Everything felt dizzying. Everything was spinning so fast that it made Vione’s stomach churn. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. She steeled herself against the waves of magic that swirled around her in the flow of time. She told herself again and again not to give up. She had to keep fighting, and her mind focused on one thing-the time before the war began.
Suddenly a force hit her. Vione was thrown and hit the rocky ground hard. Gasping for air, she struggled in the difficult situation. Her body felt battered, shaking so badly that she couldn’t get up for a few moments. She crawled and looked around. “The Sacred Land.”
It wasn’t difficult for Vione to recognize where she was. What she didn’t know was what time period she had landed in.
Vione took a deep breath. Then, even though her knees still felt weak, she stood up. She ran her hands over her body, making sure there were no injuries, while continuing to observe her surroundings.
Something caught her attention. She stepped forward and picked up a white flower crown. “This is a lumira flower,” she said, naming the flower used as a symbol in the blessing ceremonies for a new Alpha and Luna, as well as other sacred rituals related to them. “So have I been transported back to the time when Usher and I were newly blessed?”
The possibility seemed logical and lifted Vione’s spirits. It seemed she had been sent far back into the past, giving her a wide-open chance to change the future.
Vione hurried away. She left, making sure to disguise herself. She had to make sure that the Vione of that time would never know of her presence.
Her plan was to inform the pack of Walter’s betrayal and the impending attack by the Nimbria pack. So, she wrote a letter and placed it in the pack’s complaint box. But she was stunned when she saw a poster congratulating Kendrick and Jemmad on the first birthday of their first child.
Vione never imagined that she would be thrown so far back in time, to a time when Usher was a baby and she was not yet born. She was shocked, but soon realized that this might be an even better opportunity for her. The possibility of stopping Walter’s betrayal long before it happened seemed within reach.
Hope flickered within her. Her letter of complaint had reached the palace, and Vione wouldn’t have to wait long for results. Rumors circulated that Walter was being investigated for allegedly sabotaging the palace’s and the pack’s supplies.
Vione’s hope grew. She prayed that the palace would find evidence of the poison powder Walter used to enchant the pack. But things took an unexpected turn.
“Have you heard the news? Walter was found dead, apparently having committed suicide, leaving a note.”
Vione froze. Her footsteps immediately stopped in the middle of the bustling city. She had been on her way to find out more about Walter’s case, but instead she received shocking news.
Walter had been found innocent. No poison powder had been found. The accusation was false, but it had already stained his honor. His loyalty and years of service had been questioned, and he couldn’t bear the shame any longer. In the end, Walter decided to take his own life.
Vione stood stunned; her mind blank. Confusion overwhelmed her and she asked herself. How could they find no evidence? How could Walter be innocent?
“Poor Walter. The Mendoza family has served the pack faithfully for generations, and yet we accused him based on nothing more than a letter.”
“That’s exactly what I thought. Years of loyalty cast aside because of a letter. Besides, who’s to say the sender of that letter didn’t have malicious intentions? For all we know, it could have been one of those anonymous letters slipped into the complaint box.”
A cold shiver ran through Vione’s body, followed by an overwhelming feeling of regret that she couldn’t shake. No, I had no malicious intentions. I only wanted to save the pack from destruction.
Vione took a deep breath, trying to calm the guilt that resurfaced over Walter’s death. It seemed that whether in the future or the past, Walter was destined to die by his own hand because of her actions.
“The moon necklace will take you back to the past, but there is still no guarantee that fate can actually be changed.”
Vione closed her eyes tightly. Rowena’s words echoed in her mind, and it seemed that Walter’s death was one of those fates that could not be changed. Walter’s suicide was still happening-only now it was happening even earlier than before.
I am guilty of Walter’s death, but this is what must be done, Vione told herself, forcing herself to remember that everything she did was for the sake of the pack. It was better to lose Walter than to lose them all.
Nodding repeatedly to herself, she thought. At least the safety of the pack is assured now, and I must warn them of the attack of the Nimbria pack, which will take place in twenty-nine years.
With renewed determination, Vione wrote another letter of complaint, hoping to prepare the pack for the coming war. But once again, events unfolded beyond her expectations. Shortly thereafter, the Nimbria Pack launched a surprise attack that caught the Frostholm Pack off guard. Fortunately, the Frostholm Pack was able to repel the attack and emerge victorious.
For a moment, Vione felt relieved. She thought that the war that had broken out at that time-when Usher was only a year old-was a substitute for the battle that would rage in her future. But she was wrong.
