Page 100 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

36

The Egyptian Goddess

*DALILA*

Istareattheelderly woman in front of me with my mouth open. “How do you know my name?”

Tony blinks at me. “But I thought Dalila is your name?”

“It is… I just have this weird as fuck middle name,” I explain.

“You’re named Nephthys!?” Henry asks in disbelief. “Are you for real? NEPHTHYS!?”

I look at him utterly confused as to why he is getting so worked up. Henry’s fingers seem to tense, and Elodie gently hands him a soft ball, which he starts squeezing as if he is overwhelmed.

“I see.” Zahra smiles. “The young man knows quite a lot.”

“How come I don’t know anything?” I mutter. “Who is Nephthys?”

“Nephthys is a goddess of the Ancient Egyptian mythology,” Henry says, still squeezing the little item in his hands. “She is said to be Nut’s daughter and Isis’s sister.”

“I’m impressed,” Zahra says.

“We all are,” Arman points out.

“Mythology is a hobby,” Henry explains once again.

“The young man is right with what he said. You were named after Nephthys, the deity.” Zahra pauses. “But maybe we should sit down for this talk, my child.”

“I think this would be a good idea,” Callum agrees. “I will make sure you have tea, coffee, and something to eat.”

“Make sure we have plenty of cake,” Cassiopeia says. When Callum smirks at her, she looks a bit flustered. “I have a sweet tooth.”

“Me too,” Elise agrees.

Soon, Zahra ushers us inside into the cottage she is currently living in. We all squeeze around the small table there and look at her expectantly. She waits for our beverages and cakes to arrive before she sits down.

“I have so many questions,” I breathe out, feeling how all of this is starting to overwhelm me. This is worse than finding out about werewolves. This is so much more… this is about me. “Do you know me?”

“Yes.” Zahra smiles. “Your grandmother was one of my closest friends. Actually, Auset knew her well, too. She was an amazing woman.”

My sight gets blurry when I think about my fierce yet gentle grandma. “She was,” I whisper.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.” Zahra’s eyes turn sad. “I knew she and your mother died protecting you.”

“But what from!?” I call out. “I’m just a human girl!”

“No.” Zahra shakes her head. “Your parents were werecats.”

I stare at her in disbelief. “But I don’t have a cat spirit… well, sometimes I hear a voice, but I have seen Tony shift, and I have seen their abilities. I’m nothing alike.”

Zahra nods. “That’s because you died.”

“Excuse me?” I blink for a moment, thinking she is joking, but she seems to be dead serious.

“She looks very alive to me,” Tony says with a frown and protectively tugs me into his arms. His touch immediately calms me down a bit.

Zahra sighs. “It’s the truth. Dalila died, the first Dalila.” She pauses. “Your family lived in a pride close to Luxor. One day, the pride was attacked by a dark cult. A group of humans and shifters who joined it for the same cause: power. And with the help of a dark witch, they attacked prides and packs all around them. Our own pride left the country because of their doing. They are still very active, unfortunately.”

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