Marked For The Goddess

Stories and Legends

** Blairs POV**

“Lucius, tilt her head a bit to the right for me please.” A voice said.

I can’t seem to open my eyes, they’re just so heavy still. My whole body feels so stiff. I felt rested, just frozen really.

A warm hand gently cupped my head and turned it to the side, and I hear the woman who just spoke sigh. “See? There. I knew I wasn’t seeing things.” She spoke. “A mate for her yet?”

“N-no Luna. She’s- “

“Please, just Brinley. We have far too much history for that.” So it’s Brinley, I see. She giggled.

“Of course. But no mate, she doesn’t turn 18 till Friday.” I could recognize that voice anywhere, that’s mom.

“Well, he too will have this mark you see here, usually on her upper body. Callistra has chosen them.” Brinley explained.

“Chosen? For what?”

“The Bound Council. Souls chosen by the Moon Goddess Callistra herself. No one will know what for until the Moon Goddess decides so, not even Blair or her mystery mate. And even then, she may not even be able to tell us.”

Callistra marked me? What the heck would the Moon Goddess want with me?

Was her waking Talia a blessing or have I been cursed?

And if my mate has one too, and shares the same fate, will he resent me for it? Try and reject me? The irony is all but iconic. The mate she chose for me rejects me because she marked us. Would be my luck at this point it seems.

I try to open my eyes again as I feel a warm hand wrap around mine.

*Feel better Little Wolf, I’m giving you all I can. Stop thinking so much on this, we will figure it out. And I’ll be here always.* Talia cooed through our link.

“Thank you, Talia.” I accidently say out loud.

“Welcome back, doll face.” Luna Brinley chirps, as I try and sit up.

“Slowly, kid.” The warmth leaving my hand, bringing my attention to the surprising voice coming from directly next to me.

Lucius.

His hands were to my sides, one dipping towards my lower back, helping me slowly make my way up the bed and resting up against a pillow stack, now in a seated position and facing all the concerned faces.

“Thanks.” I say quietly, realizing how dry my throat really is, and instinctually reaching towards it. He handed me a bottle of water from the bedside table next to him.

*He’d make a good mate. What a shame.*

*I just woke up from passing out with exhaustion and you’re already going on about hitting up baby alpha again? What am I gonna do about you?*

*Yes, but we’re not dead. Or blind.* Talia laughed and I blushed a little.

“Eat up, there’s a variety. Ms. Donovan didn’t know what to make, but your mom gave them some ideas for dinner. Our treat, love.” Brinley winked.

“Thank you, Luna.” I replied, and bowed my head slightly.

“Oh please,” she lifted my chin. “A woman chosen by Callistra herself bows to no Luna. It is I that should be bowing to you if I’m being honestly.” She laughed, noticing the size my eyes grew to in horror of the thought. “You’re marked, Little Wolf. Callistra has something in store or you. And call me Brinley, please.” She smiled gently.

I returned the friendly smile just as my mom bursts through the door and scares me. “Blair!” She yells as she pounces on me, pulling me into a tight hug. The quick movement and amount of pressure behind the hug making my head throb and stomach turn. As I winced and grabbed at my head, Lucius put his hand on her shoulder, a low warning growl leaving his lips.

“Lucius!” Brinley chastised.

“My apologies, Mrs. Rivera. I’m not sure what that was about.” He apologized to my mom, with a look of shock at his own actions.

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry baby girl. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Was just worried sick.” Mom rubbed my cheek.

“Not your mate huh?” Brinley sneered at her son.

“No. Mom.”

As I tore my gaze off Lucius and looked at mom, I smiled. “I’m okay, momma. Just over exerted myself today. My body didn’t get to physically rest while Talia was in control. I just need a good night sleep is all. How are you holding up?” I asked.

