I keep the secret period party close to my heart but contribute every now and then. But mostly, I’m happy to listen to the men I love share stories about the woman who raised us.
As the guys laugh around me and I sit with a smile on my face, I realize that I’m not having an emotional breakdown, which shocks the hell out of me. Some self-sabotaging part of me wonders if it’s because I didn’t love her enough but I quickly quiet that lying bitch quickly.
I think about what Gaia told me.
Though Beth loved her time with us, I wonder if some part of her soul had always known something more awaited. If it had yearned to be reunited with her family.
Knowing she is finally at peace with her husband and son, and that she had spent her gifted years with us brings me peace. Her soul had called out and had been handpicked to love and protect us. We couldn’t have asked for a better mom to fill that role.
Maybe one day, we’ll be reunited with her.
Thank you, Gaia.
As we walk through the doors of the small-town hospital, I gulp, hating the feeling of being in the building. The sterile white walls, the ill people in the waiting rooms, the tired hospital staff, the death in the air—it all makes my skin crawl with how unnatural it feels. It all feels so wrong. Not to mention the damage throughout the hospital. It’s astounding that they’re still running full force.
After Hale checks us in, they promptly lead us down the hall and into the mortuary.
A tall, elderly man with a balding head pulls out the cold chamber that stores Beth’s body. He pulls the sheet down to expose her face and I latch onto the hand closest to me. It doesn’t matter which guy it is. We’re all going through the same thing here and we all need to lean on each other to get through this.
“Is this Beth Sanders?” the old worker asks us in his gravelly, monotone voice.
“It is,” Hale answers for the group.
Nodding, the worker jots down some notes on his clipboard. “Have you decided what arrangements you would like for her body?”
The severity of the situation sinks in and grief flows through me, knowing this will be the last time I see her. On shaky legs, I walk up to her side, knowing I need to make peace with what comes. Yesterday, I wasn’t in the right mental state to say goodbye for the last time and today, I know so much more about Beth’s journey in my life.
Though I want to wallow, mourn and grieve, I don’t know the journey that awaits. I know I have an uphill battle to climb.
As the men discuss what we decided with the worker, I place my hand over her cold one and begin to say goodbye quietly. “Thank you for choosing to call out to Gaia as your soul tried to pass. I always joked you were my guardian angel and I hadn’t even known it was the truth.” Stray tears fall down my face. It feels cathartic, like a weight is lifting off of me. “I can handle it from here.” I smile sadly. “You raised an incredible woman, if I do say so myself, and a damn good group of men to support me. Rest easy and tell your family thank you for letting me have you for a few years.”
I lean down to kiss the back of her hand softly as a warm hand lands on my back. Standing back up, I turn and look up through my wet lashes to find Hale staring lovingly at Beth. The rest of them come over and say their silent goodbyes.
As the worker tells us that it’s time to leave, an overwhelming sense of love and pride washes through my body, causing me to stare wide-eyed at the others. Their faces mimic my own and I know they’re feeling this as well.
We feel your love, Beth.
Smiling and wiping the remaining tears from my face, I turn and walk out of the door, feeling at peace. I walk straight out of the hospital, not wanting anything to dampen the love I’m feeling. The guys can finish up the paperwork for the cremation. I know they won’t mind.
“About damn time,” a sarcastic, female voice calls over to me. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for hours.” I turn to look at a willowy woman with teal hair and silver eyes.
Who the fuck? I have no clue who she is.
Clearly, she has the wrong person. I continue to walk away as I wait for the guys to join me.
“You’re seriously going to fucking ignore me? Gaia warned me that that was your coping mechanism but I didn’t think it would start this soon.”
Wait a fucking minute, did she just say Gaia?
Swiveling on my heels to stare at the ethereal woman, it clicks into place that of course she would. I don’t know a single, human woman who can rock teal hair and silver eyes and still manage to look like a runway model.
But I don’t appreciate her tone. “Are you another Goddess? No offense, you’re not giving me the same powerful vibes Gaia did in my dream.”
She throws her head and laughs a throaty laugh. I examine her strange outfit as she amuses herself. Black leather pants are molded to her lower body like a glove, while her upper body is covered in a small black tank top, causing her pale skin to stand out further. Silver necklaces, with what look like crescent moons and stars, adorn her neck.
Damn her for looking so chic and badass.
“No, I’m not a Goddess, but thanks for the backhanded compliment. Appreciate it.”
Ignoring her sarcastic jab, I ask, “Who are you??”
“Serenity.”
“Seriously? Serenity?” I scoff and take in her almost-gothic clothes. Somebody with that name should be wearing floral prints and bright colors. “There’s nothing serene about your look or personality so far.”
She looks me up and down with a shit-eating grin, almost like she’s enjoying this. “That’s funny coming from someone whose name spelled backwards is ANAL. I can see the similarities to an asshole though so if it fits…” She trails off with a wink.
No way did this bitch just compare me to someone’s asshole.
I push my shoulders back and cock an eyebrow at her. “Listen here, Serenity. You might think your hot shit and that the world should bow down to whatever you have to say but that’s not going to fly with me.”
She leans against the wall and inspects her black, manicured nails. “Listen here, Anal. I don’t think I’m hot shit. I know I’m hot shit. I also know that I’m the witch in charge of training you and your mates so I’d suggest you drop the attitude.”
The fucking audacity. Witch? More like Witch Bitch.
Wait… Did she say mates? As we stare each other down, my men choose that moment to stroll out of the hospital doors and interrupt the bad bitch standoff.
This isn’t over, my glare says to her.
No, the fuck it isn’t, her smirk shoots back.
“Uhh, Lana. Who’s this?” Ash glances up and down at Serenity, making my temper flare. I narrow my eyes at the traitor. I don’t give a fuck if it’s a casual look. He needs to focus on me.
Eyes on the prize, buddy.
I purse my lips. “She has been sent by Gaia to annoy the shit out of me.”
Serenity pushes off the wall and walks over to where our group is gathered, her black boots clicking against the pavement. She looks so unbothered and perfectly put together that it grinds my gears for some reason.
She stops in front of us. “Now that I’ve got all of you together, let me break down what’s going to happen, kids. Gaia sent me here to gather all of you because apparently shit’s about to hit the fan in the Fae realm. I’m going to take you guys to my realm to shelter you and train you with my men. Are we clear?”