Chapter 1

Aylin's POV

“I Kael Michaelson of, king of The Regalwolf kingdom reject you Aylin a Moondream as my mate and bride to be.”

I felt the pain in my chest, my weak legs wobbling out of balance. He stood above me, the man I'd given all up for hatred gleaming on his face as the crowd cheered him on.

★★★★

TWO YEARS AGO.

Mount Olympus, the dwelling of all gods and the home of the moon goddess—the creator and guardian of all moon creatures—and also my home.

"Aylin, why are you looking out the window again?"

I froze, the air turning cold.

“Why aren't you talking? Shouldn't you be with the others?"

I twirled my twirled hurriedly closing the portal but mother was quicker, she conjured a replica of my view on a cloud in front of her.

"I'm sorry mother," I stumbled back, my lips quivering. "I can explain."

"Explain what?” She snapped. " That you're looking down at the mortal world again. How many times have I told you?"

"But mother, Alpha Kael is ill. He needs our help," I swallowed hard and looked at the portal again, “or he'll die."

"That man is doomed to die."

"No," I dashed forward and took her hand, ”change his fate mother, you are the moon goddess."

"And you are my only daughter Aylin. I have watched you these past days swooning and filling your mind with foolish imaginations.

You will never marry a mortal, you are a goddess, your place is here."

Mother turned away then, her glowy silk gown flowing behind till she stopped and turned to me.

"Alpha Kael will be dead in four days. Maybe then I'll stop hearing the silly prayers his people keep offering."

Then she was gone, her footsteps echoing against the cobblestones rhythmically while I stood there stifling the shock.

Quickly, I opened the portal again. Alpha Kael was on his bed, surrounded by servants and physicians. His skin had grown discoloured from the disease, his cheekbones sunken and hollow. There wasn't much time left.

My heart sank.

Mother's words and warnings came back to my mind again, but I couldn't move away. Rather, I placed my hand on the mirror-like portal and began to trail Kael's face as I could feel it, like I'd always dreamt of doing. With each passing moment, my heart pattered, and a warm feeling of longing and desire filled me.

With my hands still on the portal, the paleness started disappearing from Kael's face. Each part I touched or trailed came alive with a healthy colour. When his physician noticed this, he sprang up with excitement and dashed out of the room calling the remaining nobles of the pack.

This brought a smile to my lips, a warm feeling coursing through me. I leaned closer and peered into his face. The colour had returned to his face, his lips rosy again. I wanted to kiss him, touch him, hold him.

Then an idea came.

I place my hand on his heart and his health would improve.

"But you do know your mother can sense that right?"

A gasp escaped my throat. I spun around to find Ira standing behind me.

Like the other Beta gods, she was dressed in red, a color that signified life and essence.

"What do you want?" I screamed irritatedly. “Why are you spying on me?"

She shook her head.

"I came to fetch you.” She said gently. "You haven't been at the crossing for two weeks. There are babies to be sent out, and seasons to be balanced. Or have you forgotten?"

"Oh please. I think the rains should last for two more weeks"

"Then the entire world will be flooded" She stopped and shook her head. "Hell, what is your problem Aylin? You keep getting distracted. The heart of man is laced with evil, how long till you understand that?"

"I will never because Alpha Kael is a good man."

"And how do you know that?" She insisted. "You don't have the power of hearing thoughts only the moon goddess does."

The words stung and for one I realized that Ira might be making sense, but I refused to falter. I didn't need sense at this moment. I needed empathy.

"Let's not talk about my mother please."

"Okay.” Ira shrugged and came to stand beside me, glaring down the world.

"I'm sure the goddess has warned you." She said after a while. "No god has ever fared well on the human surface. There is a greater sacrifice that you would ever realize. You are the only friend I have, Aylin, don't waste your life."

Then she was gone. The words sent ripples of cold through but I didn't bother to find

the meaning of what she meant.

Eventually, I went to the crossing. But my mind was fixed on Alpha Kael and Ira's words. A greater sacrifice? I'd taken time to read all the folklore and mythology books but I have never come across anything about sacrifices. And even if I did, what was too big to give up for the man I loved? One perk about being a god was being able to choose one's mate and Kael was my choice.

When mother returned from the summit that night. I didn't wait for her to berate me. I stood before her, arms folded across my chest, a rebellious smirk across my face.

“Well don't just stand there, how did things go at the crossing?” she questioned, gesturing at the seat beside her.

"I'm not here to discuss that mother. I want to save Alpha Kael."

A gloom fell across mother's face, her silver hair suddenly turning pale.

"Return to your chambers. I won't discuss this again"

"And this isn't about what you want for the first time in my life, mother." I insisted. “This is what I want, mother. I love this man and I want him to live."

"Oh really?"

She scoffed, raising one leg over the other. "You think you know what love is?”

"I don't care. Just save Alpha Kael's life. You have the power.”

"And I told you his fate is already sealed. Listen to me, daughter. I want what is best for you, let this man go.

I hated those words, I hated how she said them. I hated how she was so unfeeling about this. And for the first time in the 19 years of my existence, I hated my mother. I hated her guts, her perfect speaking voice, her pretty face, her fancy clothes and gait, and arrogance. I couldn't stand her!

"Listen mother," I charged towards her. " I will descend to earth and save Alpha Kael. I will change his fate and he will live."

"Then you endanger yours my sweet daughter." She said gently, barely batting an eyelid. "I thought you were wiser than this Aylin. Don't forget how the universe works."

With that, she stood up and headed in the direction of the bedroom.

