Called by the Goddess

Chapter 19: Boris can come!

“So Kate, are you prepared, have you any questions left?” Granny asked me. I took a minute to think things through.

Tonight would be the anointment ritual, under the full moon, where the order would acknowledge me as the chosen one and their future luna. We had gone over the ritual dozens of times, so I was all clear on that part. Still not too sure I was prepared for the theatrics of it all, thinking about the ritual felt like a huge load on my shoulders, weighing me down.

And to make matters worse, after the ritual, Maya and I would go off into the part of the forbidden forest where we would live alone, just the two of us, for a month. Well, actually, until the next full moon, so almost a month. It was a test, to see if I could take care of myself, because after all, I was supposed to take care of the whole pack in only a year from now. So if I could not even survive a measly month in the wild, what good would I be to them?

Furthermore, it was a time to reflect, to go deeper within and choose the path I wanted to go this next year. To claim my power as chosen one, to start accepting my role as luna and take the time to connect even more with the Goddess than I had the last year.

And last but not least, this time with the two of us was meant to get the bond that was necessary between Maya and myself, between my beta and me as the future ‘alpha’. I hate that term.

First thing I was going to do is get rid of that title, I thought. Alpha and omega, the beginning and the end… well… we’ll see about that. I had to study wolves for biology and to my surprise a real pack of wolves worked SO very different than what werewolves did with their packs.

A pack of wolves typically consisted of a mum and dad and their pups. A mum and dad who lovingly raised those pups with a lot of patience and fun. The term alpha had been abandoned for ages and replaced with ‘the leading couple’ or ‘parent couple’. And yes, sometimes, when a pack grew too big, one of the grown pups took it upon himself to become the omega of the pack, to release the tension and take the punches.

But if he got sick of the role, he could just choose to leave and start his own pack, if he found another wolf that had outgrown her pack as a partner. So being an omega was never meant to me hereditary, in fact, an omega would never even have pups, since only the leading couple of the pack mated and had pups.

I asked mr. Winger about this, once I felt safe to do so under the wings of the order. And his answer was: “Well, don’t forget, we are not just part wolf, but also part human…’ and he had winked at me, leaving me to come to my own conclusions. I was still pondering about this sometimes and had numerous and unsatisfying discussions with Tara about this, so probably this was something to focus my reflections on for the next month.

I really dreaded the time with just Maya and me. On one hand, it would be great, hanging out with my bestie, and I could not ask for a greater warrior at my side should the unlikely event occur that things turned south and we got attacked. I looked forward to creating an even closer bond between the two of us.

But the reflection part, the connecting with the Goddess, the finding my path and especially the interpretation of my experiences, I would direly miss help with that.

“Yes, actually, I do have one question. Are you sure it has to be just the two of us? I would like to have some extra guidance with the reflection part of the quest and I was wondering and hoping that Tara might be able to join us?”

Tara had been my teacher on all things meditative, on communicating with nature, the animals in the forest and she was very good at helping me turn inwards, if I myself did not have the patience to do so on my own.

Tara smiled at me and said: “I feel honored Kate, but before you officially make this request, let me guide you on a little inward journey. Take a deep breath and connect with Luna and the Goddess. Feel that beautiful silver spark within you and connect with it. Let it expand with every breath.”

I did as she told me and with every breath I felt more relaxed. I felt the silver light grow bigger with each breath, just like we had practiced and practiced before, until it was bigger than my body and filled the whole conference room.

“Ok, now ask the Goddess what is expected from you for this quest. Who are you supposed to take with you and why.”

I smiled, one of Tara signature moves, making me find the answer to my own question. I turned inward just a bit more and focussed on my connection with the Goddess. I felt her radiant energy engulfing me and felt peaceful and like I was beaming with light. I felt the connection and love from the Goddess and in a flash, I got my answer. I smiled and thanked the Goddess before letting go of our connection. I focussen on my breathing, on grounding myself to mother earth and to the feeling of just being little old me again, in my body, on the chair in the conference room, surrounded by four faces that had looks of anticipation on them.

“So, what is the answer?” Jasmin asked me.

“That I should learn to trust my own instincts and judgement.. That this is the main goal of the reflection, to find my own power. So Tara should not come.

What made me smile is that Boris on the other hand, IS allowed and even expected to come with, when Maya and I leave!”

“Good luck with that!”, Jasmin said. She never really liked Boris, or him showing up wherever I was, even if that was in the midst of a ritual. “Like you can tell that cat where to go!”.

“Try and stop me from tagging along”, I heard a familiar voice in my head. I let out a chuckle and pointed at the window, where Boris was looking in from the windowsill on the outside, looking in, giving Jasmin a look of disdain.

“I don’t think that is going to be a problem. Keeping him away, that would be the real challenge!” I responded to Jasmin, who looked a bit sheepish. Animals were never really her thing.

“Ok, that is settled then!” Granny said. “All that is left for us to do is go over the ritual for tonight one last time, to make sure everybody is clear on what to do! Jasmin will be guardian of the East/Air, Maya of the South/Fire, Tara West/Water and myself North/Earth.”

At these words, Maya looked a bit uncomfortable. The ritual parts of the order never really spoke to her and now she had to represent an element.

I smiled encouragingly at her. “You’ve practiced this dozens of times, you are prepared and ready!” I ensured her.

“Yes, well, there is a difference in doing a ritual with just the five of us, or with the whole order being present!” she replied. “But yeah, I’ve overcome greater obstacles, so I’ll manage!”

“That’s the spirit!” Granny smiled at her. “You’ll do fine, we’ve grilled you hard enough these last weeks, you probably could do it in your sleep!”

Maya grinned “Well, not too sure about that, but awake should be no problems, just a bit of nerves, that’s all”.

“You have nothing to be worried about… I on the other hand…” I told her, flashing a grin to hide my own nerves.