Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron)

Chapter 79

Chapter Seventy-Nine

We follow the three Seers to the end of the pier where two golf carts are waiting. It’s an odd blend of

old, almost primeval customs mashed up with new world technology. Or maybe that’s just my

impression of these women.

They seem older, wiser, ‘otherworldly’ in some way.

The eldest Seer and youngest one take the first cart and head off without waiting.

The thirty-something Seer slips behind the steering wheel and says to us, “Climb in.”

I have the option of sitting next to her or taking the backseat with Eric.

I pick the back but I sit at an angle, so I’m not facing backwards. Whatever is coming, I want to see it.

Eric does the same but in the opposite direction so we won’t have a blindside. He’s tense. A muscle

ticks in his jaw.

I know him well enough to recognize the signs, but for anyone else, he’d appear calm and confident.

The Seer accelerates up the paved roadway and then we’re doing a zigzag to gain elevation. We pass

huge beautiful homes. Their modern facades face the water. The giant windows and walls of glass

would offer unobstructed views of the open ocean and other islands in the distance.

At the top of the incline, the ground levels off into a vast open field. Giant trees create a boundary and

the rows of tables and the giant massive tent erected to offer shade and protection from the elements

suggest that this space is used frequently.

They have prepared a huge feast.

Dozens of Seers are lined up. They vary in ages and ethnicities and it’s clear this ‘pack’ spans the

globe.

There is something very unifying about that, like this gift of sight is distributed fairly, even if other

resources might not be.

“Meet your Sisters,” the Seer says.

Technically, I haven’t even met her yet. She drove us up the hill, but she didn’t introduce herself or talk

about the island at all. She didn’t try to engage us in any way.

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes and I cautiously get out of the golf cart.

Eric stands beside me and we follow this woman into the main tent.

The Seers form two rows, and I walk down the pathway they create.

“Sister.”

“Sister.”

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“My sister.”

The welcomes from each woman begin to sound like a mantra.

One of the Seers is nonbinary. And I take comfort in that. I recall the explanation that this gift could only

be activated when a woman conceived life. But that had made my heart heavy. What about those she-

wolves who couldn’t have children, or those who identified themselves as female but had not been born

that way?

I nod at them. They return the acknowledgement.

“It’s rare,” our guide explains. “But there are instances where the gift of Sight is so strong, it is triggered

by events other than pregnancy. If you save a life…sometimes if you take a life.”

Interesting.

“The Goddess bestows our gifts as She sees fit.” The Seer smiles again, and this time it appears

genuine. Her brown eyes crinkle at the corners.

Eric glances at me and one of his brows goes up. He has seen me in many different moods, but

reflective and spiritual haven’t come up in our limited interactions.

He rubs his chest.

You all right? I ask in his mind.

He nods. His nostrils flare as if he’s scenting something unfamiliar.

But I don’t smell anything, only the varied, many scents of these hundred or so women convened.

What is it?

His brows draw together. His huge body tenses. I’m not sure…

I notice that the women are falling into step behind us after we pass, they’re following us toward the

front of the tent in one long, slow procession.

“Sister.”

“Sister.”

“Sister.”

I make eye contact and nod or smile. I don’t know any of these females, but we are united in some

way. I mumble a few ‘thank yous’ when it feels like a more significant response is due.

It’s not like I foresaw this or was briefed on how to act or reply. My mother shared nothing of her

experiences, heck, up until a few days ago, I didn’t even know I had a mother.

If I’m offending these Seers or failing in the proper etiquette, I can’t help it.

I keep smiling and nodding. And filing away every possible detail.

There are no children here. No males.

This is an island of Seers.

Part of me worries if in coming here, I have endangered us. Eric and I are gravely outnumbered.

What if they won’t let me leave?

I’m reticent about what I will learn here or what might be required of me.

What is it? Eric asks.

It won’t be easy to break out of here.

He laughs in my head. That’s why I’m here, Mia.

I don’t state the obvious… these are Seers.

Whatever we plan to do…they would already know it.

I swallow hard.

We’re in jeans and shirts and every woman here is garbed in a white dress. The styles are varied, but

the look is the same.

Our guide, her white dress is strapless and I see the moon mark on her shoulder. I have no doubt every

other Seer here bears the same marking.

Up ahead is what looks like an altar. It’s a giant stone slab. Flowers are canopied in trellises

surrounding it, and the pretty wisteria, climbing roses and jasmine make for the most beautiful setting.

It looks like the kind of grand arbor that might be used in a wedding.

Come to think of it, all the white dresses are very reminiscent of bridal gowns. Not the big poofy kind,

but the fitted and flowing ones. I get Meghan Markle wedding gown vibes–super simple and effortlessly

elegant.

Chairs are lined up and as we continue walking forward, the she-wolves behind us, file into the rows

and take seats. It’s all very orderly.

On the edges of this grand tent are catering tables lined with food. It’s a spread that could feed three

times the number of guests here, and that’s saying something.

Two women stand behind the altar stone. They face away from us, but they slowly turn.

I’m hit with a familiar scent first, and then the details click. The hair, the height.

When she turns fully, my hackles rise.

Eric growls.