The Royal Alpha, & Loyal Luna

38. And Goddess's Blessing .

Luna Nova's POV

I was restless. And tonight, it wasn't because of the voice in my head that seemed to stir on account of the wulphed. But in my dreams, that all-knowing voice had finally returned. And a part of me welcomed it when I realized the voice of the wulphed was finally completely quiet. Almost as if it weren't ever there, though I knew otherwise, it was simply awaiting my return to consciousness.

"Nova Royale." The voice beckoned to me as it once did before.

I shuddered, opening my eyes to that familiar, blinding light until it finally dimmed down. Finding myself in nothing, nothing but a complete abyss, that felt neither comforting nor unsettling. I was back in that half-conscious dream state.

Eyes now adjusted, I spoke. "We meet again." Though I still had yet been given the privilege of placing a face to the voice.

"In celebratory times you shall see, what'll become of the four-legged and what of thee, true prime's guidance and goddess's blessing, when all is balanced, we'll all have gained honorable lessons. For what is done, is done in heart, and what is done can never be done apart."

"Just as you've told me before. I haven't forgotten." I answered. "But I'm assuming you're back to finally tell me what the hell all of that means."

"Do you know who I am?"

I scoffed. "If you're wondering if I still think you're Minette or not, I don't. She's proved well in taking over a whole different part of my brain." I grumbled. "Believe me, you."

"Take a gander, my daughter."

Eyes narrowed, I stepped forward. "Of all the things I could say were unbelievable but had to believe in because it happened to me.. this is just one thing that will take a lot more convincing."

"Answer."

"There's no way you're her. What could you possibly want with me? Why would.. you couldn't possibly.. I'm no one. Nova with nothing, Nova with no one." I reminded myself.

"Do you honestly believe that, my child? That I had abandoned you? For, Nova Royale, I have been with you since daughter Minette conceived you under my moon."

I wasn't sure what had taken over me, whether instinct or common courtesy, but I did not hesitate as my body moved to bow to her presence. On both knees instead of one, I lowered my head, and offered myself.

"Moon Goddess." It was all I could bring myself to say, fully realizing now, who she was.

"Rise, young wolf. For I bow to no one and from this night forward, you shall never bow to another again."

I lifted my head skyward and a wind whirled around the skin of my cheeks as if like a gentle caress. A mother's touch.

"I?" I questioned, though not out of mockery. "I don't understand."

"To fight what is within you, you must make a grave sacrifice."

"With all due respect, My Goddess, I will not sacrifice those I love. And if it be your wish to ask me to do so, it will be my will to make you wish you hadn't. Wulphed or not, I'm not merciless, I'm not rogue, I'm not Minette. I will die before I sacrifice anyone for my well-being, so long as Minette goes with me."

"And because of your stance, daughter, is why it is you who must make this sacrifice."

"Myself?" I started to understand. "Is it me you want.. dead?"

"Not dead, my love, the most alive you could ever be. Become me. Ethereal. A Goddess. The Goddess. Of the moon and all whom it encompasses, whether two-legged or four."

"Why me? Why would I need to have anything else running through my system when I know the wulphed's raging from the inside, out?" I was exhausted, always fighting against the wulphed taking complete control over me.

"I will lose you forever."

"Ah," I couldn't help the sad chuckle that escaped me. "Careful, My Goddess." I rose to my feet. "Your true.. selfish colors are beginning to show."

"He would lose you forever."

That got my attention. "Grey? What does he have to do with this?"

"Continue on with that poison in your system and you will surely succumb to a life you despise, a path of eternal darkness, or death. But allow me to aid you, give you a piece of my soul, and you will not only live long enough to see your pack thrive, but you will live long enough to make a change in our world. The world of the wolves."

"And then?" I knew there was more.

"And then I will call on you to become the Moon that guides us all. That is your sacrifice."

"I'm just going out on a limb here and guessing two things: I won't be able to bring my favorite pair of boots and it will be whenever you choose, not when I'm ready."

"I have already chosen. So ready yourself, Goddess Nova. For when you wake, nothing will ever be the same again. It is up to you, to make it for the better. It is up to me, to bring you home when it is time."

"Will it hurt?" I asked, knowing she would know what I'd meant. The wulphed coursing through me was torturous, I wasn't sure I could take anything more tormenting.

"My role isn't to hurt you, daughter. Only to love you unconditionally."

And just like that, a feeling indescribable, I knew that the voice was gone. But not her presence. No. Her presence bathed me in a warmth that only made me feel stronger, more willed. The light that had gone, began to appear slowly, until it shone on me with a burning brightness.

And for a split moment, a part of me begged her to take me with her now, feeling as though I would never know a peace like this again. But I knew I couldn't. I had a job to do, a duty to my people, and no matter how clouded my mind may get from the toxins in my veins, I knew nothing was more of a priority than making sure my pack was safe. That he was safe.

"If this is the only way I can assure the safety of my loved ones, I'll do it. I sacrifice myself as Moon Goddess, you may call and I will come. But I will only be ready when I know every head of Aureate Moon is accounted for, alive and well. I give my body to you to give your soul to me, help me, Goddess. Fend off what I'm not strong enough to do alone. And I vow, I swear it, I will relinquish you of your binds and be bound in your place.. just let me.. let me have him a while longer."

I opened my eyes, feeling not nearly as restless as I had before.

"I'm sorry if I woke you, Luna." Gio stood just in my doorway, his hand still up to the door as if he'd been knocking for a little while.

"You didn't." I could even hear it in my voice, the change in me that I was beginning to feel. And by the look on his face, I'm sure he could tell something was different as well.

"You.. your eyes.."

I slid from under the covers, unbothered by simply having a robe wrapped about me. When I made it over to the mirror pressed against the wall, I inhaled, taking in the new sight of me. Gio stood off in the background, watching me watch myself in the mirror, looking just as confused and apprehensive as I was.

One, still raging violet.. and the other, back to my big blue iris, though with a swirling, molten liquid of gold, burning around my pupil.

Gio dropped to his knee once something seemed to register for him.

"Only one breed of wolves carried eyes like that." He bowed his head the lowest any wolf had ever done to show respect to me as their Luna. "Goddess Nova."