56 Shadows of doubt …


    Miriam ( Nanny )


    It’s been three days since L left the house .


    I sat at the coffee shop , staring at my phone , with a deep frown etched on my face .


    The Café was unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon , making my thoughts louder .


    At first , I had been so angry , so pissed at the girl , ming myself for spoiling her and always letting her have her way and I had promised myself that I wouldn’t reach out , that when she was done with her tantrums , she would find her way home .


    But I was wrong .


    I had mustered the courage to call Xander the second day after she left home after going to school and was told that she hadn’t shown up since the previous day .


    I found his number in one of L’s contact books and had called his line the entire day .


    The more I called and it went unanswered , the more unease crept up my spine .


    Something wasn’t right .


    Xander was the only friend L had .


    I was sure of that and since they were dating , she was most likely to end up in his house .


    Xander finally took my call on the third day and I had clearly heard L’s voice in the


    background .


    She had shouted something to me , calling out my name but I had been so fixated on Xander that I didn’t hear the words .


    When I asked Xander what the problem was and why she was shouting , he brushed it off ,ughing and saying they were just ying .


    Even when I had insisted on speaking with L , his tone had grown cold and he imed , L didn’t want to talk and had ended the call before 1 could protest .


    I didn’t know where they lived .


    There was no address in any of L’s books and I couldn’t involve the human police .


    They didn’t take things like this seriously .


    Something was wrong , I could feel


    it .


    Today , I found myself staring at my phone again , Alpha Logan’s number disyed on the screen .


    My fingers hovering over the call button .


    I’ve thought about calling him several times but the risk was too great .


    With the way the Lycan Leader was still looking for L , despite the many months that had passed since she left the pack , going as far as sending Panther trackers , he might have been monitoring her father’s calls .


    One wrong move could put L in even greater danger .


    My thumb hovered over the dial button , my heart racing but at thest second , I turned the phone off and set it aside .


    No , calling Logan wasn’t the answer .


    As I sat there still lost in thoughts , my mind wandered to the strange marking I had noticed on her back a few months ago .


    Those three stars line up perfectly on her spine – a mark I was most certain had not been there before .


    I had cared for L since she was a pup , dressed her , tended to her every need and not once


    50 Shadows of doubt ….


    have I seen that mark .


    At first , I had tried to dismiss it as a simple birthmark , but it kept gnawing at my mind .


    My years of experience with the spiritual had taught me that nothing was truly ordinary .


    Every sign , every mole , every freckle , every mark could mean something .


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    I was sure those three stars on her spine meant something and it could also determine L’s


    fate .


    –


    I cursed under my breath , rising from my c That boy Xander from the first day I met him , gave me an odd feeling, the aura he had carried with him was darker even in all the years spent as a worshipper of the Moon Goddess I’ve never seen someone with such , aura .


    I had tried to ignore it , to brush it off as me being a super protective carer .


    But after meeting his father , Mr Dupree , the unease had crept back , more intense than before .


    His aura was much darker than his son .


    I regretted ever letting L tutor Xander .


    What had started as a simple arrangement had spiralled into something else and had changed my L totally from the little sweet girl , she used to be into something else .


    How could I have been so blind ? L had struggled with many issues growing up , constantly battling the scars of abandonment at an age where the love and support of a parent to a child was paramount .


    She had always craved love , attention anything that made her feel like she


    mattered .


    I knew all too well that she would do anything to be with someone who showed her even the slightest kindness or affection .


    Xander must have known that .


    I couldn’t sit idly by any longer .


    I needed answers , even if they were only fragments of the truth .


    Maybe , it was time I took up my role in L’s life .


    I’ve been weighed by guilt from the past , so much that it has stopped me from doing all the things I loved to do .


    I was done .


    I gathered my things and closed my office before walking up to the front counter where Sarah , one of the café’s baristas was wiping down the espresso machine .


    “ I’m heading out , Sarah , I informed with a smile .


    “ But I don’t know how long I’ll be , if I’m not back .


    by evening , go ahead and close up for the day , okay ? ”


    Sarah looked up , obviously surprised .


    “ Is everything okay , Mrs Grayson ? Is it L ? Is she alright ? I’ve been meaning to ask why she hasn’te in for a few days now but I didn’t want to pry ”


    “ L is fine ! ” I said with a tight smile .


    “ And everything is fine , just some personal business I need to take care of .


    I’m sorry for leaving you by yourself .


    ”


    “ It’s fine ! ” she shook her head , shing me a dimpled smile .


    “ Matt will be here soon to start his shift , there’ll be more than enough hands .


    Besides , today seems like a slow day .


    ”


    “ I


    “ I thought so too .


    See youter , I waved at her already moving to the door .


    When I came out of the cafe , I exhaled deeply , my mind was already racing just thinking of my next move .


    There was only one ce .


    I could go to for the kind of answers I needed .


    It was a


    14 30


    56 Shadows of doubt …


    ce I hadn’t visited in years .


    It was the ce that taught me everything I know and shaped me into the person I became and just when I was to attain leadership , I ruined it all … although , I wouldn’t consider the oue as a mistake , because it was the best thing that ever happened to me .


    I arrived at th


    the Golden Gates Pack south of Blue Ridge .


    It’s been 20 years since I left and as soon as I stepped onto the familiar ground , a wave of Nostalgia hit me .


    The air smelt different – different from the human world , different from Blue Ridge .


    I didn’t have time for that .


    The walk to the Moon Temple was a long one , but I didn’t mind .


    It gave me time to clear my head , to prepare myself for what I might learn .


    The temple was nestled deep in the woods , away from the bustle of the rest of the Pack .


    That was where I had grown up and dedicated my life until 20 years ago .


    I made my way through the winding paths , the trees growing denser around me , filling me with a strange sense of dread and hope .


    By the time I reached the temple gates , the sun was beginning .


    to dip below the horizon , casting long shadows across the forest floor .


    The stone structure stood tall and imposing , its ancient walls covered in moss and ivy .


    I hesitated only for a moment before pushing open the heavy wooden doors .


    I walked through thepound , ignoring the young apprentice girls staring at me with curiosity .


    Although they’ve never seen me , it’s always easy to spot a fellow worshipper .


    I had made my mark visible to avoid being stopped .


    I walked through thepound , straight to the praying hall .


    Inside , the praying hall was dimly lit by candles , the air was heavy with the scent of incense .


    Shelves lined the wall , filled with an eclectic array of crystals , herbs and ancient – looking tomes .


    My footsteps echoed through the empty space as I made my way toward the inner sanctum , where I knew I would find her .


    I found the old woman kneeling before an altar , her back straight despite her age , her hands sped in silent prayer .


    My eyes moistened with tears as the image of me , kneeling next to her by this time every evening 20 years ago came to my mind .


    It was after our evening prayer on that faithful day that I had shattered her heart .


    I wondered if she had forgiven me .


    I waited respectfully until she finished her devotions .


    Just as she finished , I stepped forward , trying to keep my voice steady .


    “ Mother ! ” I called quietly , bowing my head slightly in greeting .


    Priestess Liora or Mother as we fondly called her , turned , her sharp eyes , though dimmed with age , were gleaming in the candlelight as she stared at me her mouth wide open .


    “ Mi … ” she stuttered , rising from her praying position as she wobbled towards me , not before taking one of the candlesticks .


    56 Shadows of doubt …


    pointing the candlelight at my face .


    “ Miriam ? ” she stuttered with a shaky voice .


    “ My child , is that really you ? ”