Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 432

Chapter 432

Gabriela

I warmed my hands around a mug of hot tea, but I didn’t want to take even a single sip. Xander had explained to me, quickly, that he and his mates would be leaving with Stella, but the twins and I would stay behind.

“You might have asked me first,” I said in a low voice. “Rather than simply springing this on me. No warning.”

“We have to move on this now, Mom. Sorry, but you’re our only option. We have to get Stella out of here for her protection. She’s far more powerful than the twins and far more at risk from the High Council.”

At those words, a pain sliced into my heart. “The High Council. When will they ever stop causing us so much trouble? Is it so much to ask that they simply leave us alone? Never mind.” I waved a hand for silence, my voice rasping. “I know the answer to that. Probably more than any of you.”

I didn’t want to feel such disappointment that my plans were being struck to the ground before I even had the chance to put them into action. I didn’t want this selfishness. With a heavy sigh, I put my face in my hands.

“Where is Stella?”

Mason stepped up to answer that question. “Right now, she’s in the temple of the Moon Goddess, preparing herself.”

“A Celestial needs to make offerings to a Goddess?” I asked.

Lanie had been talking to the twins, but now she appeared with a bag slung over her arm. “Even a Celestial can use as much protection as she can get. Gabriela, I know this is hard. We wouldn’t ask you to do this if we had any other choice.”

“Where are you going?” I studied the mug. The steam wafted up, bathing my face. My vision blurred again. This time from tears.

Xander cleared his throat and took the seat next to mine. He pushed the mug out of the way to press both of my hands between his. He waited until I looked into his eyes, but although his mouth opened, he still didn’t speak.

“You have your father’s eyes. Did I ever tell you that? Not the color, or even the shape. It’s the look in them, Xander. Orion looked at me that way every time he asked me to do something he knew I wouldn’t want to do.” I shook my head and pulled my hands from my son’s grip. “I never thought to see my own son looking at me the same way.”