Chapter One
Celine’s Pov:
“Honored Wolf and Witch, hurry. Gamma Clark and the General are almost ready for the birth of their baby. The Goddesses suggested you would want to be there when he or she was born,” the warrior announced, bursting into Tim’s office. The abrupt entrance startled us as we were going over some of the pack’s daily reports. Tim glanced towards me; his eyes locked to mine. The confusion they held mirrored my own. While the Gamma and General were like family, we’ve never attended the birth of the next Gamma before.
“Yes, of course. Thank you for telling us. We will be there shortly,” Tim responded, masking his confusion. The warrior retreated from our sight, leaving me slightly unnerved. “Why do the Goddesses think we want to be at the birth of the next Gamma?” I whispered, ashamed because I didn’t really want to be there.
Tim quirked his eyebrow at me. “Has any part of Ena’s rule made sense to you?” he replied. I shook my head. Nothing did. While she was a descendant of Olympia, Ena had to fight harder than any general before her to claim her title. Ena was stronger than any other Amazon, at least stronger than any I ever saw.
Yet the Amazon’s seemed to favor Ena’s younger sister for their General. Who unfortunately caught a fever and died the week after Ena won her title. Ena always dismissed their refusal to accept her as nothing more than the tribe teasing her. Tim often accidentally called her Olympia, much to her delight, as he swore Ena looked exactly like Olympia.
When she was a babe, Ena’s mother was amongst a host of Amazon warriors we took to help a pack deal with some troublesome rogues. The rogues separated her and the other pack’s Gamma during a particularly grim battle. The Gamma ended up saving her life. In return, Ena’s mother promised Ena as his second son’s mate. In the short time they were separated from the pack, their Gamma became quite fond of Ena’s mother and loved the idea of their children belonging to one another.
Once the Gamma’s son turned 18, his Alpha called on the Elders to find which pack Ena belonged to. Although she was not yet 18, Ena was already the General and could not leave. Like my father, he joined our ranks, taking over as Gamma. He marked her the moment he arrived. He surprised us all by dropping his last name and instead taking the name of Clark.
We hurried to the pack’s hospital, praying we were not too late. This was important to the Goddesses, therefore I didn’t want to miss it. I was kicking myself for not thinking of using a portal to get there before now. As we arrived at the maternity ward, the cries of a new baby filled its halls. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as the sound reached my ears. It stopped both Tim and me dead in our tracks.
“Ah, right on time,” the Girl scoffed. We suddenly noticed her leaning against a door jamb of a darkened room. “Goddess,” we bowed to her. She flashed us an icy grin before vanishing from our sight. “Alpha, Beta, honored to see you here. Come to welcome our child to the world?” Gamma Clark grinned as his eyes fell on us.
“We have,” Tim answered. Trying to make it seem as if we had always planned to be here at this moment. My heart raced as I entered the room. My eyes fell on to the very disheveled Ena holding a tiny babe to her breast. Her eyes lit up at the sight of us. “Come to meet your next Gamma?” she grinned and plopped the tiny child into my arms. “Celine, Tim, I am happy to introduce to you my daughter, Leaha.”
Two years later:
Freya’s Pov:
“Do you know why we called you to our realm?” the Girl growled as she peered down at me. I raised my eyes to meet her stare. “No, my Goddesses, I do not,” I admitted, hoping I’ve not offended them. A playful smile engulfed the Goddess’s face as she glanced at her partner. “I would be more than a little surprised if you did,” the Girl laughed.
Relief washed over me at her statement. “Every Amazon knows the story of how they found themselves here on this isle, correct?” she paused, waiting for me to nod. Her grin grew with my reply.
“And which of the first Amazons who came here do you descend from?” she asked. Her current demeanor was almost as if she was mocking me, which made my heart sink. “Eferhild,” I whispered. The name was stuck in my throat.
Although my family and I have always been valiant warriors within the ranks of the Amazons, we were outcasts on the edges of our society. All because my ancestor, Eferhild, was the sister of the last guardian, Guinevere, who betrayed not only her own kind but the Goddesses as well. Since then, my line has been wolf-less as punishment.
“Eferhild,” the Girl grinned. The Woman rolled her eyes at the Girl’s antics. “My Dear, stop tormenting our child. Tell her why she is here, or I shall,” the Woman grumbled as both goddesses exchanged an annoyed look. “Fine, ruin the fun,” the Girl huffed before she returned her attention back to me.
