Chapter 54
I stood in front of the Moon Goddess, my heart beating fast as I waited for her decision. The place we were in was beautiful and powerful, filled with the magic of long ago. Ryder, who used to be a strong enemy of mine, was next to me on his knees, showing resistance even though he had lost.
The Moon Goddess spoke loudly and firmly. “Ryder, you misused the power given to you, causing trouble and harm in the werewolf world. For the bad things you did to my wolves, I am taking away your powers and sending you to live in the spirit world forever.”
I stared, unable to look away, as Ryder’s eyes showed fear. He tried to argue, but all that came out was a painful scream as dark lines of power started to leave his body. It was a scary and captivating sight the same power that made him dangerous was now being pulled out of him.
Ryder was wriggling on the ground, his body twisting as the final bits of his evil magic were ripped away. I felt bad for him. To lose your power, your very being.
As Ryder’s screams turned into soft cries, I saw the spirits of his ancestors coming to surround him. Their translucent forms created a shimmering circle, their expressions solemn as they prepared to guide Ryder to his new eternal home. I realized with a start that this was the last time I would ever see him in the mortal realm.
Ryder looked at me one last time as he started to disappear into the fog. His face showed a mix of feelings he was defeated, sure, but also accepting what was happening to him. For a moment, I caught a quick look at the wolf he might have become if he had chosen another path. But then, as if he were just smoke carried off by the wind, he disappeared.
I let out my breath, noticing I had been holding it, and felt the heavy weight of war finally gone. It was done. We won.
The Moon Goddess then looked at me, her glowing face becoming gentler as she watched me, her eyes were kind and made me feel calm.
“Aurora,” she spoke, her voice sounding like beautiful music. “You have been very brave and wise when things were very tough. Being a true leader is never simple, but you have shown that you deserve the faith your pack has in you.”
As she spoke, I felt a reassuring presence envelop me. It was warm and calming like being covered in a blanket of soft starlight. I immediately understood that she was preparing to send me back to the mortal world, back to my family and the life that awaited me there.
But before I could fully relax into that warmth, the Goddess’s expression turned serious again. Be warned, young one. The battle you fought will have effects that go way beyond today. Unexpected challenges will come, and you need to be ready to deal.
I wanted to ask her what she was talking about, to ask for more details about these unknown difficulties. But I felt my consciousness beginning to slip away, the spirit realm fading around me like a dream upon waking.
The last thing I saw was the Moon Goddess’s face, her eyes showing both pride and worry. Afterward, everything turned black, and I passed out.
* * *
I could just hear voices, which seemed weak and distant as if they were coming from beneath the water. Slowly, I started to feel things again the ground was solid under me, and the air felt cold on my skin. I wanted to open my eyes, but they felt too heavy.
“She’s alive!” I heard someone exclaim, the voice familiar yet distorted. “Aurora, can you hear me?”
I wanted to respond and tell them I was fine, but my body was stiff. I felt soft hands checking if I was still breathing.
“Her heartbeat is strong,” another voice said, relief evident in their tone. “But she’s in a deep sleep. We need to get her to the infirmary.”
I felt myself being lifted, cradled against a broad chest that I instinctively knew belonged to Xander. His smell surrounded me, giving me a feeling of being safe and at home. I wanted to snuggle up to him and let him know that everything was okay now, but the darkness still had a hold on me.
While they were moving me, I started to notice a weird feeling running through my body. It was like a buzz of electricity just under my skin, a new kind of strength that made me feel both excited and scared. What had the Moon Goddess done to me?
I heard gasps and murmurs from the pack members around us. “Her hair,” someone whispered. “Look at her hair!”
“And that glow,” another added.
I wanted to find out what they were discussing and grasp the transformations that had taken place. However, awareness stayed frustratingly elusive, keeping me stuck in this hazy area between being awake and asleep.
All at once, the ground under us shook. It was minor, almost undetectable, but in my highly alert condition, I felt it sharply. The group members nearby grew quiet, and I could feel their nervousness.
“What was that?” Aiden’s voice was tense with worry.
“I don’t know,” Xander replied, his arms tightening protectively around me. “No matter what’s going on, she’s not ready to deal with it.”
As they continued their trip, I felt a feeling of worry come over me. The Moon Goddess’s message stayed in my thoughts unexpected results, fresh difficulties to handle. What had we set in motion with our victory over Ryder?
I wanted to wake up, take control, and get my pack ready for whatever was about to happen. But the urge to stay asleep was too powerful, and I felt myself falling further into the dark. The last thing I heard before I completely lost consciousness was Xander’s voice, gentle and firm:
“Hold on, Aurora. We’ve got you. Just hold on.”
I’m not sure how long I was asleep without any dreams. Time felt like it didn’t matter in the dark that surrounded me. But gradually, I started to wake up.
