*Zara*
I couldn’t believe things were finally looking up, and I felt accepted by Drogomor. I’d be able to carry on as a working woman, the pack’s Luna, with their blessings.
Relief radiated off in waves, and I bead happily at Noah as the ceremony ca to its conclusion. Not only did the ceremony go well, but I could finally get answers about these terrifying sigils.
As the days passed with no information, I’d been growing more and more antsy, the dread in my stomach reaching its peak. Now, hopefully that problem would be solved... or progressed, at least.
We gave Briella to my parents, ensuring she was doing well. She needed a nap anyway, and I didn’t want her exposed to too much excitent just yet.
A eting was set up in a proper room, and we made ourselves comfortable, sitting across from Sasha and her mate, Lucas.
I let out a breath, giving her a light smile. “Hello. Thank you so much for agreeing to et with us here,” I said.
She gave a faint smile. “It is my pleasure. Briella is a beautiful na. Congratulations on such a wonderful child to the future Luna of Drogomor.”
I bead at her, feeling pride swell within . Until recently, I hadn’t felt confident at all in my future role. I’d had so many doubts before about being a Luna and a mother. But now that the Drogomor people seed so accepting and even excited about Noah and , my confidence was growing.
Sasha grew serious but kept a warm expression on her face. “You had questions to ask of ?”
I nodded and explained to her the situation with the sigils tattooed on my back, that I’d had no idea they were there, how they only showed up in the light of the moon, and how I was nervous about their purpose. I took out my phone and showed her a picture, just so she would know for sure what they were, in case she had forgotten.
Recognition flashed in Sasha’s eyes, and her expression turned solemn, which caused my stomach to lurch nervously.
“What’s the matter?” I asked in a hushed tone.
“Well,” she began. “When I touched you as a baby, you seed to harbor horrific, hellish nightmares. It was so distressing, I—”
She put her hand over her heart, overco with emotions that looked like sadness and terror for a mont as a frown spread on her face.
Noah was now frowning as well, and he leaned over to squeeze my shoulder to reassure . I relaxed slightly at his tender gesture. He knew this was causing stress.
Sasha continued. “I wasn’t sure if the disturbing visions were mories of what you might have experienced from wherever you ca from previously... or—”
I leaned forward, wondering where else the visions could have co from.
“Or if they were extracted from another life,” she continued. “They could have even co from another person.”
I let out a breath, the thought of that absolutely terrifying to . All prospects seed very nerve-wracking, and I felt anxiety rush through my wolf as well.
“What exactly did you see in those nightmares?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though likely failing a bit.
“I am sorry,” Sasha said softly. “I regret to say I cannot recall the specifics after all this ti. I tried to forget them on purpose. The images were much too disturbing.”
A chill rushed through , practically freezing my soul at this news. My eyes widened in fear, and I swallowed. I wondered what kind of traumatic events could lead a baby to harbor such extre night terrors.
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I had Noah there with , and Drogomor on my side too. I wasn’t alone. Finally, I wasn’t alone. Finally, I was accepted by them.
They would be here for , especially Noah. I grasped that in my mind firmly before asking my next question for Sasha. “W-what would happen if the markings were to be removed from my back now?”
“I am not sure,” Sasha said, her brow furrowing in thought. “But. I suspect the original nightmare visions could return if the mystical block is lifted.”
Yet another chill went through my spine. Knowledge was power, but I wasn’t sure if that would be the case in this instance. The sigils were indeed ant to protect ... from my own mind.
That thought was so off-putting, and I gulped, reaching up to rub at my temples for just a mont. Noah leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on my cheek.
I gave a hum of appreciation for him, turning to gaze into his blazing blue eyes. There was concern churning in those swirling depths, and determination to protect .
I let out a soft sigh, then looked back at Sasha. “Is there any way to learn more about this? Did you do this on your own?”
Sasha shook her head, her eyes very distant. “No,” she said in a hushed tone. “I had help from a witch. She harnessed unusual dark magic but used it for good... like to help you.”
“A witch? Dark magic?” I asked in a hushed tone, knowing so people thought I was a witch myself. I swallowed, trying to wrap my head around everything.
