Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Chapter 259

Lanie

Stella’s nightmare hadn’t been anything specific. A monster under the bed. Xander had thought quickly and took a spritz bottle of my body spray from the dresser and quickly dispersed it as “anti-monster spray” That had been enough to settle her back to sleep…but not me.

I wanted desperately to get back to my dream and the conversation with the Moon Goddess, but no matter how hard I tried, all I did was toss and turn. Finally, when the first hint of light showed through the blinds, I got out of bed and went to the kitchen for some hot tea.

The quiet house was a good solution to at least some of my tension. Unlike the mansion, this cottage in Stillwood that had been the perfect size for me and Stella-even me, Stella and Mason-was way too small for three enormous men, three growing pups, a mother-in-law, and me.

I wanted to tell myself that was part of my problem. Too much noise, too many of us cramped in too small a space. I knew that wasn’t it, though. Like the Moon Goddess had said, something was coming, and I wanted to be ready for it.

I just couldn’t figure out what “it” was.

The thought occurred to me that the only reason I’d dreamed about her was because Mason had put the

in my head. It wasn’t like I’d ever had the Moon Goddess show up in my dreams before then. She’d never

communicated with me directly like that. Everything had always been a feeling, an intuition.

Had what she’d told me even been real?

Grimly, I poured myself some more hot water and soaked my tea bag. “I guess I’ll find out one way or another soon enough.”

“Mommy?” Stella rubbed her sleepy eyes and ran across the kitchen and into my arms.

You’re

a baby,” she said with

I guess you’re not. You’re

you back in.”

and Allie are sleeping.” Stella said, “because they’re still

of carrot cake for breakfast? A secret treat for me

covering her mouth with her hand. She nodded, and I kissed her again. I put her

my little love. I hesitated, not sure how to start this

night…what was it

1/3

But Daddy made it go away, and I went sleep.

“A what, Stella?”

Stella concentrated on licking more

but I didn’t pressure her. I ate a bite of cake and tried

said for me to hush, hush,” Stella said finally. She held her finger to her lips

not to tell anyone what she

thinking about this. “She said

To keep a secret?”

She ate a bite of cake and

a little girl,” I said absentmindedly. I was trying to figure out if she’d seen the Moon Goddess in her dream last night, too, and if so, what did that mean? It was

be…”

“And Grandma?”

big and smart and