“He didn’t answer.” Wendy sighed.
A laugh bubbled up, more relief than anything else. “Yeah, he was dealing with explosions in the caves. I wouldn’t expect him to answer.”
Toya looked like she was going to vomit as she pulled out my mother’s phone. A call muted but glowing on the screen. “He answered the last time.” She clicked the mute button, and moans could be heard from the phone. That and a single scream that kept ringing through the air.
I grabbed the phone. “Daddy?” I looked over at the grave; my mom and Rowan turned to watch me. My mother’s eyes met my gaze as I called for my dad again. “Daddy!” There was a cough, and a groan. The scream — a high-pitched woman’s scream — sounded again.
“I’m sorry.” A quiet voice coughed out, but I couldn’t recognize the voice. It could have been anyone.
“Daddy!” I called again, but the phone disconnected. I pulled it back to stare down at the now-black screen. I looked back to the trio, and I could see the panic in my mom’s eyes, but being a Luna came first. I could see it on her face as she turned back to Alannah.
“What is she doing?” Toya asked softly. “I thought she would jump up.”
I shook my head, but it was Lynn who answered. “She wants to.” Lynn sighed. “But once you become a Luna, your needs fade into the background. Your pack’s needs come first.”
“I don’t understand. That’s her mate.” Toya looked to me.
I nodded. “It is, but she is a Luna. She is trusting her mate to take care of his side of their pack so she could take care of hers.” I nodded towards Alannah. “You can tell by her shoulders that she is freaking out, but she also knows that Alannah needs her.” I tried to call my father again, but there was no answer.
I felt a small hand slide into mine. “She isn’t jumping up because I told her not to.” I looked down and met Carly’s white eyes. “And I will tell you the same thing.”
“But I have to go save them.” I felt stupid trying to argue with a child, but she stared up at me.
“The ones that you can save will still be saved whether you leave now or in an hour.” Her white eyes bore into me. “But if you leave before it’s time, others will die.” I wanted to scream. Riddles, everything was riddles. “Trust the Goddess, trust me, dig the grave and put the Omega to rest. You will understand once it is done.” She turned to Rowan. “There is another shovel around the side of the cabin. I hid it earlier today.” She patted his hand. “Help your queen put one of her soldiers to rest, then everything will be clear.”
Rowan started around the cabin, and Carly’s eyes cleared, rolling back into her head. I had just enough time to catch her before she hit the ground. I straightened. “You three go rest. I feel like we will have more to do in a short time.” I looked down at my pup. Riddles wrapped in a tiny package. I shook my head as I headed into the cabin with everyone else following me.
“Carly!” Abby screamed as I walked into the living room. She jumped from her parents’ arms and ran over, but I just patted her head.
“She had another vision, and I think it tapped her out.” I laid her on the couch. I looked at Rick and Shelly. “I’m happy to see you both are okay.”
Shelly jumped up and hugged me. “Your shield kept everyone safe.” She pulled back and saw something on my face. “Everyone is okay, right?”
I shook my head as a hand flew to her mouth. “Ternen didn’t make it.” A whimper left her. “He lost his life saving Alannah and their pups.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m going to go help them, but you guys rest. According to Carly, something else is going to happen.”
I turned to Toya. “Help the others wrap their injuries and make sure everything is closed up inside. Just in case we have to leave quickly.” She nodded as I turned. I felt my feet dragging as I left the cabin. Rowan, my other half, was already waiting with the two shovels. I grabbed one and I turned. “I want to run.”
“I know you do. It’s your dad. But I feel like there is something that needs to be done here, and if we leave before it’s figured out, something unforgivable would happen.”
I nodded once. “Yeah. I feel it too.” I sighed. “Let’s go.” We walked to the giant tree in the back. My mother watched us coming with a storm in her eyes. I could see the pain and need to run warring with her need to comfort and take care of a pack member.
“Baby?” Her voice was a soft plea. I knew she was asking me whether I had gotten through again. If I had news somehow. I shook my head, and she shuddered. She turned back to Alannah. “Why don’t we go collect some flowers for Ternen? Amy and Rowan will handle everything here, and by the time we get back, we can lay him to rest.”
Alannah sniffled. But nodded. “He loved flowers.” They slowly walked to the garden and left us alone at the grave.
Rowan looked at me for a second. “Let’s get this done quickly. Something is brewing, and I don’t like the feeling.” His words seem to ring in the air like a promise.
Once the pair disappeared around the cabin, Rowan wanted to start but I held up a finger. I moved over to Ternen. “Hey friend.” I wiped his hair out of his face. “I know you are worried about her.” Rowan came up behind me. I could feel his strength trying to seep into me, but I pushed it away. I didn’t deserve the peace he was offering. “You probably don’t believe me when I say I’ll watch over her. I was supposed to watch over you too, and now look at us.” My voice caught. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Amy.” Rowan reached for me but I shook my head. “This isn’t your fault.”
I couldn’t stop the chuckle that left my lips, but it quickly turned into a sob. I slapped a hand over my mouth trying to push it all away. I didn’t have time to break down. “It is.” I looked back down at Ternen and I cupped his cold cheek. “He was alive, and warm less than an hour ago. I should have been faster.” I shook my head again. “He’s dead because of me.”
Rowan dropped next to me. “He’s dead because Garith sent men here knowing it was important to you.” He turned my face. “Ternen gave his life to protect his mate and his twins. You don’t get to take that away from him because you are feeling guilty.” Rowan’s eyes held mine.
“I’m not.” I shook my head and tried to argue.
“You are. You are taking on his loss when he fought tooth and nail for his family.” Rowan leaned in and kissed my forehead. “He was an Omega who fought off rogues. Do you know how rare that is?”
