Kate’s POV
I was always tired these days, I wasn’t sure why I was except for the fact that raising an army was tedious, so each time I fell into bed I was asleep almost immediately. Tonight was not different, I got in later than expected, the air was thick and still.
I walked to the bed pulling off my shirt, as I went grabbing a robe to pull it on too.
Dimitri was already in bed, he had it worse than I did and would likely be awake as soon as I fell asleep.
I crawled on top the covers and lay there, wrapped in his arms, and the warmth that it gave me, he pressed a kiss on my forehead, sleepily his arms wrapping around me in a hug and because I needed that I let him.
I squeezed my eyes shut, and willed myself into sleep.
Like all my dreams about her it seemed to happen as soon as my eyelids fell close, with a familiar yet weird pull that surged through me-an irresistible call, soft yet commanding.
Everything around me dissolved like liquid glass around me , into a pool of light the warmth of Dimitri’s body slipping away, it was then replaced by the supernatural glow of the goddess silver light.
I was no longer in our bed, I was left standing at the edge of a shimmering lake my feet almost on the water itself that was new. The grassy meadow, behind me was almost as hypnotizing as the scent of honeysuckle and lilies wafting off the flowers, and the sea of stars above me.
It felt all familiar like the time I was at the Temple with Dimitri, only this time it felt a little bit foreign all the same, like a dream I’d had a thousand times but could never quite remember when I woke.
I had been summoned again but then when had she ever asked, which meant the Moon Goddess was near, I turned around looking for her scanning the hills and slightly elevated areas, I felt her presence before I saw her.
A soft, glowing pulsations, she stood there like a living being but definitely not human, in the middle of the lake, as beautiful as she always was, her silver hair floating around her like a living thing, as she walked across the water, her feet leaving only the tiniest of ripples across it’s surface
“Kate,” her voice echoed, across the lake
” You have done so well but your journey is far from over.” She whispered
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I knew she was right with the threat on our doorstep it was far from being resolved at all. I had thought, after everything, that maybe we were finally free. Dimitri’s curse had been lifted, and we had come back to the Blood Moon Pack and dealt with the rogues.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper
The Moon Goddess smiled, a soft knowing grin that wasn’t the comforting gesture I had hoped for.
“You are destined for greatness, Kate. You and Dimitri both.” she said, her voice like a breeze carrying through the trees,
“But the choices you make now will shape not just your future, but the future of the entire werewolf kingdom.”
Her words sent a chill down my spine. We had fought so hard to break Dimitri’s curse, to protect our pack from the rogues and now, here we were with a path that was not yet clear?
“How will I know what to do?” I asked, my voice cracking from a mix of desperation and confusion
“Please, tell me. What’s coming? How do I protect my people? How do I protect Dimitri?”
. “I don’t want to make the wrong choice. What if I fail?”
The Moon Goddess stepped closer, her form turning opaque, her fingers, soft as moonlight, touched my cheek, and a sort of warmth spread through me, a sense of calm that I hadn’t realized I needed.
“Do not worry,” she whispered. “You will know when the time comes. Trust in yourself, Kate. Trust in your instincts and your heart. The path will reveal itself to you and you must be ready.”
Her words were not clear or maybe I was the one who was not understanding her at all , but yet, something in her tone reassured me.
She believed in me, even if I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.
“Will there be more battles than this? More death?” I asked, unable to stop the question from spilling out.
” Can we defeat this ancient werewolf” I muttered and she sighed her gaze softening , and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of sorrow in her eyes.
“Lycaon was my very first but he was my worst creation towards the end.” She mumbled placing her hand in my shoulder
“There is always darkness before the light of dawn. But remember, light and shadow must coexist. It is your strength, your bond with Dimitri, that will be the key. Protect your heart, protect your pack, and you will find your way.”
I nodded slowly, my breath hitching slightly
” And what about Dimitri? Will he be safe?”
The Moon Goddess’s expression remained serene, though her eyes sparkled with something I couldn’t quite place.
“Dimitri’s fate is tied to yours. Together, you will face what is to come. But remember, Kate, greatness comes with sacrifice. Be prepared for the challenges ahead.”
I opened my mouth , to demand for more answers, but before I could speak again, the world began to blur, and the soft glow of the Moon Goddess faded, leaving me in darkness. I reached out, trying to hold on to the vision, but it slipped through my fingers like sand.
“Wait!” I called out, my voice echoing in the meadow
“Please, don’t leave!”
But all that greeted me was silence, and I felt myself falling, tumbling back into the waking world.
I woke with a start, my eyes snapped open, my heart racing in my chest skin clammy from the sweat and heat.
I blinked, trying to shake off the lingering disorientation. The room was dark, save for the faint light of dawn creeping through the window.
The dream still danced around in the corner of my eye and I reached out, half expecting her to still be there, but instead, my hand brushed against Dimitri’s chest.
I turned my head, finding him already awake and watching me with those piercing eyes that always seemed to know when something was wrong.
“Another vision?” he asked softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
I nodded, still trying to steady my breathing.
“The Moon Goddess” I mumbled
” She came to me again,” I whispered,
Dimitri frowned, his brow furrowing in concern. “What did she say?”
The bed shifted underneath me, as I turned to face Dimitri his presence was grounding, just seeing him there made the anxiety of the vision ease, if only for a little while . His dark eyes blinked open, meeting mine, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
“She… She told me that my journey isn’t over yet,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
“That the choices I make now will affect the entire werewolf kingdom. But she was vague, Dimitri. I don’t know what to do.”