She scoffed. “I’m fine. Just worried. I think I slept through most of the pain, really. Or the Moon Goddess has had pity on me with the whole… pain thing…” She trailed off. “Eat up. We’ll give you some quiet time, then head downstairs and tell everyone the hell you’ve been through today.” She got up and kissed my forehead.

“I’ll sit up here, Mrs. Rivera. No worries.” Lucius smiled.

“Okay.’ She whispered and turned to leave since everyone had already left.

***

After about an hour had passed, I had munched on some fruit, showered, dressed in the sweats and t-shirt Brinley left out for me, and successfully carried on small talk with Lucius.

“You ready?” He held his arm out for me to link mine into as we made our way down the stairs to the living room where everyone was waiting.

“Yessir.”

“Mm, no. Lucius. Thanks.” He laughed uncomfortably. I rolled my eyes at him as we reached the end of the hallway and slowly climbed down the flight of stairs and navigated the hallway leading to the living room.

I had noticed out the windows that it was dark already. “I’d say about 8ish? You were out for a while. The kitchen staff has trays set aside for us.” He answered my silent questions. “My mom insisted they make something you loved, so your mom had to give them the down low on whatever diet you had at home. Whatever that mark on the side or your neck is has got her going all out.” He laughed.

“What mark though? Why do you guys keep talking about a mark? I’ve never had one before today.” I finally blurted out.

He stopped us in the middle of the hallway. “Here, look towards the left, and move your hair.” Weird? But okay, I did as I was told. He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture for me and handed me the phone.

Plain as day, in the middle of the side of my neck, laid a strange marking that I couldn’t clearly make out through the picture. My hand reached up to my neck in that area, and it left a tingling feeling as my fingers raked over it.

I couldn’t stop staring at it. Where the hell had this come from?

This is Callistra’s mark? The Moon Goddess?

My head was swimming with questions.

“Blair?” Lucius held my shoulders and called my name. “It’s okay, we’ll figure it out. Come on, they’re waiting.” He ushered.

Of course, in the large living room around the corner sat the waiting group of ears and eyes; mom, Don, Brinley, Bane, and two extras I didn’t know. I’d assume the gamma and Delta?

Lucius walked us over to the massive, dark brown sectional to join the party.

“Morning sunshine!” Bane beamed, patting the seat next to him, which I obliged. Lucius sitting directly across from me in an armchair that matched the same brown of the sectional.

“So, first things first, who banished you? Why are such lovely little wolves rogues and where’s that beastly husband of yours?” Don asked with a playful smile.

“Oh…” Mom started slowly. “Lewis was the Delta for Crimson Summit.” She smiled up to Don sadly, who stiffen at the wording she used.

‘Was’ instead of ‘is’, seemed to go unnoticed by no one.

She continued to convey the story of the loss of my father and our previous Luna Abigail.

As she finished, both Brinley and Don had tears in their eyes. Don cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, and Brinley embraced mom. “I’m so sorry, ladies. Truly. From the bottom of my heart. Donte never mentioned another life lost, let alone it being a Delta’s, or how it went down. Just announced the loss of his Luna this morning. That mut…”

Bane hugged my shoulders as tears fell from my own eyes, comforting me. And for some reason I felt the need to look for Lucius. As I’d hope, he was indeed looking at me, again. With so much intensity, but shortly softened his gaze and mouthed the words, ‘I’m sorry for your loss.’

I just nod in answer, closing my eyes as I feel Bane’s embrace tightening protectively.

“It doesn’t even stop there. Late last night, he spent hours destroying our home. Everything, Smashing and shattering what he could. Furniture ripped to shreds, papers, mail, clothes, pictures. Everything. If he could pick it up, it was destroyed. Forcing us to stand and listen as he screamed at us, berating us. Trashing Lewis’ name. Telling my baby girl that its shameful to having been raised by him and I.” She cried and yelled and sniffled through this whole story, the wounds still so fresh, and so deep in our hearts.

