Chapter 4

I don't know what's on my mind, I just found myself walking deeper into this forest. It's gloomy, and the only light here is coming from the m oon.

What if something happens to me? Like what happened to that vlogger?

However, thinking about those wolves' things, monsters, or whatever they called it makes me the biggest joke in the universe. They aren't real. It's just that, I'm curious where those howls came from earlier.

Is there someone here, a psycho maybe, playing a radio, or does he have a huge sound system to make it real and audible in the whole town of Colambi? I quickly snatched the thick stem on the ground as I kept going. I'm getting far from the road so there's no turning back, and I should verify my theories about that incident. If I figured out that I was right, I'd smack it to the face of my friend—kidding aside.

What if I saw a rite here? You know, something like witchcraft or encountering some cannibalistic humans.

I swallowed hard as the air embraced me with its coldness. Every step I made, the noise that was coming from stepping on the dry leaves echoed throughout the forest which made my forehead sweat as the drastic feeling commenced.

"Aksha…"

A trail of soft voices rushed through my ears, making me halt in my spot. I examined the surroundings but no one was there, except me. Another cry of wolves was heard throughout the woodland, yet it only boosted my curiosity to know who the hell was playing that kind of audio.

"This is the time…" A different voice, the voice that I heard from my dream. "To accept your fate."

My brows furrowed as the howling voices became blaring and intense, it felt like they surrounded me. I hoofed back, turning my gazes in various directions while hearing the unrhythmical patterns of my heart. The wind gusts as if there's an upcoming hurricane which provokes the trees to get wild like they're going to kick me out of this wilderness.

"What is happening?"

The pieces of leaves flew and directly hit my face, leaving some scratches.

Seriously, what kind of leaves are those? A blade? It stings.

I glanced at the sky as the gleams of rays were captured by my peripheral vision, and it was like what I saw in my dreams. It flickered from blue to white, and gold which made me shine in the darkness. It was astonishing, yet the burning sensations began to swallow me. I wanted to scream out the pain, as if someone was constantly piercing a thousand rivets in my heart.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held my chest. Something wants to burst out, someone desires to be free inside me.

My whole body is starting to feel numb.

"Aksha…"

A sudden figure showed up in my blurry vision. I can recognize this person as a 'she' but I don't know who she is.

"I am Lunaria." My eyes dilated in shock. "I've been waiting for you since then, Aksha. Finally, the right time has come to meet you."

My sight is getting clearer, yet the pain is still unbearable.

I exerted my best to scan her from head to toe. She looks Greek to me while wearing a metallic gold chiton with a touch of white dress that compliments her golden eyes. She has an exquisite look that no one can ever be compared to. Her fair-white skin bedazzled me as I stared at it. She also has a pointed nose, thin lips, and long wavy white hair.

Her perfect posture in front of me roars such superiority.

"I…"

Everything calms down as she waves her hand lightly. She put her hand on my shoulder and heard her whisper some words that I could hardly understand. And in just a glimpse, gone all the aches that I am feeling.

"What do you want from me? What kind of creature are you? Why are you glowing?" I asked as soon as I regained my strength.

This is just a dream so it's fine to talk with her, right? Right!

"The prophecy has begun to overrule again the time you reach your 21st birthday, as a half-blooded, I assumed that the signs are now visible." My forehead crumpled. "The afflictions from the past become the way to shed blood and be merciless. As the mother of them, the Moon Goddess, it crushes me to witness the conflict and their cruelty to every creature in this world."

What is she talking about? Moon Goddess? Seriously? When did my dream become fantasy? Did I hit my head while on the road?

"I-I can't—" I can't process anything! I hope all of this is not real.

"Years ago, I made the greatest mistake by believing that I would eventually end the curse because I set up an ideal pair. The white wolf and a human were mated as a challenge to the bond of the other. And that destiny turned out to be a catastrophe because that other being has been sucked in by hatred, resulting in massive killings…"

She glanced at me. Her tantalizing eyes fell in dismay.

"The one died peacefully, and the other one lives with full of hate, jealousy, and envy—"

"Why are you telling me this?" I interrupted her irritatedly. "Are you some kind of a grandma who loves telling bedtime stories?"

She smiles at me. "Accept who you are and you will know the answers. Soon you'll understand the real meaning of your life. Every story has an ending, and I am expecting that your end will be brighter than anyone."

"Huh?"

"I'll read every page where you will bleed, Aksha."

"What do you mean? This is only a dream, right? What are you saying?"

She shook her head as he held my hands.

"Hairy palms…

Golden eyes and hair…

Open your eyes widely, feel it…

And acknowledge the howling voice inside you, the voice that keeps on calling your name."

"How did you know?" I asked in a haze.

"Close your eyes, and embrace who you really are. Talk to your other half."

I gulped and frustratedly closed my eyes. The burning sensation I felt before started to envelop me again, writhing in pain as I clutched my chest.

"Aksha…"

No!

"You can open your eyes now, accept me."

No!

"You can't run away from your destiny."

I don't want to hear you!

"You want to know the truth about your family, right? Your real identity?"