Chapter 116 AURORA My hands tightened on the arms of my chair .
The residual magic of the ceremony whispered through my veins , cool as water .
It was distracting , and I couldnt afford to be distracted .
Would youp Evelyn shot me a confused nce .
I assume you feel the same .
about me .
I wouldnt just let anyone die .
Not if there was something I could do about it .
I remembered the moment Id taken off into the forest to try and find the twins , and I said , And I dont think you would , either .
If that was true , you wouldnt have followed me into the woods in high heels the day the twins went missing .
Evelyns mouth twisted as if she found my words to be both surprising and unpleasant .
I was hormonal that day .
Dont count on it happening again .
Dont worry .
I dont count on anything from anyone , I retorted .
Which is very much because of you .
Evelyn rolled her eyes .
I was surprised to find Dane looking at me , as well .
His face was unreadable .
Then , finally , his gaze was fixed on the woman , Cam .
His voice was tight as he said , Theyre right .
They dont get along .
Chapter 116 2/6 For good reason .
The reason was him .
He had pitted Evelyn and I against each other for so long , whether he meant to or not .
Now this ? Maybe the moon goddess had a twisted sense of humor .
Im sorry , I said to Cam .
Im trying to wrap my brain around all this .
I knew the ceremonies would show us who the goddess had chosen , but we thought it was just to retrieve a relic were looking for .
Everything has snowballed into something that feels muchrger .
Cam nodded .
It is muchrger .
It always has been .
But even mymunications from the goddess are fuzzy , as if theres interference .
I only know that something bad ising , and were going to need leadership through it .
You three are supposed to be those leaders , as are the shield maidens .
I inteced my fingers together on the tabletop so I wouldnt tap them anxiously .
I keep thinking we can stop all this by just … stopping our mission to retrieve the relic .
You cant , Cam said .
You never could .
Were all pieces on the board being moved by powers beyond us .
Im no ones game piece , I said .
At the same time , Dane growled .
Apparently, he felt the same .
Cam shrugged .
I dont know a different way to put it .
Theyve been moving us all for a long time .
Chapter 116 Who is they ? Dane asked .
The goddess … and who else ? 3/6 Surely you didnt think the wolfs moon goddess was the only one out there , Cam said .
Again , Dane shrugged .
I dont bother the gods and they dont bother me .
They do now , Evelyn muttered .
Whats done is done , I said , cutting them off before this led to an argument .
We can try to ignore it if we want , but I dont think that would be wise .
Which means the next step is the final one .
We have to retrieve the relic .
Then , maybe , whatever .
forces have been making a mess of our lives will settle down .
and we can return to our own petty wars and inter pack arguments .
You can dream .
Evelyn tossed her hair .
But I doubt it will go that way .
Once the powerful start messing with the powerless , they never leave them alone .
As if you know anything about being powerless , I muttered .
Evelyn fixed me with an icy gaze .
You have no idea what I know .
I frowned , then tore my eyes away from hers .
I didnt know anything about her life except that she was a famous actress and had stolen Dane from me years ago .
I had Chapter 116 4/6 never cared to know more , and I didnt now .
My children were missing .
So was Evander .
I was bound to the enemy of the man I loved .
I was the chosen of the goddess .
Some kind of healer , apparently ? But that hadnt brought back my wolf , so who knew if I could truly use the magic , anyway .
The new moon is two weeks away , I said .
Ill see if the journal will reveal anything more when I have time .
But for now , Im only interested in one thing , and thats finding my children and my cousin , Evander .
I nced at Cam .
Unless the goddess .
has told you something about that ? Cam shook her head .
No.
But we can help you search .
I nodded .
Thank you .
There was a lot to do .
I had to contact my grandmother and tell her that things were moving forward .
I wanted to ask Dane how Piper was doing in the infirmary .
Had there been any change ? Was she still unconscious ? I needed to meet with the witches who had drawn protective wards around us for the ceremony and ask them about a location spell … My chest thumped with the familiar , dull ache of missing my children , but I got up anyway .
One thing I knew from the life Id lived : even when you wanted to crumble , you had to go on .
Chapter 116 5/6 EVELYN I stood in one of the pack houses many lounges , looking out at the forest and brooding .
Auroras life would be in my hands ? Ha ! Shed ruined mine , just when it was alling together .
I nced down at my phone and swiped to the picture of her leaving Holdens room .
She was chosen , and so was he .
Not only were they both chosen , they were some kind of king and queen , and I was … what ? Her bodyguard ? I gritted my teeth and ced a hand over my belly .
My baby kicked .
Would the moon goddess really give her queen a bodyguard who was her husbands former mistress ? And pregnant ? Not to be sphemous , but thedy of the moon must be losing her mind .
Disgusted , I thew my phone over my shoulder onto one of the couches .
Someone grunted .
I spun .
Dane was there .
Hede up behind me .
He had my phone .
Chapter 116 6/6 He was staring at the screen , which I hadnt bothered to lock .
As he looked , rage ignited in his eyes .
He held the phone up so I could see the picture of Aurora and Holden and growled , Exin this .