Nyssa pov


    We were going tomunicate with the Moon Goddess.


    When Dorothy, the adorable child, first told me that, I thought she was joking. But now, as the three of us, Dorothy, Darius, and I sat around the round table, I wasn’t so sure anymore. Especially with how serious Darius looked.


    I mean, Dorothy might’ve been ying around, but Darius? He didn’t seem like a man who even knew how tough, let alone joke. So I waspletely confused by everything that was happening.


    How were we supposed to speak to the Goddess, the mother of all werewolves?


    From what I knew, even the shaman from my pack couldn’t really speak to her. All she ever received were visions or vague dreams, never an actual


    conversation.


    But Dorothy was talking about speaking to her.


    I remembered meeting the Goddess after I died. Her presence, her aura<b>, </b>her power, her eyes was etched into my memory.


    And while she was powerful, what stood out the most was how soothing she felt.


    It was like being wrapped in warmth… like being held by a mother I had never truly known.


    And she gave me a second chance, too.


    For that, I would be forever grateful.


    But in that moment, I froze as a memory suddenly resurfaced.


    “Because of this. This dagger saved you. The owner of this dagger is very special to me, and he made me grant your wish.”


    My eyes widened as I recalled the Goddess’s words.


    Without thinking, I lifted my hand and nced at the tattoo of the dagger etched on my wrist–the one that was invisible to everyone but me.


    That’s right. She had said the owner of the dagger was the reason <b><i>I </i></b>was granted another life.


    But she also said it wasn’t my father… and that I would meet him in this lifetime.


    If it wasn’t my father, then who was it?


    Had I already met him… or not yet?


    Before I could stop myself, my gaze flicked instinctively to Darius, who silently watched as Dorothy began cing items on the table.


    Was it him?


    Was he the owner of the dagger?


    As the thought crossed my mind, I almost let out a snort and quickly looked away.


    Yeah, right. What the hell was I even thinking?


    Darius<b>? </b>Impossible. That man couldn’t stand me.


    And besides<b>, </b>we hadn’t even met in my past life…


    <b>20:15 FRI</b>, 1 <b>Aug </b>


    There was no way he was the reason I was alive again.


    Why was I even thinking about that now?


    Before I could spiral deeper into that thought, Dorothy’s small voice cut through the haze, and I looked up to find her smiling gently at me before she began to speak.


    “We’re going to try and talk to the Goddess, and ask her how you, as a white wolf, can offer salvation to the Lycan King,” she exined.


    I tilted my head, frowning in confusion.


    Salvation to the Lycan King?


    What did she mean by that?


    My brows furrowed, but she simply smiled and turned toward Darius, offering him a respectful bow before speaking again.


    “My King, I will try to connect with the Moon Goddess and see if she’s willing to speak. If she is, you’ll be able to get your answers directly from her


    Darius gave a small nod, his cold eyes flickering to me for the briefest moment before shifting back to Dorothy.


    Hm. Alright, this was actually getting more confusing by the second.


    Why wouldn’t anyone just tell me what was going on?


    Dorothy finally took her gaze off Darius and reached for the itemsid out before her. I watched as her small fingers glided over each one, her eyes fluttering shut as she touched them.


    There were only three items on the table: a scented candle releasing a soothing fragrance, a single incense stick, and a pendant shaped like <b>a </b>crescent


    moon.


    My eyes flickered to the pendant, and I instantly recognized what it was.


    The Moon Pendant, carved from stone believed to hold the power of the moon itself. I’d seen one before, in the house of my pack’s shaman.


    It was said that shamans who kept it close had a higher chance of receiving visions from the Goddess.


    “I will begin now,” Dorothy murmured under her breath, reaching for the incense stick. I watched as she brought it to the candle’s me, lighting <b>it </b>before holding it close to her chest, eyes fluttering shut.


    “Please be as quiet as possible<i>,</i><i>” </i>she said, her voice suddenly serious. “Even a single distraction could break my connection to the Goddess.”


    Then, she began to chant softly.


    “Oh holy Goddess, mother of all werewolves… Your humble servantes before you today to ask that you enter our midst and speak <b>with </b><b>us</b>. <b>We </b><b>ask </b>that you answer our questions with the humblest of hearts.”


    I narrowed my eyes at her, watching carefully, then nced over at Darius.


    He was watching too but with a faint frown on his face, his posture tense and straight.


    “Please… pleasee into our midst and answer us,” Dorothy whispered, brows drawn together in concentration.


    And I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but the room suddenly felt colder. An intense, creeping sensation shot through my body, <b>making </b><b>my </b><b>breath </b><b>hitch</b>.


    But that wasn’t even the most shocking part…


    “The Lycan King wishes to ask you a question, Moon Goddess. Please have favor on us ande into our <b>midst</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>


    ???


    <b>20.10 </b>Fil, E


    As soon as she said that, blue mist began to swirl around us, appearing out of nowhere and twirling in the air.


    All the lights in the house started flickering


    and off like we were suddenly trapped in some horror movie.


    “What the hell…” I breathed out, eyes wide in shock.


    Darius shot me a sharp re, silently telling me to shut up but I rolled my eyes


    at him.


    +28


    Was he serious? I didn’t even know what was happening right now. Why the hell did this feel like we were summoning a ghost?


    Were they really about to summon the Moon Goddess?


    I’d never seen or even heard of anyone doing that. I didn’t think it was even possible. And what if it wasn’t her? What if it really was a ghost?


    And before anyone called me crazy, I believed in ghosts. I was technically one. I had died. My soul had gone back in time. And even though I was in my body again, I wasn’t exactly… alive.


    What the hell was I even thinking about right now?


    As I stared at Dorothy, who continued chanting while the mist grew thicker, I debated whether I should bolt the hell out of there. But I couldn’t move.


    Fear rooted me in ce.


    Especially when Dorothy suddenly stopped chanting then jerked back sharply, as though some unseen force had mmed into her.


    I stared, frozen in both confusion and fear, as her eyes suddenly snapped open and I gasped.


    Her eyes… they were white. A blinding, terrifying shade of white. Simr to Darius’s, but even brighter.


    And 1 recognized those eyes. I’d seen them before.


    Dorothy inhaled deeply and tilted her head to the side.


    Her entire demeanor shifted.


    Her gaze flicked to Darius, who was now watching her with a look I’d never seen on him before.


    It wasn’t just a re. It was deadly. Cold. Dangerous.


    His usual irritation with me was nothingpared to the raw killing intent in his eyes right now.


    But despite that, Dorothy. No… the Moon Goddess–only grinned wider.


    Then she chuckled <i>softly</i>.


    “Darius, Darius… my favorite son. How have you been?”