The time portal reappeared and pulled Vione back. When she returned, she found that nothing had changed. The Frostholm Pack was still hiding in the west side of Amerotha Forest. She had still lost her friends, her family, and her mate. Fate had remained the same. Fate had not changed.
Vione let out a cry of uncontrollable emotion. Although the war had already taken place and the Frostholm Pack had won, the Nimbria Pack had not given up. Their ambition to conquer the Frostholm Pack still burned brightly no, it had grown even fiercer. In the end, war broke out again, and Vione was powerless to stop it.
Vione’s cries of grief echoed through Mystoria Falls. “Fate has changed, but why is the outcome still the same? The war is still happening, and I am still losing the ones I love!” Her fists clenched tightly, she pounded the rocks, sending a jolt of pain through her body that stirred something deep within her. “I cannot give up,” she declared, standing tall with newfound determination. “I have to try again.”
Rowena quickly grabbed Vione and held her back. “No, Vione. I can’t allow you to go through the time portal again.”
“Please, Mama.” Vione squeezed Rowena’s hands; her eyes red with unyielding determination. “Help me. I know I can do it this time.”
Rowena’s heart ached at the sight of her daughter. Even though Vione was a powerful hybrid, a combination of witch and werewolf blood coursing through her veins, that didn’t mean her life wasn’t in danger from the constant exposure to the magical waves of the time portal.
“Vione,” Rowena whispered, her voice shaking as tears escaped her eyes, “there are things we cannot change. Please understand, I just don’t want to lose you. What if I lose you by changing the past?”
Vione froze, shaken by her mother’s fear. “I can’t live with all that loss either, Mama.” She blinked, a single tear rolling down her cheek. “I just can’t.”
Rowena’s heart broke when she heard Vione’s decision. She didn’t want to expose her daughter to the dangers of time travel again, but she was powerless against Vione’s desperate plea. In the end, she could do nothing but grant Vione her wish.
The time portal opened once more. Rowena watched Vione leave, her emotions swirling in a storm of fear, love, and hope. She remained in Mystoria Falls, waiting for Vione to return and praying for her safety. No matter how many times Vione ventured into the past, Rowena would be there, waiting.
“No, Vione!” Rowena’s voice was firm this time. She steeled herself as she made the painful decision to refuse Vione’s request. “I can’t open the portal again. I can’t let you endanger yourself again!” She pulled Vione’s frail body close to her and continued, her tone breaking with emotion. “You’ve gone back countless times, and what have you seen? The future is unchanged. The war is still going on, and do you know what I’ve gained from all this?” Her eyes filled with tears, reflecting the deep sadness she felt as she looked at her daughter’s weakened state. Vione was emaciated, her cheeks hollow and her hair falling out in strands. “My daughter is withering away.”
Vione shook her head weakly. “Mama,” she whispered, her voice barely a whisper. She was so exhausted that her words seemed to drift away. “Please, don’t stop me. Help me instead. I have to…”
“Not at the cost of your own life, Vione,” Rowena interrupted sharply, her face hardening as she tried to bring her daughter back to reason. “I told you, some fates cannot be changed, Vione. The war will happen no matter how many times you change the past. What you must do now is find a way for the pack to rise again.”
Vione closed her eyes, her heart torn apart by the storm of emotions raging within. She tried to hold on to the hope that she could still fight, but every path seemed closed to her now. The glimmer of hope and second chances she had once clung to had faded, swallowed by the darkness that threatened to crush her resolve.
Then Vione’s wolf spirit howled within her, and her eyes shot open with renewed clarity. “You are right. I must rebuild the pack. If the past can’t be changed, then I must find a way for the pack to rise again.”
This was her last chance. Vione could feel it. She had to succeed this time, before her body was completely exhausted and unable to fight any longer.
Vione looked at Rowena without saying a word, but Rowena knew exactly what she wanted.
Rowena tried to resist, but a part of her heart still supported Vione’s resolve, even though her logic told her otherwise. She hugged Vione tightly. “I love you, Vione.”
“I love you too, Mama,” Vione whispered back, returning the hug. “We will meet again. I promise.”
No matter what happened, Vione was determined to keep her promise to Rowena. She would return to her mother.
With new strength, Vione steadied herself. She watched the time portal reopen. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. As the portal began to pull her in, she prayed silently. Take me to the time when I can change everything, to the time when I can save the pack.
*