Page 52 of The Alpha's Mates
“I know who you are,” Celinda snapped, causing Soren to stare at her open mouthed, but fall silent. She shook her head.“They think I don’t know them. As though I haven’t waited for thousands of years.”
Reign leaned forward and looked around at us, then made a circle next to his temple. A rock hit him squarely in the chest, causing him to yelp and look back at Celinda in shock. “What the fu-”
“Who knew shifters had become so rude?” Celinda muttered as she and Reign exchanged glares. “Your Goddess has been missing for too long. You’ve forgotten her ways.”
Clearing my throat, mostly to mask my laughter at the look on Reign’s face, I asked, “Our Goddess?” Golden eyes settled on me. It was uncanny because some kind of power was washing over me. Only, I didn’t have the ability to sense magic. Not normally anyway.
“She’s been waiting for you.” Celinda was still staring at me as her words echoed ominously through the cave.
“Uh.” I shot my guys a nervous look, but Soren motioned for me to keep speaking. She clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk to the men. I yearned to scoot closer to them, to take comfort in their protective ways, but I wasn’t that kind of shifter. I protected my own. In order to be worthy of these males, I needed to be strong. “Who’s been waiting for me?”
Celinda smiled, showing cracked, yellow teeth. “Lyas, of course.”
We all glanced at each other again and this time Emma asked, “Who’s that?”
“Your Goddess,” Celinda said with a sigh. “Amazing how much you forget after a few centuries.
“The Moon Goddess’s name is Lyas?” I asked, wonder filling me. Mom and I had always tried to guess what her name would be. It was a game we played while stargazing when I was younger. So many had researched the Moon Goddess, but wehadn’t gotten anywhere. Not even Vera had dug up much. It was as though the Goddess had been erased.
“It is.” A sad expression filled Celinda’s face. “There was a time your people knew it. She walked among you as a friend.”
“And she’s been waiting for me? How long has she waited?”
“Oh it's hard to say, maybe twelve hundred and forty-two years, give or take a month.”
“But that’s impossible…I’m twenty.”
“There were those who came before you. But it’s always been you. She’s patient enough to wait for the right one.”
“And I’m the right one?” Celinda didn’t bother answering, just stared at me, so I tried again. “What happened to her?” I asked. “Why did she leave us?”
“She didn’t leave of her own will, Child.”
I shook my head. “We’re dying without her.”
“I know.”
“We need to know where to find her. What we can do to bring her back.” I searched her eerie eyes. It was as though they were covered in a golden film. “Can you help us?”
Her smile grew at my question. “Of course I can.”
“How do we know you’re not just some crazy old lady?” Calder asked, suspicion coloring his tone.
I shot him a death glare when Celinda clucked her tongue and shook her head. Driving a wedge between her and us wasn’t going to help. Even if shewascrazy, she was our only lead.
“Sometimes you need to have faith, Calder Reisten.”
Calder’s jaw dropped. None of us had told her our names. His eyes narrowed. “Neat trick, lady. Jessu probably told you our names.”
“Did he tell me the names of your mother? Of your fathers? Did he tell me of the moonlit night when those raiders found the temporary home they’d created in the woods for your family? Of the last words your mother spoke to you before her death?” Hergolden eyes shone in the firelight. “Run. Hide. They mustn’t find you. You’re meant for so much more than this. You’re meant to-”
“Stop!” Calder was pale, panting, and grasping the log on either side of him in a grip so hard the wood groaned.
“Believe me now?” she asked, softening her tone.
I reached over and brushed my fingers over his knuckles. They were white with strain. As soon as I touched him, he looked down at me and relaxed. I kept my hand on his, smiling when he linked our fingers together. The small touch gave me courage and him relief. I was still getting used to having mates, but I had to admit it was nice to have someone to count on.
“Yes. I do. But, whoareyou?”