Chapter 2

I spent the next few minutes interrogating my father, pressing for answers until he gave and until I was satisfied. He'd hidden so much from me and my brother and I needed to know as much as I could.

From what I gathered, Lycans and werewolves performed sacrifices to the moon goddess on every blood moon. This tradition lasted for centuries until Darius Sebastian, the man in charge of the sacrificial offerings, had a relationship with Ophelia, the daughter of the goddess who had been sent to Earth.

The goddess was furious with her daughter's actions. She cursed Darius to transform into an uncontrollable monster every full moon. Unfortunately, Ophelia died after giving birth to a Lycan child, who was destined to eradicate the werewolf race as a punishment.

Originally, the punishment was meant only for Lycans since Darius was a Lycan. However, a female wolf defied the goddess by assisting Ophelia in conceiving her son. This act of defiance brought calamity upon the werewolves. Regrettably, Ophelia's son has yet to be found, and if discovered, he would be killed.

"Why would they want to kill him?" I'd asked, confusion filling my voice.

"He is the reincarnation of Mavros, the god of destruction." was father's response.

The title 'god of destruction' seemed fitting for the man with dark hair, but I doubted he was the actual deity. However, the blue-eyed man did mention something about consequences, and now my father spoke of related matters.

"Father, does the god of destruction appear on the day of the blood moon?" I'd inquired.

He'd nodded solemnly. "Yes, he comes alongside his brother, Aspro."

"Is his brother the one with silver hair and eyes as blue as the ocean?" I'd asked, recalling the description.

Father seemed surprised by my knowledge. "Yes, but how do you know what he looks like? The Aima fengari hasn't occurred in over a hundred years."

"I saw them," I'd confessed.

"Who?" Zayne interjected.

"Mavros and Aspro."

Father sighed. "Long before I met your mother, Mavros appeared to me. He informed me that the goddess had not forgotten the punishment she promised the werewolves and was merely awaiting the right time. He told me that my mate would give birth to a child he would battle against. That mad god told me that your birth would be the catalyst for the destruction. It is sole reason why I have trained you and your brother. I needed both of you to be ready by the time he arrives, and now that time has come."

In all my twenty-one years of living, I had never been so bewildered. None of this was what I had expected. All I wanted was to succeed my father, find my mate, and live a peaceful life. Battling an angry god was not part of the plan.

"There must be some mistake," Zayne protested, shaking his head in disbelief.

Silence hung in the air. Fear had gripped me like never before. The look in Father's eyes spoke volumes—he would destroy us all without a second thought. Why did the goddess have to be so cruel to us? To me.

"Don't be scared now, kids. Remember, there's always light at the end of every tunnel," Father said, sounding as if he was trying to reassure himself.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and my two friends rushed in. One was Melody, soon-to-be gamma. Her olive skin complemented her brown hair and hazel eyes. The other was Logan, soon-to-be beta, with his thick black hair and gray eyes.

"Oh my goodness, are you okay?" Melody gasped, panting from the apparent sprint.

"I'm fine, Mel. Did you two run all the way here?" I asked, concern for their well-being.

She nodded in response, still catching her breath. "Yeah. We just got back from Shadow pack. I swear my heart was in my throat when I heard you got shot." She pretended to feel lightheaded.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her theatrics. "Stop being a drama queen. Thanks for coming, you guys."

"Not a problem," Logan said, approaching Zayne and extending his hand for a shake.

Father still hadn't spoken. It was as if he didn't even register their presence in the room. I reached out and took his hand, gesturing toward Melody and Logan. He gave me a warm smile before redirecting his attention to the two standing before us.

"Logan, Melody, how was the meeting?" Father asked, now sounding completely composed.

"Alpha Kane has agreed to send a three hundred men," Logan replied.

Three hundred men? So Father had been secretly preparing for this encounter with Mavros. I wondered if Logan and Melody were aware of the impending danger.

"That's good. Make the necessary arrangements for their accommodation," Father instructed.

"Will do. But if I may ask, why do we need a thousand men here?" Logan inquired.

"All I can say for now is that there is danger lurking out there. I do not want to be caught off guard," Father replied curtly.

Logan and Melody nodded in understanding, recognizing that he wouldn't disclose any more information. Relief washed over me as the pain in my shoulder gradually subsided, and within a few hours, I would be discharged from the hospital.

"I'll be leaving now," Father announced, his hands clasped behind his back. "Zayne, take good care of your sister. Do not leave her side for anything."

"Yes, Father," Zayne affirmed.

Father patted Logan on the shoulder before walking out of the room. He was genuinely worried that something might happen to me. My gaze shifted to my friends, whose eyes were glazed over as they engaged in a mind link—a unique ability possessed by all werewolves, enabling them to communicate telepathically without uttering a word audible to others.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, curious to know their discussion.

Their conversation seemed to halt at my inquiry. Melody nudged Logan, and he looked down at her. "I'm not talking this time. You explain," he said to her.

