Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 60

At first, I could hear the flow of the river down the creek, and then I could feel the coldness of the water droplets caressing my features. Cool air filled my lungs with the sweet sensation of breath; I could smell the spring flowers blooming from the valley nearby.

I dug my fingers into the leafy green grass that surrounded me; the softness and plush tickled my body. As I opened my eyes, I realized I was at the woodland forest river. When I was able to turn into my wolf self, during my hunts, I would come to this river and sit. Pondering life and the mysteries the world brings.

It’s been months since I been here; it felt like I was finally home.

In the distance of the river, there was a hazy fog; it formed above the water. Through the fog, there was a figure that stood. It reminded me of Naomi when she came through the light during the summoning.

As the figure came into view, I was taken back by the beauty that stood in front of me. She was a slender woman; she wore a white gown that covered her feet. The gown was strapless and reminded me of a wedding gown; there were beautiful spring flowers that were stitched as decals down the sides of the lacy fabrics.

Her curly hair was long and wrapped around her waist; pinned with the same spring flowers that declared her dress. Her skin was pale to a point where it was practically glowing, which brought out her bright and gorgeous features. Her green eyes stared at me with a loving admiration; her lips turned upward into a smile as she walked closer.

Springing to my feet, I nearly burst into tears. I had to stop myself from running towards her.

“Mom?” I whispered, my voice sounding broken.

“You’ve grown so much…” she whispered back; her eyes growing misty.

“Mom…” I said again; this time I couldn’t stop myself.

I ran towards her, tears springing from my eyes as I wrapped my arms tightly around her. I could feel my body trembling and my knees going weak. She allowed me to lean against her to gain leverage as I sobbed into her gown. Her body’s warmth radiated against my cold skin and soothed me of my fears and pain.

She hugged me in return, tightly. I could hear her light sobs as she held me.

“It’s okay…” she said softly. “It’s all okay.”

“It’s not though,” I cried to her. “Mom, you were killed…”

“I know,” she whispered.

Realization struck me and I pulled back in shock.

“Wait. If you are here. Does that mean I’m…” my voice trailed off, not wanting to say the word “dead.”

She smiled and shook her head slowly.

“No. You are very much alive,” she reassured me. I sighed out in relief. “But you are injured…”

I didn’t remember much of what happened. I remember the summoning and Naomi arriving; Naomi and Jess took off towards the woods to find Graham and help Jonathan. Naomi needs to diminish the powers of the cufflink so Graham will no longer have that advantage.

I also remembered needing to get out of there quickly; Erick looked to be in a panic as if he knew something we didn’t. He took Ronnie and me by the wrists and was pulling us through the streets of Sabrebite. Our home wasn’t far; I remember seeing it in the distance and feeling relieved to finally be home and safe but also worried for Jonathan, Jess, and everyone else.

There was so much going on as we ran home, screaming, growling, the sounds of panic, howling from not only our pack but the surrounding packs as well, and then the gunshots. Those gunshots were so loud and there seemed to be so many of them.

Then the explosion.

Oh my god… The explosion!

“There was an explosion,” I told her, panic rising in my voice as I thought of Ronnie and Erick.

“I know,” she said, wrapping me in her arms once again. “Ronnie and Erick are fine.”

I breathed out relieved.

“As soon as I saw, I knew I had to come to see you,” she told me gently.

“Why am I here?” I asked her. “Why are you here?”

“You are here because you aren’t ready to return yet,” she answered. “I’m here to get you ready.”

Looking at her, I could feel more tears forming in my eyes.

“Mom…” I croaked as the tears escaped my eyes and ran down my cheeks. She tightened her hold around me and allowed me to cry into her once again.

“I know you have a lot of questions,” she whispered against my ear.

I nodded, wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hand as I reluctantly pulled away from her.

I sat at the riverbed, allowing my feet to soak in the cold oasis of the water. My mother sat beside me, staring off into the horizon. The sun was setting, and the rays were turning an orange shade; the blueness of the sky was turning a hazy pink as stars began to appear.

We sat in silence for a long while; it felt nice being with her again after 10 years. I forgot what it was like to just sit in her presence. I could feel her warmth even when she wasn’t touching me.

“I miss you,” I whispered to her, breaking through the silence.

“I’m always with you,” she told me, smiling down at me. “I’m never far.”

She touched my chest, where my heart continued beating, with her finger.

“Are you happy?” I asked her.

She chuckled.

“Very,” she told me. “Even more so now.”

“Are you a red moon goddess?” I asked her, staring around her bright and delicate features.

She shook her head.

“No. I’m not a red moon goddess,” she told me. She paused between sentences, but for a moment I felt sad that she didn’t make it to where she wanted to be. “I’m the white moon goddess.”

