Talon was sitting on her and Mark’s bed when her sister came running in from the adjacent room and jumped on the bed with her. The two girls spent almost every waking moment when their mates were busy with one another. They enjoyed the freedom allowed to them here. They did not have to worry about being locked up and hidden. The twin moon goddesses had kept their word and made a haven for them. But not just them for others who were mistreated or wanted for nefarious use of their abilities.
Talon watched her sister bubble over with happiness, and she would never be able to thank anyone that helped them enough. Luckily, the previous Alpha did not physically abuse them, but he did deny them sunshine, and they only had each other’s companionship. When they angered him, he would tell them how ugly they were and how no one wanted them. That was the reason their clan was decimated years ago.
Amara was giggling as she told Talon about her and Kane’s mating, “I almost died when he licked me like a lollipop down there.”
Talon giggled at her sister’s comparison and retorted, “No, I think they have the lollipop.”
Leave it to her sister though, “Nope, that is not right. We are lollipops. They are the stick.”
Kane, Mark, and Nathan were walking into Mark’s suite to get the girls and overheard the conversation they were having. Kane and Mark burst into laughter while Nathan’s eyes crossed as he muttered, “What is it with these women referring to our manhood as some kind of stick?”
The two girls laughed harder even though they had no idea what Nathan was referring to. Kane smacked his mate on the rear and said, “Come on princess, it’s time for you two to greet your friends who are about to arrive.”
Talon looked at Mark with wide eyes. She was afraid that they would not take witches well. Witches were not very well understood because of the secrets they surrounded themselves with. Others do not understand how witchcraft works either. Talon does not blame them, though many of their kind were persecuted and many who were accused but not really witches were condemned also.
Mark stroked her hair and kissed her temple before whispering in her ear, “It’s okay beauty. Your friends are welcome here. I know it has only been a few days, but you will learn we are a pack of misfits.”
Taking her hand, Mark pulled her up and followed Kane with Amara next to his side out the door. Amara asked, “Do you think they are okay? It took them longer than expected to get here.”
Talon tightened her hold on Mark’s hand, answering her sister, “Hopefully Gammy didn’t get ill, and they had to stop to nurse her.”
Amara explained to Kane that Gammy was the oldest of the four and known as the crone. Nathan shuddered at the mention of a crone. He pictured a little bent over woman with a big nose and a mole with hair growing out of it on her chin. Goddess, help me, this is nothing like I expected life to be.
Looking at the two remaining white wolf's clan members, he still could not believe they existed, and his mate knew about them. Talon corrected Nathan, “Your mate knows us, not of us.”
Nathan remembered not to snap at the woman as he responded, “My apologies, but please remember to keep your block up and not listen in on others' thoughts.”
“Alpha, your emotions are a mess, and you are broadcasting so loud it is hard to block you out. Believe me, I am trying.” Talon commented.
“Once again, my apologies,” Nathan repeated, and tried to think of nothing but his mate’s beautiful face.
Amara the little sister piped up, “Only a true mate would see the scars that cover Katia’s face as beautiful. I hope you can mend her heart, and she forgives you, Alpha Nathan.”
“Thank you, Amara, I hope so too.” He said gruffly.
They were at the gates to the land belonging to Moon Touched and could see four bodies moving in their direction. As they came closer, Nathan saw that Eric was walking with three of the witches and carrying another one. The three men wondered why he had not linked Mark to let him know there was a problem.
Walking out to the group, Talon and Amara started crying and muttering something in another language. Nathan supposed it was the language of their clan. Mark had done some research and told him it was an old language called Tsimshianic. A tall woman with dark black hair and eyes the color of gold put her arms around the two girls and whispered something to them. They both stopped crying and smiled at her. Nathan observed the tall woman some more. She was very pretty. The cloak she wore hid her, but Nathan was sure she was plump in all the right places and then some. Nathan knew that it made her even more attractive to the opposite sex. She carried herself with confidence and showed no fear. Nathan was intrigued by this woman. He had a feeling it was another female to put him in his place when needed. The two others were females also. Obviously related to the tall female. They were a bit shorter but still plump in all the right places, like their relatives. Nathan knew they were related because they had the same colored eyes. The only difference was their hair coloring. One had a head of white hair and the other had a head of light purple hair. Mark tapped Nathan on the shoulder and gestured to Eric.
Eric held a boy in his arms that looked to be about six or seven years old. He had white hair like the girl's and Nathan guessed when his eyes were opened, they were gold also. Kane walked forward, taking the boy from Eric, saying, “Doc is at the hospital waiting for us.”
That was when Nathan noticed the deep claw marks and bites all over the little boy. “The boy was attacked?” Nathan questioned.
“They were almost to our warrior hideout. We had been doing 24-hour shifts watching their progress in case they got in trouble. Rogues attacked them. They were after the boy. The women are hurt, but not like the boy is. They were trying to rip him apart.” Eric informed them while motioning his head at the women.
That was when the men realized that Talon and Amara were helping the three women to remain standing and get to the hospital. There was blood trailing behind all three of them. Nathan stopped to offer to carry one of the women when he noticed Kane give a slight shake of his head, “These women are proud and will not want to seem weak in front of those they do not know. It is important to them to show they are worthy of the goddess’s request.”
Nathan sighed, rolling his shoulders and acting as if he just needed to stretch. Reaching the hospital, they realized they spend more time in hospital rooms than anywhere else. Mark remarked, “Well, I am tired of this place. How about the rest of you? I guess Katia knew how much this hospital was going to be needed when she insisted it be built first.”
The three ladies huddled together on the bed, looked at the men, watching the two that were the mates to their friends. The eldest of the bunch interrupted them, “With what is coming she knew.”
“How long has she known?” Kane wondered out loud.
The woman said, “Subconsciously always, consciously since her memory returned. I cannot say more than that right now.”
Nathan furrowed his brows, “How long do we have before this war begins? When will we know our enemy?”
The three men sat staring at her and waiting. She sat for the longest time staring out the window. Just when they thought that she was not going to give them an answer, she stated, “As for who, you have already met the enemy, or at least the one that thinks he is the enemy.”
She stopped and stared out the window some more, watching the storm brewing on the horizon. Talon and Amara shuddered each time it thundered, bringing the woman’s attention back, “As for when, not long from now. Look at yonder storm. Each crack of lightning, it is not. Each time the sky lights, it is another angel falling.”
After that, she was quiet. Closed her eyes, she rested her head on the white-haired girl's shoulder.