The old woman nods and enters the cave, and now she sits cross-legged before me. She takes my hands and gazes straight into my eyes.
Her mystical eye flashes, and now she offers me an apologetic smile. “You are confused.”
I sigh. “You could say that again...”
She squeezes my fingers, and her grin turns into a knowing smile. I narrow my eyes. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Like what, child?”
“Like you know something that I don’t. It’s driving me nuts.”
She beams, showing me her gummy smile. “You’re going to do great things, Young Ylfa. I see that now. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I was the oracle who foretold Raven’s destiny... But the vision I saw was muddy at the most. Yet it appears I read the signs all wrong. Of course, I was missing the other half of her destiny—you. Your fates entwine.”
I smile. “I know. Luna already told me... We must become friends so that we can save our races...”
“Luna...” she repeats. “So, she is real. The Moon Goddess. What does she look like?”
I gaze into her mismatched eyes. “Like a large, white wolf.”
She cackles. “Befitting for a Goddess!”
I watch the old woman strangely. I always assumed humans despised wolves, yet she appears to like them. A lot. (She certainly likes Hunter a lot). I suppose Ethel is just eccentric, but she is the distraction I needed.
It’s good to take my mind off other things...
“Will it all work out in the end? Do you see a future for both of our races?”
She taps her chin in thought, closing her eyes so she can tap into her powers. “No. I can’t see that far ahead. All I see are you two joining forces. I’m sorry.”
Well, it was worth trying. I wonder if I should ask her the next question on my mind, but it’s a little bit personal. But maybe she can give me some insight into who my real father is.
I truly hope it is Butch, even though I refuse to have anything to do with him at the moment. He may be annoying and weird, but he’s a far cry from the monster that is Alpha Graeme.
Yet I’ll keep the question to myself.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve lived this long without a father figure in my life, and I don’t need one now.
I already have my family in the form of my three mates.
Thinking of Brent makes my heart prick, and I wonder if he knows about his uncle. The man cheated on his aunt and betrayed her trust. And the woman died without ever knowing what her so-called mate had done.
Brent deserves better. He and his aunt deserved better.
I swear I will return to him one day and rescue him from his evil uncle. He will not be his pawn anymore.
Ethel hobbles up to her feet and leaves at last, and now I’m left to stew in my thoughts.
I suppose I’ve had long enough to adjust now.
It’s time to get up and fight. My mates need me.
Brent needs me.