Selena
Returning to the pack felt like stepping into a warm embrace I hadn’t realized I’d been longing for. The courtyard was alive with energy, the cheers of the pack members ringing out like a symphony of joy. Their faces glowed with happiness as they welcomed us back.
I tried to smile, but my heart was heavy. Silas’s hand found mine, his touch grounding me amidst the sea of emotions swirling within.
“They’re happy to see you,” he murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear. “But they’re also drawn to you, Selena. They can sense it, even if they don’t know why.”
I squeezed his hand in response, though his words only deepened the storm inside me. They didn’t know, not yet. But tonight, that would change. It was time for the truth-no matter the consequences.
Later that evening, as the celebrations died down, Silas and I retreated to his chambers. The firelight danced across the walls, casting shadows that seemed to echo the turmoil in my heart. I sat by the hearth, staring into the flames, gathering my thoughts.
Silas handed me a glass of wine and sat beside me, his amber eyes searching mine. “You’ve been quiet,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “There’s something you’re holding back, Selena. I can feel it.”
I looked away, ashamed. He deserved the truth, but I feared what it might do to us.
“You’re right,” I admitted after a long pause. “There’s something I need to tell you, something I should have told you long ago.”
He said nothing, seemed waiting, his unwavering patience urging me to continue.
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I set my glass down. “Silas, I am not just another wolf. I’m not even mortal. I am Selena, the Moon Goddess.”
His expression froze, his breath catching as the weight of my words settled between us. I waited, bracing myself for rejection, for anger, for disbelief. But none of those came. Instead, he leaned forward, his gaze piercing into mine.
“You’re serious,” he said, though it wasn’t a question.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “The goddess your pack has prayed to, sought guidance from-that’s me. I chose to watch a lot of mortals centuries ago, sometimes to live as you do and understand the world from your eyes. But I’ve kept this part of myself hidden, even from you.”
His eyes softened, though his expression remained conflicted. “Why tell me now?”
“Because I trust you,” I said simply. “And because I can’t keep hiding who I am-not from you, not from the pack.”
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he reached out, his hand cupping my cheek. “Selena, goddess or mortal, you are mine. And nothing will change that.”
His words broke the tension in my chest, and I leaned into his touch, a single tear escaping down my cheek.
The next morning, I stood beside Silas in the courtyard as the pack gathered. The energy from last night’s celebration had carried over, the air buzzing with anticipation. My heart raced as I prepared for what was to come.
Silas addressed the pack with his usual commanding presence, his voice going across the courtyard. “Today, I have news to share, news that will change how we see our lives and the forces that guide us.”
He turned to me, his eyes filled with unspoken reassurance. I stepped forward, my pulse pounding in my ears as I faced the hundreds of eyes now fixed on me.
“I am Selena,” I began, my voice steady despite the nerves clawing at my resolve. “But I am not just Selena. I am the Moon Goddess. For centuries, I have watched you, mortals, seeking to understand your lives, your struggles, and your joys. I am here not to rule, but to stand beside you.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by hushed whispers. Some wolves fell to their knees in reverence, while others stared at me with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.
Silas raised his hand, silencing the murmurs. “Selena has chosen to share this truth with us, not to separate herself, but to show her commitment to this pack. She is one of us now.”
The pack erupted into cheers, their voices rising in unison as wolves howled their approval. Relief washed over me, though it was tinged with a lingering unease. This was only the beginning.
In the days that followed, I felt a strange unease, even amidst the cheers and celebrations. Silas stayed close, his warmth grounding me, but something in the air felt wrong. It was as if the shadows themselves were watching, whispering of a danger I couldn’t yet comprehend.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the feeling only deepened. Our peace felt fragile, as though hanging by a thread. Somewhere out there, I knew Virgil was stirring. When the time came, I would need to be ready.
Shortly after, I urged Silas to avoid escalating the situation. I didn’t want this to disrupt the agreements he had carefully forged with the vampires and witches. Whatever transgressions or violations the vampires committed, I believed they remained hidden, veiled from scrutiny. No warnings had been directed at us, the werewolves.
By killing Valeria, I thought I had silenced Virgil and the vampires, ensuring they wouldn’t provoke us further. Yet the paranoia lingered, shadows of doubt and fear embedding themselves in my thoughts. Night after night, those dark reflections haunted me, taking root in the moments before I closed my eyes.
During what remained of my time here.
Now, it was the waning phase of the moon, marking the end of my mortal form’s cycle. Just as I was about to rise from my seat, a sharp pain suddenly throbbed in my head. My hand instinctively moved to touch the source of the ache, but the pain refused to subside.
I tried to stand, but my legs wobbled, unable to support me. My balance faltered, and I couldn’t seem to place my feet firmly on the ground.
I heard Silas calling my name, his voice filled with urgency. I tried to steady myself, forcing my body to respond, but before I could manage it, darkness enveloped my vision. My body felt weightless, as though I were floating, detached from the world around me.