and your heart. We have trained you well. But please, be open to what the fates say.
Perhaps you will need Orion and Palidor to complete whatever is yet to come.”
“I don’t know them. I like to handle things on my own. I don’t need them.”
“Ah, that is where you are wrong. Try to put aside that stubbornness and independence for a moment and look at what you have seen, and the visions that the goddesses have shown you. Be careful, Ariella. Evil has a way of manipulating the mind, and once you open yourself up to that weakness, there is no turning back,”
Antoinette stated, and then felt the ache to her head. She was speaking from the heart, but also with some knowledge of the black magic lingering in the distance.
“Mom, are you okay?” Ariella asked as she came to her, knelt on the floor, and covered her hands with her own.
Antoinette smiled, as she saw what was already in her daughter’s heart and mind.
“Be strong, Ariella. The Goddesses have plans for you. You are destined for greatness, and will need the power and love of Alpha royalty to succeed.”
Ariella laid her head on Antoinette’s lap as Antoinette caressed her long brown hair.
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She prayed to the Goddesses to watch over her child, and knew that her part was over. This was Ariella’s journey, her fight. Letting her go brought tears to her eyes and heaviness to her heart.
32
Dixie Lynn Dwyer
Chapter 3
Jacob, Troy, Brad, and Luke stood in the main library speaking with Orion and Palidor Venificus. Both young men had turned into very intimidating, strong Alphas. Their fathers and mother should be proud.
“We are sorry to have placed you in the middle of that situation in order to assist our daughter. But we are grateful you and your men were there. Ariella can be quite the handful,” Brad stated, as he looked up toward the staircase and her bedroom. A room on the entire opposite end of the house from the rest of the family. She was so set on establishing herself without the assistance or branding of a pack name. Sometimes her determination and stubbornness worried Brad and his family.
“We were just glad that we were there to assist her and the other women,” Palidor replied.
“Ariella needs to follow the rules and the orders given. That situation could have had a different ending. I take it that you will instruct her to not make such a poor decision in the future. The danger is not gone,” Orion said with a bit of attitude. He seemed authentically upset with Ariella. He and his brothers grew up with their children as well as Lexi’s children.
“Do you believe that there is danger approaching our pack territory?” Jacob asked.
Orion looked at Palidor and then at Brad and the others.
“On the down low, there have been a series of brutal attacks throughout the country. We are not at liberty to give any details or to even make public this information. However, our suggestion would be Brothers of Were, Goddess of Love
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to place your security teams, your Omegas and Betas on alert. It can’t hurt,” Orion suggested.
“Keep the women and children close. Don’t let them go too far without the accompaniment of men who can protect them if necessary,” Palidor added.
“These wolves from the forest, they were rogue. They also seemed to know who Ariella was. It concerns me greatly,” Troy stated.
“I think we need to put our foot down here, Troy. Ariella has a habit of coming and going as she pleases. If there is something going on, perhaps we need to limit her freedoms,” Brad stated.
“It couldn’t hurt. She’s a very beautiful woman. She should definitely take precautions,” Orion said.
“Understood, and again, we thank you,” Brad replied.
“Will you be visiting your parents and family, or are you off on another assignment?” Luke asked them.
“We haven’t been home in two years. I’d say we are overdue.
Besides, knowing our mother, she knows that we are a short