A Gift from the Goddess

It was cold. There was no light. Only darkness surrounded me.

I wasn't sure what I had expected for when I died, werewolves didn’t seem to have any real lore hypc we didn't have any thoughts or values on that.

Did I expect the Goddess to embrace me and lead me into some pearly gates? She had

abandoned me in life, I could only assume she would abandon me in death also.

I stayed curled up in the darkness for longer than I could say. It felt like days, or even years, but time But suddenly, without warning, light surrounded me and I began to fall.

Around me were images from my memories, floating past me as I dropped. I saw my childhood, my I he looked when I saw him for the very first time after coming of age. I saw Thea, her air-

headed facade as she always smiled at me. I saw Sophie... betraying me.

And I saw my death. It was replayed over and over, and over again as if trying to make me go insane "Please... stop..." I begged to the empty.

I didn’t know if anyone could hear me but I couldn't handle this anymore. If this wasn't hell then it w. up fists against my ears to block out the images and sounds, but they continued to drill themselves i Why...

why was I being punished? I had never done anything wrong. I had done exactly what was asked of r “My child,” a melodic voice then called out to me, bringing the peace and silence with it

that I had craved.

I quickly opened my eyes and saw a woman with brilliant gold hair and silver glowing

eyes. I recognised her immediately. She was the woman I'd witnessed in the woods whilst I was shift I asked the question in my mind but, deep down, I already knew the answer.

She was the Moon Goddess, Selene.

Her presence was overwhelming, making me feel so strange inside. I was warm but I was cold, I was I couldn't help but wonder

though, why was she finally showing herself now? Where was she when I was alive?

“I can sense your turmoil inside, even your disdain for me,” she said. “I know you have many questior I felt instantly embarrassed. We were taught from birth to worship her loyally, yet I was conflicted ins "Why..." I said, my voice wavering and betraying my emotions. “...

Why did you do this to me? You made m

e Aleric's mate when he couldn't love me. Didn't that mean you wanted me to become Luna? If so, w “My child, I never left you,” she said gently. “I have watched over you since

the beginning but there are some things I cannot interfere with. I never wished for you to experience “Then what's the point in worshipping you?” I said a little too harshly. I

was letting my anger get the better of me. “I prayed every night to you for years untill eventually hac “I do not ask my children to worship me. I am merely a mother to you all. I give you all the tools

to bring you immense happiness in your lives, but if something interferes with that then I cannot inte "Are you saying that this all happened because something changed your divine plan?”

If that was the truth, then what had happened to change the course of destiny? I felt

she wasn't telling me everything.

“You look at things too simplistically, trying to apply your earthly knowledge and logic to something She gently grabbed my palm and, with her other hand, caressed my cheek. I wanted to flinch from h want to give myself to her entirely.

“If you care and nurture a child, give them the

best education and family, only for them to grow up and commit grave crimes, would you blame the “Run its course? You mean until I die?”

She nodded

her head. “I cannot change the future but I cannot deny that the interference that occurred was not e far bigger,

something that cannot be allowed to occur. ..And so, I intend to send you back.”

Her silver eyes were boring into mine, making it hard to disagree with anything she was saying. "..And if I refuse?” I asked hesitantly.

“Then you will remain in the Abyss, forever reliving your earthly memories.”

My mind recalled the images that had just tormented me, showing me my death over and over agai “Then I don’t want to be Luna

again... and I don’t want to be Aleric's mate,” I said, surprising even myself that I was bargaining with a Goddess. But I couldn’t shake the feeling something seemed off.

“That is the fate I have chosen for you.”

“Then I don't accept,” I argued, removing my hand from hers. “I think there is something you're not t She was silent, her eyes regarding me wearily.

*...50, I am correct,” I said, taking her silence as confirmation.

“I cannot rewrite a fate that was established during your birth. The ramifications of such a thing coul and identity. Your mate will be Aleric, just as it always has been. But I will give you a gift. I will gift you battles,”

Chapter Eight

I watched as she then gently kissed my forehead, tingles erupting from where her lips met my skin. I Once she moved back, I needed to take a second to steady myself, trying hard to clear my mind to fc “What battles? You haven't even told me what I need to change yet.”

All she'd told me was I needed to stop my death. But how could I possibly know exactly what I neede in order to reach that goal?

“I have given you a part of myself,” she said, her voice sounding oddly strained now. “With this, you « She was beginning to flicker, like a candle struggling to stay aflame.

"What's wrong?”

I tried to grab her hand but it went straight through her.

“The piece I have gifted you has made me weak, I must rest. But I will be with you and I will be watch She vanished then, before my eyes. Gone into thin air

And with that, I woke up in bed.