Ch.63

(Matt Pov)

A week after the wedding everyone in my clan except Astrid and Lucas headed back home, even my grandparents. Lucas stayed because he wanted to continue to explore the US, but I knew it was because he was worried about his sister. Astrid stayed for Jacob and the two have gotten very close, especially after the wedding of Eva and Charlie. The house became much quieter with everyone gone, in a messed up way I got used to the craziness and now miss the loudness. Though Jasper is very happy the quietness is back, as he can now read in peace.

Things seem to be going on, as usual, the only big news being Edward and Bella's announcement of their marriage. They want to get married this spring, a few months after Alice and my wedding. Other than that, a month before our wedding Jacob and Astrid approached me nervously one day. As Alice and I were sitting outside together enjoying each other's company with books and tea.

'Shit, don't tell me Astrid is pregnant now too,' I think to myself and before I can check to confirm my thought as they look at us nervously Jacob speaks up.

"Matt, remember how I was confused about which god to become the champion of? Well, I have made my decision, but the one I want to be the champion of needs me to defeat the other god in combat. If I lose the other god gains control of my body and who knows what they will do with it," Jacob says to me nervously and Astrid is tense too.

'Oh thank god, didn't need the headache of Astrid getting pregnant before marriage,' I think sighing inwardly in relief.

"Oh, well, what did you need me for?" I say trying to understand what he wants to ask me about the situation he is in.

"Well, a couple of things. First could you watch over me with Astrid in case I lose and you need to stop me, Sam told me you asked him to do that for you. Also, since you fought your god inside you, what can I expect or should know?" Jacob asks me with some hope in his eyes at my confirmation. Though the reminder of my choice to leave Alice behind then, makes her pout at the memory. Seeing Jacob is willing to take Astrid with him, makes Alice look at me with a look saying 'he's bringing her, but you didn't bring me.'

"Sure Jacob, I can help watch over you. Though let's go somewhere quieter and away from others. I'll explain what happened with my situation," I say to him, ignoring Alice's glare at me and gesturing for him to follow.

"My only suggestion to you would be, to remember they are in your mindscape and you are the master of that land. So use mindscape to your advantage, and my gods, one wanted an 'honorable' hand-to-hand fight. The other well, it was a tournament of death, with him at the end. Luckily I won the tournament and gained the powers I have now," I say to him as we walk to the place where I first taught him to meditate. Both Astrid and Jacob are listening intently to my story, while Alice is holding onto my back like a backpack. Grumbling to herself at how I refused to take her to my 'awakening', but Jacob is bringing Astrid.

"Which god did you choose?" I ask Jacob right after we arrive at the location and Astrid kisses him for good luck. He is sitting in his position for meditation but hears my question right before entering his mindscape.

"Yum Kaax, he said as his Champion I will gain the powers nature…..like a druid from fantasy stories," Jacob says after thinking about how to explain the powers he would gain.

"Well, good luck my friend, and return to us as yourself," I say to him and he nods his head, before closing his eyes to meditate.

"How long will this take?" Astrid asks pacing around with worry after an hour passed and Jacob remains unmoving.

"Not sure, everyone is different. It all depends on how long it takes him to defeat the opposing god," I say and she is not too happy hearing my answer.

"He's gonna be fine, plus worse case Matt can try to return him to his normal self, even should he lose," Alice says getting up and comforting Astrid. She knows I technically could reverse and banish the god from Jacob's body, but after my alliance with the Mayan pantheon. Not sure it would be a good idea, I could try making a deal for the return of Jacob.

"Right, Matt," Alice says seeing me thinking about the several situations that could occur after this. Astrid is looking at me with hope and nervousness at my not answering right away.

"Yes, worse case I can help Jacob," I say with a reassuring smile.

"Plus I'm glad Jacob brought his mate to such an important event, some people have someone keep them from attending," Alice says to Astrid after some pause and giving me a narrow eyed look.

"Alice, I love you more than anything else in existence, but since you feel the same way. If something would have happened to me you would defend me even if I went insane," I say trying to defend myself.

"Wait Matt didn't bring you to his…..whatever this is," Astrid says and is surprised to hear that was the truth.

"I understand why he didn't, but it hurt me a lot that he didn't bring me. Even if something bad happened to him, I'd end my life in severe depression," Alice says with a sad thought about if I lost the battles I had.

"Ok, let's not talk about what-ifs ok," I say trying to change the subject.

