A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood
Chapter 76
Chapter Seventy Six
” Why Elder Luke” Aleric asked me a few days later
We were in his ca, driving towards the housing estate where the Elders resided A piacelhadatvted since my marking confumation three years ago
” Are you seriously asking me that?”
“Well, it‘s just he‘s the least experienced Elder, right? Alenc sad “Didnt he join only a few years ago? Wouldn‘t one of the other six Elders be better to reach out to since they‘re more experienced
“The fact you‘re even asking me that means you mustn‘t be overly familiar with how this pack is actually run yet,” I replied.
“I know enough,” he said defensively, making me laugh.
“Okay, okay, sorry. I‘ll explain,” I said. “Have you ever noticed how all of the workload Tytus gives you consists of only very minor issues? Like petty problems that don‘t need much thought
“Yes but I‘m not a fully sworn in ranked member yet. The larger issues would be looked after by Tytus and the Elders.”
“One the surface? Yes,” I said. “If it‘s the same as the past, then, yes the Elders are the ones currently looking after all the bigger issues. Back then. Tytus and yourself would have the final say but you weren‘t typically the people coming up with all of the ideas You relied on the Elders and me for that
“On the surface? Is this where you finally tell me why just this one Elder ?**
* needed to give you context first,” I said, disapproving of his impatience. “So, as I was saying, currently the Elders are looking after all the major issues. Now, if you ever get your hands on the private meeting minutes one day, you‘ll see one name constantly popping up Luke Hastings.”
“Elder Luke?” he asked to which I nodded.
“Elder Luke is single–handedly one of the most dangerous people in our pack and he doesn‘t even need to lift a finger for that title,” I said “After I‘d completed my Luna coronation, I went into the pack vault and read through most of the classified documents relating to meetings and politics. In a way, he is basically running the place right now with his strategies and was the person who sparked my initial fascination in the field”
The pack vault was located in a secret location under the Winter Mist, reserved for only ranked members and Elders. Not even heirs were allowed in there it was the place where all treasures and important documents were kept for safekeeping. Among many other things, a notable item in its inventory right now was the ancient sword that beheaded me
In the past. Aleric had banned me from going in there but technically, by holding a Luna rank, i normally should have had access. Apparenily in this life, he didn‘t seem to care as he now didn‘t even remark on The faci l‘a been in there.
Alenc drove quietly for a bit mulling over what I‘d just told him. He was probably piecing it all together You‘re nght. Thinking about it now, he does seem to influence far more than the others
I smiled. “Don‘t feel bad. If you hadn‘t noticed Elder Luke subtly pushing meetings his way up until now then you were just doing exactly what he expected you to If everyone knew what he was doingI‘m sure it would be a lot harder for him to accomplish some of the things he does Hell, even I only found out a few years ago that he has people working under him directly. Pretty sure even the ranked members might not know about that one as it was a surprise to me.”
Chapter Seventy Six
Trecalled how he‘d somehow known Cai was training me in combat even though only Myra, Cai and I knew about that. He was a master of secrets on a higher level than most probably realised. After all, as he had so nicely put it in the past, he didn‘t get to where he was now without help. Who knew how vast his network actually was?
“If we find ourselves on the opposite side of Elder Luke then I can‘t guarantee the outcome,” I continued.” Truthfully, I would rather face Tytus head–on several times than go up against Elder Luke even once. He‘s a lot smarter than I think some give him credit for... and I owe him a lot for helping me get to where I am.”
If he had never suggested I pursue becoming Beta then there was no telling where I‘d be right now. Sure, i t hadn‘t worked out, but without it, Aleric and I would have never gotten closer. And I would have never become stronger or more confident. I was where I was today because of him. Because he believed in met o do something that was previously unheard of.
It was exactly that mentality of his that I was counting on. The sort of progressive, open–mindedness that he was renowned for even prior to this life. He‘d been an ally towards me up until now... but would it be that way when the moment for change finally arose?
Because I knew approaching him wasn‘t without its risks. I was still completely aware of the fact that this would be asking him to betray his current Alpha... and everyone had their limits.
“We‘re here,” Aleric said, pulling up to the gated property. “I‘ll try to be here to pick you up when you‘re done. All good?”
| unbuckled my seatbelt and nodded. ‘Yep, all good. Oh... and if anyone asks why I‘m here?”