"No," I shouted after her. " I don't believe anything you say.

I stood there long after my mother left.

The silence pressed in on me, like even Olympus itself was watching… waiting for me to give up.

But I wouldn’t, not this time.

“I will save him,” I whispered, my voice trembling but firm. “Even if it costs me everything.”

The moment the celestial glow softened into night, I slipped out of my chambers, my heart pounding so loudly I was certain the entire realm could hear it. I knew the path to the descent gate, I had walked it before, just never like this. Never as a fugitive, never as a person in fear.

But the sight ahead stopped me, guards, and palace soldiers. Hundreds of them stood around the gateway, their silver armor glowing faintly under the moonlight. Their presence was suffocating.

This was Mother's doing. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to step forward.

One of them moved, his glowing eyes locking onto mine.

“Princess Aylin” he said, his voice calm and cold. “You are forbidden from leaving Olympus.”

My lips parted slightly, then curved into something bitter.

“And if I don’t listen?”

“I’m sorry but you will be restrained.”

A laugh slipped out of me, sharp and hollow.

“I would like to see you try.”

Power surged through me before I could think. It rose from somewhere deep within my chest, wild and bright, spilling into my veins like fire.

I raised my hand, and released it, light exploded outward. The guards staggered, their formation scattering as the force slammed into them. But I didn’t stop, I couldn’t.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, even as I struck again.

They charged at me, swords and weapons in the air, and this time, I fought back.

Not like a princess, or a sheltered goddess. But like someone who had already decided what she was willing to lose.

Light clashed with light. The ground trembled beneath our feet. My breaths came faster, sharper, but I pushed through it.

For Kael, only for him. With one final surge, I broke through their line.

The portal flared open before me, and I jumped. Wind tore past me as Olympus disappeared behind me.

Then I hit the ground. A gasp tore from my lips as my feet slammed into damp earth. The scent of leaves and soil filled my lungs, unfamiliar and overwhelming.

For a moment, I just stood there, breathing.

The moonlight bathed my skin, my silk gown shimmering faintly. My red-silver hair cascaded down my back, glowing softly.

But something felt wrong, and there it was.

“They followed me…” I whispered.

“Princess! Stop!”

My heart jumped into my throat.

I ran.

Branches scratched against my arms as I pushed through the forest, my breath coming in uneven gasps.

“Return to Olympus!”

“No!” I cried, not daring to look back. “I won’t!”

I ran faster than I ever had before, my feet slipping against the earth, my gown tangling around my legs.

I didn’t stop, I didn’t slow, until their voices faded. I stumbled to a halt, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“They’re… gone…”

A shaky breath left me, I actually did it, but there was no time.

Kael.

Closing my eyes, I summoned my power. It flickered weakly at first, then steadied. Light wrapped around me, and my gown dissolved. In its place a simple nurse’s uniform formed.

My glow dimmed, my hair softened, then I looked… human. Perfect, good.

Then I headed to the temple where he was being nursed. The temple where all prayers in the land came up to us. But it was quieter than I expected, the atmosphere was heavy and thick with tension.

No one stopped me as I walked in, no one questioned me. My magic had solved that. I headed toward his chamber; each step felt heavier than the last. I pushed the door and saw Kael lying still, swallowed under bedsheets. Weaker than before.

My breath caught painfully in my chest.

“Oh… Kael…” I sobbed.

A priest stood beside him, murmuring softly. He turned when he noticed me.

“What do you want?”

“I… came to check on him,” I said, forcing my voice steady. “I was assigned.”

He studied me briefly, then nodded.

“Be quick.”

The moment he left, I moved. I shut the door and locked it. And suddenly… It was just us.

My hands trembled as I approached him.

Slowly, carefully, I reached out and touched his forehead, my eyes fluttered shut.

“Come back to me Kael…” I whispered. “Live and be free. I love you."

Then I let my power go. It poured out of me in waves, warm and consuming. I felt it leave me, thread by thread, sinking into him.

The sickness resisted, its force clinging to him, dark and stubborn.

But I pushed harder, light against darkness.

“I won’t lose you…”

My breathing grew uneven, my legs weakened, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t, not until it was gone. I gasped softly, my hand slipping from his face as exhaustion crashed into me.

Then, he moved, my heart stopped.

His eyes opened, and they met mine.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, he was alive. I'd done it.

“You…” he whispered, his voice rough.

Emotion swelled so violently in my chest it hurt. But I couldn’t stay, if I stayed, I would never leave. So I turned, and ran.

“Wait!”

His voice followed me, stronger, alive.

“Wait! Stop!”

My chest tightened painfully, but I didn’t stop.

I burst outside, my hands shaking as I lifted them.

“Open… please…”

I tried to summon the portal. But nothing came. I mustered all my power, but the gate to Olympus still didn't appear before me.

My breath hitched.

“No… no, no…”

I tried again, still nothing.

Panic clawed at my chest.

“Mother!” I cried. “Please open up!”

Silence. My heart pounded wildly as I looked down at myself.

My glow… was gone, my skin had dulled.

My hair! I froze. The red-silver shimmer had faded. My stomach dropped.

“No…”

The realization hit me all at once.

Ira’s words.

A greater sacrifice.

My mother’s warning.

“You endanger your own fate.”

A broken sound escaped my lips.

“I… gave it up…”

My powers, my divinity, my home, everything.

For him.

My knees gave out beneath me as I sank to the ground, trembling.

“I can’t go back…” I whispered.

Tears blurred my vision, I was human now.