Chapter 6

~ ELENA’S POV ~

“I…” that was the only word I could think of. A million thoughts raced through my mind. What was going to tell him? I buried my face, my hand caressing my neck, feeling for the place where the birthmark was supposed to be. 

The air around us thickened, and his expression went from one of concern to that of suspicion. 

“The birthmark,” I muttered,lifting my face and looking back into his ash eyes. “ Must have been taken away by the moon goddess. Maybe it was her way of cleansing me to bring me back,” I responded, hoping he would buy it.

And he did. His brows dropped and he reached for my hand again. “My bad. I should have thought about that too,” he apologized.

“It’s fine Garrison. I understand,” I responded, feeling the rate of my heart dropping to normal. Another minute of safety earned. I just had to keep up with it for as long as I could. And always think smart and fast. 

Garrison stood up, taking my hand and helping me to my feet. “Come, the hall is full of people waiting to honor and worship you,” he said. I smiled as I took his hand, nodding to hide my reluctance. 

“The pack will be excited to see their Luna alive,” he added as we made our way out of the room.

*****

The hall was buzzing in excitement as we entered. Lycan warriors, lycan mothers and ladies, elders and children stood scattered in the hall. Their voices echoed in the distant halls of the castle. 

The hall fell silent the moment we stepped in. All eyes turned to us. Their gazes full of admiration and honor. The look in their eye was enough to tell me how highly respected Rhoda was. 

Their murmurings filled the air, silent whispers of ‘Luna Rhoda’ and ‘the divine Luna’ traveled cross my ears with the wind. My heart melted seeing them worship their Luna in such manner. Or whom they thought their Luna was. 

Garrisons hand tightened around mine as he led me to the front. There were three thrones stationed at the end of the hall. All made of golden spears which glistened as the rays of the sun beat against it. 

I was almost blinded by it’s perfection. It was much bigger than that in Riverie. Made with finer precious stones and color. I let out a sigh as we arrived the throne. 

“Sit,” Garrison’s smiling face appeared before mine, throwing me out of my thought. There was a long table stationed below the thrones. Not too distant from it. And as my eyes ascended from the table, I saw the perfectly wrapped parcels in almost every hand of those present. 

My pulse quickened, and realization hit me. I wasn’t just a Luna to these people. I’d become their goddess. Their name of worship. How long before they discovered the truth?

Garrison turned to the crowd, clearing his throat. “Today, the goddess had shown us that she is with us!’ He started, his voice as thick as a man on the battle field. Images of him in the woods on the night of my death started flashing across my mind. 

His glowing red eyes, the intensity of the moon, the slash of his claws against my neck. I shut my eyes to snap those thoughts out of my head. But my killer was standing right before me, addressing me as his mate. 

“The moon goddess has given back to us, our Luna, my mate…who was brutally murdered by the werewolves. Luna Rhoda is back from the dead, and here is to honoring her return,” he announced. 

The doors of the hall burst open, followed by the clangs of chains. The lycan guards dragged the werewolves who were captured from the battle into the hall. The hall erupted into cheers, the noise echoing through the stone walls. 

My stomach churned as I watched them maltreat my people, my pack. My fingers trembled as they clutched my gown. I sat up, swallowing hard as I watched. And then I saw her. They doctor. She was alive. 

I wanted to spring out of the chair and run to her rescue. That too was a stupid idea. I could only sit and watch. Or maybe…interfere. 

Garrison looked at me and I forced a smile. He approached me and whispered,” These are your killers, Rhoda. They’re at your mercy,” he said. My eyes flicked from him to the doctor. She was still bleeding. Her skin was pale. 

I could hear the chants of the lycans. They wanted them dead. What could happen if I went against their will? I leaned closer to Garrison and responded. 

“She’s bleeding. Treat her,” 

I saw the shock in his face as he retreated. I stood up, taking his hand. “Trust me,” I added. He nodded, called two of his guards and sent them to get the doctor. She was taken out of the hall instantly. 

The rest of the werewolves were taken to one side of the hall while the lycans presented their gifts at my feet. I excused myself from the hall and Lisa was already standing by my side when I got down from the throne box. 

“Take her, Lisa,” Garrison said. 

Without a word, she gestured me to follow her, leading me out of the hall. We took a bend in the hallway and she led me into a passageway which was hidden around a corner. We walked for what felt like minutes, covered in darkness. 

“Where are we going?” I asked, reducing my pace as anxiety crept beneath my skin. 

“To see the child. We’re going to see your son,” Lisa answered. 

My heart leaped into my stomach. The child. Rhoda’s child. 

We continued down the tunnel which twisted and turned until I lost track of where we were. We got to a dead end and Lisa pushed a door above us, letting the light in. She picked out two hoods from a nail on the wall and gave one to me. 

“No one had to know where the baby is. For all we know, the danger is still lurking around the castle, waiting for us to drop our guards,” Lisa said. She sounded like she knew more than what was on the surface. 

I might be right after all. She was my starting point. But was I ready to trust her and tell her my true identity?

We crawled out of the tunnel, unto the grassland and made a walk for the cabin a few meters away. There was a lady inside when we walked in, and a cradle before her. The soft melancholic cries of a child filled the air. 

“Here,” Lisa said, reaching for the boy in the cradle. She placed him down in my arm, and my heart dropped. I fought the urge to look away from his innocent eyes. It felt like they were searching my soul to see if I was truly his mother. 

A knock came on the door, snapping our instincts in. 

“We’ve been followed,” Lisa announced, her claws snapping out. 

*****