The town square’s centerpiece, a fountain featuring a lone wolf standing guard against human hunters, was a testament to our race’s struggles. It had been a constant for centuries.
Until tonight. I’d wrecked it.
Surveying the destruction around me, my heart plummeted. I’d lost control of my powers, and innocent people had suffered.
The fires’ heat was fierce, and the sound of wood and metal crackling was deafening.
Sierra approached me with caution. “Aurora, are you okay?” she asked, her face etched with worry.
I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed. “No, I'm not okay. I let my anger take over, and now, look at the result. How many people were hurt?”
Wolfgang stepped forward, his face grim.
“We don't know yet. We need to find out and help them. But first, we need to leave before the hunters and their allies return.”
Max nodded in agreement. “We should return to the pack territory and regroup. We'll plan our next steps there.”
I nodded, feeling a deep sense of shame and regret. I’d always known my powers were dangerous, but I’d never imagined causing so much devastation.
As we began our journey back to the pack territory, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d let everyone down.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about how I could have done things differently, how I could have avoided causing so much damage.
Suddenly, Rhea stirred within me, and I could feel her presence in my mind.
Her words brought me a small measure of comfort, and I focused on the road ahead.
We had a long journey ahead of us, and we needed to stay focused if we were going to make it back safely.
I couldn’t shake the unease that crept in.
Wendell may have escaped, but I knew he wouldn't give up that easily. We needed to be on high alert and prepare for his next move.
But for now, we had to focus on the present and the people who needed us.
I vowed to do everything in my power to make things right and prevent something like this from happening again.
That night, Wolgang and I sat quietly in our bedroom, his arms providing the comfort I so desperately needed.
“I let all of you down tonight,” I murmured, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Eleanor will be so ashamed of me.”
He scowled at that. “Eleanor has no business being ashamed of you, Rory. And from what I saw, you were the only one of us who came back with a prisoner. Wendell’s brother too.”
Wolfgang lifted my face to his, and I saw love light up his eyes.
“You did more than what any of us could do. Mistakes were made, but you killed no one, my luna. We will work to repair the damage.”
I kissed him then, our lips meeting in a duet of hope.
“We will figure everything out,” he whispered, his tongue tracing a circle around mine.
“With you by my side.”
I held him close and fell asleep.
When I woke up, I knew I was in a dream, for the forest around me was all silver.
I stepped through the trees, feeling the soft moss beneath my feet.
The silver forest was bathed in moonlight, and the leaves shone with an ethereal glow. The air was crisp, and the scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils.
It was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves and the hoot of an owl.
A soft rustling in the bushes ahead stopped me in my tracks, and I tensed, ready for anything. But then, she stepped out of the shadows.
She was breathtaking.
Her hair was silver-blonde and cascaded to her feet. Her skin was so white it looked almost translucent, and her eyes shone like gold.
I knew instantly that this was Selene, the moon goddess herself.
"Aurora," she said, her voice like music. "I have been waiting for you. Walk with me."
We fell into a quiet rhythm, walking side-by-side through the forest.
“When I made the first wolves, my soul searched for one thing above all, and that was to find a way to keep them together.”
I nodded.
“At heart, all creatures have a primal urge to survive. It can take over at times, and it is certainly all-encompassing when it remains untempered. But, I found something that could bring some order to the chaos.”
I listened with bated breath.
“You see, Aurora, the only thing that could tie discordant souls and bind them into a unit was love. So, I created soulmates and bound them by red threads, destined to find their way to one another.”
“Love is the antidote,” I whispered. “That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it?”
She smiled. “You’ve always been a clever girl. But, just as a soul needs mates, so also it needs a home.”
Selene turned around and took my face in her hands.
"You must learn who you are first, Aurora. Because you are special. You are my own blood and bone, and you have a great destiny ahead of you."
A shiver ran down my spine. "What destiny?"
Selene smiled.
"To rule with love, Aurora. Love is the key to everything. It is the one thing that can transcend all boundaries, all planes of existence."
I was intrigued. "But how can I find true love?"
Selene stroked my cheek. Her fingers were like threads of silk.
"You already have, Aurora. You just don't realize it yet. Think of the people around you. Think of the ways in which you would protect and cherish them."
Wolfgang. Emma. Montana.
All the people who had stayed and passed, only out of their love for me. Only because they wanted me to see the light and to live in it.
I felt a warmth spreading through my body. "Thank you, Selene. But what about my powers? I still haven't mastered them all."
Selene nodded.
“Your abilities, Aurora, they’re a part of you. They’re a gift from me, and you need to learn how to use them wisely. But remember, your powers are just a tool. The real goal is love.”
Her words washed over me, bringing a sense of calm. It was as if all my worries and fears had just melted away.
“Thank you, Lady Selene,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude.
“Remember, Aurora, you’re a part of the moon and the earth. Trust in your instincts, and you’ll always find your way.”
With that, she vanished into the night, leaving me alone in the silver forest, feeling more connected to the world than I ever had before.
When I woke up, I knew what I had to do.
I found Eleanor at the clock tower, her gaze fixed on the world below.
She sensed my presence like the wind senses the clouds. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”
“Eleanor.” I moved to stand next to her. “You know me. Deep down. Teach me to be better.”
She shook her head. “All this time, Aurora. I’ve been telling you that the only way forward is to control your anger.”
I held my breath, waiting. “I never meant to lose control.”
“But you did,” she corrected me. “When it mattered most, you let the darkness consume you. You know you can do better.”
A chill spread through my body, settling like a cold, clawing hand on my heart. “What are you saying, Eleanor?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t teach you anymore.”
