Sophia's POVRight then and there, it had overcome me with feelings of awe mixed with trembling since we had approached the Oracle Temple of the Moon. Indeed, another variety of temple wherewith I had been acquainted: the whole structure infinitely more ancient-looking, with high-raised pillars and vines of thickness binding it round, as it were-most of this wood attempting to embrace and press to its own bosom, as something living, that house of prayer. The foggy fog swirled in thick movements down beneath in some mystic way, catching it in words that hardly tell."Wow," I breathed, my neck craning as I took it all in.Standing beside me, Xavier wore an impassive face. "It's... something, isn't it?"I nodded, too mesmerized to reply.Xena-the Virgin of the Moon Goddess who'd escorted us in-faced back and gestured to us, her voice formal with suppressed authority. "You must wait here," she told us. "The Oracle must be prepared for you."I threw a nervous glance at Xavier; he shrugged.
Cindy's POVI stormed across the large hall of Lady Cecilia's estate, my mind whipping out of control. Anger had turned into another thing-panic. Of all things to want, whatever for, what would the Moon's Oracle want with a human! The impertinence of the thing burned my blood, yet beneath the fire of rage was gnawing fear."My Lady Cecilia," I said, my voice clear as cut by a knife. "Are you certain of this? The Oracle of the Moon summoned Sophia?She sat easily on a chaise, her hands folded in her lap. So composed, maddeningly so, sipping tea as if this were not the start of a disaster. "It would appear so," she said with even tone. "Several members of the clan have corroborated such a claim.I slammed my hand against the wall, its echo reverberating around the room. "Why? Why her? What could the Oracle conceivably want with a wretched human girl?"Lady Cecilia cooled towards me. "Compose yourself, Cindy. Panic will not alter the already done.""So easy that is for you to say!" I gro
Cindy's POVThe muscles of my jaw knotted in an effort at retaining the chafing of my anger within me. For, it was quite one thing hearing the rumors about the summoning of Sophia, quite another thing altogether - seeing with one's very eyes the doors of the Moon's Temple slammed shut right before one's very eyes! The temerity!"This is outrageous," I hissed, at which my fists were bunched. "They can't do this to us!"Everybody was calm except me, I thought, as from Lady Cecilia keen eyes an annoyance gave away. "Calm yourself," she said soft while an edge cut through, "Cindy, we'll find a way in.Before us stood the Moon Goddess Virgins: a stony wall of faces unyielding as the resolution behind the stone-hard visages, faces pale as moonlight in their pale blue robes that shone bright as.well, moonlight. This only added to the fire now brewing inside my stomach."You will step aside," Lady Cecilia said to them in a voice stern yet chivalrous. "I am Lady Cecilia, Luna of this pack, and
Sophia's POV"Sophia!" The moon oracle called. Immediately, my heart skipped a beat. My throat was lumped with saliva. "Come closer." She urged. "We've been expecting you."I turned to Xavier in shock. How did she even know my name? The way she smiled at me and the way she fluently called my name sounded as if we've met each other somehow. This can't be possible. I don't know her and neither does she. How come she calls me by my name?Her voice sounded intimate and was clear that she really knew me very well. All my life, I've been living a lie. I really can't understand this whole thing. My bones were trembling. My heart was pounding inside my chest, threatening to force itself out. My mind was racing with thoughts. My eyes narrowed and confusion was written all over my face. The way I looked at her with my brows raised told her I was completely shaken. I was fidgeting and I felt the ground should open up and swallow me. My nerves were fluttering inside my skin and cold shivers ran d
Sophia's POVThe moment our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat. I felt a flutter in my belly that was rumbling like a turbulent sea. My mind was racing with confusion and my head was spinning like a whirlwind in an empty desert. This was the biggest shock of my life.Taking a careful observation at the whole place, it was serene and I was like a spirit in their midst. They could not feel my presence, even Xavier. How come did my future self have her eyes focused on me? What is really going on? Where am I?My legs were trembling and became even too heavy to move any further. I was frozen at a point like a big lump of ice. My eyes were widened in shock. My breath was shaky and fizzling slowly. It was coming in short gasps and I began to choke softly. The air was thick with glory and royalty, but my mind was clouded with fear, making me unable to feel the atmosphere. I could hear their chants to the royals, being Xavier and myself. It felt like the roar of a thousand knights in battle in
Sophia's POV:I heard Xavier's heart pounding inside his chest. I saw real shock written all over his face. His eyes widened and his mouth slightly agape in bewilderment. I was shivering and almost urinated on my pants. The whole thing was just so messy and confusing. I just did not even understand why this was happening. But well, how could I? When even Xavier, the future Alpha doesn't.My mind was racing with thoughts. My head was pounding with aches. My hands were fidgeting and my legs trembled. My nerves were fluttering inside my skin and I heard my belly rumbling. I felt like going home, but not now, it was already too late.I looked at Xavier, perplexed as ever, but he foolishly feigned a smile at me, pretending like he understood any of these things that were happening. "Why feign confidence with fear written all over your face?" I thought, my eyes fixed on his.The moon oracle just smiled warmly at us, seeing the confusion in our faces. "Come on children, follow me." She urge
