Page 1 of Greedy Gods

ChapterOne

The wellspring swallows me whole, its magic curling around my body like wisps of smoke as everything fades to black. I feel a stomach-dropping sensation like I’m falling or drowning. When I open my eyes, I'm no longer in the physical world.

I'm in a place of soft shadows and glimmering light. Stone walls arch high above me, carved with ancient symbols I can't decipher. A soft bubbling sound fills the cavernous space. I glance down to see a gently swirling pool of clear water at my feet, its surface reflecting the soft glow around us.

This must be the wellspring itself. This is where the ancient power that fuels my pack came from. It’s where my mates spent centuries, guarding the powerful magic from harm.

"So you're finally here," says a voice behind me.

I whirl around. There's a woman standing there, watching me with dark, assessing eyes. She's petite, with a heart-shaped face, delicate features, and wispy blonde hair that reflects the glowing light of this place. Her clothing reminds me of paintings I've seen of our werewolf ancestors.

I know immediately who she is, even though we've never properly met.

"Fern?"

She inclines her head. "And you're Caterina. The one who now carries my soul."

It's strange to hear my full name spoken aloud. Everyone has called me Rina for as long as I can remember. But she's right—the soul that resides within me belongs to the last omega, Fern. The one who sacrificed herself to end omega bloodshed and save the First Alpha from his brother.

I've glimpsed her my entire life in dreams and nightmares. Now she's right in front of me in the flesh. Or whatever form we have in this place, since we're clearly no longer in the physical world.

"The wellspring brought me here," I say slowly, still getting my bearings. Glancing around the shadowy cavern, I add, "Where exactly are we?"

"The wellspring exists between worlds," Fern explains. "It's a place of ancient magic and sacrificial magic, where werewolf souls come to rest so they can feed the magic of our bonds."

Her dark gaze bores into mine intently. "I've called your soul here many times, but your conscious mind was never ready. Now, circumstances have forced you here. We have a lot to talk about."

I swallow hard. The memory of General Teller and his plans are still fresh in my mind. He wants to use werewolves for his army and take over the packs. And he showed me visions of omega torture, like in the old days. It chilled me to the bone.

"Is this about Teller?" I ask Fern nervously. "And the omegas being in danger again?"

She nods, her expression grave. "With your return, all the souls I bound to myself risk being reborn. I sacrificed everything to end that torment. But Teller seeks to bring it all back."

I shiver, hugging my arms around myself. The thought of anyone suffering the way I saw in my visions makes me feel ill.

"What can we do?" I ask softly. "I'll do anything to stop him and protect my people."

Fern studies me for a long moment before answering. "To stop Teller, you must sever your bonds with the four gods and return their power here to the wellspring. It will weaken them, but it's the only way."

I recoil instinctively. The thought of losing Thale, Lucian, Adar, and Everett feels like a knife twisting in my heart. They're everything to me now—friends, mentors, and lovers.

"There has to be another way," I protest. "I can't give up my mates."

Fern's eyes flash with sympathy and regret. "I wish there was. But your ties to them open the doorway from this realm to ours. It lets their magic—and all the souls I bound—flow freely again."

I wrap my arms around myself more tightly, feeling suddenly cold. I can't accept what she's suggesting. There has to be another solution, one that doesn't involve sacrificing the men I've come to love.

"Let me think about this," I say slowly. "There must be something else we can do."

Fern sighs. "I feared you would resist. Perhaps it will help if you better understand why I sacrificed everything to seal the omegas away."

She motions for me to follow her towards the pool of water. As we approach, images begin to shimmer across its surface like memories.

"Watch," she instructs. "See what I experienced, what I sought to prevent from ever happening again."

Unable to tear my eyes away, I watch the visions play out across the dark water:

Omegas chained in dungeons, crying out during their heats with no relief. Alphas in a frenzy, fighting over them violently. Omegas forced into mating ceremonies, screaming and begging for mercy. The torture goes on and on, each scene more horrific than the last.

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