“You said you have questions,” the goddess prompts me while Ersa hands us each a cup with tea.
“Alright,” I take a deep breath. “What happens to wolves when they die, and is my dad around somewhere? Why didn’t you killthat asshat Caelum yet? Are you watching each of our moves? How did you hook up with Zeus? He is my mom’s dad, isn’t he? Why did you gift us the wolf spirits? Why are some of these alphas so full of themselves and abuse and shun their lunas, especially when they are lower rank – aren’t you mad about that?”
“I can’t answer the first,” Selene says. “And I don’t watch each of your steps, but I do watch your general decisions. As for Caelum… I don’t intervene in the life of an individual usually, but if necessary, I tend to give those around people like him the power to deal with them.”
“You mean Elden,” I say quietly.
“He has much more power than he believes he has,” she reassures me. “I know it might feel like he hasn’t been dealt the best cards, but I don’t plan out an individual’s life like that, not in detail. I bless certain individuals who show potential, I make sure to pick their mates that fit them, but I don’t involve myself in everything. That’s an important point you always need to remember. As deities, we can’t get involved with mortals and their history. It would take their free will away and tip the scales in one direction.”
“What about me?”
“Well, someone told me you do whatever you want anyway,” Selene says with amusement in her voice.
I glance at Ersa, who smiles at me. It seems like she always had my back, also in front of her own mother, the goddess!
“I can’t lie to my mate,” I say. “He knows that there are things I won’t be able to share with him, but I won’t live a second life right next to him. I love him too much to do that.”
“I have also already heard that,” Selene says. “Just be aware that you are taking a risk with it,” she adds, pointing at the scale. “As I said, if we intervene too much, the scale might tip in one direction, and that’s never good.”
“I trust Elden,” I say.
“Then it’s settled,” Selene says. “As for Zeus, that happened many years ago. We deities live differently. Time is a construct. I have no real relationship with him anymore.”
“Me neither,” Ersa adds.
None of the two seem to be upset, so I don’t push further. Maybe it’s something my human self can’t quite grasp.
“As for your last questions. Iammad, as you called it.”
“But you can’t do anything about it,” I muse.
“That’s not true. I said I don’t and shouldn’t intervene directly, but I can plant seeds. You and your mate will be an alpha and a luna like they have never seen before. Change comes slowly, but I have made sure to bless those who deserve it, to give them the tools to change their world.”
“So, it’s on Elden and me?” I say, furrowing my brows.
“I know this is a lot,” Ersa says. “If you need a moment-“
“No, I am perfectly fine,” I say. “This is actually amazing. I always knew Elden would rock it as alpha, and now I just heard that that’s always been the plan. As for me, I can’t wait to shock some of these stuck-up alphas. It will be so much fun!”
To my surprise, Selene laughs slightly. “You are truly one of a kind, Flora. Make the most of it. Don’t be scared to use your powers. That’s why we gifted them to you.”
Her words instantly put me even more at ease. I don’t need to hide my powers, so that will make things easier. “I will tell everyone it’s my gift as a royal lycan,” I say. “They don’t need to know more. Elden is a strong alpha, so no one will question him being mated to a gifted she-wolf.”
“I agree,” Ersa says. “In general, you will notice that people are much less perceptive than you think they are. They are often focused on themselves and their problems, and you being fated to the young royal alpha gives you a lot of leeway. Just make sure to always stick to one story. My advice would be to make it halfthe truth. It will be easier to remember, and you won’t feel bad for lying then.”
“Got you,” I say, rubbing my hands. “And I am not scared to take it up with the other wolves.”
“I am starting to believe they should rather be scared of you,” Selene says, her voice content.
“Since we were talking about gifts-“ Ersa says, gazing at her mother. The latter nods and brings forward a small box.
“This is from the both of us,” the goddess says. “We can’t always be at your side physically, but this is proof to you that we will always be with you in one way or another.”
I open the box, my gaze falling upon a small amulet. It doesn’t look particularly flashy, more like a good luck charm, but once Ersa helps me attach it to my wrist, I can feel a gentle warmth emitting from it. “What is this?” I ask, stunned. “I can feel that it’s special.”
“It’s to connect you to us,” Ersa says. “When you are in dire need, you can reach out to us.”
“No one can steal it from you,” Selene says. “I have protected it well enough. And with time, when you are well established as a luna, we might use it to reach out to you, too.”