The first thing I noticed was how soft the surface was under me very different from the tough ground where the fighting had been. I realized I was lying in a bed, with sheets that felt cool and fresh against my body. The air near me had a scent of medicinal plants and healing creams, mixed with the comforting smells of my mate.
I focused on my body, taking stock of how I felt. To my surprise, there was no pain, no lingering aches from the battle. Instead, that strange electrical sensation still hummed through me, more noticeable now that I was closer to consciousness. It seemed like there was a lot of energy ready to be used, which was exciting but also a bit scary.
I heard voices coming to me, I tried hard to understand what they were saying, struggling with the confusion still in my head.
“…been 10 days,” I heard Xander say, his voice tight with worry. “Why hasn’t she woken up?”
“Her body is adjusting,” another voice replied Zara, our pack healer. “The transformations she’s experienced… They’re extraordinary. We need to remain calm.”
Transformations? What transformations? I wanted to open my eyes and ask for explanations, but my body still wasn’t fully responding.
“And what about the tremors?” Aiden’s voice was now uncharacteristically serious. “They’re getting stronger, more frequent.”
A heavy sigh from Xander. “I know. We’re trying hard to manage everything, but if this keeps up…”
He stopped talking, and I could sense the hidden worries in the room. What was going on outside? What had I not known during these three days when I was out cold?
I tried even harder to wake up, to escape this annoying in-between state. I concentrated all my energy on lifting my eyelids, on twitching my fingers anything to show that I was returning to them.
And eventually, thankfully, my eyes started to open.
At first, everything was a hazy mess, too dazzling after the blackness I’d been in. I blinked a lot, attempting to see clearly. Slowly, outlines started to appear the wooden rafters of the medical room ceiling, the concerned faces of my friends gathered around my bed.
“Aurora?” Xander came into sight, his eyes open wide with a mix of hope and worry. “Can you hear me?”
I attempted to talk, but my throat felt very dry, and my voice was barely a whisper. “Water,” I said in a rough voice.
There was a flurry of movement, and then the cold liquid was being pressed to my lips. I drank eagerly, sensing my energy come back with every gulp. Once I felt satisfied, I inhaled deeply and attempted to speak again.
“I’m here,” I announced, my tone more confident. “What… what happened?”
Their expressions showed clear relief, yet I noticed concern still present in their gaze. Xander took my hand in his, his touch grounding me.
“You’ve been unconscious for ten days,” he explained gently. “After the battle with Ryder… well, you came back changed.”
I frowned, remembering the Goddess’s words and the strange sensations I’d felt. “Changed how?”
There was a moment of hesitation before Aiden stepped forward, holding up a mirror. “See for yourself,” he said softly.
I took the mirror with trembling hands, steeling myself before looking at my reflection. The sight left me stunned.
My hair, previously a consistent dark brown, now had streaks of silver in it not the ordinary gray of aging, but a sparkling, almost glowing color that appeared to capture and bounce off light. And my eyes… The pupils seemed to whirl with an internal brightness, with specks of gold twinkling within the usual brown.
However, the most surprising thing was the soft light that appeared to come from my skin. It was faint, but still visible.
“What… what am I?” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from this new reflection.
“You’re still you,” Xander said firmly, squeezing my hand. “Just… enhanced, somehow. The Moon Goddess must have given you some of her power.”
I lowered the mirror, my mind reeling. “The Goddess… She warned me about unforeseen consequences. About new challenges we’d have to face.” I glanced at them, suddenly recalling the sense of urgency in their voices from before. “What’s been going on while I was resting? You mentioned tremors?”
Xander and Aiden exchanged glances, their expressions grim. Aiden finally spoke up.
“It started right after the battle,” he explained. “Small tremors at first, barely noticeable. But they’ve been getting stronger, more frequent. It’s not only happening here we’re getting reports from everywhere. Something has fundamentally changed in our world, Aurora. And we think it has something to do with Ryder’s defeat and your… transformation.”
I shut my eyes, feeling the heavy burden of responsibility on my shoulders. This was the warning from the Goddess the cost of our win, maybe.
When I opened my eyes, I looked at each of them, seeing a mix of fear and hope in their eyes. They were counting on me for direction and leadership. Even though I was unsure inside, I knew I couldn’t disappoint them.
“Okay,” I said, sitting up. My body was a bit stiff from not moving for days, but a new energy inside me gave me strength. “Tell me everything. I need to understand what’s going on and how to fix it.”
As they explained what had happened while I was gone, I thought again about the Moon Goddess’s words. She had mentioned unexpected challenges. Well, we would face them head-on, together. Whatever changes had been wrought in me, whatever power now coursed through my veins, I would use it to protect my pack and our world.