"Fine but–" Alice says but stops as we all turn to Jacob who is stirring awake. Astrid looks completely nervous and rushes over to him. Sighing seeing her do this, which is why I didn't want to bring Alice. If Jacob lost she'd be attacked immediately, though he became a god's champion, I can tell after he is waking up.

"Jacob is that you?" Astrid says holding his face in her hands and looking at him nervously.

"What? Oh, yeah it's me," Jacob says confused and regaining his bearings after returning to the mortal realm.

"What? What do you mean by what? If it is really you, where did we first meet?" Astrid questions him, though if a god took over him and didn't attack right away the god could access his memories giving the right answer anyway. Though I can understand that she doesn't know that.

"At the falls, when you all were cliff diving," Jacob says and rubbing his eyes after readjusting to his return.

"Good, it is you," Astrid says with a sigh of relief and hugs him, which he returns quickly.

"Welcome back Jacob," I say after they are done hugging and he smiles at me giving me a fist bump.

"Thanks Matt, or should I say your Majesty Hvítrnár," Jacob says as he fist bumps me, Astrid is confused at this statement and Alice looks surprised that Jacob knows the truth.

"I assume that Yum Kaax, told you about me after you succeeded in becoming his champion," I say to Jacob smirking and he just sighs after not seeing me surprised.

"You could atleast pretend to be surprised, though I guess gods are hard to surprise," Jacob says annoyed that he couldn't surprise me.

"Wait, wait, wait, what? Jacob, what the hell are you saying? That Matt is a god?" Astrid says very confused at what is happening.

"Oh shit, forgot she didn't know. Huh, can she know?" Jacob says remembering Astrid had no idea and looking at me embarrassedly.

"Yeah it's fine, as your mate she will learn more about the gods," I say and shrug as it is kinda true in a way. Though Astrid is getting annoyed at being ignored and begins to pinch Jacob's arm in protest.

"Hey, sorry damn. Yeah, he's a god, but not any god apparently a very strong one too," Jacob says rubbing his arm at Astrid pinching him with all her strength. Astrid looks at me in surprise and a questioning look.

"Ask your questions, but I must warn you Astrid, all that you learn here today can not be repeated to anyone. I mean anyone, your brother, parents, grandparents, no one. The knowledge about gods is heavily regulated by us and only a select few can know the truths, like our champions and a handful that the champions trust," I say with a very serious look and voice. This makes her stare at me still surprised, but hearing the seriousness of my voice and my look, she nods her head.

"How long were you a god? Have you always been a god? Who knows? What god are you? Are all gods real? How did you become a god?" Astrid says firing one question after the next, before taking a breath and looking at me expectantly.

"I've been a god for a few months, and I was destined to be a god since my creation. Only Alice knows the truth, and now you two. I'm called Hvítrnár, the King of Jotunheim, which is the home of the frost/ice giants. All gods, from all mythologies, are real and some others that humans don't know exist yet. I became a god after besting Baldr in a fight and banishing Loki from my realm," I say answering all the questions she asked so far.

"Destined? What do you mean destined? The Norse gods are real, is that really how our clan got to be werebears? You're a King, how strong does that make you? There are other gods that exist, but don't have mythology yet?" Astrid asks me more questions, which makes me sigh, but answer them.

"Yes destined, the fates are real and each mythology has a different term for them. In terms of power, the fates are very weak but are more powerful than any god as they weave the threads of the universe and multiverse. The only thing higher than the fates is creation itself, which isn't conscious, but more of a concept. I am considered a primordial god, meaning one of the strongest beings in existence, only several others hold roughly the same power as me. There are many gods that exist but are known to other species that aren't human, like aliens to humans, but that is a whole other conversation and a long complicated one," I say sighing as they all have more questions, even Alice.

The next few hours were me answering all the questions they could think of and the day was turning to night now, as we have been out here since the early morning. Seeing that they couldn't think of more questions, we all head home, but not before seeing what Jacob can do. He is really like a druid, as now he can control plants to a certain degree to help him if needed and talk to them too learning about most of the surroundings. He can use magic to a certain degree too, to heal others, plants, and animals. No destructive spells really though, mostly support-like spells to buff allies and heal them. Alice and I then leave Astrid and Jacob to continue to test his powers, while doing whatever else they want before returning to the others.

"When we get married and I ascend to a goddess, will I be strong?" Alice asks me after returned home and went back to relaxing together.

"I would assume you will become powerful, though I can not say how powerful. Or what kinda powers you would gain, only the fates would know and I'd rather not talk with them as they are very unsettling to be around," I say and she just nods her head, as she imagines what goddess she will become.