“Banished us from the damn pack for, he says, the crimes my mate committed. That we tainted the pack by existing in it. Like there wasn’t a handful of rogues against one wolf who was protecting one human. Who wanted to be turned by the way, but he always refused.” She paused for a minute or two of silence in the room. “And for that, we both lost our mates.” Mom yelled, making me jump. Bane’s grip tightening again and his other arm coming to wrap me entirely for comfort. I could feel myself shaking from the crying.

“He tried to kill us, Don. After banishing us, he tried to kill us. Beat me weak, tied us up, wolfsbane on my ropes!” She held her wrists up to show the burns that still hadn’t fully healed. “Dowsed the house in gas. Left us on the second floor, started it on the first so it would be slow, but we’d know it was coming. Ordered the pack to gather and watch the flames.”

Brinley’s eyes shot to her husband, both his and Lucius’s eyes black with rage, showing their wolf fighting to take control.

“Trash!” Bane stood quick, shaking, yelling loudly. The instant cold to my body being felt immediately. “Just trash! You lost your mate because he was stupid, and he dare try to punish the two of you for that. Piece of s**t!” He roared, running a shaking hand through his hair.

The echoing of his yell as well as all the powerful auras being felt at once forced a whimper from my wolf.

“Bane.” Brinley said, using her Luna tone. Darting those icy blue daggers from him to me.

“Sorry kiddo.” He sat back down and rubbed my back. “It’s just, I remember Donte’s Delta at the meetings, not as a man, but as a bomb ass warrior. We all knew not to try him on the field, he was Alphas only. But to hear this and now know his mate and daughter, I’m furious. I’ve just met you both, and never knew Lewis personally, but I’d gladly kill him for you all.” He kissed my temple and held eye contact with me while his black eyes slowly shifted back to that honey brown I loved. He slowly enveloped me in another embrace, and I began to recognize the feeling of being the “little sister” to him. I’d seen my friends like this, and it was nice. It helped.

But suddenly, Lucius was standing, eyes pitch black still. “He could’ve seen it that Lewis was heavily outnumbered even for his skill set. He should have blessed you two in honor of the sacrifice he paid. No excuses. Nasty dog. I’ve never liked that asshole. Not one bit.” A growl erupted from his chest, even making Talia tremble.

One of the mysterious men behind him grabbed his shoulder and their eyes clouded. I spy a mind link. When his eyes cleared, they were again their natural color and looking at me, taking his seat.

After the room had held nothing more than sobs from my mother and the soothing voice of Brinley, Don began again. "So how’d you get out? And how’d Little Wolf awaken before her 18th?”

All eyes on me now, I took a deep breath then cleared my throat. “Mom was out, really, while I lost my mind trying to figure out a way to get us out. I prayed and begged the Moon Goddess for any sort of help. So what felt like forever, I begged silently in my head… She decided Talia was the answer. I’m going to be 18 Friday, nevertheless Talia is still early.”

Everyone was watching me with such intensity that I had to look at the floor to finish. “Talia woke and demanded I let her take control. Rushing, pushing as hard as she could because the fire had just made it past the door into the room. The Moon Goddess gave her the strength to push through that transition, before I was 18, for the first time, in under 60 seconds. Felt like forever because of the pain, but it was fast… She clawed mom’s ropes off.” I held up my fingertips to show the slight burns I had to match mom’s wrists. From the sounds of the growl mom let out, I guess this is the first time she saw them. “Once mom was on her back, she ran. Ran for hours, and never stopped until she made it to that pond where she met Bane and Lucius.” I finished, looking up.

“No wonder you passed out as soon as you shifted back. I should’ve let you rest more.” Brinley said, guilt plastered on her face.

“No, no. You had no idea. It’s okay.” I smiled weakly.

“Well. No choice now. Both of you will be taking up the second-floor rooms. We’ll need clothes sizes by tomorrow morning. Ms. Donovan is setting towels and bedding in them now for you.” Don bellowed, letting us know it was something that didn’t have room for negotiation.