“You‘re meeting with Elder Luke to read his book collection. It caught your attention during your marking confirmation a few years ago.”
I smiled. It wasn‘t a lie but it was a nice double–sided coin nevertheless, acting as a cover for my main reason for coming here.
“I‘ll see you later, Aleric,” I said and exited the car.
Upon leaving, I approached the intricate black iron gates being manned by a warrior. Just like the last time I was here, they opened the entrance up for me immediately without needing to announce who I was.
inside, I stood in the lobby silently but didn‘t need
- me.
Luke‘s deep voice greeted,
still looked as he always did; a messy unkempt look about him which somehow fit
I replied, bowing my head slightly. “Please call me Aria, just as you always have in the past.”
me a small smile. “So I heard you‘ve requested to spend some time reading my collection? Given your reaction last time,
of us,” I said and began walking with him towards his office. “Funny how life
at me curiously from the corner of his eye. “I f so,
Chooter Seventy SA
a little. “Where possible, I prefer to sway my future in the direction I choose,
knowing half–smile but we kept walking. Given his position, it was probably best he didn‘t publicly answer that since Elders were meant to uphold the teachings of the Goddess.
he ushered me inside. Just like the last time, my breath caught in my throat a little at the sight of his collection.
eagerness bubbling inside that reminded me of how much I missed the thrill of reading something
was here...
a particular event that occurred a few years ago. Are you familiar with the history
around to see he‘d raised an eyebrow at me, quickly catching
a particular part of
you‘re pretty experienced in this field so I was wondering what your
look of curiosity I was familiar with. There was no question he knew what I was talking about. What
the title succession hadn‘t been passed down to the next in line but rather a relative. In a protest against the current leadership, their pack had rallied behind a cousin of the Alpha,
when I asked Elder Luke what his opinion on the matter was, whether he agreed that the change in leadership was the right decision, what I was
he‘d figured out my cryptic message
was a strange circumstance, to say the least,” he started, giving it some
want to start a game of chess against the
in recent times, it‘s easy to see that regardless of the initial impact, they believed it was the right thing to do. And in that belief, they have accomplished more than they probably would
if done all over again, you would support their decision for change?” | asked, doing my best to keep my voice neutral despite the
and took a moment to fully think through the implications of my question. If he agreed to help
his chair behind the desk, leaning back
wouldn‘t stop them from doing what they thought was ilghi, bomeilmet change can be
any longer. I think they would probably appreciate
cintosilly not satisfied just yet “Have you asked any of my other colleagues
a knowing smick “lihink we both know
instantly broke the tension “lilooks like someone liat done thel homework Theroughly on the subject.”
I say? I‘ve always been a quick study.” I said, iuming back around to lace
for the other Ilders was probably no sociei aingo I always seemed to be publicly butting heads with them. But it also
this one. And who could forget
and, apparently,
infringed on the laws she was bound by. So how was it that a bunch ol old cronies came up with a‘ prophecy about Aleric and
Elder Luke said, pulling me from my thoughts. “I might be able
where my head had just been, the request came easy to
turning to look at him, my expression instantly becoming serious. “And I don‘t mean those vague books I‘ve already read in the library before. I
from the shelves. Eventually, after a few minutes had passed, he handed me over four different ones; all of which looked lar older than I felt comfortable touching. They looked almost fragile enough to break by
desk. “They‘re copies of originals so I‘m not sure if the information is as accurate as it could be provide you with some new information that you won‘t
were originals out there even older than the ones in my hand?
Elder Luke and began flicking through the first book. There was definitely a lot of information I already knew,
has a brother?” | asked surprised, reading a page relating to a family tree,
of nature, deities considered separate from the typical belief system. They‘re immortalised beyond the normal standard because of their status being the Sun and Moon.”
him given that it would surely have some sort of impact on Selene. And i t made me
still left feeling a
of significance
that I was missing something there. “The one that stated Aleric and I would be together and bring prosperity to the Winter Mist? It‘s just... I have my doubts that Selene would involve herself in
should call it a ‘prophecy‘, truthfully,” he said, scratching his chin. “Though your word ‘prediction‘ might be more accurate? At least i n my opinion. I think the old fools had a bigger flair
not provided by Selene?” I asked. It was the first time I’d heard anything like this. My whole