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“Immunity is a very rare gift, and on top of that, you are immune to everything that marks a danger to werewolves and Lycans alike,” Samuel explains. “Had your gifts been public, your life might have been in danger.”

I listen to what they say silently. Everything they say makes sense. Our gifts need training and we need to learn how to control them; but they are always… there. As for Annie, she had to grow as a person to have access to them.

I can suddenly feel Fenris stir in my mind.Liam, I want to say something.

I nod, clearing my throat a bit. “My wolf wants to talk to you,” I tell the group.

“Now, this will be interesting,” Bernard chuckles.

The stage is yours,I tell Fenris.

No warning that I should behave?Fenris asks me.

I trust you,I admit.You don’t need a warning.

I can feel something warm spread inside me when I say these words. Fenris feels proud and happy. I take a step back and allow him to come forward. I can notice how the elders look at me a bit more guarded now.

“Leah,” Fenris says in his usual hoarse voice. “Annalise’s wolf. She’s important. I don’t want you to belittle her!”

Annalise squeezes his hand. “I love Leah,” she tells him softly. “She’s my voice of reason and guidance, and I would never exchange her with any other wolf.”

He looks at her, a smile curling his lips, as he reaches out his hand to touch her cheek. “I know you do, little mate.” He turns his head to glare at the others. “But you others talk about her like Leah isn’t present. She is, and she hears everything you say, and I don’t want her to get hurt! I don’t mind that she is an Omega. In fact, I love my cute kind-hearted counterpart.”

Geneva smiles at him. “We would never belittle her for being an Omega wolf. She and Annalise are perfectly in tune with each other. I could tell how connected they are. Being Omega doesn’t mean being weak.”

Fenris seems content and nods shortly before retreating and handing back my body to me. My father chuckles slightly. “Never underestimate our Lycans.”

“Just so you know,” Annalise smiles brightly when she turns to look at me. “Leah is swooning right now.”

“I can only imagine,” Geneva chuckles. She pauses before looking at Annalise again. “What I told you is all I know. If we want to know with a hundred percent confidence what the Moon Goddess was up to, we should probably ask Flora,” Geneva points out.

“Mom?” I ask in surprise.

“Your mother can communicate with the spirit world,” Geneva explains.

“I know, but…” I look at them. “Wait… what?”

“This includes deities,” Bernard adds.

I look at my father. “She can communicate with the Goddess?”

Dad sighs and shrugs. “Her gift is peculiar, but to save you the trouble: I asked her about Annie before, and she told me she can’t tell us any details.”

“She can’t, or she’s not allowed to?” Samuel asks.

“The latter,” Dad points out. “But she made sure that I invited Geneva today too. Whenever she forces a certain topic, I know she has an inkling about something.”

Geneva smiles at us. “I trust Flora’s judgment. And if she wanted us to proceed with the knowledge I can present, then it is as I just said: You’re blessed, Annalise. The Moon Goddess blessed you and trusted you with a very rare gift. Use it wisely, as it will give you many advantages as a Princess of the Council and as a Luna. You might see it as a simple defense mechanism to keep you safe, but it allows you to step on very difficult political terrain and stay above many situations.”

Annalise smiles warmly. “Thank you, Geneva. I’ll never abuse my gifts.”

“You are okay with not having complete certainty?” Samuel asks, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “About why you were blessed and how exactly?”

“It’s okay with me,” she nods. “I trust Flora’s judgment too, and this is what she wanted me to know. We’ll never know everything anyway, and I’m content with the answer I just received. Maybe my future will tell me more, maybe one day the goddess will tell me more; but for today, this is as good as we get.”

Samuel leans back a bit. I could swear he looks impressed. He turns to my father. “Elden, in a few years, you’ll be king, and your son with your daughter-in-law will be the new crown prince. Suck it up.”

Dad sighs. “I knew you would like her.”