Sasha nodded. “Yes. She prefers her anonymity for her own safety. I am sure you understand. You were brought to the witch as a last resort when all else failed to grant you peaceful rest.”
I studied her expression, and her words were edged and hesitant. She stared at the table, and I waited to see if she had anything else to add.
She closed her eyes, then let out a sigh. “I didn’t want to resort to that, really, because though she did seem very benevolent, her rare command of shadow magic gave the chills.”
I glanced over to Noah to see how he was taking it. He concentrated on Sasha’s words, then noticed my look toward him. He gave a light smile. “Dark magic, witches—regardless, still here.”
I let out a sigh of relief, then thought for a mont. “Would... sothing like that interfere with a mate bond?”
“I am not sure,” Sasha admitted. “I am sorry I don’t have more answers for you right now. These are all valuable questions, and here I am with so many ‘I don’t knows.’”
“That’s alright,” I said softly. “The fact that you’re here and trying to help ans the world to . Thank you so much.” I swallowed.
She smiled at , then focused on the distant past. “Though I do know we’d been very careful to construct sigils that were only ant to counteract and block the nightmares. I don’t know dark magic enough to understand if unexpected side effects would apply.”
“I understand,” I said softly, thinking it through.
“The witch had sealed your markings with the sanctified blood and loving energies of your adoptive parents. In fact, your unique matchmaking abilities may have been the result of that ritual.”
I blinked, thinking that through. Granted magic by so sigils on my back... that would be interesting. But I wondered if I would lose my powers if I had them removed.
My mind was full of such questions. What if we found out they were blocking my mate bond, and confird that I’d lose my powers if they were gone? Could I go through with it?
I mulled it all over in my head, having so many more questions than before. I had thought everything would be answered there, but I should have known that wouldn’t be the case.
A deep frown ford on my face, and I leaned against Noah for comfort. A silence stretched between all of us, one that I broke after a mont. “Sorry. This is just a lot to take in.”
“I understand,” Sasha said. “Take all the ti you need to process this. You are a new mother, after all, and will be Luna of Drogomor. You have a lot on your shoulders.”
I shot her a thankful look, glad that she understood just how heavy it all was for .
Noah spoke up. “Could anyone be granted powers by sigils?” He was mighty curious, and I just had to chuckle. He glanced over at and gave a grin. “What? Being a winged wolf or sothing would be helpful.”
“It would,” I said, realizing he was trying to be lighthearted about the situation for my sake.
Sasha chuckled at her nephew, shaking her head. “Well, if you are able to speak with the witch, that is sothing you can ask her,” she said.
After gazing at our expressions for a mont, she sighed. “I can make a promise to try to reach out to this witch from long ago to see if she’d agree to et with you. But it isn’t sothing you should expect outright.”
I nodded firmly, my heart leaping with hope. Even just a chance at more answers would be better than nothing, and we were farther than before now, even if we hadn’t revealed everything I wanted to know.
“I would really appreciate that, and I understand. I will find so way to compensate her or sothing. I really want to know what may be blocked.”
“Just rember,” Sasha warned, wincing. “So mories are best left blocked. But these answers could prepare you for... well, whatever the images implied.”
I shivered, feeling that spike of dread rush through at the thought of whatever horrors I’d seen as a baby, or in a past life, or even from soone else... could an.
Whoever or whatever was connected to those mories could pose a huge danger to and my family, I thought.
“Any chance to try and talk with the witch will be helpful,” I said. “I won’t try to reveal everything if it is bad. But more revelations for who I am underneath the surface will be helpful, like you said.”
“Right,” Sasha said. “Exactly.”
Noah chid in. “And I will be with you the entire way, Zara. I promise.”
Warmth billowed within as I turned to give Noah a relieved smile. I knew I wouldn’t be alone, but his reassurance was very heartening.
I leaned over and gave him a deep kiss on the lips, one that I held for a bit before pulling away and letting out a sigh.
“I need to make sure Briella is completely well before focusing on this too much,” I muttered. “But if there’s any way the witch could co here, or accommodations could be made.... I would appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Sasha said. “I will ntion your situation should I be able to get in touch with her.”
With that, the eting concluded. I felt shaky and very nervous, but I really hoped I could discover the truth about myself.
Maybe it would finally help fill in so critical missing pieces.
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