Chapter Nineteen

Maddie’s eyes flew open; the sound of her inhale of breath emanated in the room. The first thought that crossed her mind �" where was she? She lifted her head slightly and looked down at the clothes she was in. A stainless, white dress covered her from her collar bone all the way down to the tips of her toes. She gave the digits a little wiggle and moved the rest of her body around. She seemed normal enough.

Exhaling the breath she had taken, she turned her attention to the room she was in. The walls matched her dress. They were pristine white, and yet, the color was not bland. Her skin and hair offered the only splash of vibrant color.

Putting her legs over the side of the bed, she gripped the edge and sat up straight. Questions ran through her mind as she tried to remember where she had been last and how she had even gotten here. Then, the memories came running at her �" the fear of the man that towered over her and of the gun pointed at her head, the sense of loss.

“Oh…” She looked down at her hands and studied them, as if the lines etched across her palms would offer some kind of solution to the problem at hand.

She was confused. If she had been killed, then where was she now?

“Still your fast-beating heart, my child,” a deep, but feminine voice rumbled and sent chills down her spine. The hair on her arms rose on end, but she wasn’t afraid.

She turned on the bed she was sitting on, searching for the voice. “Hello?”

A cloaked figure emerged from the whiteness of the walls and stepped towards her. Immediately, she knew who it was. She hopped up off the bed and got down on her knees, lowering her head in the utmost respect. “Larentia,” she gasped.

The goddess chuckled and she could sense as the figure knelt before her. “You have always been filled with such kindness and respect, little one. Your earthly parents and brother taught you well.”

Maddie lifted her head as she felt a warming sensation on the tip of the underside of her chin. It felt like a finger. She looked into the cloak where the goddess’ face was hidden, swallowing hard. The goddess’ compliment made her smile wide. “Thank you.”

She watched in surprise as Larentia took her hands and she rose with her.

“I imagine that bright head of yours is full of questions that you would like answered.”

Maddie could only nod and she could sense Larentia’s smile of approval.

“Then ask away, my child. You deserve the answers.”

She was speechless for a moment, unsure of where to start. When she felt another sense of calmness warming her skin, she exhaled another breath as her thoughts became sorted. “I died?”

The goddess nodded. “Yes, unfortunately, you did. That was never my intention, my child.”

“Then why did it happen?”

It seemed like Larentia was surprised by that question, and a beat passed before she finally answered. “There are…darker forces at hand, child, ones darker than even Robert possesses.”

Maddie took a minute to take that in. She feared for her pack. Her voice went quiet at her next question. “What about Raul?”

Larentia’s cloaked hand moved forward and as she cupped Maddie’s cheek, the robing fell back to reveal nothing. Yet, she could still feel the warm palm. “He is mourning you, but he will not be sad forever.”

A stab of pain, mixed with a little bit of jealousy, hit Maddie in the gut. “Will there be someone else for him?”

“There is, but whether or not they meet is entirely up to you.”

Her eyebrow rose. “What do you mean?”

“Your death was both untimely and cruel, so I am offering you a choice.”

She sucked in a breath at the thought of being with Raul again.

“You can go back and be with Raul, but not as a living, breathing creature. You would only be with him in spirit. Or, you can stay here and let things be as they have become.”

Maddie’s head dropped on her shoulders and she stared straight at the ground as she considered what she had been told. If she went back, pretty much as just a ghost, she would probably never get to feel his touch, never get to hold him when he was upset…or even bare his pups. But if she stayed here, then he would find someone else that would give him everything she wouldn’t be able to.

It was a decision she didn’t feel she was prepared to make.

“I know this is a hard decision for you, child, but you must make it now. Time is of the essence.”

Tears burned her eyes as she lifted her head. “I want him to be happy, whether or not that means being with me. I will stay…”Her voice and lip quivered.

“You are sure, child?”

Maddie cleared her throat and nodded. “Everything happens for a reason, right?”

Larentia brushed a finger across the top of her cheek, caressing her cheek bone. “I am proud of you, my child.” The cloaked figure moved forward and Maddie closed her eyes as the goddess pressed a cheek upon her forehead. “Though the decision was difficult, it was a wise choice.”

Maddie took comfort in the reassurances given by her goddess.

"You will be happy and comfortable here, I promise. Your parents are awaiting your visit.”

