Awaken

Chapter 3

       They sat after dinner, conversation flowing. Nova leaned comfortably against Maverick, listening to Ronan tell stories from Upsa. She smiled softly as he spoke of the days when merpeople roamed the land, safe from the likes of Jagson. During the Battle of Prix, it had been learned that Nova and Rosalie's wolves were sisters, created by Selene herself. Dia and Joan were fierce beings, no one could argue that, but very little was known about their time. Ronan had spent the last couple of years searching for answers on why exactly the Moon Goddess and the Goddess of the Sea had joined together with such force. So far, he had found very little, except to confirm that the wolves were related, created from the essence of two human sister's who had been warriors in their time. A small cough alerted Nova and she looked over to see Vera struggling to catch her breath. Her eyebrows furrowed as she watched her Grandmother's body rattle with each cough.

" Gram, I think it's time for you to take some rest. Let me walk you to your room." Nova said gently.

Vera's eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she nodded her head in agreement. Maverick and Ronan went to her, helping her stand from her chair and Nova reached gently for her hand. From the corner of her eye, she saw Cora stand as well. The look of frustration in Vera's eyes made her smirk as she turned to face her older sister.

" Not uh, not you. Take your seat Coralee. The last thing I need is to worry about you in your condition while I'm working on Gram" she scolded.

Cora's eyes widened at her words and a flash of fury and irritation passed over them. Nova heard Ronan snort a laugh. She had just revealed her sister's pregnancy. Oops. Grinning sheepishly, she hurried her Grandmother toward the steps, leaving Cora to announce her status. She winced slightly, knowing she would hear about her slip up later.

Vera patted her hand as they made their way up the stairs toward the bedrooms. " Don't worry Novalynn, given your sister's, erm...emotional state as of late, I think many already had their suspicions she is with child. That girl has a stubborn streak like her Mother. And her Grandfather." she whispered the last part, causing Nova to chuckle.

" That she does, she always has, even when she was a child. Goddess forbid she let anyone help her with anything." Nova mused.

They shared a grin as they reached the inn room Vera was staying in. " Come now Gram, let me see what's going on. I'm not so sure it's just Grandfather Cora gets her stubbornness from" Nova teased.

Vera puffed out her lower lip, reminding Nova of Alaric when he was pouting and she couldn't help but to laugh as she helped the woman into bed, another round of coughing shaking Vera's body. Nova could feel the way her Grandmother's body rattle as she fought the weakness in her lungs.

" Come, sweet girl, let's see what we can find for our Grandmother. Close your eyes" Dia spoke to her.

Nova did as the wolf instructed, not waiting for her Grandmother's permission. She could feel Vera tense under hands, but continued nonetheless. " Start with her lungs, find them, find the sickness that lives there" Dia instructed. She gave a small nod of her head as she envisioned Vera's lungs. She could see them, full of dark fluid, struggling to pull clean air for the woman to breathe.

" You're glowing, my girl" her grandmother said softly.

Nova smiled, her eyes closed as she continued to work her way through the fluid that was drowning her Grandmother from the inside. She envisioned it lowering, spilling into an unknown abyss as she cleared the area surrounding each lung. She heard Vera gasp, but continued on, her mind scanning the whole of her Grandmother's body. Against her chest plate, the opal hummed, it's small vibrations a familiar comfort as she worked to heal the woman in front of her.

" You've done it, Nova. Open your eyes. Each time we heal someone, I can feel our powers grow. I am so blessed to be paired with such a studious human" Dia sang, running circles in their mind space.

She opened her eyes to find Vera staring at her with her mouth hanging open. The older woman's cheeks were flushed in embarrassment and Nova was confused.

" What is it Gram? Do you feel okay?" she asked.

Vera nodded her head, laughing quietly. " My darling Nova, I feel better than I have in quite some time. If I had only stopped resisting everyone's help and come to you sooner , I could've saved myself and many others a lot of trouble. But, well, I've peed myself" she said, motioning toward the blanket. Nova roared with laughter. She had drained the water that was destroying her Grandmother, but had not expected this result.

" Thank you Nova, you are such a remarkable sight to see when you are mending another. You glow, white from your hands, and green from the opal around your neck. Your Mother's gem. She was gifted the same as you, always helping others in some way. You remind me of her so much. Cora looks just like her, but you, you have her personality, her calm resolve. Finding you girls is the best thing that's happened to Marius and myself" Vera commented, her tone full of love.

Vera stood from the bed, moving as swiftly as she had the day Nova met her. In no time at all, they had the bed sheets stripped and Vera excused herself to go clean up. Nova gave her a small hug and returned back to the main room. Her sister glaring at her the moment her foot left the last step.

" Hello tattle tale, do you have more secrets to divulge?" Cora snipped.

Nova sighed, placing her hands on her hips as she positioned herself for a stand off with her twin.

" Coralee Mangata. While I apologize for announcing your pregnancy for you, I also don't. You are the most remarkably hard-headed woman I have ever met. We have all waited eagerly for this time, respecting your wishes to adjust to your new throne in Upsa and status as a Mermaid Queen. Now, you are going to become a Mother. The future of Upsa is literally growing inside of your belly and you are going to let us help you!" Nova demanded. " And poor Ronan for that matter!" she finished.

