I heaved a sigh.You’re no help.
I got nothing but amusement in return.
A knock sounded on the door. Paxton went to open it, letting Nia in.
“Hey, guys.” The woman had twice the number of butterfly clips in her hair than usual. “Hey, Daze, do you have a minute? You remember we gave out our personal numbers to anyone who needs our help and wants to reach us directly? Well, someone contacted me today about something you need to hear.”
The six of us stiffened, sharing grim looks. Even though only three of them were in my mind, I knew we were all thinking the same thing.
The shadow.
“What is it, Nia?”
Nia glanced at the guys. “Would you mind giving us a minute? She was clear that she wanted the high priestess to hear this before anyone else.”
I nodded to the guys, indicating it was okay. It wasn’t like I could hide anything from them. Nyx, Paxton, and Edric had a live feed into my mind.
“We’ll grab lunch and bring it back,” Edric said, setting Hope down in her crib. “Ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes,” I agreed.
They filed out, leaving just the three of us.
“What is it?” I asked immediately, crossing the distance to take Hope’s little hand. “What did they say?”
“Something hard to believe.” Nia pulled the desk chair and sat. Rubbing her temples, she seemed to age ten years in front of me. “Daze, how much do you know about the epsilons and their true power?”
My forehead crumpled. “True power? What are you talking about?”
“Ugh, just as I thought. Nothing. You know, it’s outrageous the way the alphas have treated you. The way they’ve used you and kept you ignorant all for their own greed, fear, and gain.”
“Kept me ignorant?” If I was confused before, I was ten times so now. “Nia, did whoever called you tell you something I should know?”
“I was told a lot of things you need to know, Daze.” Sincerity etched into her pores. “And I won’t let you be kept in the dark for a second longer.”
“Okay, go on,” I said, pulling up Edric’s desk chair and placing it next to Hope so she could keep gnawing on my hand. Werewolves teethed hard, so lucky for me, I was a fast healer. “I’m listening.”
Nia leaned in. “Okay, you know that our powers and our ability to shift all came from Luame and the part of her that lives inside of us, but I assume what you didn’t know is that epsilon wolves are special, because they have more of her inside of them than any one of us.
“Daze, do you remember when you took over the school and you said it didn’t make sense that epsilon wolves were shut away in temples, when they should be leaders, judges, councilwomen, lawmakers, and the rest? Of course they should because they’re the only wolves that can’t be pushed around by alphas and betas.
“Well, you have no idea how right you were,” she said. “That is how it was always supposed to be. It’s why Luame created the epsilons, and it’s why alphas separated you, locked you away, and didn’t let you all do anything more important than sitting on your asses in a cold temple. Luame didn’t ordain alpha dominance,” she spat. “She never wanted the backwards oppressive world they created.
“She wanted the epsilons to be in charge, and she wanted her children—the ones marked with her sign—to lead them.”
“Wow,” I breathed, flopping back in my seat. “That... makes sense. My gods, when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense. Which is why I stumbled on that conclusion all on my own!” I tossed my head. “So you’re saying the alphas in the beginning knew this? They knew, and they turned their back on Luame just for power.”
“Cygnus Tahan and the alpha council turned their backs on her just for power,” she replied, voice hard. “It’s not that surprising.”
I couldn’t disagree with her even a little bit.
“Wow. Just wow.” I flicked to Hope who currently had pinpricks of my blood dotting her brand-new growing fangs. “Is that what they wanted you to tell me?”
“That and more, Daze. So much more.” Nia took a deep breath and released it. “What do you know about Ola? Luame’s mate.”
I shrugged. “I know that he was her mate, and he was a god of men. That’s why we’re equally wolf and human.”
“But do you know what kind of god he was?”