Chapter 1

Lila POV 

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the ancient, crumbling temple ruins, my senses on high alert. The sun was dipping lower, casting shadows as darkness slowly crept in. As I listened carefully and sniffed the air, I could tell I was the only one here in this secluded part of the forest.

The timing couldn’t have been better.

I treaded softly over the scattered debris, carefully placing each step. I moved through the ruins until I reached the heart of the old temple, where two towering pillars stood, untouched by time. Most of the temple had fallen and been worn down by years of neglect, but these pillars remained steady. If I had arrived at sunrise, I would have seen the sun peeking through them from the east—a sight I planned to enjoy some other time.

Despite the ruins’ decay, the carvings on the pillars were astonishingly clear, making me wonder about the materials that kept them intact. But tonight, my mind was elsewhere, focused on a much greater purpose.

Standing between the two tall pillars, I faced the snow-capped mountains in the distance. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply to calm myself, feeling the stillness of the forest around me. In that quiet moment, I became one with the Daniels—sensing the soft gust of wind, the gentle fall of leaves, and the little creatures moving nearby.

It felt as though I had merged with the forest itself, and the timing was perfect. I began to softly chant the spells, lifting my arms as the night breeze played with my hair, bringing a smile to my face. I was starting to enjoy it all so much until, all of a sudden, the breeze stopped.

Everything around me grew silent, as if time had paused. A powerful presence filled the space behind me, making it impossible to ignore. I felt frozen, unable to turn around.

A shiver ran down my spine as the presence grew closer. I took a shaky breath and murmured, “Is that you, Luna?” my voice barely above a whisper.

“Why did you summon me, my child?” a gentle, comforting voice replied, easing my tension yet leaving me too nervous to turn around.

“Is… is this real? Are you really here?” I stammered, still in disbelief that I was speaking to a goddess.

“I am as real as everything surrounding us,” she responded, her voice filled with warmth. “Now tell me, why did you summon me?”

Her power surged through me, leaving my legs weak. I licked my lips, nervous but determined. I hadn’t come this far just to stay silent. I had to be honest with her about what I wanted, or I’d never get it. 

“I’m looking for a mate,” I confessed, earning a gentle, amused chuckle from her.

“I had a feeling,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of laughter.

“I’m tired of waiting,” I told her. “Most wolves find their mates by the time they turn twenty. Isn’t it a bit late for me?”

“Nine years late, to be exact,” she replied kindly.

“Exactly,” I sighed. “I’m just worn out from waiting. It’s hard watching everyone around me find their mates.” My eyes began to sting with tears as I recalled my last boyfriend, Jason. Like me, he had no mate, and I thought we could be together for a while. But everything changed when he found his mate last year. He left me without a second thought, disappearing with his new partner, and I was left alone once again. I tried to move on, but it left a scar. It wasn’t the first time I’d been through this.

Before Jason, I dated someone older who was also without a mate. I thought he would be a good match for me, but one night he found his mate and ended things with me through a text. That was painful, but I was younger then and thought I could cope. Then came Jason, and I thought things would be different.

But I was wrong. Being abandoned a second time, especially after six years together, was shattering. And now, here I was—still without a mate, feeling lost and defeated.

Since Jason left, I decided to wait for my mate, remaining celibate, but… the loneliness became unbearable. I’m the only one without a mate that I know. This time, I didn’t have the strength to go through this again, only to be hurt once more.

If I get rejected a third time, I don’t know what I’d do. So, I paid a witch a considerable amount for a spell to summon the moon goddess, and here I was—asking her to help me find my mate.

“I understand, my child, but everyone has their own time,” she assured me.

“When will my time come?” I pressed, my desperation evident. I just wanted someone to hold onto in this empty life. With no family and no close friends, only a few people I occasionally worked with, I was at my breaking point.

“Soon,” the moon goddess promised.

“How soon?” I asked eagerly.

“You will know,” she replied, though I sensed a hint of uncertainty in her voice. I almost turned to look at her.

“Is there no one you have found for me?” I asked.

“Is there anything in particular you wish for in a mate?” she asked after a moment, her tone still unsure. I tilted my head, thinking carefully.

“Yes, actually,” I said, feeling a spark of excitement.