"What's going on, you guys?" I probed further.

"It's nothing," Melody forced a smile, fluttering her lashes—an action she often resorted to when lying.

"You're lying," I stated, giving her a pointed look.

She threw her hands up in the air and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, I'll tell you. We overheard your conversation with the Alpha."

"You were eavesdropping?" Zayne looked visibly upset.

Melody smiled sheepishly. "It's not really eavesdropping when you have excellent hearing," she pointed out, gesturing to her ears.

As they were soon to become my beta and gamma, I had no choice but to confide in them, sharing everything I knew. By the time I finished, Melody wore a shocked expression, while Logan appeared genuinely worried.

"You must promise not to speak to anyone about this," Zayne firmly instructed.

"I promise," they both chorused.

Melody tapped her chin repeatedly as she paced around the room. "That explains everything. The guards have been doubled along the border, and Alpha has requested three hundred men from each pack. I wondered why he needed such an army, but now it all makes sense."

"I don't think mere warriors can stop Mavros," I interjected. "He is a god, remember? With a snap of his fingers, they could have blood running down their noses and their hearts torn from their bodies."

Melody cringed, clearly disturbed by my vivid description. "That would be a gruesome sight," she murmured, wrapping her arms around herself.

Indeed, it would be.

¶•¶

Two days later, I found myself back home, immersed in the books within the library. There had to be some information about this Mavros character. Was it possible that only he sought revenge? His brother didn't seem capable of harm; he had an aura of gentleness. One thing was certain—the goddess was intricately involved in the impending destruction. She had been disobeyed, after all.

As I delved deeper into my research, a delightful scent wafted through the air—citrus and pine. It was incredibly pleasant, and I yearned to know the name of the perfume or cologne the person wore.

"Hello there. What are you reading?" a deep voice resonated from the library's entrance.

A man of approximately 6'1'' stood before me, his tanned skin exuding a familiar presence. His light brown eyes and wild black, curly hair captivated me, and I found myself unable to look away.

Something stirred within me, a surge of excitement. My wolf, usually reserved and discerning, seemed unexpectedly enthusiastic. What was it about this enigmatic man? It took me a moment to realize he stood right in front of me, awaiting a response.

"What are you reading?" he repeated.

His proximity made me realize who he was to me.

"Mate."

My heart pounded in my chest as the realization sank in. This man, with his captivating presence and the word 'mate' lingering in the air, was meant to be my life partner. The concept was overwhelming, and I couldn't fully comprehend it. I felt a mix of excitement, confusion, and disbelief swirling within her.

"I... I don't understand," I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands trembled slightly as I clutched onto the edge of the table for support.

The man's voice, velvety and rich, resonated through the room as he took a step closer to me. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I assure you, it's true."

My gaze flickered between his intense eyes and his full lips that formed the words she struggled to believe. My mind raced with questions, doubts, and fears. Could I trust this connection now that I knew the goddess was out to get me and make my life miserable? Why would she suddenly lead my mate to me just two days after I found out about her plans for me?

Unable to find my voice, my confusion reached its peak, and I abruptly stood up from my seat, knocking the chair backward. "I... I need some air," I managed to utter, my voice shaking.

Without waiting for a response, I hurriedly rushed past the man, my footsteps echoing through the corridor as I escaped the confines of the library. The outside world greeted me with a gentle breeze, soothing my troubled mind and granting her a momentary respite.

Leaning against a sturdy oak tree, I closed my eyes, attempting to calm my racing thoughts. The weight of my responsibilities, the impending danger, and now the revelation of a mate overwhelmed my senses. I had never expected my life to take such a turn, and the unpredictability of it all left me feeling vulnerable and lost.

As I breathed in the fresh air, the scent of pine and citrus lingered, reminding me of the man who claimed to be my mate. The allure of his presence remained vivid in my mind, but doubts clawed at my heart. What if it was all a ruse?

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the man approaching until his warm hand gently touched my shoulder. I jumped, startled by his presence, and turned to face him. His eyes were filled with concern and understanding.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice soft and soothing. "I just wanted to give you some space. I understand it's a lot to process."

I took a step back, distancing myself from him, my eyes searching his face for any signs of deception. "How can I trust you? How can I trust this bond?" I asked, my voice laced with vulnerability.

He sighed, his expression reflecting genuine sincerity. "I know it's difficult, but I promise you, I would never do anything to harm you. This connection between us is sacred. I am here to support you and to protect you."

His words held a profound truth, and I could sense the earnestness behind them. Yet, my fears continued to plague my mind.

"I... I need time," I whispered, my voice quivering. "Time to understand... to accept."

The man nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and disappointment. "Of course. Take all the time you need. I'll be here when you're ready."

With that, I turned and ran off into the palace, my mind and heart in turmoil. As I disappeared into the building, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had changed forever, and that the choices I would make in the days to come would shape not only my own fate but the destiny of my people.