My eyes widened as I stared up at my mother. Unlike the red moon, there was only one white moon goddess from my understanding. She was the goddess that oversaw literally everything; she was the goddess that was prayed to every night and howled during every full moon. She was the one who gave werewolves their ultimate strength every month.

She was the goddess.

Seeing the confusion on my face, she laughed.

“I know. I didn’t see that coming either,” she said lightly.

I still didn’t understand.

“I thought the goddess was Nyx?” I asked her.

“Even a goddess has to retire at some point,” she told me. “After centuries of being the goddess, Nyx passed the reigns to me.”

“Mom… that’s incredible,” I whispered.

She was silent for a moment; I could tell something was on her mind.

“There’s another reason why I’m here,” she began slowly. “I’m here to warn you.”

“It’s about Rock, isn’t it?” I asked.

“He’s planning on selling your child,” she told me.

My mouth dropped open; I couldn’t have heard that correctly.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, astonished.

Would Rock actually stoop that low to try and sell my daughter? That’s disgusting.

“He has bidders in different parts of the world. They buy newborns for different reasons,” she explained. “Some people just want to be parents, some people raise them to become slaves, some use them for food.”

Her voice grew dark when she said that last part.

“Food?” I whispered, hoarsely.

I held onto my stomach protectively, feeling the fluttering of my daughter within me.

“Rock is running an illegal business where he’s been selling newborns,” she continued explaining.

“I don’t understand, where is he getting them?” I asked.

“He drugs women to keep them lustful and engaged; he uses them as prostitutes. They find men in different packs and sleep with them. They get pregnant; while they are pregnant, they live in his underground bunker. Dr. Emily resides there to care for these pregnant women. Once they give birth they are released. Rock takes the newborns and ships them off. He gets payment in return.”

I felt disgusted. I knew Rock was capable of a lot of sick things but selling newborn babies. That was the lowest of the low.

The fact that he wanted to sell my baby was even worse.

“Why my baby?” I asked, my voice cracking slightly as I spoke.

“Because of her bloodline. She proves to be valuable,” she answered.

Oh.

Now it was making sense. Because Jonathan comes from the Davis bloodline, that means our daughter also technically comes from the Davis bloodline. Which means she’s going to be more valuable than most babies.

Naomi’s warning was starting to make sense when she said people will be after my daughter.

But wait… How did Rock know that our daughter comes from the Davis bloodline?! How did he know that Jonathan comes from the Davis bloodline?!

“How does he even know?” I asked out loud, mimicking my thoughts.

“He was told by somebody,” she answered softly.

“Graham?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“No. There’s not enough time in the world to explain who and you can’t stay here much longer,” she told me sadly. “If you stay too long, you’ll get stuck. But they will reveal themselves to you soon enough. But be wary of those around you,” she warned.

She stood up. I followed her motions and stood to my feet.

“Wait, you can’t go. You have to tell me who it is I need to be wary of,” I told her.

“There isn’t enough time,” she told me. “Just don’t go back to Silverside.”

I frowned.

Silverside?

What did Silverside have to do with anything? Was she telling me to be wary of Boris Conway? Maybe Nikini? Or both?

“Arina,” she said, meeting my eyes. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry how things ended up. Naomi will explain the rest to you in time. But for right now, you need to go through that doorway.”

She pointed behind me; I turned to see a wooden archway in the center of the grass. It didn’t look as though there was anything on the other side, but I knew once I passed through it, I would end up back in normal life and my mother would be gone.

I couldn’t bring myself to leave her; not again.

I just got her back; I couldn’t lose her again.

Taking me in her arms, she pressed my head against her chest. I could smell her lavender perfume; it was familiar, comforting, and filled my soul with such love and warmth. Smelling it on her was so much more powerful and beautiful than smelling it on Melissa.

“You are never going to lose me,” she whispered, as though she was reading my thoughts. Although she was the moon goddess, it wouldn’t surprise me if she could hear what I was thinking. “Every time you look at the moon, just know that I’m looking back at you.”

Tears flooded my eyes as I tightened the embrace.

“I love you, mom,” I whispered to her. “I love you so much.”

“We will see each other again. I promise,” she said to me as she took a step back.

I was hesitant to walk away; I knew I had to or else I’d get stuck there forever. As much as I wanted to be with my mom, I also had to think about the child I was carrying. I needed to continue so she could continue. I needed to get back to Jonathan. I needed to get back to Ronnie and Erick.

The longer I stayed there, the more dangerous it would become for me.

I waited as my mother disappeared back into the fog; she was walking in the direction the moon was rising.

She was walking home, and it was time for me to go home too.

I turned towards the archway and walked through.