Seven Years LaterThe moon hung full over the Moonglow Pack as I stood on the high cliffs, the wind tangling in my loose hair. My eyes were fixed on the ancient stone circle—the gateway between realms—glowing faintly under the enchantments I had spent years perfecting.Today marked seventeen years since Zander vanished into the shadow realm.Every day since that heartbreaking moment, I had fought. I fought through grief. Through loneliness. Through doubt. I raised our children with his strength living in me, guiding me. And at night, I studied every ancient text, tracked every whisper of shadow magic, begged and bargained with witches, oracles, seers—anyone who might know how to bring him back.The dark mirror let us talk, yes—but I refused to let that be the end of our story.Not when I could still feel him.Not when I could still love him.Our son Austin, now a powerful young Alpha, stood beside me in silence. A faint celestial glow pulsed from his hand—a gift he had inherited from
A bloodcurdling scream tore through the Dark Alpha as he trembled violently. His form convulsed, and within seconds, he was ripped from where he stood, his essence pulled into Zander like a dark mist being absorbed into his body.“Goodbye, Selena,” Zander whispered urgently. His gaze burned into mine. “I leave my pack and my people in your hands, my Luna.”Then—before I could even reach for him—his body dissolved into black smoke, dispersing into the air.“Zander!” I screamed, lunging forward, but there was nothing—nothing but cold air wrapping around me, void of my mate’s warmth.Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the empty space where he had stood, my mind refusing to accept what had just happened.Arena stirred inside me, and I felt a surge of power return—our shadows had been freed.As if a spell had been broken, the entire pack suddenly snapped back to their senses. Murmurs of confusion filled the air as everyone looked around, dazed.“Luna?” Maddox ran to me, his face filled
“She’s a traitor too!” the man who looked exactly like Zander shouted.Before I could even process what was happening, Maddox stepped forward, flanked by two guards.“You’re under our custody,” they declared, raising their weapons at me.Shock crashed over me like a tidal wave. Maddox? Betraying Zander? But before I could react, they shoved me toward Zander. I didn’t resist—I wanted to be close to him.“What’s going on, Zander?” I demanded, my voice laced with confusion and fear.“Oh, Selena… why did you come here?” he groaned, his voice thick with anguish, his face filled with helplessness.“Well, well,” the imposter drawled, finally catching my full attention.The Dark Alpha.I narrowed my eyes at him, my stomach twisting in disgust. I knew exactly who he was.“I was waiting for you, mate,” he said smoothly.Even though his voice sounded exactly like Zander’s, it made my skin crawl.“I am not your mate!” I bellowed.He chuckled, shaking his head. “Feisty, huh?”I turned to the counc
Four months had passed, and the world had gradually settled back into its natural rhythm. The catastrophe had been averted, and peace now stretched across the realms, restoring balance to the universe.I remained in the Lunar Realm with Zander and Austin, embracing the destiny that had been chosen for me. Austin had now remembered everything as the spell was broken and he now thrived under the love and attention he received as the prince of the Lunar Realm. The people had accepted Zander as my mate and husband, granting him the same respect they showed me.Despite his responsibilities as Alpha King, Zander traveled between his pack and the Lunar Realm daily. I had voiced my concerns, telling him it was risky to shift between realms so frequently, but he had only smiled and said, "For me, it's just like commuting to work."I couldn’t deny how much I cherished his presence, so I let him make the choice.On days when he had to stay in his pack longer, I accompanied him, ensuring that our
As my heart sank, the lava began to recede, shrinking its perimeter and retreating on its own. The ominous red moons grew smaller, drifting farther away with each passing second. The sacrifice had worked—the prophecy was fulfilled.“Let’s go from here,” the Moon Goddess said, her grip tightening around my hand.“What will happen to the Dark Realm?” God Pyrrhos asked.“The Almighty will assign it to another deity, appointing a new god of destruction,” Goddess Sylvara informed, and the Moon Goddess nodded in agreement.With that, we left the Dark Realm, but my eyes lingered on the spot where my mother had made the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe.I found myself back in the Lunar Realm. The sky had now returned to normal, and the three red moons were nowhere to be seen.“Selena,” the Moon Goddess said, her voice gentle yet firm. “I now entrust you with the Lunar Realm. It is yours to protect and nurture.”“But Goddess, how will I do it alone without the High Priestess?” I asked,
God Pyrrhos swung his hands aggressively, and the men performing the ritual were hurled through the air, crashing into the far corners of the field.The moment their chanting ceased, I felt Arena surge back into me, our bond reforging like an unbreakable chain. She howled in my mind, her fury mirroring my own.Kaelvor snarled, his hands emanating thick black smoke, ready to strike. “What are you all doing in my realm?” he growled, his voice laced with venom.“I should never have trusted you, Kaelvor,” my mother seethed, her body trembling with fury as she stepped toward me. She knelt, helping me to my feet, her warmth grounding me amidst the chaos.Kaelvor let out a mocking laugh, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. “And yet, you were fool enough to do so.”“My mother is no fool!” I roared, my voice ringing through the open field.She wasn’t a fool—she was a mother willing to defy fate itself to save her daughter from prophecy.“But you are foolish enough to believe you could co