CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: THE MOON GODDESS APPEARS

The thunder got louder as Elara and her mates walked back toward the pack house.

But something felt wrong. The sound wasn’t coming from storm clouds—it was coming from above the moon itself. "Look up," Darian whispered, his truth-sight picking up something impossible.

The full moon was getting brighter. So bright it hurt to stare at directly. Silver light poured down like liquid starlight, making the entire area glow. "That’s not normal," Ronan said, his flames instantly responding to the celestial energy.

"Nothing about our lives is normal," Kael answered, but his ice powers were also reacting, creating frost patterns in the air. The light increased until it felt like daylight. Then, impossible as it seemed, the moon began to fall. "Run!" Elara shouted, but her feet wouldn’t move. The silver light had frozen them all in place.

The moon touched the ground fifty feet away, and from its surface stepped the most beautiful woman Elara had ever seen. Tall as a tree, with skin that glowed like pearls and hair that moved like liquid moonbeams. Her eyes held the knowledge of thousands of years. "My children," the Moon Goddess said, her voice echoing inside their thoughts rather than their ears. "Finally, we meet."

Elara’s knees buckled. She was face-to-face with the being who controlled every werewolf’s fate. "You’re real," she breathed. "Very real," the Goddess smiled.

"And very concerned about my favorite wolves." "Favorite?" Kael asked, still frozen in the silver light. "The Triple Alpha bond was my idea," the Goddess explained, walking closer. "Three souls, one heart, one mate. I’ve been planning this for ages."

"Planning what exactly?" Darian demanded, his truth-sight trying to read the Goddess and getting overcome by her power. "The salvation of all supernatural beings," she answered simply. "Your children will join the magical world. But first, you must face what’s coming." "Maya told us about the prophecy," Elara said.

"About the Council of Shadows. About the trials." The Goddess’s face darkened. "Maya saw only part of the truth. The Council isn’t your biggest enemy."

"Then who is?" Ronan’s flames flickered nervously. "Me." The word hit them like a physical blow. Elara felt her heart stop. "What do you mean?" she whispered. "I created the Council of Shadows," the Goddess admitted. "They serve me.

The trials are my tests, meant to see if you’re worthy of the power I’m about to give you." "You’ve been trying to kill us!" Kael accused, ice forming around his hands despite the numbness. "I’ve been trying to strengthen you," the Goddess corrected.

"Every supernatural being you’ll face as parents will be stronger than those shadow things. Your children will have haters from birth. If you can’t protect yourselves, how will you protect them?"

"So the attacks, the fear, the almost dying—that was all you?" Elara felt deceived. She’d prayed to this Goddess her entire life. "The Council acts independently," the Goddess said. "I give them goals, not methods. Their violence is their own choice." "That’s not much better," Darian said coldly.

"Perhaps not. But it’s necessary." The Goddess waved her hand, and suddenly they could move again.

"Your children will change the supernatural world. Some will welcome this change. Others will try to avoid it by killing your family." "Why us?" Elara asked. "Why did you choose us for this burden?" "Because you’re strong enough to bear it," the Goddess responded. "Kael’s ice can freeze any enemy.

Ronan’s fire can burn through any darkness. Darian’s truth can see through any lie. And your Bridge Walker power can join all supernatural magic."

"But we’re just kids," Ronan objected. "I’m barely nineteen!" "Age means nothing to destiny," the Goddess said. "Besides, you won’t be children when your kids arrive. The trials will force you to grow up quickly."

"How quickly?" Kael asked suspiciously. "You have six rounds left. Each one will unlock more of your true ability. By the final test, you’ll be strong enough to face any supernatural leader in the world."

"And if we fail the trials?" Elara’s voice was barely heard. "Then I choose different parents for the children of prophecy." The careless way she said it made Elara’s blood run cold. "You’d just replace us?" "If necessary.

The promise must be fulfilled. If you die, I’ll find other suitable mates to bear these children." "You can’t just transfer a prophecy to different people," Darian said, his truth-sight analyzing her words. "Can’t I?" The Goddess smiled strangely. "I’m the Moon Goddess.

I can do whatever I want with fate." "That’s terrifying," Ronan muttered. "It should be," she agreed. "But it’s also freeing. You’re not trapped by destiny—you’re picked for it. There’s a difference." "What kind of difference?" Elara asked.

"Trapped means no choice. Chosen means you can still walk away. But if you do, someone else gets the glory of saving the world." "Some honor," Kael said sarcastically.

