I was Kidnapped for Revenge by a Ruthless Alpha-Chapter 216: A Gift I Gift to You

~Odette~

My world darkened as my vision tunneled.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the same heavenly, otherworldly place I was when she healed my mother and all those people.

"Welcome back, daughter."

"Goddess Mother." I whispered, Artemis only looked more ethereal every time I saw her. It was always breathtaking.

"You did well. We haven’t had much time to talk, and though our time here is limited, you cannot stay long, it will be long enough to say and do what needs to be done." Artemis voice echoed with a thousand years of life in every word.

"I’m confused. How did I heal those people? Heal my mother?"

Artemis smiled, taking my hand in hers, leading me over to a pond that had a small streaming waterfall coming from a misty cloud above and sat down, putting her feet in the water, dress and all, yet somehow, she didn’t look wet.

"What is fire other than death and rebirth? Through its destruction new life forms. Divine Fyre is no different. It gives life just as well as it can take it. Though I will admit, I helped guide it a little. You do not yet have control over it, but I have no doubt that with the coming changes, you will." Her words carried a hint of prophecy to them; it was unsettling but not scary.

I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first.

"You always speak in riddles."

"My translator is broken." The goddess covered her mouth and laughed softly. It was a heavenly sound.

"You’ve got jokes." I laughed with her. Our relationship felt light, easy even.

"See... Even gods can laugh."

"That’s surprising." I paused myself and then asked something I’ve been wondering for a while. "What happened to Cerberus? Where is he now?"

Artemis face fell slightly, looking pained and full of longing.

"He still is held up in his realm, even after all these years, he remains unforgiving and distant." She had this sadness in her voice that broke my heart for her.

"What if I could help?" I offered, my eyes looking up at Artemis. This was something I thought about a lot during the days after I learned about my past life.

"What do you have in mind?" Artemis seemed interested.

"Vampires, I think... They are the key to changing things. You see, shifters worship you. But who worships him? Vampires are his creations, through Ezelreth, but still his by default. What if I gave them a god to worship and I gave a god the followers he deserves?"

Artemis was shocked, to say the least, with the idea.

But I think she liked it, because she smiled and her face lit up slowly.

"I think that is the right move. Creatures of the night worshipping the god of darkness. Poetic." Artemis had a glint of hope for in her eyes.

"As it should have always been."

Artemis reached out and lifted my chin.

"You are more than I bargained for in this life, my daughter."

She stood up and strolled around, looking off in the distance. "I have a gift for your people. When you return, you will find something that will awaken in all of them. Both witches, shifters and vampires. All who fought for me shall receive this gift."

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"You will know soon enough."

"More riddles..." I rolled my eyes, half hearted attitude, just enough to be like a teenage daughter.

Artemis giggled lightly.

"I am so proud of you." And with those words the world around her faded.

"You will be a wonderful mother." Were the last words Artemis uttered. I began grasping at a world that was slowly fading and becoming shrouded in mist.

And then her words hit me like a sack of bricks.

When I opened my eyes again, my mother was peacefully sleeping next to me.

I shot up and the echoing words flew out of my mouth before I could think.

"Oh, my goddess, I’m going to be a mother."

Instinctively I reached for my stomach and rubbed it.

Am I a mother right now?

My mother, even asleep, heard my words and her eyes popped open instantly.

"What!?"

"I... Oh... Oh my goddess. Mother."

I was stumbling over my words like a babbling idiot. "MOTHER. I THINK I’M PREGNANT."

I finally punched the words out of my own chest.

"How, how do you know?" Her eyes sparkled with hope, it was endearing.

"Artemis, I was just with her in my sleep and I think she just told me before I left."

"What, Artemis? The Moon Goddess?" My mother blinked slowly and tilted her head and stared in disbelief.

"Yeah. What time is it? Where is Ambrose?" I looked around the room frantically. I needed him. I needed him right now.

"Calm down, he left a little while ago. He’s been visiting frequently to check on you, and he’s been handling pack business."

"He’s very handsome, you know? I approve." My mother winked at me.

