“You are…”
“I am known by various names,” she remarked with a smile. “However, the majority refer to me as Moon Goddess.”
Upon her utterance, a magnificent gray-blue wolf materialises alongside her.
“Devina…” I murmur, a smile forming on my lips as I recall our initial encounter.
Devina’s striking blue eyes dart towards me upon my call, her head tilting to the side in enjoyment.
I kneel before the Moon Goddess, bowing my head and worshipping her feet.
“Your Grace,” I exclaim, elated that my desire is being fulfilled. “Thank you for this gif.”
“You have no reason to express gratitude,” the Moon Goddess retorts, retreating. “I have provided you with nothing.”
“However, I believed-”
“All good things come to those who wait,” the Moon Goddess sighs. “Devina would have been your wolf had you merely placed your trust in my strategy.”
Strategy? My heart plummets to the depths of my stomach. Which plan?
“Your impatience and jealousy have overwhelmed you,” the Moon Goddess admonishes, casting a disapproving glance at Devina. “You appropriated that which did not belong to you.”
A profound resentment permeates my emotions.
“But he belonged to me…” I weep to her. “Aldo belonged to me! I encountered him first! I loved him first.”
“He was not intended for you!” the Moon Goddess admonishes. “I had a wonderful companion awaiting you. An individual sufficiently patient to accommodate you. A person willing to do anything to satisfy you and demonstrate the experience of being loved.”
Teardrops cascade down my face. “I implore you, Your Grace, to show me mercy. I acknowledge my error, but-”
“Are you aware of the anguish of having your partner forcibly removed from you? Of experiencing the torment of being separated from your beloved by another? The Moon Goddess enquires, her voice quivering slightly as she gazes upward. “Do you comprehend the suffering your sister endured upon discovering you with her mate in her bedroom?”
I restrain my words, reluctant to meet the goddess’s gaze.
“On numerous occasions, she approached you in tears regarding her suffering, suffering that you were inflicting,” the Moon Goddess says. “You merely laughed at her. You asserted that it was all a figment of her imagination, rendering her feel irrational. You have betrayed a sacred connection between two individuals!” the Moon Goddess exclaims, standing back to regain her composure and tranquilly. “Consequently, you are required to bear the consequences.”
Apprehension permeates my being as I gaze into the Moon Goddess’s icy black eyes. “You have appropriated something sacred from your sister, and now… she will reclaim something from you.”
Devina abruptly disappears from the Moon Goddess’s presence, leaving only dust in her aftermath.
“No!” I exclaim, extending my hand to grasp the exquisite wolf, only for her to elude my grasp.
“Your sister was never intended to be a wolf… yet she shall inherit the wolf that was originally designated for you,” proclaims the Moon Goddess. “To demonstrate my mercy, I shall grant your wish. You will receive a wolf, commensurate with your transgression, and face the repercussions of your deeds.”
She gestures with her wrist, and a little brown wolf with reddish-brown eyes materialises alongside her. She is significantly less gorgeous than Devina. The young wolf whimpers, averting her eyes to the feet of the Moon Goddess.
“Let this serve as a lesson to you… Do not meddle with my schemes again, child,” the Moon Goddess articulates as I observe the pitiable wolf. The Moon Goddess gazes upon the little wolf, caressing its lacklustre fur. “She currently lacks strength, but with time and considerable patience, you can enhance her resilience.”
I gaze at the wolf with revulsion. How am I expected to embody Luna with that scruffy dog? How am I expected to provide Aldo with his heir?
“Our time has concluded,” the Moon Goddess murmurs, touching my forehead with a finger. “I will observe you attentively. Until we meet again.”
Before I can articulate anything further, a blinding white light engulfs me, causing the Moon Goddess and the wolf to vanish. I shut my eyes to protect them from the intense glare, and upon reopening them, I discover I am gazing at a white ceiling. I attempt to breathe, but an obstruction is caught in my throat.
I am unable to breathe! I am unable to breathe! I desire to shout, yet only a faint, strangled groan escapes.
In a state of panic, my hands search my throat while a heart monitor beeps irregularly beside me. I hear a resounding slam, followed by footsteps, and soon find myself encircled by individuals in scrubs.
Dr. Rayna advances, directing an individual to elevate my bed.
“Soothe yourself, Luna,” she whispers, positioning her palms on the tube protruding from my mouth. “Let us remove this.”
I inhale deeply after the removal of the thick tube, my eyes rapidly surveying the surroundings. I seem to be in the hospital, and as anticipated, my husband is absent.
I prepare to speak, but Dr. Rayna interjects first.
“I will establish a mind link with the Alpha,” she whispers. “I will inform him that you are awake.”
