The Lake

*This chapter will change point of view throughout. It will be listed just as it is at the start of this chapter.*

Sinlan:

I watched her attention shift from the school to the lake. Something in her eyes told me she had been waiting for this part. The lake was definitely beautiful, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for us there. It could easily be the coincidence in Sie and my own dream having that location. Although, she seemed to feel the same way, and as far as I knew she hadn't had a dream of the lake. So, what had her on alert for the lake? Originally I had expected her to want to see the training grounds because of her own work with energy, or the school because of her clear connection to young pups. Yet, her mind was clearly focused on the lake. There was only one way to find out what had her so excited to see it, get her there. 

We headed west, Sie taking the time to point out some more of the homes that were of newer construction. We had been trying to expand the family area to encourage pups and more growth among our pack members. If he noticed Sylvia's distraction by the mention and closeness of the lake he didn't mention it. I watched as her energy fluctuated, it was swirling almost as if it was attempting to soothe her. Was she doing that on purpose or did the energy respond on its own? Her energy work was incredible. We reached the road where we cross to get to the lakes just on the other side. 

"Did you set up the picnic already?" I asked Silas through the mind-link. I know he had mentioned having it set up while we took our tour, but we hadn't discussed it since. If we needed someone to bring it still we could make a call and have it ready shortly at least.

"It should be waiting for us, by the way, did you notice her energy as we got closer to the lake?"

"I did, it's been growing and swirling. I think she's anxious to see it for some reason."

"Should we ask her about it? I don't want to push, but if she's anxious in a negative way I don't want her to be uncomfortable!" I smiled to myself, Silas was always so worried that it would occasionally stop him from thinking clearly.

"She definitely seems excited to go, and I don't know. I'm kind of wanting to see what happens at this point."

"You guys are doing it again." We both turned and gave her our most innocent smiles. "It's rude to cut me out of the conversation you know." She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head sideways, analyzing what our reactions could tell her. I kept my face neutral, and relaxed my body and energy. No giveaways here gorgeous. She'd have to ask me if she wanted to know. Sie shrugged but his eyes darted from her to the ground. I rolled my eyes at him as she smiled, "You were talking about me." It wasn't a question, just a confirmation.

I shrugged my shoulders as Sie put his hands in his pockets. "With all respect Silas, you look ridiculously guilty right now." I let out a small chuckle as Sie's jaw dropped at my comment. "It's not my fault you can't fake it friend."

"I don't know about that. I think as my Beta you should have helped me there a bit more." Sylvia laughed and shook her head as I gave Silas a slight shove. "Treason right there! See what I put up with?" He smiled at Sylvia who just laughed even harder. Her sweet voice rang through the trees. It was such a sweet sound, better than the birds singing.

"Well, we better cross while we can. Come on, it's just past those trees." I turned to walk across the road, Sylvia just behind me and Sie behind her. Once we were all across the three of us fell silent. The energy in the air was charged, almost electrical as we walked to the clearing with the lake. Once we crossed the tree bank and were in the clearing Sylvia gasped, her eyes wide as she took in the scene around her.

The grass had fresh snow, just some paw prints from the food being left and what I recognized as Silas, most likely from his morning run. "This place is beautiful!" I watched her as she took a few steps closer to the water bank. The waterfall was mostly frozen, only trickles of water going through the ice in the cold wind. "It looks exactly like she showed me!" My heart stopped for a moment, as did Silas'. 

We looked at one another, did she just say what I thought she said? "Like who showed you?"

Sylvia turned back to us, her face relaxed and calm, as if she was finally resting for the first time today. I knew she was grounding, but I had other questions on my mind right now. Did she have a message from the Goddess as well? If so, what did hers say? "The Goddess of the Moon showed me this place. I had a hunch it was here, but I didn't know until seeing it. Right after I agreed to come, when I was having doubts and thinking about backing out. Remember when you found me on the roof and I was calling to her for answers? It was just after that morning." 

"I do, did you get your answer?" His voice was blank, he was holding back his emotions, trying not to get overwhelmed by them right now. I sent him a wave of calm energy, hoping it would help his mind calm. I knew that face, we were very close to an edge here. He needed to know what was said in her message. We both did.

"Yes, she told me to trust her, how she trusts me. That was pretty much it." She turned and let her eyes find the edge of the water bank. "May I?" 

We both nodded. Sila's voice sounded in my mind, his voice quick and eager. "She got a message too! This can no longer be a coincidence. The Goddess is pushing for her to be here. She said that she trusts Sylvia. Trust her for what though?"

"I don't know. I'm just as confused right now. It's practically unheard of for the Goddess to even communicate with someone, let alone three mates. It has to mean something. Wait, watch her energy right now!" I motioned towards Sylvia who was walking into the ice-filled water, clothes and all. 

Her energy was sparking, it kept changing. It switched from her mask to her true energy, that of the hybrid she was, the hold she kept on it loosening as it spread out. No longer confined to the limited space she kept it in, we felt a wave of wind as it pushed out, past us and past the tree bank. 

