Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 465

Chapter 465
Stella

“You’re right! I am not a girl! I’m a woman,” I said with a slight smile and that edge of humor I’d been trying out before. I didn’t pause for the laughs, though.

I faced the crowd with my chin up and my shoulders straight. I put as much confidence and maturity into my voice as I could. The Moon Goddess didn’t send me a vision, but that didn’t matter. I could do this.

I had to.

“And yes, it’s also true that I am more than that. I am a Celestial.”

There were some gasps. Even a few loud guffaws, like I’d made a joke. There were some mutters, too, half-angry and half-confused.

I didn’t use humor this time, and I didn’t try for the element of surprise. I simply waited and let them take it all in. Someone would know what I was talking about, and I wanted that person to be the one to speak first. I could pound all of them with this knowledge, but it would be so much better…so much easier…if it came from someone they already trusted.

Just as long as that person wasn’t horrified.

The Moon Goddess didn’t feel very close to me in those few moments while I waited. I could feel my parents holding their breaths, expecting me to speak. Ready to fly to my defense, verbally or physically, if they had to.

At last, a tremulous voice rose above the crowd.

“A Celestial! A blessing from the Moon Goddess herself! Oh, praise, praise to the Goddess!”

The people gathered parted, leaving an opening around the old woman in the center. Her long gray hair trailed down her back in a series of tiny braids tipped with beads. Her dark-blue gown was spackled with silver and gold stars all up and down the front of it. As she moved toward the stage, the crowd continued to part. She turned, shaking hands and kissing cheeks, and I could see more gold and silver designs on the back of her robes. The entire moon cycle was embroidered there.

She reached the front of the stage and beamed up at me, holding out her hands for a moment before turning back to face the crowd. “We’ve waited a long time for the blessings of a Celestial!”

I could see a few confused looks being passed around. The old woman offered her hands to my dad and Abba, who helped her onto the stage. She put her arms around me and enfolded me into an embrace so warm and comforting I wanted to sink into it. When she pulled away, she kissed both my cheeks, one at a time.

“My dear, my great-grandmother told me many stories of the coming of a Celestial, and what it would mean for our pack. But I never dreamed it would happen within my lifetime.”