The Other Part of Me

Elsbeth

It had been a while since Elsbeth had returned to her deceased mate's land, but today, a visit was warranted. As it was, only a few packs were fortunate enough to have an oracle amongst their inhabitants and even a lesser few had one as gifted as that of the Spearhead Pack.

She pulled up to the gate and entered the security code, which hadn't been changed. Not that she was surprised. The pack was known for its brawn, not for its brain. The gates opened for her and she drove right in.

These lands were very familiar to her, as once upon a time she had been chosen by Moon Goddess herself to be Luna to these pathetic wolves; unfortunately, it was as a second-chance mate to Jonathan, but that did not diminish the shine from the Luna title she bore.

Alas, when Jonathan died and his eldest son became Alpha, he came with a new Luna already in tow. Elsbeth's role was practically reduced to that of a peasant. She had no issues when her Alpha-assigned Omegas were taken away to help the new Luna, but she drew the line at having no one to run errands for her or bring her meals to her quarters. Surely, that was not too much to ask for after the seven years she had spent there leading and inspiring them!

That was when she decided to return to her old pack. If she came down for breakfast with everyone else, no one would think less of her as she was not their Luna and never had been. Their Luna.

Elsbeth sighed as her mind drifted to many years past.

She had come so close-if only that filthy human hadn't gotten in the way. Even if Thaddeus had chosen another wolf as his Luna, she wouldn't have been as angry, but to have to bow her head to a worthless human when she and all others from the pack came from the god's bloodlines themselves, well, it was just an insult!

A slap in the face!

Neither she, nor her mother could bear the thought!

And now Braden was going to make the same mistake?!

Now that the damned half-breed had found her way home, getting rid of her wasn't going to be easy. No, there were too many noses familiar with the scents of the environment. They'd smell her decay almost immediately and they would find her killer before daybreak.

No-she had to think outside the box and that's why she was back on this cursed land. She had to find anything she could use to her advantage. The only good thing about this wretched trip was Magdalena's standalone cottage at the end of the road. If luck was on her side, chances of seeing those old peons were slim-to-none.

The old curmudgeon preferred to live away from the pack 'to be away from the overwhelming energy of all others,' she would say.

Elsbeth approached the cottage at a rapid speed, her car displacing a thick cloud of dust behind her.

Magdalena had opened the door and stood on her porch, looking in her direction.

Of course that old hag knew she was here, that's why she was here, after all. Elsbeth wouldn't have bothered returning if Magdalena's powers were nothing more than a parlor trick.

She parked her black BMW extremely close to the cottage and quickly made her way to the witch.

"I am not surprised to see you again after all these years, but I am surprised that you managed to completely flatten my herb garden, usurper."

Elsbeth proceeded to walk past her unwilling host and took a seat in the living room before one was offered.

"Enough with the small talk," she pulled out a dirty coffee cup from her purse. She had kept a close eye on the half-breed all morning, just waiting for her to release the blue glazed cup. She needed it before her essence had been washed away. "I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here so be quick and tell me what you can feel from this energy."

Magdalena's gray eyes were penetrating Elsbeth's own. She knew what she was doing. That silver hair never fooled Elsbeth for a second. She wasn't a sweet old lady, and likely had never been fond of anyone in her life. She was probably angry and bitter at the life she had been handed.

"Stop reading me, Magdalena. I have no interest in what you can see in my future. I make my own destiny." She stood and pushed the cup into the old woman's abdomen until she was relieved of it. "I always have and I always will." Elsbeth resumed her seat.

"I was glad when you were knocked off your high and mighty pedestal. You were always unworthy of assuming Luna Ariadne's seat."

Elsbeth gracefully rolled her eyes. "Don't pretend that you liked Ariadne."

Magdalena smiled crookedly at her guest. "I see you still haven't escaped a dead woman's shadow, usurper." She sat across from her. "I respected Ariadne and her selflessness."

Now it was Elsbeth who smiled, and her smile was a cruel one. "Maybe if she had been a little more selfish, she would still be alive."

Magdalena stared daggers at her company. Elsbeth was aware of how Ariadne perished; it was after a goodwill visit to the pack hospital. There was a deadly influenza strain running rampant within the pack. It was said she took all precautions, but it was not enough as her wolf was dead in less than three days, and Ariadne was gone within the moments that followed.

"You're incorrigible, Elsbeth. Moon Goddess has given you so many opportunities to redeem yourself, but your wicked ways will always prevail."

"Well, well. We agree on something." Elsbeth crossed her legs and leaned forward. "Tell me what I'm here for."

Magdalena slowly wrapped her hands firmly around the cup. Her eyes seemed to focus on Elsbeth. The old woman was unblinking and unmoving. From previous experience, she knew Magdalena's energy was now communing with that of Moon Goddess and the Moirai.

Elsbeth heard Magdalena take an elongated breath as her eyes slowly closed.

"The orphaned pup has come to her rightful home. Her mate bond is true as the hearts of the union, for Moon Goddess makes no mistakes. She will conceive, her acts will end the life in her womb. There will be heartbreak. The truth will out." While her eyes remained closed, Magdalena dropped the cup on the floor. "Elsbeth, you will be given one final chance. Use your knowledge for good. You can change this outcome. Redemption is near." Elsbeth smiled wickedly.

She came here for a prediction, and she was walking out in charge. Thanks to Moon Goddess, it seemed the power was all hers and oh no, she would not waste this blessed chance.