“The world can be a terrible place. In the face of evil, a true alpha will stand his ground and fight for what’s right.” My father says solemnly “Like you, Papa?” I squeak. “I hope I am that Alpha when the time comes.” He says with a very serious tone. It seems like the statement means more than the meaning I understand. He glances worriedly at my mother. The fire cast shadows across her face and it is hard to read her expression. Her belly is so swollen with my brother that her expression was hard to catch in the shadows. “It was not a choice of strength that the Alpha of Crescent Moon made, but out of panic, Crescent Moon submitted. Malakai saw this as weakness. The alpha submitted from fear. A true Alpha is not afraid.” My father continues. The fire is casting shadows around him, like witches around a cauldron. “When it comes to our children though, appearing weak means little if it saves the child. He only had one child, a son to take over the pack.” My father gently places
“Do you plan to tell it or is it not story time again?” I ask. “It seems there are many stories to tell. I’m not sure which you would like to hear first.”“When there’s so much I don’t know, I’m not sure where you should start.” I say honestly.Theia sighs. I embrace the silence between us. On a cellular level we are connected. It’s intimate but also invasive. It’s comforting to always feel someone with you, but also terrifying and claustrophobic. “There are many planes to exist upon.” She begins, thoughtfully. “These planes can exist with or without your knowledge, and are in most cases self-contained.”She pauses before continuing, “The Gods and Goddesses are not bound to a singular plane. They can move and influence different planes of existence. This is the terrestrial plane of your birth.”I can see the fields of the estate in my mind. The wheat grasses bending with the wind, as if ghosts delicately danced upon them, in an invisible ball upon the fields. I could smell the deep
“Goddess help me!” Agatha cries. “I’m not sure why I have to travel with the Luna so close to my ceremony or why my dress has to be packed away, but that is where I find myself.” I explain. “Two weeks of construction and alterations reduced to only one, plus having to find room on the carriage with all the Luna likes to pack!” Agatha rages on. “She could take Mari with her like she always does when she travels!”“Mari came from those markets. I would never put her in a position to have to go back to them.” I aggressively whisper to Agatha. Agatha takes a breath and considers my point. “Well you don’t always have to be the martyr.” She concludes. “Who should take my place? At least if I’m the one to go, you and Mari will be here for Dmitry. I cannot leave without someone watching out for him!” I plead. “And your wolf? Does she have the strength to protect you out there alone with the Luna?” Agatha challenges. I feel the red hot flare of Theia’s temper. Rage. All I feel is rage.
“What was that about!” I ask Theia sharply once I have left Agatha’s quarters. “I will not have my strength questioned like that.” She retorts. “What an ego!” I chide. “It’s not an ego if it is fact!” She growls. “I don’t have many friends. Don’t go alienating the few I DO have!” I growl back with equal ferocity. I can feel the tension and anger between us. I take some calming breaths. “Try and be nice to Mari, or just don’t say anything.” I warn. “I can only bite my tongue for so long before it begins to bleed.” Theia retorts. “She literally said one thing. Asked one question. She asked out of love and worry for me. You barely bit your tongue at all!” I correct. “I will not be questioned by an Omega!” Theia thunders. “Newsflash! I am basically a slave. My friends are slaves and omegas. So you better get used to it.” I reply tersely. “We are not an omega and we are not destined to be a slave.” “Tell me, what is my destiny? Am I powerless to change the course? If so, why do
“We will be together again soon. I promise.” I say to Dmitry, not only to convince him but also myself. “I don’t understand why you have to be away for so long!” He sobbed. We haven’t been apart for longer than a few days since the day he was born. I pull him into my arms and hug him firmly. I rub his back in small circles and I feel his body slowly relax and melt into my embrace. “Nothing will keep me from you. I will move mountains if I have to.” I mean every single word. A promise to him. A promise to myself. “I know.” He whispers so quietly I can barely register it. “I will be going to Kingdom of the Moon with the Luna, then I will travel to the Moon Ceremony. Tell me, what should I know about it? Any animals or birds I should look out for?” It calms Dmitry to talk about facts and science. “Let me go get my map, so we can look at the path of your journey!” He suggests. “Yes, please!” I call to him, as he races to his little library of books. He stretches the map across a s
I have to pack thoughtfully. We are only taking a single carriage and the Luna’s elaborate wardrobe took up a lot of the space. What her belongings did not take had to be shared between myself and the two carriage drivers. Alpha Warriors accompanied us on horseback, packing their belongings on their own horse. Occasionally, one would request that the Luna haul a box or two on the carriage. “The Luna is not a terrible traveling companion.” Mari muses. “She prefers a quiet journey. When Horus travels along it can be difficult, he’s rambunctious.” She confides. “Rambunctious seems too kind of a word to describe him.” I snark. “You needn’t worry. He will not be traveling with you.” She says. “Oh? I just assumed he would be joining.” I say. I had assumed that Horus would be joining. I was pleasantly surprised to hear he would not. “He is needed to help prepare for the hunt with the Alpha.”“I had forgotten about the hunt.” I say more to myself than Mari. The hunt takes place in the d
“May Selene bless this journey. May the moon guide you on a safe and righteous path. May Selene gain favorable passage for you from her siblings.” The priestess recites her prayers over the carriage and horses. The sun has only just begun to peek from the horizon. The dew blankets the ground, sparkling like an iridescent web over the grass. A blanket so delicate I imagine only the garden fairies of my girlhood dreams could craft a gown from it. The fields are obscured by the morning mists. It’s as if I am looking through the end of a glass mug, the trees in the distance are blurred and dreamy. The horses are restless to begin the day’s journey, the sounds of their throaty breaths and stomping hooves punctuate each verse of the priestess’s prayer. “May Selene guide your path. Bless Luna Osiris on her righteous path. May Selene protect you.” The priestess’s robes are made of lush silver velvet. The dew clings to it in small glittering droplets like diamonds reflecting in the sun. A si
The carriage is built for comfort. The interior is lined with green silk and dark woods. The seats are plush, upholstered in supple chocolate brown calves leather. I settle into the cabin, focused on taking as little space as possible. “It’s a long ride, so best get comfortable.” The Luna says flatly. “Yes, ma’am.” I quietly mutter in return. I feel the jerk of the horses starting down the road. A guard on either side of the coach, one behind it, one immediately in front of it, and Captain Keegan leading the way. The Luna opens a book and begins to quietly read it. A bored expression on her face as she slowly flips the pages. A comfortable silence settles between us. I look out of the small carriage window at the passing landscape. The fields and gardens. The homes dotting the landscape. The children playing. The cows and sheep in the fields eating. Wildflowers and winter wheat waving in the wind. I feel a profound sadness wash over me. Smothering any joy I just felt at look