Chapter 15

Sarah POV

My feet were numb in my heels as I managed to make it across the room and step up on the platform. A human holding a position like goddess-mother in a werewolf household was unheard of, but there was no way I was going to say no, which I made quite clear by nodding and holding out my hands to the girls, who came up and did adorable little curtsies, causing the room to laugh warmly.

I managed to keep from looking at Ella, who I was sure would be gritting her teeth, if not baring them. As a goddess-mother, I was being held up to the world as a member of the family, and elevating my status would be good for Chloe, thwarting those who wanted to see her as tainted by her human upbringing. It also meant I was now going to be a permanent part of her life.

It was also an announcement that Zane, an alpha, trusted me.

“I didn’t realize I would get a present too,” I told him with a smile.

Despite my efforts, my eyes were drawn to Ella as she stepped away from the platform with her eyes blazing resentment, then she turned and walked from the room. To my great relief, everyone ignored her and applauded Zane’s announcement.

After that, I gave my little prepared speech about what wonderful girls I had in my life, and I thanked Zane for letting me stay in their lives.

Then I drank champagne, danced with the girls, and watched them open a small mountain of presents, though I noticed the ones for Chloe were somewhat generic. I told myself people would know her better next year, and she would get fewer Barbies and child-rated video games.

To my delight, I was introduced to several of Grace’s friends, who all said they were sorry she wouldn’t be going to Pride Academy anymore. Grace put her shyness aside to tell them she would be sure to make play dates with them and keep in touch. I got to see a hint of her father in the way she made them feel better and the authority with which she briefly spoke.

I saw several of the parents knew each other well and was pleasantly surprised when some parents came over to introduce themselves. Zane’s little surprise really had changed my social status with some of these werewolves, and I tried to be as pleasant as possible.

When the children all started to sag, the party gently broke up. With Zane’s permission, I took the girls to Grace’s room, where she changed into her pajamas. A knock on the door turned out to be the butler, who solemnly handed over her headband, which looked as good as new.

I made sure Grace thanked him and added my own gratitude. He wished us goodnight, and I took Chloe back to our room. To my surprise, Grace didn’t follow us. I got Chloe into her pajamas, her teeth brushed, and was about to pull down her covers when she surprised me.

“Can I sleep in Grace’s bed tonight?” she asked, then quickly added: “She said I could.”

“If you like, sweetie.” To tell the truth, as much as I loved cuddling the girls, having the bed to myself sounded nice.

So back we both went to Grace’s room, who smiled and asked if I would read them a story. She produced the same book her father had read from a couple of nights ago and pointed to where she wanted me to begin.

“The books went through all the world, and a few of them once came to the Emperor. He sat in his golden chair, and read, and read: every moment he nodded his head, for it pleased him to peruse the masterly description of the city, the palace, and the garden. ‘But the Nightingale is the best of all,’ it stood written there.

“What’s that?” exclaimed the Emperor. I don’t know the Nightingale at all! Is there such a bird in my empire, and in my garden? I’ve never heard of that. To think that I should have to learn such a thing for the first time from books!’

“And hereupon he called his cavalier. This cavalier was so grand that if any one lower in rank than himself dared to speak to him, or to ask him any question, he answered nothing but ‘P!’—and that meant nothing.”

Both girls were out now. I closed the book, kissed them both as gently as I could on the forehead, and crept out.

Whereupon I almost ran physically into Zane, who I believe was listening to me read, judging by the smile on his face.

“Oh!” I said, though I remembered to keep my voice down. “Oh, thank you for the party for Chloe, and of course the goddess-mother thing. I mean.” I laughed. “I’m too tired to make sense.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow after work,” he said. “There’s a form or two for you to sign to make it official.” He touched my shoulder briefly. “Sweet dreams.”

I wished him the same, then looked down and walked past him.

“Oh,” he said, turning back toward me. “I’ve arranged for Chloe to join Grace in her riding lessons tomorrow. I was hoping, as their goddess-mother, you would join them.”

“Oh, of course!” I said, probably too loudly. My cheeks got hot as I smiled and all but fled back to my room.

The next day, Zane had left for work by the time I made it to the coffee. The butler, I was pleased to see, joined us in the kitchen and explained that he would be helping me with the girls’ itinerary. His name was Hans Neibsheim, he told me. A beta, Samantha, had been assigned as our driver as well.

After breakfast, Grace helped Chloe get into her jodhpurs, hacking jacket, and riding boots. I watched, mentally taking notes for my own outfit, which fit me, of course, perfectly. We all piled in the car and took a ride to Grace’s riding school, during which she explained the rules, which all sounded reasonable to me, and taught us some basic riding jargon.

Grace had a favorite pony, who nickered and went to her, nosing her for a carrot, which she pulled from her pocket.

“This is Daisy,” she told us, and I admired the pony’s chestnut coloring and long, silky mane.

Chloe got to pick her pony from three in the barn: a palomino, an all-white pony, and a chestnut like Daisy. To my surprise, she picked the all-white one. I watched as Chloe learned how to take a leg up on her pony, whose name was Snowball, and then to sit in the saddle as a groomsman led the horse out into the paddock by the reins.

I took a seat in the shade, eager to watch them trot on their ponies. It was odd sitting there in this fancy stable yard like I knew what I was doing. The air smelled of hay, which was nice, and droppings, which was not so bad, and leather, which was everywhere. The sun was bright in a blue spring sky, and it occurred to me that I could get used to this.

Next time, I thought, I would bring a water bottle and perhaps something to read.

A magnificent black stallion galloped around the side of the stables, ridden by a resplendent figure in spotless gear.

Ella—of course it was Ella—pulled up her goggles and called out to Grace that her form was improving. Then, inevitably, the beta looked over at me.

“Aren’t you going to ride?” she asked. “I’m sure the girls want you to!”

“Please, Mommy!” Chloe called, and for once I wished she weren’t so outspoken.

“Of course,” I said, standing up, hoping I wasn’t going to end up regretting this, and feeling uneasily certain I would.