Lost Dreams

Chapter 10

Walking into the kitchen, Cora cracked her neck, stretched her arms over her shoulders and let out a loud yawn. Her Mother greeted her with a hug and bowl of dough. Sighing, she sat at the large wooden table and began to knead, her eyes traveling around the room at the faces of other Omega. She quickly noted Jessa was indeed not present. “Mother, have you seen the young girl, Jessa?” “You know the one with the long blonde hair who shifted last Moon Feast?” She asked. Portia shrugged her shoulders while continuing to stir a pot of what smelled like berry porridge with one hand, mindlessly flipping jerky in a pan with the other. “No idea. It’s not unusual for her to be late to breakfast duties, the girl is worse then you when it comes to morning.” Her mother replied. Cora looked up from the dough in front of her. “Alpha kept her last night Mother. Nova said she helped clear tables in my place because Jessa was unable to break free from the King.” Portia’s hands stopped stirring and flipping at her daughters words and her shoulders slumped. “That poor child.”, Cora heard her murmur. She knew there was nothing that could be done for Jessa, and she couldn’t help the small trickle of tears that slid from the corner of her eyes. The Pack had no Luna, and the Alpha constantly stole his pick of freshly turned she wolves no matter their status for his own entertainment. Remembering the feel of his eyes on her made her stomach knot and she felt herself shiver at the sudden coldness as the scene replayed in her memory.

Portia glanced at her daughter. “What is it child” she asked. Cora just shook her head. “Nothing Mother, just a bit cool over here away from the fires” she replied. Unconvinced Portia held her gaze on her daughters head. After Cora failed to answer she turned around back to her task in front of her, a silent prayer escaping her lips “Mother Selene, please protect my children.” She carefully removed the jerky as it sizzled, setting it on the large iron plate in front of her as she started a fresh batch.

Ringo Mangata sat on a small pile of hay next to the mare who was in labor. He watched as his daughter Nova entered the stables, removing her cloak and catching a stray strand of hair, tucking it back in to the ribbon at the back of her neck. He chuckled to himself. Both of his daughters had grown into beautiful women. One more reasonable then the other, one more brazen then her twin. Both girls had a strength about them he couldn’t explain but he both loved and admired them. “Good Morning Novalynn” he greeted her. Nova smiled warmly at him. “Good morning Father” she replied. She took a seat next to him on the hay, softly murmuring to the panicked mare. “How is she” Nova whispered as she stroked the horse gently. Ringo grunted lightly. “She is stubborn, but not as stubborn as the baby inside her” he answered. Nova nodded her understanding. “Go and fetch the bucket and warm some water. There are clean rags in the barn cupboard. It won’t be long now” he instructed. Nova stood up to go as instructed. Just then, the stable doors opened and a worn looking she-wolf named Marla entered. Nova’s green eyes caught his just as the omega fell into his arms. She had a horse behind her. “Grab the horse daughter, quickly, before anyone sees” he said to her hurriedly. Nova grabbed the reigns and began walking the horse inside. Gently he shook the girl in his arms. “Marla, wake up” he said urgently. Marla’s eyes fluttered open. “Please sir, we must get word to the Beta. Let him know Dennis was successful reaching Diana” she whispered. Ringo shook his head as the girls eyes closed. He picked her up and gently moved her to the pile of hay he and Nova had been seated on. He looked up and found his daughter looking at him quizzically. Ringo sighed. He and Portia had done their best to keep their daughters out of their dealings with the Rebel Group, but there was no way he could explain this one away. Nova was too intuitive to know he would be lying. “Come girl, sit here with me a moment” he said to her. After fastening the horse she had to the stable ring and giving him some fresh hay, Nova took her spot next to her Father. “Nova, what you have seen and heard you mustn’t tell anyone.” He began. Nova raised her eyebrows toward him. “Yes, your Mother knows” he huffed out. “We have been working alongside a small group of people here inside the castle walls, we are helping the Rebel Group.” He quickly stated. Nova gasped. Motioning toward the sleeping girl she asked “and the Beta, Maverick, he knows about this?” Ringo nodded his head at her. “Yes my sweet girl he does”. He heard Nova take a deep breath. “So now what Father” she replied. His hands again finding the mare, Ringo thought for a moment. His eyes turned to her and after another moments pause he finally answered “so now we must inform the Beta his message has been received. You my girl will get him this message. Let’s both hope your mother doesn’t find out I sent you to do this work.” He finished. Nova c****d her head at him. “Or your sister” he added. Nova let out a soft chuckle. “I will handle Cora, Father. She’s already warning me to be mindful of both the Alpha and the Betas intentions.” Ringo looked at her confused. Nova bit her lip. She hated to cause any concern for her parents. Shaking her head she continued “No Dad. Everything is alright , just tell me what you need me to do.” She stated. Her Father looked at her for a moment and then stood up, walking over to the doors and closing them. He sat back down next to her.

“Go and find Beta Maverick. All you need to say to him is the bat has landed, he will understand.” He told her. Nova nodded her head. “And when do I do this?” She inquired. “At breakfast, daughter. Leave me and join your Mother in the kitchen. Find the girl named Torra and take her serving duties. She often refills the Beta’s cup.”

Nova bit her lip. “Seems simple enough” she said to him. Ringo put his arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on her fathers broad chest. Glancing down at the top of her chestnut head he issued a silent prayer to Selene, “Goddess, protect my daughters, and me from my wife”.