At the thought of seeing her parents, she lifted her head quickly and sucked in another breath of surprise. “Really?”

Larentia chuckled once more. “Yes, really, child; go on.” She pointed to a door that formed out of nowhere.

Maddie didn’t even hesitate. She ran fast, a soft giggle erupting as she left to find her parents.

~

Blaez’s body felt like it was completely on fire. He took ragged breaths as he looked up at Keiran’s face. He could see his lips moving, but there was no way to tell what he was saying. It was probably something along the lines of ‘You idiot, what the hell were you thinking?’ and ‘You better stay.’, but he was way past that.

He was dying.

Everything the humans thought about dying obviously didn’t apply to when a wolf shifter was dying. With his eyes open, he saw the faces of the two packs hovering over him in concern. With a blink, his surroundings completely changed.

He looked down at his body and found himself completely donned in white clothes. The pants were loose as well as the t-shirt. He grimaced; he didn’t feel like the white belonged on him. He looked around the room and squinted his eyes at the brightness of the walls.

Without even realizing it, he spoke aloud. “Where the f**k am I?”

“It would be wise, son, to watch your tongue in my presence.”

His body, which would normally go into defense mode at the sound of a new, strange voice, straightened instead. He whipped around to come face to face with a cloaked figure.

“Larentia,” he grunted.

“You are correct.” The figure laughed and circled around him, folding her hands behind her back. “You do not think you deserve to wear such bright clothes,” she stated. It definitely wasn’t a question. “You feel as if your personality, the way you are, would become a visible stain upon the material you wear.

He could only grunt a ‘yeah’ in response.

“Oh, my son,” Larentia sighed. “It makes my heart ache to see you look down upon yourself in such a way.”

He shrugged his shoulders. He couldn’t help the way he thought. “So I died?”

“Not quite.” Her answer surprised him. “Look at yourself again. You are not quite whole, are you?”

He lowered his head and looked at himself again. She was right. His form was…not all quite there. He looked like a ghost.

“You are dying, son.”

Finally, he thought.

“But you will be returning soon enough,” Larentia nodded and resumed her pacing.

“Wait, what are you talking about?” His brows furrowed in confusion.

“Your alpha did not want you sacrificing your life for his. So, in exchange for a sacrifice from himself, I agreed to return you to your body.”

His stomach dropped. “What the he-…what did he give up for me?”

“That, I cannot tell you. It is an agreement between Keiran and myself; no one else shall hear of it.”

He growled deep in his chest and ran a hand through his hair. “Son of a bi-…” He stopped himself as she turned and glanced his way. “Sorry,” he muttered.

She chuckled and continued walking. Well, he was glad she found him amusing.

“I have just two things before I send you back.”

“Okay…”

She stepped to the side and revealed the body of a small female. He knew who it was. It was Maddie, the young female wolf they had been avenging.

She moved forward and offered a small smile. “I’m sure you don’t know me…”

“I do.”

She looked at him in surprise but recovered and continued. “Please tell Raul that I love him…and that I want him to be happy?”

He grunted. The whole love thing made him feel sick…mainly because he couldn’t have it. “Yeah, sure.”

Her smile widened and she wrapped him in a hug. “Thank you.”

He nodded and watched as she ran back through what he guessed was some invisible door.

“The last thing,” Larentia reminded him. “You will return to your earthly body perfectly healed at the end of this conversation. I just have one rule for this situation…”

“What is it?” He kept rubbing the back of his neck. Hell, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to go back.

“Think better of yourself, my son. Allow yourself the happiness you deserve.”

He cocked a brow. Yeah…like that would be happening any time soon.

"Yeah, okay,” he agreed with unspoken hesitations.

She seemed satisfied with his answer and moved closer to him. Her arms lifted from her sides and she grasped the sides of his face with hands he couldn’t see. A warm breath came from the face that was hooded; a sweet scent filled his nose…and as he thought about it, it reminded him of Embry.

He felt like he fell through the floor and his soul quickly filled his body…which was now perfectly healed, just as Larentia had said.

Author's Note

The first part of this chapter is in italics, meaning it has taken place before the battle scene, which was the last chapter. Once it returns to normal font, it will be continuing from the end of the last chapter. Hope you enjoy! <3