Chapter 5

Jake’s heart felt as though it were being crushed under the weight of his regret. He watched as Seraphine, now fully transformed into her magnificent wolf form, stood radiating power and grace. The moon symbol on her forehead shone brightly, a clear mark of her connection to the Moon Goddess. The pack was captivated by her presence, their admiration palpable.

His thoughts spiraled as he recalled the moments he had turned his back on her. He remembered her hopeful eyes when they were together, the way she had looked at him with trust and love. He had dismissed her dreams, her strength, and now he could see that he had been blind.

“Jake, you look sick,” a nearby pack member observed, glancing at him with concern mixed with curiosity. “Are you okay?”

Jake barely nodded, his eyes glued to Seraphine. “I’m fine,” he lied, though his heart felt heavy in his chest. “Just... reflecting on my mistakes.”

“You mean your huge mistake?” the pack member shot back, their tone sharp. “You thought Alyssa was going to be the one, but look at what’s happening now. Seraphine is the true warrior.”

Jake turned away, the words striking him like a dagger. “I know,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I know.”

From the front of the hall, Alyssa was regaining her composure, but her fury was palpable. She glared at Seraphine, her eyes flashing with jealousy and resentment. “This isn’t over,” she growled, her voice low and venomous. “I will show you that you don’t belong here!”

The elders exchanged worried glances, sensing the tension rising between the two wolves. “Alyssa, this is not the time,” one of them cautioned. “We need to understand what the Moon Goddess is telling us.”

“Understand?” Alyssa spat, her wolf form shaking with anger. “How can you stand there and say that? She’s nothing more than a nobody! I’ve trained my whole life for this!”

“Training isn’t everything,” another elder interjected calmly, his voice steady. “It is the heart and spirit that the Moon Goddess values most, and Seraphine embodies that. You must learn to accept that power comes in many forms.”

Jake, listening to the exchange, felt his heart sink further. He wished he could speak to Seraphine, to tell her how wrong he had been, to try to make amends. But the distance between them felt insurmountable now. He could only stand there, a silent observer, as she embraced her destiny.

Seraphine turned her head slightly, her glowing eyes scanning the crowd. For a fleeting moment, their gazes locked, and Jake felt the world around him blur. He opened his mouth to call out to her, to beg for her forgiveness, but before he could, she looked away, focusing on the elders as they began to discuss the next steps.

An elder stepped forward, raising his hands to gather the attention of the pack. “The Moon Goddess has chosen Seraphine for a reason,” he announced, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “This is a pivotal moment for our pack. The prophecy is not just about strength; it is about unity and balance. We must come together to support our true warrior.”

As the elder spoke, Jake felt a spark of hope. Perhaps if he could find a way to support Seraphine, to prove he had changed, there might still be a chance for them.

But the thought was fleeting, overshadowed by the realization that Seraphine had already moved on. She was no longer the shy girl he had once known. She was a warrior, chosen by the Moon, and he had cast her aside.

“I can’t let this go,” he said to himself, his fists clenching at his sides. “I have to find a way to show her I’ve changed.”

As he considered his next move, he felt Alyssa’s anger simmering nearby. She turned to Jake, her voice dripping with disdain. “What are you going to do, Jake? Crawl back to Seraphine? She doesn’t need you. Look at her—she’s too good for you now.”

Jake met her gaze, his expression hardening. “You don’t understand anything,” he replied, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. “You think power is all that matters. But Seraphine’s strength comes from something deeper. She’s always been stronger than you realize.”

Alyssa scoffed, disbelief etched on her face. “Please. She’s just a pathetic little girl playing at being a wolf. You’re just blinded by some fantasy of what she could be.”

“No,” Jake countered, anger flaring within him. “She is the chosen one. The Moon Goddess has placed her above all of us. I was wrong to turn my back on her, and I won’t make that mistake again.”

Alyssa looks at him in shock and disdain....

" You are only attracted by power" Alyssa cries out