He was silent for a moment, processing my words, his brow furrowed in thought. Then, he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead,
“We’ll figure it out,” he whispered against my skin.
“Whatever the Moon Goddess has planned, whatever challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together.”
I smiled at his words, but the unease still clung to me.
I knew Dimitri would always be by my side, but the weight of the future-of my destiny-felt heavier now than ever.
” Let’s get to work, we have troops to get together” he muttered and I nodded he was right, we had already been asleep for too long.
I pressed a kiss to his lips and he took over, his mouth devouring me in turn, I moaned slightly when a knock on the door startled me
The knock on the door was a bit upsetting and I was tempted to ignore it, especially with how my body was tingling from the sensation of Dimitri’s touch
” We need to see who is at the door” he mumbled nibbling at my neck
” They can go away ” I retorted and he smiled but the knocking continued longer than necessary
” They aren’t” he replied, he was right. They weren’t, I collapsed against him frustrated. The knock on the door came again, and I groaned in annoyance and he laughed rising from the bed
” I’ll check” I let him go and when I turned there was a figure standing in the doorway, a female and familiar one.
“Odette?” Dimitri whispered, his voice barely audible, I blinked rapidly why was the priestess here. She never came up from her lair.
She stepped into the room, her eyes filled with a blank stare
” Woe to you who walks this path, the path you are on is one filled with danger and thorns of a thousand cuts you must be prepared for the consequences.”
“Dimitri, Alpha of Blood Moon pack, who had mated to she who saw paradise three times ” she said, her voice echoing and I stilled, Dimitri looked to me but I didn’t say anything. He didn’t know about my past lives and I didn’t want him to.
“I have come to warn you.” She whispered and I stilled
” A little sleep and a little slumber, for the ancient wolf is but a stop in time, On the blood moon rising, the thrice redeemed will break the key” she whispered and collapsed, Dimitri grabbed her before she fell to the floor.
We both had no idea what she had just said, but that didn’t matter right now.
” I will take her back to her home” I offered and Dimitri nodded
” I will go to the base”
” I’ll be at the clinic once she is safe ”
I led her to her room as she moaned in fear and pain her hands clenching over the beads of her dress.
I opened the door and led her inside, laying her onto her bed, I brought a glass of water and when she had finished drinking I pulled her sheets up and turned to leave, she grabbed my hand
” Be careful of the streaked wolf, he is ruthless and cunning ” she moaned, her fingers gripping the end of my clothes
I sat next to her running my hands over her hair softly.
” I will be careful. Now go to sleep ”
She settled, her eyes opening slowly, as she became more lucid
” How do I stop him, what do I do” I asked
” You must know your enemy”
” What do you know about this being ” she asked and I sighed
” I’ve been reading and there is not much” I said and she shrugged
” It just proves that the man is a depraved beast”
” Lycaon has always been an unhinged predator, he killed his mate and cub sister because he’s been searching for a way to gain ultimate powers, he found spells that allow him to transfer the power of magic users to himself” Odette mumbled and I paused
” You think that’s what he wants to do to me ” I asked and she nodded
” I suspect it. What I don’t understand is why he didn’t just take you move you somewhere secluded, the ritual has to be done during a pleasurable experience when the victim is in throes of pleasure and pain”
” Intercourse would be the best medium” she offered and I winced
” That sounds sadistic” I muttered and she nodded
” That’s because it is,”
” How many people did he kill” I asked
” His records aren’t specific, no one knows but the goddess and the Elders who sealed him, but they seem to be over four hundred”
” Oh, ” I huffed
” That’s not bad ”
” Four hundred thousand” I gulped
The pack was buzzing with preparations for the battles to come. Warriors from across the lands had started to gather, and the Blood Moon Pack was becoming the center of all the strategic planning and training.
We were still not as much as the forces we would encounter and it worried me more because we were yet to receive news from Alpha Denzel.
Still I had no choice but to work with what we had, I threw myself into the work, determined to prove that we could protect our people if we wanted it hard enough.
I met with the warriors daily, overseeing their drills, coordinating supplies with Louis, and then I went to the clinic, we would need medicines and personnel, this was not an easy battle.
Dimitri was not by my side through it all, he was always solving a dispute somewhere with werewolves in high temper and adrenaline.
” Kate,” Dimitri called just as I handed a dish of herbs to the nurse, he was wearing a wide smile, I walked closer to him curious and when he got to me he lifted me off the ground and spun me around, laughing I held on tightly
” What is wrong with you” I hissed and he laughed as he leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead.
“There’s some good news,” he said, his voice a little lighter now.
” What ,” I asked
“Looks like the goddess was right you’re destined for greatness,” Dimitri teased, his lips curving into a grin. I laughed softly, leaning into him
” And why do you feel the sentiment” I asked and he out me on my feet taking my hands
” Come with me” he urged dragging me along
” Where are we going” I asked and he smiled
Shoving me to the door and I hissed my breath, strangling me in my throat
” Is that” I couldn’t say a word
” Yes apparently, he was impressed with your bluntness during the last meeting. He said that if you’re leading this fight, he’s willing to join us ”
I blinked in surprise, I had not expected that from Alpha Denzel not after what he’d said to me before I left.
“Alpha Denzel has sent his troops,” he said, a hint of relief in his voice.
“We’ve got his support. He’s sending his best warriors to help us.”
” I can’t believe this , I” I started then paused
” You make me so proud everyday it’s almost unspeakable” he mumbled
” We have much to do then” I muttered and he nodded
” That we do, let’s get back to work “