Ransom came in later than expected, dropping into a seat next to her in the dining hall, and shoving spaghetti into his face like it was the first meal he'd had in weeks. When he was done, he gathered me into his arms and pulled me onto his lap. He scented me for a moment, and I wondered what might have happened today to trigger this behavior. He hadn't said a word yet.
Before I could ask, he scooped me up and headed upstairs. We passed Phoebe and Imogen, staring at us, open mouthed. Imogen is Walt's mate. She is also a witch, and she has directed me in many matters of healing. "I will tell you everything later" I link to them both. Once we were safely inside his suite, Ransom locked the door and set me down on the sofa.
"You don't need to make a habit of carrying me everywhere. I am capable of walking, navigating, even running on my own." I teased. But he didn't smile at me, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his expression was pained.
"I just need to be close to you sometimes, and I haven't allowed myself to think that was possible these past few years. Even after losing Julia, I just wanted that connection to be deeper." He sighed, "That doesn't really matter as much as what I have to tell you. I wanted to tell you before I make the announcement to the pack. The war is coming. Alpha Lobo has overthrown the Western council. He has taken over many packs, and no one has been able to get word in, or out of these territories. Our council is assuming the worst, because of how fierce and blood thirsty he has proven to be in battle. The biggest issue we face, besides trade commodities, is that he has declared himself King of the Werewolves." Ransom paused, running a hand through his sandy brown hair, he had let it grow about an inch longer over the years, keeping it neatly trimmed. His big brown eyes were pools of worry, full of all the things he had to hold back. As alpha, the pack came before personal matters. "I don't know if this is the same war from the prophecy, but my bet is that we are late to this party. No one seems to know exactly what Alpha Lobo's first name is, just that he inherited the title from his father, and is the rightful alpha of his territory. Without more information about their numbers, I'm not sure how we can win this. I have every confidence that you joining us in strategic discussions will be a big help. I just don't want to bring this to my people before summer solstice. So, we have a little less than a week." He sat down next to me, he seemed nervous about something more than just what he was telling me.
"There's more, something the council has framed as a request, but is really an order." I could see this without using much power at all, maybe because the storm was blowing in. My body hummed with electricity and tension. I was lightning, ready to crack.
"I have to choose a Luna." He looked right into my eyes, never wavering. "I need to mate and mark her before the Summer Solstice, in times of war, it is crucial to provide an heir, or at least attempt to do so. I know that this is a lot, and I know that you have your own destiny to fulfill. I expect nothing from you, but I am asking if you would like to accept the offer, to be my Luna, and help me produce an heir."
The electricity had never built up inside me like this before, I jumped up and started pacing, I could hear Ransom mumbling about something, but I was so focused I couldn't make out what he was saying. It wasn't until he grabbed my arm that I realized I was above him, and he was standing. I was pacing through the air, my hair was loose and floating all around me, like there was no gravity.
"Our eyes are glowing." Athena observed our body in a floor to ceiling mirror visible in the bedroom. "Mother is coming to tell you something."
Lightning cracked and the picture of Ransoms living room shattered. I was pulled into the reflection pool, but this time, I could move. The woman, from the memories Athena showed me, was sitting on a bed of moss, under a weeping willow that fell around her like a cloak. I wasted no time going to her, her eyes were closed, so I touched her cheek to let her know I was here.
"Willow." Her eyes opened, dull and gray, nothing like the blue eyes she had in life. "Ah, she smiled slightly, touching my stomach, a boy." She traced a few lines on my palm, looking a little sad. "You need to accept the Luna position, even though you will never love him the way mates love each other. You will provide his heir, but you will meet your mate soon. You must accept on the grounds that you do not mark each other until after the baby is born." I can't say anything, I can only grip her hands. "There is much more to your future than this one alpha, do not confuse love and fondness for that of your fated mate. Even in death, your mate is the only path to fulfilling your destiny." She pulls her hands away, and the shards of my reality come crashing back together.
Ransom is frantic, I don't know how much time has passed when I emerge from the reflection, but it was enough time for him to summon guards, and all the ranked pack officials. Everyone stops talking when I emerge. Kira steps forward, 3 guards flanking each side of her.
"She smells like death, arrest her, bring her before the council for using dark magic."
The guards don't move, only Ransom does. He orders everyone out, and uses an alpha command to ensure Kira doesn't throw around anymore orders without direct approval from Ransom. When everyone has left the room, he waits for me to speak.
"I accept, on the condition that we do not mark each other until after the baby is born. July 10th, early morning hours. It is a boy."
For the next hour, I am explaining where I was, how I know about the baby, and what it means for the war. I only have what my mother gave me, and some pieces that I can see with my own power. Ransom is restless, worried that he cannot scent my pregnancy yet. Regardless of how many times I try to assure him that this is normal, it's too early, he won't rest until a pack doctor examines me. The pack doctor, in and out within a few minutes, assures us that we will have the blood test results in the morning. So, with nothing else to do, we sleep.
I am dreaming, and gigantic burning man is with me. He examines the room I am in, gazes out of every window. He comes to me, as I nurse my son, and holds out a molten hand. Without words, he tells me that I have no choice, it's me or my son. I'm calm as I tuck my son into his cradle, placing a protection spell over him. I kiss him one last time, and as I turn, I take burning man's hand. This time, we both dissolve into ash. But the ash is not the end, it portals us, like the water. We arrive in a sterile lab setting. Only the instruments in the lab aren't beakers and pipettes. They're torture devices.
I stand tall, Athena is crying out, begging his wolf to help her, but the man has disconnected from his animal. He does not recognize me for anything more than a price to be paid. He backs me up to a wall, where I think for a moment he will chain me, but he doesn't. He wraps his massive hands around my throat and squeezes until I see my soul separate from my body. I see Athena, she curls up at the mans feet, mourning for all that is lost. When I call to her, the man can hear me somehow, his expression is a mix of shock, and horror.
"No." He whispers. But I won't let him take anymore. I give myself to the eternal reflection.
When I wake up, my heart is beating so hard, it makes me vomit. I rush to the bathroom and barely make it to the toilet in time. I can still smell him, like he was really here. Ransom gets me water and helps me back to bed. It will be a long 2 months.