*Selena*
“How’s it possible?” I asked, my voice trembling with shock. “Father, Amelia, Anne, and Oliver-all of them died in the attack Zander led on the pack. I was told no one survived,” I murmured to myself, the words hanging heavily in the air.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” my mother’s serene voice reached me, her words carrying a weight I couldn’t ignore. “Everything you believe to be true is not. There is more to this world than our eyes can perceive.”
I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at her comment.
“Then how was I supposed to be blessed with the power of the Moon goddess if I couldn’t even see through the lies?” I challenged, the weight of the situation pressing on me. My very existence felt like a lie-everything I’d known, everything I’d been told, now seemed to crumble around me.
“Selena…” my mother’s voice softened, sensing the doubt that swirled in my heart. She gently took my hand, the touch so tender it had an immediate calming effect, like a balm for my troubled soul.
“You are powerful, Selena, and you must never doubt your existence,” she said, her voice steady and reassuring. “Your presence in this world has a purpose, and you must not stray from your path. Seeing this reality was necessary so you could fully dedicate yourself to the Lunar Realm. Your duty must come first.”
Her words felt like a protective shield, grounding me even as confusion swirled within.
“You will come to understand your powers in time,” she continued gently. “Give yourself that time, Selena. Trust the process.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt your conversation,” God Kaelvor interjected smoothly, his voice cutting through the spellbinding words of my mother. “But I want to remind you that my offer still stands. This marriage would grant you immense strength and power. Consider it carefully, Goddess.”
I frowned, my frustration growing. So many things were swirling around in my mind, unsettling me, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood to consider marrying a god right now.
Determined to refuse him firmly, I opened my mouth to speak, “God Kaelvor…”
But before I could continue, my mother tightened her grip on my hand, silencing me. She spoke instead, her tone calm yet assertive. “God Kaelvor,” she said, her gaze unwavering. I stared at her, confusion and frustration evident on my face. “I will inform you when we are ready to begin preparations.”
What?!
“Mother, no…” I protested, but she cut me off before I could say more.
“Selena, we will talk about it later,” she said, her voice firm yet gentle. “First, I must see God Kaelvor off.”
I stood there, stunned, as she guided Kaelvor out, my mind spinning with the weight of what had just happened.
I yanked the crown off my head and let it clatter onto the table, stripping the royal robe from my shoulders. The weight of authority lifted momentarily as I stood in my simpler clothes, breathing easier. It felt liberating, as though I was closer to being a normal she-wolf again, rather than a figure burdened by titles and responsibilities.
I stared at the door, waiting impatiently for my mother to return. Minutes passed, each one stretching endlessly. My restlessness grew until it drove me to pace back and forth across the room, my irritation mounting with every step.
When the door finally opened, and she walked in, I didn’t hold back.
“How can you promise something like that on my behalf, Mother?” I demanded, frustration tightening my voice. My words bordered on disrespect, but I didn’t care. “I’m not going to marry God Kaelvor!” I threw my hands up in exasperation.
“Selena,” she said with infuriating calm, a soft smile gracing her lips. Her serenity grated against my nerves. “I am your mother, and I have the right to decide what is best for you. It is your duty to protect the Lunar Realm, and for that, you must do whatever it takes.”
“No, Mother!” I snapped, shaking my head vehemently. “This won’t save the realm. God Kaelvor’s plan will destroy the entire universe!”
She remained composed, her gaze steady. “Kaelvor is the God of Destruction, yes. He holds the power to obliterate anything in existence. But despite this, he has refrained. Have you ever wondered why?”
I hesitated as her question was unexpected, and I found myself shrugging, shaking my head, utterly clueless.
“Why?” I asked, my voice quieter now, though still laced with defiance.
“Because everything has a cycle,” Mother began, her voice imbued with a calm that only deepened my frustration. “Whatever ends regenerates again, and whatever is born will end one day. Nothing is permanent. That is the ultimate law of the universe. Even the God of Destruction cannot alter it.”
I blinked at her, trying to grasp the weight of her words.
“That’s why,” she continued, “if you fear he will misuse this marriage and the power it brings, know this-it’s not possible. There is a supreme power above all, guiding the fate of everyone.”
Supreme power? Her words felt like riddles, and the more she explained, the more confused I became.
“Then why can’t this supreme power save the Lunar Realm and maintain harmony in the universe?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. It seemed logical-why burden me if such an omnipotent force existed? Why couldn’t they intervene directly and spare me from this mess?
Mother smiled again, that infuriatingly serene expression that always left me feeling both reassured and exasperated. Goddess, what was it with that smile?
“Because they have chosen you for this task,” she said simply.
Huh?!
“But why me?” I nearly sobbed, my voice trembling with despair.
“Because you are special, Selena,” Mother said gently, stepping closer and taking my hands in hers. Her touch was soft, radiating warmth that eased the ache in my chest. Her big eyes, as blue as the sky and as calm as the vast expanse of space, bore into mine, holding me captive and compelling me to focus solely on her. “You possess an honest heart, one filled with selfless purity-exactly the power needed to save the realm.”
Her voice was calm and soft, radiating a strange, comforting peace that seemed to blossom at the center of my heart, making me feel as though I could believe every word she said.
“Everything in the universe happens for a reason,” she continued. “Trust the process, Selena, and let yourself be a part of it.”