Dan groaned and scratched his head. “None of this makes sense to me. But I don’t think you’re lying, either.”
Linda nodded, looking as baffled as her mate but smiling politely. “Well, congratulations, Matheson.”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. “He may be pregnant, but it sure isn’t from three alphas at once. That’s simply impossible. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine if you don’t believe me,” I said with a shrug. “I know it’s true.”
Dan spoke up. “In any case, what does it mean? You said you unlocked your magic?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Well, then, let’s see it.”
My heart dropped as everyone watched me expectantly. Their expressions were clear. They didn’t believe me. Worse, I didn’t have a way tomakethem believe me. I didn’t know how to use magic--I only knew what I felt, and I felt it inside me. What did they want me to do, conjure a fireball?
“I--I can’t,” I mumbled.
Dan sighed, looking as disappointed as everyone else. “I see.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. I hated feeling like a letdown, but what else did I deserve? I was a total failure. Even if I figured out the prophecy, I still didn’t know how to use magic. I couldn’t save anybody.
“So you’re telling me that you’ve apparently figured out the prophecy, which involves becoming pregnant by three different alphas,” Gabrielle said, her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed. “And you still can’tdoanything about it?”
I winced. She was right. I had no excuse. I could only shake my head.
“Unbelievable,” Gabrielle muttered. She threw up her arms. “Great. Nothing has been solved! If that gryphon was telling the truth, then there are still other gryphons out there who could come swooping over our territories looking for the omega. Who knows what they’re capable of? Are we really going to have to deal with them just for his sake?”
I shut my eyes, feeling pathetic.
“Lady Gabrielle!” Eric snapped.
“No, she’s right,” I stated. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
Gabrielle gave me a frown, then turned to face Victor. “Let’s go. This was all a waste of time. Colton, are you coming?”
Colton returned his mother’s frown. He held my hand tighter. “No. I’m staying with Matheson.”
Gabrielle sighed. “Fine. Stay. As long as you remain with Matheson and don’t wander off.” She shot Eric a glance. “I’m assuming our agreement is still in place. Make sure none of your pack hurts my son.”
Eric looked genuinely shocked that she would even suggest it. “Of course not, Lady Gabrielle.”
Just like that, the North Pack leaders turned and left, and it was my fault. If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn’t have botched this meeting so badly.
As cold dread seeped into my belly, the seeds of doubt in my mind sprouted. Gabrielle was right to be upset with me. I was a liability. If the gryphon pride came looking for me, what would they stop at until they had me in their talons? If they only wanted me as breeding stock, then they surely wouldn’t have any qualms about hurting the rest of the packs.
An even more dreadful idea popped into my mind--something Gabrielle had mentioned at the last Moon Meeting.
The gryphons didn’t know I existed yet, but if they did, they wouldn’t have to rip apart the four territories looking for me if they already knew where I was hiding.
If somebodytoldthem.
Images from my nightmares flashed before my eyes, of being helplessly stolen by gryphons. I shuddered and clenched my eyes shut.
“Matheson,” Eric’s firm voice said. “Relax.”
Three bodies pressed in close to me. When I opened my eyes, I saw them--my mates, all looking down at me with concern.
“I can’t,” I whimpered. “I--”
