I will be your reaper...

Let there be hope...

Lily Haven's POV

It was pitch black. Or rather, it was the absence of light due to being swallowed. Although I knew my feet were solid on the ground, my legs were shaking because I couldn't see where I was going. I couldn't use my senses. I was well and truly blind in an unknown place and I hated it.

I tried to move forward regardless, knowing I had a mission to fulfil. I must find the children. I called out to Aradia but was met with silence. Still, I continued calling out in the hopes that maybe she would answer. That was when I saw it. A blinding flash of light. A boy with silver-white hair and golden eyes, standing next to a silver-white wolf with eyes darker than the abyss if that were possible. The wolf was much bigger than a typical Alpha wolf, that much was certain. I approached cautiously but the boy just smiled "It's okay. We're looking for Aradia and Artemis too." I quickly approached, kneeling in front of him and the wolf "Yes, I'm looking for Aradia! But...I don't know who Artemis is. You must be...Erebus and...?" I looked at the wolf who nuzzled his snout into my face while Erebus placed his hand on my cheek. Such a tiny hand, yet it held so much warmth that my eyes began to brim with tears.

"That's right. My name is Erebus and this is Hodr, my wolf. Aradia is our sister and Artemis is her wolf, so, we're looking for our sisters". Amazing. These two children had wolves already. Such large and powerful ones at that. Hodr stopped nuzzling me and began to turn to walk. "Come, mother. We'll show you the way." I was so confused. Me? Mother? I'm not the mother of these children. As if sensing my confusion, Erebus took my hand. "It's okay. What Hodr means is that you will be our mother. It is written in your fate that you will adopt us. We have a biological mother, but it isn't time to know about her or meet her yet. She has her own fate to accomplish. Just know that you will be our mother very soon."

I was... Going to be their mother. It was written in my fate that I would be. I'm unsure if I should thank the moon Goddess or not. After all...My poor son...No, no. Enough of that, I must find Aradia. I quickly stood and followed the two, hand in hand with Erebus. We walked down a hall filled with fuzzy memories. None of these people had faces, except for a few I spotted of Erebus and what looked to be their time in the dungeon. I stood to watch the year they spent there, the prisoners singing happy birthday to them when they turned seven and giving the children their rations as if to make up for a lack of cake. I recognized the prisoners as the six people outside that swore loyalty to Aradia and then came the scene where they did it. Felix teaching Aradia to speak to her wolf. Goddess, it was so sad. These children shouldn't have experienced such things.

Next, I came across the scene of Aradia meeting her wolf, Artemis. Erebus and Hodr became excited, watching the two interact. "You see? They're our sisters! Aren't they beautiful?" I nodded with a smile. Indeed. While Hodr had the same fur, his eyes held the abyss. Artemis' eyes held the moon itself. Twins indeed. Erebus quickly tugged me along as Hodr began running toward the end of the corridor and again, a brilliant flash of light blinded me. No longer were we standing watching memories. We were stood in the very same field where Artemis and Aradia met.

There she was. Aradia lay on Artemis' fur while Artemis wrapped around her protectively. Hodr happily bounced toward them, drawing Artemis' attention. Though, she didn't stand. How could she with a child lying on her? Hodr nuzzled Artemis happily and Erebus took off running to do the same thing, hugging both Aradia and Artemis. Never in my life would I imagine I would see such a thing. I began to walk forward when I felt something brush my leg. Is that...? My wolf? I watched Onyx approach and bow her head to the two in respect. Artemis nuzzled Onyx "You will be our mother, why do you bow?" Hodr, much bigger than Onyx carefully gave her affection as if he was scared to hurt her "Yes, mother! Listen to big sister, you don't need to bow to us."

I approached and kneeled beside Onyx, following her lead and bowing to all four of them. It had become obvious that they were beings that commanded respect and honour, powerful beings. Erebus took my hand with a wide grin "Did you not hear them, mother? You must listen to big sister." I paused for a moment, hesitating, but then nodded. Erebus scooped up Aradia and Artemis stood, walking to sit in front of me. "I apologize... For your son. He wasn't meant to be taken away from you. I'm glad that you're here, so I can explain. I am not the moon Goddess, but I am privy to her plans. She had great ones for your son. Unfortunately... You have an enemy within your pack. I can still smell the poison on you, which is probably why you can't conceive."

Her explanation hit me like a truck "So...The moon Goddess didn't take my son from me? Then why...? What poison? Who would do such a thing?" Artemis shook her head while Hodr whined sadly at the loss of his adoptive brother. "Unfortunately, I can't reveal why and who. But I can tell you that I can rid you of that poison. You will be able to conceive when it's gone. Take that opportunity. The future will be boundless for them with Erebus and Aradia at their side. You must hide your pregnancy well when it happens. Or they will strike again. Unless you'd like to use the pregnancy as bait to lure out the traitor in the pack. Don't worry about the poison, when Aradia and Erebus wake up, they'll be able to detect it right away even if you can't. Trust them and they will protect you, mother."

My heart was so full. I could adopt these two children and have children of my own. Quinn will be over the moon! I didn't even realise that I was sobbing as Artemis pressed her forehead to mine, my body feeling lighter as it glowed an ethereal blue. I looked to Onyx to see that her body was reacting the same way. Hodr bounced up and down, obviously a very energetic boy. "Me too! Me too! I want to bless Mother too!" Ah... It was a blessing. But, blessings were something only the divine could give, so why...? Hodr placed his head on Onyx's and the two of us yet again glowed, but we were this time surrounded by a shadow. Artemis was staring at me as if she knew exactly what was going on in my head but shook her own to say that she was unable to tell me. I nodded in understanding and stood to my feet, reaching for Aradia and poking her cheek. She groaned and pouted, causing me to laugh while she groggily opened her eyes and looked at me. "Aradia~ It's time to wake up. You promised to protect Erebus, didn't you?" Aradia sleepily nodded as I placed her on her own two feet. "Your mission isn't over yet. You need to wake up and protect your brother. He can't protect himself right now, you understand?"

Her once-sleepy eyes sparkled with determination and she nodded furiously "Yes! I will protect Erebus." I stroked her hair "Okay okay. Quickly get better then, mother is waiting for you." Aradia blinked "M...Mother..." I nodded, kissing her forehead and taking Erebus' hand. "We're waiting for you, okay?" Hodr and Onxy followed us out and within seconds, my eyes were opening to the real world. I noticed Elder Jaxon smiling as he leaned over Aradia and then nodded to me. "Her body is healing itself. Whatever you did worked!" A sigh of relief escaped me as I sat up and Mabel grabbed my hand to help me. "Beta Lily, it seems that your memories are okay. I'm really glad! Unfortunately, Erebus and Aradia will have none..." I gently rubbed her head. "Not to worry, little Mabel. We'll all protect them" Mabel nodded happily and quickly pulled her father and me in the direction the others went as doctors swarmed the twins. We walked into the room, and it was eerily silent, everyone had darkness cast on their faces and few looked as though they were going to be sick.

"What happened...?" Everyone turned to look at me, hope in their eyes. "Come, we'll tell you too..."