this mean for us. For my pack. How do we win a fight against a goddess?” I asked drawing her attention to back to me.

“ From what I saw in the river, and everything that I can piece together, your only hope is your mate.” She explained. She jumped up and pulled a second thread from the tree and tossed the orb into the river.

The scene unfolding was familiar but not because I had seen it before myself.

It was Zion sitting with her parents on the back porch as they explained to her why they had to leave. Zion jumped from her seat as her eyes burned bright red. Before the hemorrhage of magic erupted from her as she created the void.

“Does it look familiar?” The goddess questioned as we watched. My mouth gaped opened as I stood in shock.

“I think my sister has chosen Zion to be her hier.” She said both our thoughts aloud.

“I will meet you again, when I have more answers you need to get back before it’s too late to restart you heart” she warned, before I could respond she flicked her wrist toward me and I was thrown back into my body.

When I opened my eyes I was met with grief stricken faces as Iliam and our mate stood over me.

I shook my head before sitting up.

“How long was i out?” I asked before I felt Zions palm collide with my cheek.

“Don’t fucking scare us like that!” She yelled in my face before hurrying off the bed.

Iliam’s sadness turned to anger as he stared down at me with a disapproving glare, I watched him caress her in his arms.

“It wasn’t my fault, the goddess had information, I didn’t know she killed me.” I explained before sitting up completely, grabbing Zion from Iliam’s grip and pulling her down on my lap.

“Sit down Iliam I need to talk to you both.” I said they both looked at me eagerly as I began to tell them what I learned.