It was then that Bethany noticed the blood on the ground. Also the plants and earth were black as if they’d been burned. The trees had been completely knocked over, their roots sticking up out of the ground. Was this the outside of the Keep, where Drake and the others had been fighting? It didn’t resemble what she remembered from when they’d arrived. The Great Luna’s words registered, and her head snapped up. “Fell? He’s dead?” Butshewasn’t dead, at least not according to the Great Luna, but she said Drake fell. Doesn’t “fell” in battle mean died?
“He is not dead, either.” The Great Luna continued to stare out over the battlefield. The black grass was completely flattened from all the trampling feet and mixed with blood that was also turning black as it dried. It was disturbing, especially since she knew her mate had been here. Or was he still there?
“Where is he?” Bethany asked as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“He is still fighting,” the goddess said, her voice filled with a fierceness that surprised Bethany. “He has much to live for and is not ready to come home.”
“Will he live?” Bethany could hear the desperation in her voice, which shook as she continued. “Will we both live?”
“You will,” the Great Luna answered. “Your time is not yet over. You have a purpose, and your child is destined for great things.”
Bethany placed her hands on her stomach as she choked on a sob. She’d been afraid to ask about their child, afraid that the goddess would tell her that whatever had happened to Drake had taken the life of their baby.
“Why did you bring me here?”
The Great Luna began walking, her steps slow, as she surveyed the area around them. Bethany followed, unsure if she was supposed to or not, but not wanting to leave the presence of the goddess and her warmth. That warmth slowly began to chill, and suddenly the calm voice was not calm anymore.
“Look away from me, child,” the Great Luna’s voice filled the air, rattling Bethany’s bones.
Bethany immediately turned her back to the goddess. She could feel the anger radiating off the Great Luna, and it was terrifying. Her knees buckled under the weight of such righteous rage, and Bethany hit the ground, her hands landing before her face could hit the dirt.
“I don’t understand,” Bethany whispered. Her voice refused to come out any stronger because of the power radiating off of the goddess.
The goddess spoke after a minute more of oppressive silence. “The blood of my faithful drenches this land. Two of those who died were anointed by me. They have led their pack with respect and grace. They've given much of themselves and asked for very little in return. And today, they have come to me.”
“But you knew it would happen,” Bethany said. “You’re angry even though you already knew it would happen, and you didn’t do anything to stop it.” She had no idea who had died, and it was probably dumber than dumb to question a goddess, but she was truly curious as to why the Great Luna was so angry.
“There is a time for everything, child. A time for birth and death. There is a time for victory and for defeat. I cannot take those things away from my children, or I take away their free will,” the goddess said. “Yes, I knew the moment they drew their first breaths when their last would be drawn, as well as the way in which it would happen. That doesn’t make it any less painful. I love them, as I love all my children, with an everlasting love, and though I welcome them home with a triumphant entry, I hurt because they were hurt. I feel the pain they endured throughout their lives, as well as at the moment of their death.”
“Who died?” Bethany wasn’t sure she wanted an answer because she was beginning to get the feeling that she knew exactly who it was.
“Your alpha pair. My children, Alina and Vasile. They fought the good fight.”
“But it wasn’t enough.” Tears began to form in Bethany’s eyes. She hadn’t known the pair long, but in the time she’d been in their pack, she’d seen how much the alpha pair loved not only each other but everyone in their pack as well.
“Fighting the good fight doesn’t mean you will necessarily see the results of your battle,” the Great Luna said. Bethany could feel that the goddess’s anger had subsided, but she remained on the ground. “You fight because it is the right thing to do, and in doing so, others will see your example. They will see something different in you and ask what it is. Why don’t you look like the rest of the world? Why do you choose to be selfless instead of only thinking of yourself? Why do you fight for those who will never know your name or sing your praises? That is what it means to fight the good fight.
“You might not be there at the end to see the victory, but rest assured it is coming because I have already won. The battle that is coming is mine, and I will not let the enemy make a mockery of my wolves, my creation. As the Great Creator has loved his human children, so I have loved my wolves. As the Great Creator has won the victory over evil for his children, so I will win the victory for my children.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears streamed down Bethany’s face. “I’m sorry they had to die.” The Romania pack had to be devastated.
“Everyone dies. The life you have now is temporary. This is not your home, Bethany. Your home is with me in the next life where there will be no bloody battles. The enemy will not be able to steal every good thing from you. Vasile and Alina are in their eternal home.”
Bethany knew the words were meant as comfort, but there was little to be found in that moment because she knew the pain their loss would leave behind for those still living. It sucked to be the ones left grieving.
“Why does death have to be so awful?” Bethany asked as her gut twisted with grief. “Not for the one who died, but for those of us left behind to remember them? The pain of it is worse than any physical pain. It’s as if a part of your soul has been torn out.” Bethany had lost her family when she’d been torn away from them by the vampires. She rarely let herself dwell on the pain of that loss, but while she had the audience of the Great Luna, she was going to ask.
“The pain you feel when you lose someone is also a good thing. It is a testimony to the fact that you have the capacity to love that deeply. Don’t be quick to dismiss pain as something to be feared or avoided. Death is inevitable. It’s not a choice. Living is. You get to choose how you live your life so that when it is time for you to take your final breath, you can leave this world knowing you have left a legacy worthy of others carrying forward.”
“Like Vasile and Alina did?”
“Exactly,” the goddess said.
Bethany felt a hand on her head, and the warmth returned.
“It is time for you to wake up, Bethany, daughter of mine. You need to be with your mate, and you need to tell Perizada that I have seen, heard, and felt the pain of my children. This is only the beginning of what must take place.”
Bethany’s eyes snapped open, and her head swung from side to side. There were no more trees or bloody grass. She was lying on a bed, and Rachel was looking down at her with a warm smile and tears in her eyes.
