Oracle of the Goddess

“The Oracle of the Goddess made the decision and chose the next mate for the new Lycan King, Callisto del Amathea.” The Priestess' voice echoes stately and graceful through the High Dome, decreeing the fate of one of the fifty mateless young wolves.

Ever since the new Lycan King ascended the throne and bloodily took the crown from his father's head, all mateless young wolves, nobles or commoners, have been summoned to the High Dome. And just like the other times, one of them will be chosen to be the new Lycan's Queen.

However, despite the flashy title, this one can be considered a death sentence — that's because the hatred that Lycans have for Werewolves is well known. The hostility between the races is sung even in lullabies. For a wolf to abandon its customs and beliefs like this… to leave their home and move to a completely hostile place, where their suffering is most likely craved… It's frightening. Unfortunately, even if these wolves’ rebel against the decree and try to escape… their families are hunted down and jailed, considered traitors.

That's why several of the candidates are on the verge of fainting due to the delay in announcing the name of the lucky one.

Rhea is just passionless, looking intently at the Priestess in front of her. She's a woman with a slender body, and this can be seen from the light clothing that barely covers her pale skin. The Priestess' hair is so white and sparkling that it looks like strands of silver, so long that it drags the ground at her delicate feet.

But what really draws Rhea's attention are the Priestess's eyes — which are so white and blank, it can barely see the irises and pupils. She's completely blind. And they say this is the price she paid for being a human capable of seeing the Moon Goddess herself…

“Rhea Calirianne.” The Priestess called the name, completely interrupting Rhea's thoughts, who found herself mesmerized by the attention on her. “The Oracle has chosen you as the rightful partner of the 47th King of the Lycan Realm, Callisto del Amathea.”

There's silence in the hall, but Rhea can hear the relieved sighs of those who were not forced to marry the new King who, despite being young and newly crowned, has a cruel reputation.

The Lycan Realm is a brutal place in its own, but Callisto managed to make a name for himself by dethroning his own father, displaying the former king's head as a trophy. His personality is said to be as cold as the harshest of winters. That his eyes are as sharp as his claws… And there are also those who say that Callisto's pheromones are so strong and intimidating, that he's able to make alphas throw up, and even the most experienced ones can shiver.

“Everyone is allowed to go back to their rightful homes.” The Priestess' voice echoes through the hall again. The place is huge and bright, as if its walls were made of crystal. There's a fifteen-candle chandelier hanging from the ceiling just above a statue of the Moon Goddess holding a full moon. At her feet is a huge fountain of turquoise water, which is slowly flowing from the statue's eyes, like eternal tears. Right now, Rhea feels as if her tears will perpetuate for eternity as well. “Except for you, Rhea. Please, stay here with me.”

It doesn't take long for everyone to leave, after all, they can't wait to return to their peaceful lives, away from all the danger that could await them. And when they're finally alone, as if her voice reverberates even more through the empty spaces between them, the Priestess speaks again… “Rhea, my unfortunate child… I had hoped that you wouldn't be chosen. Your life has never been easy, given the curse imposed since your birth. But the Oracle chose you, and I'm afraid this is the fate that awaits you.”

Yes… Rhea really is an unfortunate person. Unlike those of her kind, who begin to shift from the age of five, Rhea couldn't do it. During every full moon, werewolves can help but shift. They're unable to avoid the transformation, but they manage to hold consciousness as the age comes. Rhea, however, never managed to shift. It was when she reached ten years old that she first met the Priestess.

By living with humans too much, werewolves have adopted some characteristics of human society, such as monarchy by blood. Instead of living together in packs, like the Lycans, which preserved their bestial characteristics, the Werewolf Kingdom divided the territory into duchies and marquisates. Still, a werewolf's pride is his wolf's strength. No wonder Rhea's father, Duke Calirianne, considered the strongest alpha in an entire generation, surpassing even the King of Werewolves itself, couldn't accept that one of his daughters was broken.

Duke Calirianne sought the Priestess to cure his daughter's ailment when Rhea reached ten years old and was still unable to shift — that's when Rhea found out about her curse.

The Priestess said that Rhea is not able to shift because she doesn't have an inner wolf. She's not a human, as she can also sense pheromones and understand telepathy between the wolves. But still, she's not a wolf either… at least, not like the others of her kind.

There was nothing to be done, this was her curse after all.

Because of this, Duke Calirianne, and everyone else began to exclude her. They completely isolated her and stopped paying attention to Rhea. But that all changed when she turned sixteen… when the first signs of puberty start to show in wolves. Since then, she became more sensitive to pheromones… until a full moon came and so did her heat.

Even if Rhea didn't have a wolf shape, she still experienced their heat. Although, when the day came, the symptoms went away like they had never come before. And every time the full moon rose in the sky and the werewolves were forced to shift… Rhea went into heat. Every single time.

That way, she understood the real reason why she's cursed. And four years passed since then.

Well… maybe this is for the best… In the Lycan Kingdom, no one will be affected by me… Rhea thinks, curving her knees into compliance. Yes, it's better that way…

“Rhea Calirianne. Your duty is to remain at Callisto del Amathea's side until your last breath. Under the authority imposed on me, I fulfill the will of our Goddess by announcing this union. Now, the bond between you two will be unbreakable, unending and strong enough to span the ages. From this day forward, I state that you, Rhea Calirianne, belong to Callisto del Amathea, as this Lycan now belongs to his new Luna.” The Priestess extends her hand to Rhea, and gives a subtle smile. “That you be able to overcome the differences of your ancestors and strengthen the bonds between both species so that, once again, the People of the Moon become one. Do you accept this vow?”

“From this moment on, I accept this bond, and abandon my name and origins to fulfill our Goddess's will.”