Xavier's POV:Ever since we arrived at the temple, I must say, it's been a thrilling and dramatic episode. I've seen things that my eyes are yet to believe. The very moment the oracle called Sophia's name, I saw her eyes widened in disbelief. I heard her heart pounding heavily inside her chest. I felt her skin softly, it was stiffened and all the strands of hair I felt on her skin were all sharply standing and brushed against my skin as it softly on them. The air was thick with magic but an atmosphere of confusion entangling in it. The scent of mist consumed her, clouding her mind with uncertainty.After we passed this stage, the next part was her trance. The moment I saw her slump, the thud of her body rang in my ears, sending shock waves running down my spine. My heart skipped a beat and I was about to rush to her when I felt the moon's oracle's skin brushed against my arm, holding it firmly like a vice unwilling to let go."She's fine." She smiled. "Don't worry. Just don't go t
Sophia's POV:On hearing this strange truth, a spark of electricity ran through my veins and my eyes widened in shock. A jolt of adrenaline rush coursed through my nerves sending shock waves running down my spine. My belly rumbling in disbelief and my mouth agape in confusion.What was the meaning of all these stuff? It did not really sink well in my head. Xavier was enraged so I could not get any better explanation from him, since he received the news in shock too. So all these while, I've been hunted to be killed.I was not thinking straight again. My mind could not process the whole thing. It was just too much for me. How could she dump me with all these information at once? All these while I've been such a fool!Now it's clear to me why mom never wanted me to go outside and wander about. The whole thing was as plain as a white paper. It was glaring in my eyes and left me shaken and my body shivering. I see why she was cross with me when she found me with Xavier. Now I know she was
Sophia's POV:I carefully explained everything to my mother. My whole experience with Xavier, the tension building up in the pack and even my decision to turn down the Luna position too."... Mom, I know I'm not good enough for it, that's why I turned it down."I watched her weary disappear and change to a warm smile. She let out a deep sigh of relief, as if the heavy burdens of hers were lifted up from her shoulder. Was she happy that I did not want to involve myself in the Pack's politics or what?She smiled at me and patted me cheerfully on my back."My love, I'm glad you came to me with this. I promise now that I'll be open to you. Whatever you need." She chuckled. "But I want you to promise me something." She said, her voice low.I felt my stomach rumbling as I pondered on her next words. This promise should better be something I'll be able to keep. She knows too well that I'm not good at keeping promises."Okay, I'm listening.""Listen carefully, it's for your safety and that o
Sophia's povI listened keenly, I had my eyes fixed on her as she continued the story, her eyes heavy with tears. Her heart heavy with sorrow and her mouth heavy with with words. Her voice quivered as she struggled to let out her words. However, she did not stop, she continued."Sophia, the tension in the pack had been escalating long before you were born. I really don't know who in particular but someone formed a click against your father. They used his initial weakness to lead as yard stick to measure his success." She paused, wiping the tears building up in her eyes. "I'm sorry." She begged.I cuddled her in my arms, something I never thought would happen today. The way events suddenly took a turn was a surprise, one that I was loving. For the first time in a long while, we've shared the bond of family once again, although tearfully. "Its okay mom, go on.""Sophia, it did not just end there my love. This continued over time and soon turned into something I never envisaged; a full b
Sophia's povAs her words sank into my mind, I felt like a heavy stone was dropped into a well, creating ripples of conflicting thoughts in my mind.The Alpha of the bloodline pack is my father? So it's true?The whole thing does not feel real. It feels like my world is being shifted beneath my feet to be crushed by the weight it has put on me.I quickly remembered when the moon oracle had first told me this. That I'm the daughter of the old Alpha and the destined Luna of the pack. Despite all.the signs she showed me then, I dismissed it that time, thinking she was just making up stories that seemed too good to be true. I never believed my life was such a fantasy.I shoved off such thoughts, believing it was some prophecy meant for someone else. But now hearing my mother saying it to my face with all seriousness, now I remembered the words of the moon oracle.'It's your fate and you can't run from it...'Truly, I'm the daughter of the old Alpha.However, I still have those doubts in m
