Page 99 of The Alpha's Mates

"Then let us go," Lyas said from behind us.

I jumped, looking over my shoulder. I hadn't even heard her leave the squirrel and approach us.

"Thanks," Soren told her, relief heavy in his tone. "I'm ready for this to be over."

Lyas nodded once and then turned to walk away. We all followed her. We were only about an hour from the village.

The restof the journey was easy and quick. As soon as we walked into The Venat Pack's village a cry went up. People were spilling out of their homes, eager to welcome us home. I laughed as a small figure darted between the crowd and tossed herself into my arms. "Clover!"

The other omegas rushed forward and we all hugged in one big group. They were all chattering and throwing questions my way. "I'll tell you all about it later," I told them. My eyes were searching and they finally fell on five figures waiting on the outskirts of the wall of people.

"Em?"

The crowd parted and suddenly we were standing in front of each other. She was fighting back tears, and if I was being honest they were clogging my throat as well. She looked okay. There was still that golden film over her normally golden brown eyes, but otherwise she was alive and here. I moved forward with every intention of pulling her in for a hug.

"Wait!" Panic laced the word. "Please. Don't touch me."

My jaw dropped and hurt crashed over me. She didn't want to hug me?

"I'm so sorry, Reese," she said with a shake of her head. "I want so badly to hug you, but-" She broke off, her eyes widening at something behind me. "Tenala?" she gasped.

Before I could explain to her what happened, chaos erupted. Emma went up in flames. My gasp of horror could barely be heard over the crackling of the fire consuming the woman who was basically my sister. "Emma!" I looked around, desperate. "Someone get water!" I saw that Nero had his arms lockedaround Mom, keeping her from rushing forward to help Emma. They didn’t want her to get hurt.

Atlas tossed a bucket of water on the flames and they hissed as they died down. Once they were gone I saw Emma standing there, completely unharmed. The fire hadn't touched her.

"What the hell was that?" I managed to squeak out.

Emma was dripping wet, looking miserable, and all she could do was shrug. "I don't know," she cried. "I can't seem to control it. I set fire to Griff's home yesterday, all because Reign startled me."

Before I could find words of comfort, Lyas was there, hugging Emma close. My friend seemed shocked at first, but gave in and took what was probably the first hug she'd had since Celinda had evaporated in that cave.

"What's going on?" I asked Lyas, eager to find a way to help my friend.

"Emma is Celinda's vessel."

"What does that mean?" Emma asked, eyes full of tears. She refused to let them fall, but she was on the edge of a breakdown. If I was randomly catching fire, I'd feel the same.

Lyas smiled gently at her. "It means you are the only one who can release Celinda from her prison. Until then her soul, her powers, are locked away inside of you."

Emma looked stunned. "I have a Goddess inside of me?"

Lyas nodded. "And I thank you for finding my sister when you did. Without you, she would have died, the same way I would have without Reese."

Everyone was stunned. Emma most of all. "I'm just a regular, normal beta," she whispered.

Lyas cupped Emma's cheeks and looked deep into her eyes. "There is nothing regular or normal about you. Not from the beginning, and certainly not now. Are you willing to help my sister?"

"Of course," she whispered.

"It won't be easy, or comfortable," Lyas warned. "But I'll be with you every step of the way."

"Me too," I added. Looking over, I studied the men who claimed to be her mates. Something told me this journey Emma was about to go on was going to test them all. We'd soon find out if their claims were real. I hoped for Emma's sake that they were. These seemed like good men and I wanted her to find love and happiness the way I had. She deserved to have strong capable mates to help her during the uncertain times. And there were going to be plenty of those moving forward.

CHAPTER 44

Reese

It took until late in the evening to calm everyone down and recount the story of what happened on our journey. We answered all the questions thrown our way and Lyas was even more patient as Soren's people, and mine, fawned over her. We'd gone so long without our Goddess, having her back was hard to believe. Despite how insane the story sounded, no one questioned it. Maybe it was the fact that Emma was here, and often flammable, or that you could just sense the magic within Lyas. Either way, they believed us.