It was highly charged, her energy calling to us. We both growled from the back of our throats. My wolf responded, "Something is happening. Let me out!" I shook my head at him and kept watching her. She was about waist-deep in the cold water, she let herself sink into it and laid her head back. As her head hit the water another wave of energy pushed out, this time shaking the trees enough that a few branches began to crack around us. What was happening? 

Sylvia:

I felt the water calling to me, "May I?" I had never felt such a pull to jump into a body of water. My wolf was alert and going crazy behind her barrier. I could feel her pushing at it, banging against it like always. The water called to me almost as if it promised to soothe the pain she was causing my head. Both of the men in front of me nodded. Their eyes focused on me, watching, waiting. They wanted more answers, I had planned to even tell them in detail about my dream once the topic came up, but now all I could think about was the water.

I walked towards the water, letting my feet dip into it, the chill from the ice crept up my foot and to my leg. It wasn't painful, but just as soothing as it had promised to be. I felt their eyes still on me, but my mind was focused. I needed to get into the water. As I did I felt my energy respond, it wanted to be let out. I was safe here, it could relax. I let down my shield, letting my energy spread out for the first time in years. I felt the edge of it as it reached their house, heard the wind that came from the shift and the rush of my energy.

The water was up to my waist and my wolf was silent in my mind, still behind her barrier, no longer frantic. It was like she was waiting for something. I was waiting for something. Silas and Sinlan standing just on the bank were waiting for something. I just couldn't figure out what it was. 

Go further, fully into the water. It would be too cold for that though. No, it wasn't cold now. It wouldn't be any colder if I went all the way. I took another step and then began to stretch out my legs, letting my body sink and my head lie back. My head hit the water and my energy sparked out, a pain hit my head that made it feel like it was being split in two. I sent the pain out in a wave of energy, the frozen waterfall cracked and I felt the wave from the ice falling into the lake. I let out a small scream before my body was covered completely, face and all. Once it was all in the water the pain immediately stopped. 

The pain in my head was gone. I sat on the ground of the lake, under the water, looking up I saw the clouds through the icy waters. Then a warm sensation began to radiate from the back of my neck and up to the top of my head. As it did I closed my eyes and this time when they opened everything was more exact, the color more distinct. I swam up to the top of the water. I could hear their voices as I did. 

"Sylvia, what the hell was that?" 

"Is she okay?"

"Should we jump in to get her?"

"Wait, she's coming up!"

When my eyes met theirs I heard it. "Mates!" I stopped, that was from inside my head! The voice was quiet, but it was there. 

"Sylvia? Your eyes." I blinked, my eyes going back to how I normally saw. What was that?

"Are you okay?" Was I okay? I thought about that, what had happened.

"We found our mates!" My eyes went wide in shock. I looked at the two men in front of me. I know what happened. I know why I had been so anxious to get here. I know why the Goddess showed me this place!

Sylvia:

I felt the water calling to me, "May I?" I had never felt such a pull to jump into a body of water. My wolf was alert and going crazy behind her barrier. I could feel her pushing at it, banging against it like always. The water called to me almost as if it promised to soothe the pain she was causing my head. Both of the men in front of me nodded. Their eyes focused on me, watching, waiting. They wanted more answers, I had planned to even tell them in detail about my dream once the topic came up, but now all I could think about was the water.

I walked towards the water, letting my feet dip into it, the chill from the ice crept up my foot and to my leg. It wasn't painful, but just as soothing as it had promised to be. I felt their eyes still on me, but my mind was focused. I needed to get into the water. As I did I felt my energy respond, it wanted to be let out. I was safe here, it could relax. I let down my shield, letting my energy spread out for the first time in years. I felt the edge of it as it reached their house, heard the wind that came from the shift and the rush of my energy.

The water was up to my waist and my wolf was silent in my mind, still behind her barrier, no longer frantic. It was like she was waiting for something. I was waiting for something. Silas and Sinlan standing just on the bank were waiting for something. I just couldn't figure out what it was. Go further, fully into the water. It would be too cold for that though. No, it wasn't cold now. It wouldn't be any colder if I went all the way. I took another step and then began to stretch out my legs, letting my body sink and my head lie back. My head hit the water and my energy sparked out, a pain hit my head that made it feel like it was being split in two. I sent the pain out in a wave of energy, the frozen waterfall cracked and I felt the wave from the ice falling into the lake. I let out a small scream before my body was covered completely, face and all. Once it was all in the water the pain immediately stopped.

The pain in my head was gone. I sat on the ground of the lake, under the water, looking up I saw the clouds through the icy waters. Then a warm sensation began to radiate from the back of my neck and up to the top of my head. As it did I closed my eyes and this time when they opened everything was more exact, the color more distinct. I swam up to the top of the water. I could hear their voices as I did.

"Sylvia, what the hell was that?"

"Is she okay?"

"Should we jump in to get her?"

"Wait, she's coming up!"

When my eyes met theirs I heard it. "Mates!" I stopped, that was from inside my head! The voice was quiet, but it was there.

"Sylvia? Your eyes." I blinked, my eyes going back to how I normally saw. What was that?

"Are you okay?" Was I okay? I thought about that, what had happened.

"We found our mates!" My eyes went wide in shock. I looked at the two men in front of me. I know what happened. I know why I had been so anxious to get here. I know why the Goddess showed me this place!