Chapter 140 - Rebirth

It was a very beautiful night. The sky was clear of clouds and the stars and moon illuminated the area of Great Falls that belonged to the strongest of werewolf packs. A car with dark windows rolled slowly up and parked outside the pack house. Two men got out and opened the doors for those in the back seat. Out stepped a man, beautiful as an angel with dark hair and golden eyes. A woman also stepped out. Her long hair caught the light from the sky and glittered like the purest silver. Her eyes the same gray color as a warm twilight. The magic in her was damaged but still strong. She would heal with help and love from others. The door to the house opened and a couple came out to meet them. The woman’s aura was as strong and pure as the man’s strength. Her belly was round and her green eyes beamed with happiness. The man, a little more reserved, looked past the arriving couple when a young girl got out of the car behind them.
A girl with skin the same color as the finest teak wood, hair as dark as walnut. Shy but curious, she peeks out from behind the man and the woman. Her eyes honest and kind, one green and one gray.

**Hopes pov**
“Zandra!...” My voice cracked from the lump in my throat. I quickly made my way down the stairs and forward to pull her into my arms. I felt the difference. It was still her, our Zandra...but still not. She smelled a little different, colder...her magic was there but it too was different from before. She looked me in the eyes and smiled gently.
“I’m okay Hope, really. Not that strong but I’m on my way...” She took my face in her hands and wiped the tears that had escaped from my eyes. Then she looked me deep in the eyes, past me.
“There you are…my Luna, my friend, my sister…” She leaned her forehead against mine and I could feel the love in Luna’s warm aura as she embraced her friend.
“Callum…” Zandra left me and took the steps up to Callum and into his embrace. I looked at Ambrogio, who remained silent. Tony and Claus stood behind him, near the girl. He had a different expression on his face that I had a hard time deciphering. Shame? Guilt? He looked down at the ground, avoiding meeting my gaze.
“Ambrogio?” I put my hand on his arm to get his attention. When he finally looked into my eyes, his were full of sadness.
“Ambrogio, what’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry Hope…Luna..This was never my intention.”
“What do you mean?”
“Taking her from you…I don’t understand why I couldn’t heal her. I never wanted to condemn her to a life of darkness.” His words made my heart ache, did he really not understand what he had given us? I pulled Luna forward so he could see her eyes and together we embraced him.
“Thank you” Thank you for daring to give her a chance. Thank you for making sure she still walks this earth. Thank you for making her glow with happiness!” I took his face in my hands and pulled him down to my level and kissed his forehead. At first he looked doubtful, confused before relief found him.
“But..”
“No buts, we’re all grateful.” Callum’s voice was as full of familiarity as it was of respect and he came down to us and he too embraced Ambrogio, though somewhat more manly, faster and with a couple of pats on the back to finish.
“Now, introduce us to this adorable young woman you have with you.”
“This is Ana, my daughter…our daughter.” His eyes left Ana for a few seconds to look at Zandra, she smiled and nodded weakly.
“Hi Ana, I’m Hope.” The girl accepted my hand and held it tightly. She looked at me with her beautiful strange eyes.
“I know who you are and I’m so glad to meet you, both of you!
More of the pack began to come out to see Zandra again. My mother cried and hugged her friend, as did Reece, Anton and so many more. They had all been told what had happened and they too showed their gratitude to Ambrogio.
After a moment of hugs and tears, Greta, Zara and some of the omegas came with torches which they handed out. Neither Luna nor I could do this ourselves, so we had agreed that we would both attend. I went into the house and undressed, I half shifted and gave Luna free access to my voice before going out to the others again. We took Callum’s hand in one of ours and Zandra’s in our other and together we started walking the familiar path to the lake. Through the forest, past the cave with its curious new inhabitants. Zandra smiled widely as she saw her wish come true, she quickly crouched down and petted one of the pups.
“Now fill this place with love, it deserves it.” After that we continued on our way.
The lake had a slight ripple on the surface, otherwise it reflected the beautiful night sky perfectly.
The old oak bathed in the moon’s rays and it made it shine in a magical way. Out of habit Zandra walked over and caressed the inscriptions and Luna directed us to her and put her arm around her friend.
“Do you really think she’s happy? That she’s let go of her revenge?” There was still an ounce of doubt in Zandra's voice.
“Yeah, I think she’d put your happiness above that, alive or in heaven, it doesn’t matter…and you’re happy right Zandra?” Luna turned her and looked deep into her eyes, eyes that now had neither her green nor Ambrogio’s golden streaks but were still anything but ordinary gray. They were beaming, with young curiosity and happiness.
“Yes, I’m happy...I’ve had a wonderful life with the wolves, my future now lies with Ambrogio and the children of the night..maybe I can help them, maybe I can make the Gods change their judgment of banishing them to the darkness ...”
“If anyone can it’s you Zandra.”
“Hrm, if I can get everyone’s attention.” Callum’s voice rose above the rest and he tapped a large goblet he was holding. Ambrogio and Ana were standing next to him so we joined in as well.
“Zandra…our beloved Zandra, our beloved old hag…we have always lived with you, you have always been with us…you have named all our wolves as their names came to you with their maturity, you have taught us about our origins and kept us on course through life…hrm..” Callum’s voice trailed off and he had to clear the lump in his throat before he could continue.
“Now we must learn to go on without you…I know your wish was for this to be your final resting place, and maybe one day it will be…but we couldn’t think of a better place for your rebirth. “ He nodded at Zara, who with a thin awl began walking around and poking the pack members in the finger. Callum followed her and everyone dripped a few drops of blood into the cup he held out.
He and I were last and when we finished he continued.
“This night is the night you will take the next step in your transformation, the final step where you not only consume the blood of your creator, the blood of your mate but…what shall I call it? Expand your menu?” A rumble of giggles could be heard from everyone around us.
“We, Ambrogio, Hope and myself could not think of a better option than for us, your old pack, your forever family, to be the ones to help you take that step. So...with this cup we show our happiness that we are not mourning at your funeral but we celebrate your rebirth.” Zandra accepted the cup with slightly shaky hands and cheeks wet with tears. Ambrogio stroked her hair and we all watched as she more than willingly accommodated us and drank the contents of the goblet. She stood for a moment with her eyes closed, but we could all feel it. The torn holes in the web that was her magic were woven together. The wind picked up a little and made the flames of the torches dance beautifully. Callum put his arms around my waist and caressed my belly, together we felt our baby’s first kick, it was strong, like the magic in its blood could feel the strong magic around us. In that moment, we knew everything was going to be okay. Our enemies had become our family, the hunters were gone and the future very bright and promising.

The Gods took each other’s hands as they looked at the unimaginable company. The company that would set everything right. Those who would shape the Heavens mistakes into something new, with new possibilities. They smiled at each other in understanding that they now dared to leave their children to create their own destinies, without their guidance...mostly anyway. They would always watch over them, but new discoveries demanded their attention. A rift had opened into a new realm, a realm unfamiliar to them. Something they themselves had not created. They looked at their children one last time before closing the window...for the moment.

The End