Everyone turned to find the Moon Goddess staring at us from the corner of the room. Even my mother and Wendy came out when they heard the voice. As soon as they stumbled out of the bathroom door, they slammed to their knees.
“Moon Goddess.” My mother dropped her head to the floor. “Please forgive Alannah’s earlier words.” A scent of fear drifted from her. “She is hormonal and emotional at the loss of her mate; she didn’t mean it.”
Wendy was next. “Please forgive her.” She bowed to the floor, and together they stayed there.
The Moon Goddess looked confused for a second. The emotion seemed foreign to her ethereal face. “Rise, Luna.” She stepped forward and reached down a hand to my confused mother. “I am not here to punish the new mother. I am here because I am paying a debt.”
My mother sat back on her heels, eyes growing wide when she saw the offered hand. “What do you mean?” She slipped her hand into the Goddess’s hand, and she stood. “A debt?”
The goddess nodded. She turned to Wendy. “You too little, one. Rise.” Wendy slipped her hand into the goddess’s and stood next to my mother.
The three of us near the bed stayed silent until they turned to us. “Hello Alannah. Your mate has told me lovely stories about your time together. He hasn’t stopped talking about you for years.”
“Years?” She turned to Ternen. “I just lost him…”
Ternen smiled a little sadly. “Time moves differently here.” He sighed as he put his back against the headboard with her.
The goddess nodded as she came to the end of the bed. “I slow time for souls. That way they have the time to process their loss, their death, so that when they come back to watch over their loved ones, even though it’s still fresh for you…for them it’s not. And they can watch over you and help you through your grief.”
“Why?” Alannah shook her head. “Why take him and then force him to watch over me?”
The goddess came closer. Sitting next to where I was crouched, and reached for our hands. “Silly daughter.” She smiled a soft smile. “I don’t force anyone. I can tell you almost every soul that I pull home comes to me with a request already on their lips. Before most even realize that they have died, their first and only concern is their loved ones. Ternen here, came to me begging to come back. His only concern was to watch over you and his pups. He didn’t care if it wasn’t allowed; it was his only request. He gave up all his chances of reincarnation just to stay and watch over you.”
Alannah gasped as she turned to her mate. “Ternen, no.” She went to reach for his face but froze. “I’m not worth it.” She opened her mouth to say more, and she screamed as another contraction hit.
He just gave her a sad smile. “You are worth everything.”
The goddess turned her gaze to Ternen. “Take your mate’s hand.”
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