Alpha Dom and His Human Surrogate

Chapter 304 – The Goddess’s Light

Cora

I’m a little out of breath when I finally catch up with Roger and Rafe, having had to work hard to keep up with his long wolf stride.

“Rude,” I say when I finally come to a stop next to them. “You couldn’t have waited for me?”

“I’m being rude?” Roger says, raising his eyebrows at me in disbelief. “Cora, you’ve been nothing but unpleasant since the moment we stepped into the forest –”

–

I open my mouth with a little squeak of protest but Roger just rolls his eyes and ignores me, going on anyway. “This is supposed to be a sacred experience for Rafe and for us and you’ve done nothing but moan and complain. So yeah, forgive me if I wanted to get away for a moment and concentrate on the magic of this place

“Oh whatever,” I mumble, reaching out my arms so that he can hand me the baby.

“No

from you

way,” Roger retorts, holding the baby closer to his chest and turning a little away from me. “You don’t get to hold the baby now that we’re at the pool

“Yes I do!” I cry, “the priestess gave him to me!”

“I’m his godparent just as much as you are

—

“(

and I turn to it, surprised, both of our mouths falling open. I don’t know how I know it but…well, somehow, I get the sense that the pool – or whatever magic is in it – is irritated with

little embarrassed. Honestly, it never occurred to

out, suddenly. We’re both very aware that there’s magic in the world, but sometimes when you’re confronted with it so blatantly it

breath, then, nodding to him, and start to say that words that the priestess taught us as part of the

my voice ring out across the smooth surface of the silver pool. “We

your grace,” Roger continues, his own resonant voice sending shivers down my spine. The light coming off the pool brightens – slower this time, though, as if she’s

glance upwards through the trees and am treated by the sight of the full moon itself, beaming brilliantly down

and my stomach twisting with the emotion of the moment. Because she is here, now, with us –

for him and this time Roger does hand him to me, letting me take the baby and unwrap his swaddling blanket. Then, when he’s free of it, Roger and I slowly walk as close as we can to the edge of the pool and hold the baby out

My heart fills to see Rafe looking up into the sky, to see the light surrounding him as it falls from the moon above and reflects upwards from the

asked us to bring him here

at the baby, and at Roger, and at the moonlight. It’s a beautiful moment, introducing the child to the world and to all the magic within it. I open my mouth to say something, to tell Roger that I’m sorry, and that I’m glad I’m

afraid, but Roger brings a quick hand to

back,” he says, peering into the white light of the moon, likewise trying to make it out. “If you do, we won’t

baby out, my arms trembling a

totally visual. Like, it’s not like watching a movie projected into smoke in the air. Instead, it’s…felt as much as it is seen, communicated to our hearts and minds as much as our eyes. But suddenly, quite suddenly, it’s

– older, but still young.- running across a battlefield, fear on his face but courage in every line of his limbs as he pushes himself to do what is right.

–

and another in his hands, which he slowly lifts to place on the girl’s head as well. She smiles up at him with such love in

–

– and a light–haired boy I don’t know, just about Rafe’s age- and more children,