Sophia's povI stood right in front of her frozen like a statue in ice. I was about to pick up the last plate when her voice cut through the air and stopped me. "Sophia, wait a moment."The tone of those was calm but it sent a chill down my spine. My heart raced in unease as I shivered uncontrollably before her. It felt as if time was paused and my mind was given some seconds to reel with thoughts of how to apologise to her. After this brief moment, I was about to go down on my knees and apologize when she spoke again."I'm sorry." She begged.Those words hit me like shockwaves from a high-tension cable. Like what the fuck!She is supposed to be apologizing to me for anything. I should have been the one to apologise to her since last night but here we are, and she's apologizing, her face pale and full of remorse.What was remorseful of?My mind was clouded with the confusion that she had thrown at me. What does she expect me to think now? Like what should I do?How could she put me in
Sophia's POV:The soft chirping of the birds outside the house made my droopy eyes slowly fling open. My eyes flickering and I blinked in confusion, trying to understand the whole thing. Everything seemed strange to me, like I did not really understand the whole thing. Oh! Now I remember. I came back home and had a fight with mom and ended up sleeping on the damn dining table. I didn't even get a change of clothes.My mind reeled with guilt as I remembered all the harsh words we said to each other. It pierced into my stone cold heart and broke off those walls. Tears softly trickled down my face as I pictured the whole thing again. I know we never meant any of it, but I should have controlled my temper. I started this whole thing and I hate the way things ended. I fell asleep here due to the weight of the whole situation.Mother was angry about me going out to the woods and hanging out with Xavier. She's always too concerned about my future and everything, always reminding me of my no
Xavier's povI was alone enjoying the beautiful color of sunrise in my usual hiding spot. It's so beautiful and the rays are warming my skin. The wonderful glow it cast on my skin was like an emerald, glittering amongst the flowers. The beautiful flowers around the area saturated the air with its exotic scent and fueled my joy. The sounds of the birds singing and the insects chirping created a melodious symphony of love that filled my soul. It's a quiet and peaceful moment, but my mind is far from peaceful. This environment is a huge contrast to the storm raging inside me.I've been here since last night when my mother came to my room to disturb my peace. I was alone in my room, trying to think how to handle being Alpha and the whole thing. The weight of responsibility weighed hard on me when she came in to see me. She brought Cindy with her, someone I hated to even see her shadow. I yelled at her so harshly that she cried. I felt her pain. The tears of her eyes penetrated into my har
Xavier's povI was alone enjoying the beautiful color of sunrise in my usual hiding spot. It's so beautiful and the rays are warming my skin. The wonderful glow it cast on my skin was like an emerald, glittering amongst the flowers. The beautiful flowers around the area saturated the air with its exotic scent and fueled my joy. The sounds of the birds singing and the insects chirping created a melodious symphony of love that filled my soul. It's a quiet and peaceful moment, but my mind is far from peaceful. This environment is a huge contrast to the storm raging inside me.I've been here since last night when my mother came to my room to disturb my peace. I was alone in my room, trying to think how to handle being Alpha and the whole thing. The weight of responsibility weighed hard on me when she came in to see me. She brought Cindy with her, someone I hated to even see her shadow. I yelled at her so harshly that she cried. I felt her pain. The tears of her eyes penetrated into my har
Cindy's POV The silver bullet lay in my palm, its weight deceptively light, heavy with implications. I turned it over, watching the faint glow of the intricate runes etched into its surface catch the light. My wolf stirred forward in my mind, her energy tense and uncertain."You've been quiet," she finally said, breaking the silence. "What are you thinking, Cindy?"I smiled, a knowing expression curving my lips. "I'm thinking about how finally things are starting to make sense," I replied. "This bullet-it's not just a clue, but it is a key to unraveling the mystery surrounding Sophia.""Explain," my wolf demanded, though I could feel her growing excitement.I leaned back against the chair in my room, holding up the bullet like evidence in the court. "If I am not mistaken, this is the bullet from the old Alpha's mate, one of the pieces he had created for protection, but that is not the whole story.I paused with dramatic flourish. "Do you remember how the old Alpha died?"He gave hims
The walk back to the clan felt like it took a bit longer than it did, but I didn't mind. I couldn't stop smiling-my mind raced with the discovery I had just made. The cold night air brushed against my skin, but the warmth of my revelation kept me comfortable."You're really happy," my wolf said, 'Why are you smiling like that? Does it have something to do with the bullet you took from the assassin's corpse?" she sounded curious and perplexed, and I couldn't help a soft chuckle."Why do you think?" I answered."Do not play games with me, Cindy." she snarled angrily."What did you find?"I froze in my tracks, throwing my head back so that I could see the sky, a brilliant moonlit. The forest was quiet and silent only broken by the quiet crunch of the rustling leaves as the wind played through the branches. Instead of answering her, I asked one myself."Tell me," I said slowly, "do you know who the former Alpha is?My wolf paused for a second. "The one before Xavier's father?""Yes," I