“Then tell me, my child. What do you desire in your mate? I’ve made you wait long enough, and I owe you this,” she urged, her voice carrying a mysterious tone.

I licked my lips, ready with a long list of wishes, but something in me paused. There’s a reason people warn to be careful what you wish for.

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“I’d like someone who’s gentle and caring,” I began, letting the words tumble out.

“Gentle and caring,” the moon goddess repeated thoughtfully.

“But also someone fierce and strong,” I continued, picturing it in my mind. The idea was a bit of a contrast, but it sparked something exciting within me. I’d never really thought about what I wanted in a partner before. Usually, I just dated whoever else didn’t have a mate, a rare few, so I never had many options. I took whatever came along, which usually led to heartbreak.

“Fierce,” the moon goddess echoed, with a hint of something in her voice that I couldn’t quite catch. I carried on, not letting it stop me.

“I want someone who’d handle me like I’m something delicate, but still be firm and a little possessive,” I explained. “Someone who lets me be myself but also keeps me grounded when I stray.”

“Someone who would praise me but still correct me when needed. Someone who burns with desire for me but couldn’t bear a single day without me.”

“I want someone who would accept every part of me, good and bad.”

“Someone who makes my heart race and my body respond with just a glance. Someone who’s always there for me, no matter what.”

“A person who’d walk through fire for me if that’s where I chose to go.”

“I want them to be devoted to making me happy, to bringing me pleasure, and seeing my need for them as their own reason to breathe.”

“I want someone who fills my days with laughter and my nights with passion for the rest of my life.”

“Someone who gives freely but holds nothing back when it’s their time to receive. Someone who cherishes me as if I were a treasure but claims me like I belong only to them.”

“Someone whose love fills me up so completely every single time,” I finished, surprised at how much I’d said. I felt the goddess’s presence still behind me, and somehow, that comforted me. I half-expected her to leave halfway through my rambling, but she stayed, listening to every word.

It would be alright, even if I didn’t get all I hoped for. At least, for once, I’d voiced it instead of just burying my wishes deep inside. Now, I knew I’d spoken my desires, even if they never came to be.

“That’s quite a lot,” the moon goddess said at last, her tone holding a mystery I couldn’t place. I tilted my head, trying to understand her better. “But I hear you.”

“Thank you for listening,” I sighed, feeling a sense of relief.

“I will see what can be done,” she replied, her voice suddenly serious. “But there is one condition.”

I froze.

A condition.

Of course, it couldn’t be that simple. Summoning a goddess, asking for a mate, and just having it granted? No, there was always a cost.

“What’s the condition?” I asked cautiously.

“It’s simple, though perhaps not easy for you,” she replied, her voice distant as if in thought. “Whatever mate I give you, you must accept without question.”

Her words struck me as odd. Most wolves accept their mates without hesitation. Though rare, some rejections happen. For a brief moment, I worried I might be one of those few left without a true connection.

The thought hurt. Every bond I’d tried had ended painfully—whether friends, family, or boyfriends, they all left. What assurance did I have that my mate wouldn’t do the same? The idea frightened me.

Why couldn’t I just have a bit of peace for once? What had I done to deserve such loneliness?

“I’ll accept my mate,” I promised firmly, noticing a mocking chuckle from her. For a moment, I wondered if I was making a mistake by asking her for a mate. Her laugh carried an edge, as though she was bringing something new, possibly even painful, into my life.

“Keep your word,” she said darkly, stepping closer. A chill ran through me. Her powerful energy filled the space, overwhelming my senses. Suddenly, I felt weak, and without realizing it, I sank to my knees.

“I… I will,” I breathed, feeling dizzy. She laughed that mocking laugh again, echoing through the trees around us. The night air grew icy, and shivers ran down my spine. Black spots danced in my vision, and I could feel my body growing weaker.

I collapsed onto the ground, my head hitting the earth with a sharp pain. My body felt colder each passing moment, but at the same time, it burned as though a fire was consuming me.

This was something I’d never experienced before. As my mind faded, I sensed the goddess’s presence still lingering.

“Sleep, my child,” her whisper reached me through the darkness. “Rest well before they find you.”

They? Who did she mean? What was she talking about? I wished I could ask, but by then, everything had already slipped away.