“King Jasper,” I murmured, keeping my gaze steady. “What are you going to do with the golden trident?” I asked, trying to read his expression.
His face remained unreadable, but his grip on the trident tightened. “This weapon holds immense power,” he said. “It can also possess whoever wields it, turning them into its slave. Keeping it in my possession would be too dangerous.”
I frowned. “Then what do you plan to do?”
“I can’t just leave it behind for another power-hungry monster to find,” Jasper continued. “So I’ve decided to destroy it, rendering it useless. That way, its power will be absorbed back into the universe, never to be claimed again.”
Hearing his decision, I finally felt at ease. It reassured me that Jasper truly wanted peace among shifters and the entire paranormal world.
Jasper placed the trident on the ground and instructed, “Take a few steps back.”
We did as he said.
He then chanted something in a hushed voice before raising his staff. A beam of light shot out, colliding with the trident, breaking it in two. A loud explosion followed, and a brilliant light burst from the shattered pieces, piercing through the cave’s roof, creating a gaping hole before vanishing into the sky.
Then, silence. A sense of calm and tranquility settled over us.
“It’s done,” Jasper exhaled.
“Thank you,” I nodded in gratitude.
He shook his head. “No need. This was for everyone’s safety.”
I nodded. “We should now return to the Moonglow Pack,” I announced.
“Okay. Let me know if you need my help finding the Dark Alpha,” he said, catching me off guard.
I turned to him, surprised.
“I know he’s been destroying werewolf packs, and his next target will likely be us vampires. It’s better to stop him before it’s too late,” he explained.
“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “I’ll handle him. But thanks for offering your help. I truly appreciate it.”
“No problem,” he said before teleporting away.
Ethan, the warriors, and I shifted and sprinted toward the Moonglow Pack. But then, suddenly, the sky became unstable. A strange energy pulsed through the air, sending a shiver down my spine.
Then, the impossible happened.
Three red moons appeared in the sky, glowing ominously. The wind howled, and the ground beneath us trembled as if the earth itself was reacting to this unnatural event.
I skidded to a stop, shifting back into my human form, my eyes locked on the eerie sight above. “What the hell is going on?” I muttered.
Ethan and the others stood frozen, staring at the sky in disbelief. “This… this shouldn’t be possible,” Ethan whispered. “Three red moons? That only happens in legends.”
A deep sense of unease settled over me. If the stories were true, this was a sign-one that spelled disaster.
____
*Selena*
Mother and the God of Destruction stood before me, waiting for me to proceed with the wedding rituals.
“Selena, we don’t have time,” Mother urged, her voice laced with urgency and fear.
I licked my dry lips, my heart pounding. “Mother, I can’t do this,” I whispered. “I can’t betray Zander.”
“You’re not betraying the Alpha King-you’re saving your people,” Kaelvor reasoned. His words made sense, yet something about this situation unsettled me. The eerie calm felt unnatural, as if a storm lurked just beyond it.
I clenched my fists. “But if destiny is already decided, how can you stop it?” I questioned, watching as a flicker of hesitation crossed Kaelvor’s eyes.
“I am the God of Destruction,” he said, his voice deep and resolute. “Together, with our combined power, I can stop doomsday.”
I wasn’t convinced that marrying him was the right choice. No, I couldn’t marry anyone who wasn’t Zander Blake. I was his, and only his. There had to be another way to combine the power without marrying someone who wasn’t my mate, Zander Blake.
Kaelvor narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp. “You’re not going to proceed with the wedding rituals?”
“No!” I declared, my determination unwavering. “But I believe there must be another way to combine our powers.”
“Oh, Selena, that’s pure foolishness,” Mother whined, but I wasn’t backing down. I couldn’t marry a god.
Kaelvor exhaled, seeming to calm himself. “Then come with me to my realm, and we will combine the power there.”
“Is that possible?” Mother asked, her tone more enthusiastic now.
“Yes!” Kaelvor nodded, his eyes gleaming with contentment.
“Then, Selena, go with him and stop the day from coming before it’s too late,” Mother implored. I could see the urgency in her eyes. I knew I had to do something-there was no time to waste.
“Okay, I’ll go to the Dark Realm,” I agreed reluctantly, but I knew it was the only choice to save my people, my family, and my world.