*Zander*
“As I can sense,” the High Priestess took my hand again and closed her eyes. “Your wolf has carried that curse for years, spanning across past lives. The bond between you and your fated mate is already blocked by the curse, preventing you from sensing your mate.”
The revelation was shocking, leaving me conflicted about whether I should feel happy or worried. It was true that I didn’t desire my destined mate; I only wanted Selena. However, the curse on my mate bond hinted at something profoundly serious and perilous. Could it be related to the prophecy?
The thought made me crave more time to live for my people and for my Selena if somehow I could find a solution, even though I knew the prophecy couldn’t be altered. Selena didn’t know my cold demeanor stemmed from the prophecy. I didn’t want them to grow too attached to me, knowing it would be excruciatingly painful for them to live without me. But I lost control when I lost my Luna because of my cold nature and indifferent behavior. Yes, this time I became selfish and confessed my love to her. At least, in the few days I had left on this earth, I could spend time making her feel my love and cherish the beautiful gift I received in this life-her.
“It means I don’t have to worry about finding my true mate?” I mumbled unconsciously.
“That is not the primary concern, Alpha King. The main worry is that you can never sense a mate, as this curse is an eternal enchantment that cannot be broken,” she emphasized.
What the fuck was that now?
“What would I have done in my past life to be cursed like that?” I muttered in disbelief.
“I can’t tell you about it, but one thing is certain: the curse was placed upon you by a very powerful entity, perhaps even a deity!” she exclaimed.
“Damn! I must have really upset some kind of deity,” I snorted.
“That is not a laughing matter, Alpha King,” the High Priestess warned.
“Then what am I supposed to do?” I shrugged. “You’re not providing a solution.”
“Because I don’t know myself,” she murmured, looking helpless. “Maybe,” she turned toward the Moon Goddess idol, her eyes glinting with hope, “the Goddess can show you the way. Wait for her sign,” she said, her voice calm again.
She closed her eyes and folded her hands, silently praying. I gazed at the Moon Goddess, desperately seeking a solution, but the idol stared back at me without any sign.
I sighed. I didn’t have time to wait for a sign; there were so many things to be done in this short period.
Leaving the temple, I went straight to my pack’s office and sent a mind link to all my officers, calling for an urgent meeting. I needed to make some critical changes promptly.
_____________
*Selena*
I knocked on the door of Zander’s mother, Catherine’s room.
She opened the door and scowled upon seeing me. I was aware she didn’t like me, and I couldn’t say I felt any warmth towards her either.
“Can I come in?” I had to ask as she appeared unwilling to let me enter. She huffed and reluctantly stepped aside to allow me passage.
As I entered her room, she spoke in a voice laced with frustration, “What do you want, Selena?”
I turned to face her.
“Please close the door. I need to discuss something personal,” I said politely.
She seemed reluctant to entertain my request, but eventually, she turned and closed the door, crossing her arms over her chest as she faced me.
I glanced around her room, seeking a moment of peace between us before I began with my questions.
“Are you going to tell me now?” She sounded irritated.
I turned slowly toward her. “Catherine, why does Zander have only a few days left?”
“W…What?” she seemed taken aback. “What are you talking about?” She attempted to sound clueless, but the way her face turned pale told me everything.
“Don’t hide it from me. I am his Luna and have the right to know about it,” I demanded.
“Then ask your alpha,” she snapped.
“You know, Catherine, if he had told me, I would never have come to you,” I sighed.
“Selena, if he didn’t want to tell you about it, how could I defy the Alpha and tell you?” she countered.
I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to uncover the secret from her when I visited her room, but I was determined to understand what was happening with my mate.
“Catherine, I need to know. Maybe we can both find a solution,” I insisted, and she averted her eyes. “I know you also care about your son and don’t want any harm to befall him.”
She inhaled and exhaled loudly.
“It doesn’t matter how much I love my son, the prophecy will snatch him away from me,” her eyes glistened as she whispered in her helpless voice.
“What?!” I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Catherine took a deep breath. “I think it’s time I confide in someone about what I’ve kept to myself.”
I became more attentive; all my senses were alert and focused.
“It all started when I was pregnant with Zander,” she began, staring into the void. “It was a blood moon night when George and I were wandering hand in hand near the lake. A seer appeared, gazing at the sky and then my swollen belly. She proclaimed that a prophecy had emerged from the heavens: our unborn child would become the most powerful alpha, destined to rule the world as the invincible and mightiest Alpha King. However, she foretold a tragic fate – he would die a month before his thirtieth birthday,” Catherine said in her gloomy tone.
“And his thirtieth birthday is in two months,” I gasped, feeling my heart sink with realization.