"It is an honor," the Goddess answered seriously. "Your children will be more powerful than me. They’ll be able to create new types of magic, travel between dimensions, even give immortality to worthy beings." "That sounds dangerous," Darian noted.

"Everything worthwhile is dangerous," the Goddess said. "But your love for each other will keep them stable. The Triple Alpha bond creates balance that no single parent could provide."

"What about the Council’s remaining trials?" Elara asked. "What should we expect?" "I can’t tell you specifics—that would defeat the point. But I can give you a warning." The Goddess’s face grew grave.

"The Council will try to turn you against each other. They’ll make situations where you must choose between your mates’ lives." "We’d never hurt each other," Ronan said definitely. "Not intentionally.

But under enough pressure, even the strongest ties can crack. That’s what the Council is counting on." "How do we fight that?" Kael asked. "Remember this moment," the Goddess said, touching each of their foreheads in turn.

"Remember that your love is stronger than any trial." Her touch left a warm silver mark on their skin that faded quickly but left them feeling more attached than ever. "There’s something else," the Goddess continued.

"The prophecy Maya shared was unfinished. Your children won’t just unite the supernatural world—they’ll bridge the gap between magical and human cultures." "You mean humans will learn about us?" Elara asked, worried. "Within your children’s lives, yes.

Magic will become general knowledge. Your offspring will decide whether that revelation leads to cooperation or war." "No pressure," Darian said dryly. "Exactly." The Goddess began to glow brighter, preparing to leave. "One final gift before I go."

She snapped her fingers, and suddenly Elara could feel something different inside her. A warmth, a presence that hadn’t been there before. "What did you do?" she gasped, hand flying to her stomach.

"Activated your Bridge Walker fertility," the Goddess said with a smile. "The first conception will happen tonight, if you choose to let it." "Tonight?" All three guys said in unison. "The full moon strengthens all werewolf ties. Your connection is already powerful enough to make life."

The Goddess looked directly at Kael. "Your daughter will be born exactly nine months from today." "Daughter?" Kael’s voice cracked. "Ice magic and silver light merged. She’ll be beautiful."

The Goddess turned to Ronan and Darian. "Your children will follow within the year." "We don’t get a choice about timing?" Elara asked softly. "You get a choice about everything," the Goddess amended.

"But the window of chance is small. If you wait too long, the Council will find ways to prevent the pregnancies entirely." "Why would they do that?" Ronan asked. "Because children of destiny are harder to control than adults. The Council prefers to corrupt current power rather than create new power."

The Goddess began walking back toward the moon, which was somehow still sitting on the ground like a big silver ball. "Wait!" Elara called. "How do we know we can trust you? You created our enemies!" The Goddess stopped.

"You don’t have to trust me. But you should trust each other. Your link is the one thing I can’t control or corrupt." "What happens after all seven trials?" Kael asked.

"You become the most powerful supernatural family in history," the Goddess responded. "And you decide what to do with that power." She stepped onto the moon’s surface and began to rise. "Good luck, my children. The magical world’s future depends on you."

"No pressure!" Ronan yelled after her. Her laughter echoed down as the moon returned to its right place in the sky. They stood in the sudden darkness, processing everything that had just happened.

"Did the Moon Goddess just tell us we’re having kids whether we want them or not?" Elara asked weakly. "Pretty much," Darian confirmed. "And that we’re supposed to save the world while raising them?" Kael added. "Also yes," Ronan said. "And that our greatest enemy is also our creator?"

"That seems to be the gist of it," Darian agreed. Elara sat down hard on the ground. "I think I’m going to be sick." But before anyone could comfort her, a new sound split the night.

Not thunder this time—howling. Dozens of voices, all around the area. "The second trial," Kael realized, his ice skills flaring. "Already?" Ronan’s flames exploded.

"The Goddess said we’d grow up quickly," Darian reminded them, his truth-sight scanning the darkness. The howls grew closer, and Elara could see bright eyes surrounding them. Not shadow creatures this time—real dogs. But something was wrong with them. "Their eyes are silver," she whispered.

"Like the Goddess’s power." "She’s controlling them," Kael said sadly. "Testing us," Darian amended. "To see if we can fight blessed creatures without losing our humanity." The silver-eyed dogs stepped into view.

There were at least fifty of them, and they all looked exactly like pack members. Like friends and family.

"They’re not real," Elara said desperately. "They can’t be real." But when the lead wolf spoke in her father’s voice, her heart broke. "Why did you let me die, Elara? Why didn’t you save me?" The second trial had started.

And this time, they’d have to fight the faces of everyone they’d ever loved.