The Unknown Lycan Princess - Chapter 117: Chapter 117

Beth’s POV
I look around and see that I am in the clearing that Selene enjoys pulling me to. I decided instead of walking around looking for her I would just make myself comfortable here and wait for her to find me this time. I waved my hand and a nice chair grew from the ground from vines and flowers. I went ahead and made an extra seat for Selene.
It didn’t take long for Selene to appear. She looked a little nervous to be honest. What on earth would a goddess have to be nervous about? The curiosity would kill me so I asked, “What’s wrong Selene? You seem troubled and nervous?” Selene smiled and took her seat. She turned to me and took a deep breath and let it and then said, “One of my children has made a mess of a lot of things. They met their mate and were rejected because of their actions. I try my best with my children, but I do give them free will to do as they choose for a reason. Anyway, after the rejection they did a bit of soul searching and have decided that what they have been doing is wrong and they want to atone for their mistakes.”
I listen carefully to Selene knowing that there is more to this than what she is telling me. I just don’t know what it is yet. From what she is saying though it sounds like this person has really realized the error of their ways. I believe in giving second chances to people who have earned it. So I say, “It sounds to me like this person is deserving of a second chance if they are truthful and really repentant. Who is it if I may ask? I might be able to help them.”
Selene gives me a small smile, but that nervousness is getting worse. She is starting to get squirmy in her seat. So I say, ” Just spit it out woman! It can’t be that bad can it?”
“Ashley Williams! It’s Ashley Williams who is wanting to change. She realizes now what the matebond really is and she understands how special it is. She no longer wishes for anything, but her goddess given mate. She doesn’t want to associate with the rogues anymore; she wants to make up for all the wrong she has done. I wish to grant her a second chance and I know who to pair her with for the second chance at a mate, but it won’t be easy and she will need your help if you are willing.” Selene blurts out in a rush.
I am dumbfounded for a minute. Ashley has done some terrible things, but I don’t think she has done enough to not be redeemable if she is being truthful. I can’t make this decision on my own though. My mates deserve to have a say in this as well. I take a deep breath and release it and say, “I have a few conditions before I agree to anything Selene. This woman has been working against us for a while now, and with the enemy. Are you or Hecate able to remove the block that has been placed on her from the rogue Alpha? That would be very useful to have that information so we could bring the battle to him instead of him bringing it onto our doorstep. Also I will have to talk to her and she will have to allow me to read her thoughts and memories so that I can assess whether she is being truthful for myself and mates. I will not risk the safety of my family and pack on her word alone. Also I need to discuss this with my mates. After that we can go from there.”
Selene nods her head and replies, “That sounds very reasonable and fair. I can grab everyone, just give me a few moments.”
In a matter of seconds Ethan, Alexi, and Ashley all appear in front of us. The moment Ethan sees Ashley he snarls at her and attempts to lunge at her. I put a shield around her and he bounces off of it and lands on the ground on his ass. He turns to me with a wounded betrayed look on his face. I felt bad because I feel his emotions and he feels as if I am choosing her over our pack. It hurts that he thinks so little of me at this moment to even think I would choose one individual over the whole of the pack. This is bigger than him or me though and he will just have to understand that. “You will not show violence in my sanctuary, young Alpha!” Selene booms out furious.
Ethan looks towards Selene ready to retort, but thankfully he thinks better of it and just bows his head in respect. “Now, I have brought you all here because Beth and I have come to an agreement. Ashley here has requested a second chance. She wishes to redeem herself and I have asked Beth how she feels about it. Beth would like to have your permission Ashley to read through your memories to ensure your truthfulness. Then and only then can a discussion be made. I will say this though to Ethan and Alexi. Tell me that neither of you have ever made a mistake that you wish you could take back and be granted forgiveness and another chance.” Selene said.
Ashley looks at me with curiosity and asks, “How can you read my mind if you are a human? I mean no disrespect, I am just curious.”
“Have you lost some of your memories Ashley? We had a pack meeting when I first shifted into my Lycan form. I am a hybrid lycan, witch, and vampire. I have many gifts that I have been bestowed by the grace of the gods.” I said to her, I can’t believe she can’t remember that. Harmony even had her by the throat if I remember it right.
Ashley looks to be thinking back and I can tell that she still can’t remember. She shakes her head and says, “I don’t remember that. I don’t remember a pack meeting with you there. The last pack meeting I remember having was before Ethan came back from Alpha training.”
I can tell from her face that she is being honest. That is concerning to me. I look towards Selene and see that she is concerned too. So I say, “It looks like there is more going on here because we have had a few run-ins in the packhouse as well. I think it would be best if you allow me to search your memories to find out what exactly is going on here.”
I am given permission from Ashely and I close my eyes to concentrate a little more. I dive into her mind and her memories. I took a quick peek at her most recent ones from where she met her mate until she appeared here in the goddesses clearing. I am glad to see that she is being truthful about being repentant. I delve deeper and further back to figure out what is going on with her memories. Without knowing where to start I just start at the beginning. I see flashes of her young life and don’t see anything out of the ordinary except for Ashley and Alicia being normal happy children. They had many friends and were good girls. I noticed a change in Ashley’s behavior when she entered high school and her mother wanted her to get the attention of Ethan so that she could be his future luna. Ashley didn’t agree with her mother and fought with her. After a while it had seemed that Nancy had given up. Then Nancy started to make her daughters smoothies each day for breakfast. It seemed that each morning after drinking that smoothie Ashley was more receptive to her mother’s advice and encouragement. The sinister smile I saw on Nancy’s face said all that I needed to know. She was putting something in the drink to manipulate her daughter. I just don’t know what it is.
I pull out of her memories and then share what I have learned with everyone else. To say Ashley was shocked and upset was an understatement. It took me replaying the memories for everyone like a projection in the middle of us all for her to believe what I said. I don’t blame her one bit. I wouldn’t want to think that my mother would hurt me in that way either. Ethan looked like he felt like a piece of crap for how he wanted to attack her when he first got here. I felt bad for him, but he needs to learn to keep his emotions in check if he wants to be a good leader and not another one of those hot headed Alpha’s you hear about always getting into fights and scuffles over nothing.
“I will say that after everything that I witnessed I am more than willing to give Ashley a second chance. It seems that all of her actions were not her own. We need to get Nancy into the dungeons and find out what it is exactly she has been giving her daughters because Alicia was also drinking those smoothies and her actions may not have been her own either. It is definitely something that needs to be sorted before she is executed.” I say. I got out of my seat ready to head back and get this all sorted. We need to figure this out and then get the Lycans all sorted. We should be getting the first batch in the next day or so.
“One more thing before you go. She is being given a second chance mate and she will need your help to convince him to allow her to prove she has changed. Are you willing to do that as well?” Selene asked in all seriousness.
“Of course. I can prove she didn’t act on her own actions completely. So it should not be a problem.” I replied confidently.
“Very well. Thank you Beth, for your understanding and compassion. I knew you were the perfect match for the role you will soon have.” Selene said and then waved her hand. The next thing I know I am sitting up from the couch where I had been sitting when I was pulled into the dream realm of Selene.