“Child of Eferhild, the sister to our last Guardian, you will speak of this to no one, not even your mate,” she hissed. Her words sent my heart into a frenzy. “The time we promised is nearly at hand. In a few short days, my companion will give birth to our fabled daughter. She can’t be raised here. This poses a problem. She will need to grow up away from what we are. Yet she will need to form bonds with wolves without ever knowing what they are. This is where you come in, warrior. You are wolf-less and yet still a formidable warrior. The perfect guardian for her. It’s in your blood. No wolf means no scent to alert her enemies, yet powerful enough to keep her safe,” the Girl grinned.
My mind reeled. To be the guardian of the Goddesses’ own child. This was a great honor, especially for an outcast like me. “What of my mate? What of my daughter?” The words spewed out before I could stop them.
“They will travel with you to the home we have chosen for you. We selected guides to help you adjust to life on the outside. You need only say yes,” the Woman reassured. “We made all the arrangements, the explanation for your sudden departure, everything. We will take care of you, just as we would have if you remained here. You and your family will want for nothing.”
As I drew a deep breath, I examined my options. Not that I felt there were many. I just wanted to keep a cool head. “Leanne, she will not be a warrior?” I asked. Although I already understood the answer.
“No, your child will not be a warrior. She will remember nothing of this life, and you are not to tell her until it is time for you to return. That is, if either of you wishes to,” the Girl stated coldly. In some region of my heart, relief took over. She would not be an outcast warrior. Our shame was over, even if it meant we were no longer considered warriors.
“When do I depart for my new life?” I asked the Woman. As the Girl already jumped from this reality. A look of slight pity washed over her face as she placed a hand on my shoulder. “Immediately, while I planned for her birth in a few days, this child, she has a mind and a will of her own. While she is with you, you are to raise her like she is your own child. Celeste is to call you mother; she is to only identify you as such. When we call her back, only then will she learn who and what she is. Once you leave, you will appear to all those who do not know you, that you are with child and nearing its end. Freya, I will not lie to you. You will experience many hardships in the human world. Do not forget our love. Even when you think it’s not there, please remember it is,” the Woman insisted.
The world returned from the white warmth of nothingness which enveloped me. As I pulled myself from my kneeling position, my mate burst through the door with anger etched on his face. “You demanded to be removed from the Goddesses chosen and live in the human world without asking me?” he growled, his anger dripping from every word. “Do you enjoy living like an outcast, worthless to our kind, because we have no wolves?” My voice sneered. Only I didn’t control the words which flooded from me.
He cast his eyes down, searching for something. Much to my relief, the Goddesses took control. My heart raced as the Goddess gently placed my hand on his cheek. “My love, I am sorry. I should’ve spoken to you first. Think of it, Leanne will never feel our disgrace, free to live as she pleases. No one will ever snicker at her,” my voice whispered to my mate.
His eyes met mine. Worry still plagued them. “We know nothing of the world off the isle, how will we survive?” he asked. “We will seek the descendants of Reha,” my voice assured him. “As long as we are together, there is nothing we can’t do,” he smiled, walking upstairs to pack some of our things.
“Leave it, the Goddesses promised to help us settle. They will take care of it.” My voice grumbled. “When are we to depart?” he asked as the Goddess exited my body, leaving me dizzy and weak. “Now is as good as time as any,” I tried to smile, annoyed they chose not to finish the explanation. Must have been the Girl. I hoped she enjoyed the laugh of leaving me to finish explaining.
We gathered up little Leanne and walk blindly as I prayed the Goddesses would lead me to where it is they expected me to go. Something drew me to the brush towards the altar just outside of town. To my surprise, the Goddesses and a host of Amazon warriors were waiting for us. As we approached, Ena walked over to me. The host dropped to one knee and crossed their right arm across their chest, covering their hearts. The sign of the highest respect an Amazon could give one another.
My heart swelled as I reached the host, who came to see me off. Ena pulled me into a loving embrace. “Dear sister, I do not understand why you chose to leave us, but please know this will leave a hole in my heart. Wherever you go, be the valiant warrior I know you are,” she whispered. “Once a sister, always a sister.”
The Goddesses approached us, clenching my heart. While I realized none here would ever learn the honor they gave to me. I was still grateful for them turning up to say goodbye. Each Goddess placed their head to mine before placing a kiss above my brow.
“When you leave this place, only you will keep memories of your life here. Your mate’s and your daughter’s will be replaced with a life that we created for you. While you will remember the events they believe occurred, you will keep your memory and remember your duty to us. Your mate will be away on a business trip and arrive after you come home with Celeste,” the Woman’s voice echoed in my mind.
“It is with a heavy heart we must say goodbye to our sister, Freya. Someday, may she find her way back to us,” the Girl stated before she snapped her fingers.
