“You can’t know that.” Alannah finally turned to her.
Carly smiled. “Do you know what a Shaman is? Truly is?” The question had everyone confused.
My mom pulled back enough to look at Carly. “It’s a kind of magic that gives you visions from the Goddess.”
Carly shook her head. “Yes, and no. Yes, it is a kind of magic, one that I get from the Goddess, but did you never question why our voice changes?” My mom shook her head.
“Carl said-”
“Exactly what he is supposed to say. But I will tell you the truth. Like Amy, a Shaman is a tri-spirit. Carly has her own soul, the soul of her wolf, and me residing inside of her body.”
“Who are you?” The question came from Wendy, who was still by the door.
“I’m a seer, an ancient one at that. There were only a few souls gifted by a specific god to see the future, and the practice had been abolished long ago.”
“Why?” My question surprised even me.
“Because when this god blessed the seers of Delphi with our abilities, he wasn’t as selective as he should have been, and he made hundreds, if not thousands of souls go insane.”
“Apo-” Wendy started, but Carly whipped around.
“Do not say his name!” She screamed, her voice full of venom. Her lips lifted in disgust. “His stupidity killed my human family. My mother, my sisters.” She looked down at the floor. “My children.” She shook her head. “When I was killed, it was a horrific death, one so savage my soul called out under the moon and the Goddess heard me. I was given the option of reincarnating. The Moon Goddess pitied me and gave me the escape I needed. I was just supposed to be a normal wolf, one of her followers, but his gift…” She spat the words. “His gift was tied to my soul, something that wasn’t supposed to happen, and because of his stupidity I became the first Shaman.” Her explanation ended as another scream ripped through the room.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“My story can be for another night. I came here to tell you my truth. I have lived through fifty lifetimes. Some short, some long, with years in-between as more souls turned to the Moon Goddess for a second chance. But the most important fact that you need to know is that I never forgot my first mate. I have had the pleasure of meeting him again in another life, but I never forgot him.”
Alannah struggled to catch her breath after the latest contraction. “But you have had others?”
Carly nodded. “Over my lifetimes I have had a handful that the Goddess paired me with.”
“Doesn’t that hurt your other mates?”
Carly smiled as she shook her head. “I love them all, differently. Love is not a finite resource that you have, pup.” Sheclimbed onto the bed and shuffled over to the pair on the bed. I watched as my pup mothered two wolves way older than her current form. “You will love so many souls in so many ways; one love doesn’t eclipse another. You will always love Ternen, and he you. And whether or not you get another mate, you will remember everything about him because he gave you these pups. A second chance won’t erase him. The Goddess wouldn’t do that to you, to Ternen, and she definitely wouldn’t force another wolf onto you that wouldn’t understand you.” She kissed her brow. “Now, I will leave you with this last piece of truth. Your mate will watch over you, and he will see you fall in love with another man if you are gifted another mate.” Carly looked at Ternen. “Will that stop you loving her or your pups?”
Ternen shook his head instantly. “Nothing could stop me from loving them.”
“Exactly.” Carly looked back at Alannah. “If the roles were reversed and say you died giving birth to your pups, but Ternen was still here. Would you want him and your pups alone for the rest of their lives?”
Alannah shook her head. “I would want them to be loved, and to be able to experience a mother’s love.”
Carly sat back on her heels. “Exactly.” She turned and slid off the bed. “Love doesn’t stop because one of you leaves. It continues on and evolves. The Goddess will only gift you another mate if your souls allow it.” Carly walked to the door. “You are her children, and she only wishes the best for you.” She looked to me. “Even though sometimes it seems like it isn’t true.” I stared after her for a few seconds, even after the door had closed, as her words bounced around in my mind. A foreboding feeling crept up my spine and sat at the base of my skull like a headache.
Alannah jerked away from us with a scream. A fresh wave of copper hit my nose. My mother dove back under the blanket. “Okay, the babies are coming, whether or not we are ready.” Shepulled back and held out a hand covered in blood, just as Wendy rushed over with a towel. My mother looked at Alannah. “I know you are worried, but the babies are coming out right now, you no longer have a choice. You have to push, sweetheart.” She went back under the blanket. “Push!”
Alannah grabbed her knees as Ternen and I both pressed against her back. We grabbed her legs and helped hold them for her so she could focus fully on pushing. Her scream was guttural and long. Sweat poured from her forehead as she bore down.
“Stop pushing.” My mother screamed, startling everyone.
“What’s wrong?” Ternen’s voice barely concealed the panic.
“The cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck. Give me a second.” We all held our breaths as she worked.
Alannah looked at me. “Another contraction is coming.” Fear scented the air.
“It’s okay. Just don’t push.” I held out my hand to her. “Crush it if you have it, but don’t push until my mom says it is okay.” Alannah’s hand snapped out to mine, and she squeezed. Her face scrunched up in pain, and another scream worked its way out of her. She was shaking with the effort to hold back the need to push; it was like as soon as she allowed her body to start, she couldn’t stop it from doing what it was supposed to do. Her head shook back and forth as she panted; a soft chant fell from her lips. “Please, no.”
“Almost there.” The contraction ended, and she released my hand. I felt the bones she broke knit back together as Alannah cried again.
