Chapter Thirty-Seven #2
My mom took the baby straight to the bathroom to get cleaned up as I handed Alannah her son. She cooed over her son, and Ternen huddled over her shoulder. They were exactly as a couple should be. Totally and irrevocably in love with their pup.
My mind flashed to my pup, and the scent I had memorized, before he was ripped from me. I felt the burn behind my eyes as I looked away from the trio. Wendy was there with her hand outstretched. I smiled sadly as I took it. “Was it that obvious?”
She shook her head. “To others? No. To me? Yeah.” She pulled me into her arms, and hugged me. “You are allowed to miss your pup.”
I sighed. “I know. But I have other things to worry about right now.”
She shook her head. “Nothing will ever be more important than our pups.” She hugged me closer as my mom came out. We both turned to see the new baby. And like her brother, she was perfect. But her blessing was on the right side, instead of the left like Taryn.
“Here is your daughter.” My mother handed the couple their second baby.
She stepped back to give them space. She came to stand next to us.
“We will have to wait until her body pushes out the rest, but she is in the clear now.” My mother took in a deep breath, and I knew she was about to turn to question everything, but there was a flash.
The Goddess stepped up next to the bed, and Alannah started to shake. “Please, we haven’t had enough time yet.”
The Goddess smiled. “I know. I came here for you.”
Alannah looked at me, and I saw a flash of fear. “Why?”
The Goddess ignored her question as she leaned over the small family.
“They are perfect.” She gave them a soft smile before she reached out and traced the stars on their shoulders.
“I won’t say what their blessings are.” She tilted her head to look Alannah in her eyes.
“These are for them to figure out when they come of age. But you, you did so well.” She leaned over and kissed Alannah on her brow, and a trio of stars sprang to life on her brow.
“Even with everything that happened this night, you still made the right choice. Even though it broke your heart to do it.” She pulled back.
Ternen nodded along with the Goddess’s words. “She’s right.” He kissed his mate. “You are the strongest woman I know.”
Alannah shook her head. “I’m just an Omega.” She looked down at her babies. “They will be like us, made to serve others.” Her words were laced with sorrow. I think her brain caught up with her words, and her eyes snapped to mine. “I didn’t mean it like that, Amy.”
“There is no reason to fear speaking your truth.” The Goddess sighed. “You have lived a hard life in your old pack. Of course, there is resentment.” She poked Alannah’s forehead. “But they won’t serve anyone, and neither will you.” Her voice had taken on a soft reverence.
But Alannah didn’t hear her last words; she was solely focused on me. I nodded. “It’s fine. My father’s pack isn’t like Vince’s.”
Alannah seemed to relax and nodded. But it was then that the Goddess’s words finally caught up to everyone in the room. “What do you mean?” Alannah looked up at the Goddess for a second before turning back to her pups. “We’re Omegas and Omegas serve the pack.”
“Who says they are Omegas? They were just born.” The Goddess chuckled.
“We are both Omegas.” Ternen looked at his pups. “It’s almost unheard of for two Omegas to have ranked pups.”
“Unheard of, but not impossible.” The Goddess traced the stars on the boy’s shoulder. “What are their names?”
Alannah smiled. “Taryn, for our boy. Talia, for our girl.”
Ternen tightened his arms around her shoulders. “Alannah, are you sure?”
Alannah nodded. “Of course I’m sure. You gave up everything to save us, to save them. We are all here because of you. Of course, I would name them after you.” She leaned up to kiss him. “This is the least I could do. To honor you. So they know exactly where they come from.”
Ternen kissed her again. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I love you.” His voice caught as he said it, and I felt a tear trail down my face. I wiped it away, but I knew I would remember this beautiful moment.
“Beautiful names.” The Goddess stepped back. “Remember when they are older to train them well, Gamma Alannah.” Then, she was gone.
“They are beautiful…what the fuck did she just say?” Alannah’s head snapped up, but the rest of us were just as confused.
I sniffed the room, taking a step closer to the bed. “She said Gamma.” I leaned over and pressed my nose to her sweat-covered brow. “Gamma Alannah.”
“But I’m not a Gamma.” She pulled back with wide eyes.
I felt a grin stretch across my face. “You are now.”
Alannah gaped at me. “No.” She did one slow blink before she turned to Ternen. “Baby?”
His smile as he leaned over to kiss her lips was heart-wrenching.
He pulled back to cup her face. “You did it, baby. You have done the one thing that most Omegas have dreamed about.” A tear escaped his eye.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. Now I can rest easy knowing that you have the rank to protect our pups, all on your own.
” He looked at me. “I know you would have helped, but this way…” He looked back to his mate.
“This way it’s better.” Alannah took a shuddering breath before she nodded once.
She turned to face me. “I know you have to go.” She was putting on a brave face.
“But thank you for staying and making me see sense.” She looked down at her pups in her arms and she kissed both on their heads.
“I almost ruined the best thing we have ever done for my own selfishness. But I have Taryn and Talia now to worry about.” She looked back up.
“Just like you have packs to worry about. So go.”
I nodded once and turned to kiss my mom. “I have to go.”
She nodded, and I watched her eyes fill with exhaustion and tears. “Save my mate.” I nodded quickly before I kissed Wendy.
“I will.” I squeezed Wendy’s hand once, then I was running for the door.