The Shadow Howlers

Eris quickly made Polly and Trisha visible again, so they could see where they were. What everyone saw made them pause before running to their aid. Achyls was holding each of the pup’s arms, but her hands on them seemed to be melting as she screamed in pain. Polly and Trisha stood together holding hands as Achyls fell to her knees.

Nyx, Sabnac, and Eris got to them before anyone else. Sabnac pulled out a small bag of poison that he had made especially for Achyls and sprinkled it on her head. Eris removed her melted hands from the pups while Nyx grabbed Achyls and flew into the air with her. The poison Sabnac put on her paralyzed her.

“Selena and Zaiden, throw one of your fireballs when I release her,” Nyx said.

“You can’t kill me. I’m indestructible.” Achyls yells. Her body was paralyzed, but her voice wasn’t.

“That’s where you’re wrong. With everyone I created, I ensured there was a way to kill them. That includes you. I promise it’s going to hurt a lot.” Nyx held Achyls away from her body. She took a deep breath andwhen she released it her body had an electric current running all over it. Achyls screamed as the current transferred into her. Nyx tossed her in the air as Selena and Zaiden released a large fireball. It connected with Achyls and her body burst into flames. By the time she reached the ground, she had turned into ash.

“Are we in trouble because we let her know where we were?” Trisha asked. Bianca and Gunnar reached the pups and pulled them into their arms.

“You’re not in trouble. You saved my life, and you helped stop Achyls.” Bianca said, kissing each of their foreheads.

“What did you do to make Achyls’ hands melt?” Gunnar asked them. Trisha and Polly started giggling.

“Our wolves used some power to make that happen,” Polly answered.

“Your wolves? Trisha, did you get your wolf?” Bianca asked. Polly had gotten hers when she turned five, but Trisha still had a couple of days before she would be five.

“Yes. Her name is Kira. She said Selene told her to come early in case we needed her.” Trisha said proudly. Sabnac picked up both pups and put them on his massive shoulders. The two pups squealed excitedly, looking down at everyone else.

“I don’t think we could have defeated Achyls if it wasn’t for you two,” Sabnac said.

“I agree. Your glitter saved your mom, and then melting her hands meant we could finish her off. I think you two are the heroes of the day.” Nyx smiled at them. Trisha and Polly giggled.

Now that the fight was over everyone relaxed. They went into the palace to have a late-night celebratory dessert. Chocolate cake with sprinkles that looked like glitter in honor of the two pups who had saved them all. Nyx smiled when the pups saw the dessert sitting in the middle of the table. She could use her magic for good and chocolate cake is always good.

“Are you okay?” Gunnar asked Bianca. Everyone turned to look at her as they ate their cake. Her face was red, and she was sweating.

“I’m so hot.” She said, fanning herself. Gunnar sniffed the air and his eyes widened.

“You’re in heat.” He shoved his chair away from the table, lifted Bianca into his arms, and ran to their room.

“Well, I guess we’ll see them in a few days,” Alani said. She chuckled and took a bite of her cake when suddenly she became hot.

“Shit. Come on Omar, I’m in heat too. I guess we’ll be having pups at the same time.” She stood up and Omar threw her over his shoulder, running toward their room while everyone else laughed.

“Uh, Zaiden,” Selena said softly.

“Are you in heat, too?” Nyx asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Bianca, Alani, and I all met our mates at the same time, so I guess it’s to be expected, especially with everything that’s happened.” She stood up and Zaiden lifted her into his arms. He looked at everyone around the table.

“Will you please stay here for now? We’re all going to be busy for the next few days.” Everyone readily agreed. He took off a second later. Trisha and Polly watched them leave.

“Do you think we’ll have a brother or a sister?” Polly asked Trisha quietly.

“I don’t know. I can’t wait until they come through. Do you think they will be goddess-marked like us?” Trisha asked her. The others around the table looked at each other. Was it possible that something or someone else had a hand in all of them going into heat at the same time?

Selene sighed after sending Daphne into heat after the others. She didn’t like forcing her wolves into heat but it was necessary. Polly and Trisha were going to need help when their battle came. Selene wanted to make sure they had as much help as possible. The next fight wasn’t going to be as easy. Lives would be lost. For now, they could live happily until that time came.

One Week Later

Selena and Zaiden had just gotten up and were preparing to leave their room when they felt like they were falling. A few minutes later they were standing in a forest.

“Thank you for coming.” A voice behind them said. When they turned around a woman with silver hair and a flowing green dress was smiling at them.

“Are you Selene?” Zaiden asked.

“Yes. I brought you here because Selena, your parents wanted to see you. They can’t take you to their realm but where I am is a place between realms so everyone is safe here. Are you two okay with meeting Eros and Psyche?” Selene asked. Selena squeezed Zaiden’s hand.

“Yes,” she replied softly. There was a noise behind Selena andsuddenly two people emerged. Eros was tall and muscular with blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Psyche had long, shiny dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. Besides the difference in hair color, Selena looked just like her.

Psyche put her hand over her mouth as she stared at her daughter. She had been robbed of watching her grow up into a beautiful woman. Eros couldn’t believe Selena was in front of them. They slowly walked over to where she and Zaiden stood. Selena took the last few steps toward them and wrapped her arms around them.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here. I had wanted to see you so many times over the years. I’m so sorry for everything.” Psyche cried as she hugged Selena.

“Don’t apologize. What happened wasn’t your fault.” Selena said as she pulled away.

“This is my mate, Zaiden.” She said, turning and holding her hand out to him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” He shook their hands.

“I understand you went into heat. Are you pregnant?” Psyche asked as she wiped her tears away.

“Yes. We’re expecting a little girl. You’re going to be grandparents.” Selena replied.

“Will you bring her here so we can meet her?” Psyche asked excitedly. She may not have been a part of Selena’s life, but she had every intention of being part of her grandchildren’s. At least as much as possible.

“Of course we will. We want her to know all of her family.” Selena said with a smile.

She and Zaiden visited with Eros and Psyche for a couple of hours. They loved hearing stories about Trisha and Polly and hoped that they could meet them one day, too. When Selena and Zaiden returned to the palace, they went to the dining hall for breakfast and looked at everyone one around them. No one was in a hurry to leave, and the royal couple was fine with that. Everyone there was family now.