"Even though he kidnapped me, sending you into a spiraling rage?" I raised my eyebrow questioningly at her.

"Especially." She laughed.

My mother was still a crazy, hopeless, romantic that even after everything she’s been through, somehow finds a way to be so forgiving.

"Anyways... As I was saying, so the traitors will have a court date next week and will be sentenced. The pack living in the weylines are being brought here, Phera has been helping with that. She’s a sweet little fox girl, reminds me of my sweet Midna back home. And the Leviathan? Your grandmother’s new boyfriend, thing friend. I don’t know. His face still creeps me out. He’s been helping as well. I think the fox and him have some weird history. I don’t know, but I can sense the animosity between them."

We laughed together. She wasn’t wrong.

"So, pregnant?" My mother sat up and leaned on her arm, her hand supporting her body on the bed.

I turned and crossed my legs to face my mother.

"Yeah, I think so." My mother reached out and touched my tummy.

"I wonder how long until we can sense it." I missed my mother’s smile. Her kind genuine expression. Her excitement at the idea already building.

"Mom... I think I met your dad..."

She looked over, her face flat and expressionless. "You mean your grandpa?"

"Yes." I answered.

"Oh. Yeah. We don’t talk. I haven’t seen him since my coronation. He got what he wanted and disappeared." My mother sighed. "I thought I was the apple of his eye. But I was just his trump card for status climbing. After I realized it, I stopped caring. I was pregnant with the man of my dreams child. His selfish move was the best thing he ever did for me."

She looked away, seemingly distant now. "Let’s talk about something else."

I nodded. "The goddess said she gifted something to all those who fought for her. Witches, vampires, and shifters alike. But she didn’t tell me what, she just said I’ll know soon enough."

"She talks in riddles, doesn’t she?" My mother smirked knowingly.

"Yes, how’d you know?!" I asked shocked.

"She gave us a prophecy in a riddle... she could have just told us..." My mother laughed.

"Sounds like her." We both laughed together.

Things felt surreal, too calm for how chaotic everything has been.

Moments later Emalea burst through her bedroom door.

"Odette! I have a mate!"

My jaw dropped, nearly touching the bed. She’d hoped Damon and her would be together. But this changes everything.

When did this even happen?

"How do you know?"

"Because I was holding his hand when it happened. It was like a snap. I can’t explain it. But I felt everything inside him. It’s cloudy, but there."

"He who?"

"Damon of course! Where else have I been?"

Damon... My hands slapped over my mouth and I squealed! Clapping excitedly.

"That sly goddess. This is what she meant." I chuckled.

"What do you mean?" Emalea asked looking confused by my reaction.

"The goddess, she told me she had a gift for those who fought for her."

"But I didn’t fight for her?" Emalea pulled back a little sad.

"But Damon did. You are his reward. And you healed for her, she rewarded you with Damon."

Emalea’s hands flew to her mouth.

"Oh my god." Her hands dropped to her heart.

"Oh, I think he’s awake." Emalea squeaked. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Well, go to him, what are you still standing here for." My mother pointed at the door.

"Oh goddess, you’re right!" She turned tail and ran out the door.

And once again the room with filled with lighthearted laughter.

I stopped laughing and looked toward the door.

I knew who was there before the doors even opened.

Ambrose flung the doors open and charged over to me, "You’re awake."

I nodded. Looking at him and remembering I was probably pregnant with his baby. It made me fall in love with him all over again.

"She’s got some good news." My mother clapped excitedly, the news was dying to break from her mouth. I could see it exploding inside her. She was hanging on by a thread.

Ambrose’s eyes still hadn’t left mine, "What news?"

"The Goddess gave our people fated mates. All of them that fought for her."

Ambrose was staring harder now. "You’re serious, she gifted fated mates again? What happened to them before?"

"I don’t know, she just told me that she gave us a gift." Her smile widened. "She also told me, I’m going to be a mother..."

Ambrose was still processing what I’d just said about fated mates when the second part of what I said came into mind.

"A mother...?" he repeated my words slowly. As if he was reading into them.

He approached me and touched my stomach.

Ambrose started beaming with pride.

"I’m going to be a dad."