Cora stared back at her, surprise written all over her face, not expecting Nova to speak to her so bossy. She c****d an eyebrow, her own hands on her hips, and Nova braced herself for the reply.

" My, my. My sweet, resolved sister does have a fiery side. The wolf side of me is shaking, almost as though you have commanded me to obey you. As you wish little sister. Or perhaps I should say, Alpha" she stated, her eyebrows wiggling in jest.

Dia yipped in delight and Nova couldn't help but to smile. Taking Cora by the arm she walked them toward the small group of their closest friends and family. " Well, about that. I wanted to wait after the lot of you had some time to rest, but seeing as tonight's a night of reveal, I see no reason to waste any time jumping right in to the matter. I want to take back Droake from Jagson."

She took a breath as Cora sat down. It was just her now, standing in front of those she trusted most. " As you all know, Cora and I are not only the daughter's of Queen Isla, but her mate, Alpha Darvis, true King of the werewolves. We know that Cora is a mermaid, and a powerful one at that. All of you here have heard the story of Rosalie and my wolves, Joan and Dia. Dia is an Alpha. She is both a healer and a leader, and so am I. It is time for us to return home, to take back what is rightfully mine, and Cora's and ultimately that of our children. Jagson has not been back to Prix in over two years, yet he still causes chaos across the lands. I have no doubt in my mind that he will return here. I don't want to give him that opportunity to destroy the life so many have built. Dia and I wish to challenge Jagson and Cyclone for the Alpha King title. I know I am asking a lot, but I am asking. I cannot do this without all of you at my back" she declared.

It was Rosalie who spoke first, pulling herself up to stand beside Nova. " Joan and I will follow you, Alpha" she vowed, lowering her head in respect.

Nova put a protective hand on her friend, as she glanced around the room. Her heart sang and Dia howled, as one by one the rest of the group stood as well. Maverick looked at her full of pride as he stood. Mikael and Diana clapped as they rose, and she swallowed a sob, her fear they would be angry with her choice quickly dissipating as Mikael began to chant her name " Alpha Nova, Alpha Nova."

Her sister was the last to stand, holding Nova's gaze with her own. As the eldest, Cora had every right to smash Nova's desire to take the throne of Droake for herself if she wished. They stood, sister to sister, unblinking, as the small group around them chanted Nova's name softly. Cora's eyes were pooling, a swirl of colors that happens when she is in a state of heightened emotion or working her magic and Nova took a sharp breath in worry.

Cora looked at her, confused at the reaction before smiling as she realized her sister's concern. " I must assume my eyes are pooling, Novalynn, but you misunderstand. I am proud of you, theQueen in me sees the Queen in you, little sister. You are more powerful than you realize yet. Why, even your own eyes are glowing, fluorescent green, much like those of our Father, or so I am told. You stand here before me, no longer the Omega we were raised as, but as a woman, a mother, a wife, a warrior. My sister, the Alpha!" she shouted. Cheers erupted around the room as Nova and Cora embraced. Between them, she could feel the weight of their gems, Cora's small fire to her gentle hum, a clear representation of the women they were. Despite her efforts, tears flowed down her cheeks in happiness and pride, the Alpha within her howling and for a brief moment she struggled to keep Dia at bay.

" Let me out girl! I want to celebrate too!'" Dia insisted, clawing at the space she resided in. Nova laughed, " later Dia, I promise, Mav and I will let you and Havoc have your moment". Dia woofed at her, returning to her calm position with the promise of seeing her mate later.

" Nova, there is one thing though, you really need to learn how to swim" Cora chastised from beside her.

She sighed, rolling her eyes. " Not this again Cora, you know how much it terrifies me" she whined in reply.

Cora clicked her tongue in response, shaking her head. " No, you will learn or I am not helping you!" she said, stomping her foot. Nova couldn't help but laugh at her sister's tantrum. Cora used to stomp her foot when Nova wouldn't go along with some scheme or the other when they were children.

" Fine, alright. I will learn before you return to Upsa, but Ronan is teaching me not you!" she relented as Cora laughed at her words.

" Tomorrow it is then. I want Alaric to learn too" Cora stated, walking away before Nova could respond.

She stood, taking in the sight of her small family, love running through her veins. Rosalie and Felix sat together, Felix with a gentle hand on his mate's swollen belly. Across from the Mikael had Dianna on his lap, whispering to her in the way lover's do. Dianna, in turn, had a playful smile on her lips as she stroked a hand down one of Mikael's braids. Ronan had Cora wrapped up in his arms as she laughed at something her partner said to Marius. For the briefest moment, her Grandfather's eyes met hers and he gave Nova a nod of reassurance. This was her soul, the people she loved, along with the many others who resided in Prix. She would protect them at any cost. Spotting Maverick, she followed Dianna's lead, curling up in his lap, listening intently as he spoke to Caius, Dennis and Marla. He gave her a small squeeze of the waist, and Nova smiled, resting her head against his chest. In this moment, there was nothing for them to fear.

The lurker stood, just outside the main room of the inn turned pack house. He heard them chanting her name, the little w***e wolf. They called her Alpha, this half-breed she-wolf. She was no more and Alpha than he was, and he felt disgust as he slipped away before he was spotted. Just another abomination the real King spoke of, a creature spawn resulting from the mating of different species. He shook his head, the clothes falling from his body as he shifted into his true form.