Rejecting the Future Moon Goddess

☽Chapter 1 - Once Upon A Time... Yeah, Right!☾

Have you ever heard about the stories of Werewolves?

Do you know the legends and stories about beings forced to shift from human to wolf only once during a Full Lunar Cycle on the night of a Full Moon?

Has anyone ever told you about those who have no control over their instincts or nature when in full wolf form and can attack anyone, both friend and foe?

Do you know about the beings whose Mates are destined to them and them alone by the Almighty Moon Goddess who created them?

If you said yes to any of these, would you believe me if I said these are true stories? That werewolves are real and walk amongst you? Well, everything but the forced shift on the night of the Full Moon is real. The truth is us werewolves can shift whenever we want and stay in control.

Now you are wondering who I am, and that's understandable so let me introduce myself. My name is Geminie Starlight. I thought I was Geminie Blake of the Hidden Claws Pack and future Theta-also known as third-in-command- to my pack. It was supposed to be my birthright since the Beta would be my brother, Alex. But things changed when I was a child, and I soon learned how fast blood was not actually thicker than water. That at a moments notice my life can become worse than it already was and I was demoted to an Omega, a slave within the pack. It soon worsened on the night of my eighteenth birthday and life seemed to have a different plan for me, my world turning upside down when rejection forced me into an early shift, and my true birthright came to be known.

I guess you're interested in my story since you've made it this far, so I'll tell you. But I need to start from the beginning...

☽Chapter 2 - The Thief of the Night☾

Eighteen years ago...

The Harvest Moon's emits a soft, orange glow over the land, bathing the forest and surrounding meadow in an ethereal light. The soft breeze carries the scent of fall on the wind towards where two wolves sit in waiting, hidden amongst the tall grass and wildflowers that cling to life before the winter frost can hit.

As the Harvest Moon slowly climbs to its apex, a mirage slowly appears on a crystal clear lake in the shape of a crescent moon. This mirage will soon be a lush green forest only visible during two events. The first is the ascension of the new Moon Goddess, who will take the place of the current one once she is old enough. The second is the birth of the Moon Goddess' pup. The latter is only if the Moon Goddess has met her Mate after becoming the next Goddess, and is a rare occurrence, happening only once in a blue moon.

Today is the latter event.

The current Moon Goddess is due to give birth to her child after many years and hoping and waiting from the wolves she watches over. This is also the day for the two wolves to strike. The Goddess took their daughter from them just after the two heard their child's one and only cry. Took away their hope of raising her with their only son and having the perfect family.

Tonight they plan to take her newly born child as revenge and make her face the suffering they have gone through as well. The time soon comes for the wolves hidden in the shadows to strike as the lush forest comes to life. With only a twenty-minute time limit from the moment the forest materializes to the moment the full moon begins its descent, the two wolves spring from their hiding spot, their paws thundering against the hard dirt.

The guards are sure to patrol the forest while the Goddess gives birth, forcing the two thieves to take as much caution as possible while they slink like shadows along the trees and underbrush of the forest, the orange moon providing enough light to see but also enough shadows for them to hide in. Their snouts are to the wind, sniffing the air to avoid any wolf who may block the way to their goal-the centre where the weak Goddess will lay after childbirth.

"The Goddess' mate is on his way to retrieve the pup." The thieves freeze, their heartbeats picking up, as they catch low voices conversing. If the Goddess' mate arrives earlier than expected, their plan will be foiled.

"We have orders to take the Future Goddess to him outside the forest before this forest vanishes." The voice continues. The two guards continue to converse, planning when to bring the new born pup to her father. The thieves wait as patiently as they can until the guards move on and silence resumes.

With the coast clear, they continue moving from shadow to shadow until the soft wails of an infant reach their ears. They have finally reached their destination. Slinking out of the shadows, the two wolves bare their teeth at the woman sprawled across a bed of moss, her white hair fanned out behind her and her complexion waning from the hardship of childbirth. Beside the weak woman- the Moon Goddess -is a wooden stump carved into a bassinet where the sound of wailing comes from. A child with white hair and prismatic eyes protests her birth and the cold she is facing outside of her mother's womb. The future Moon Goddess is just within their reach.

Suddenly, a twig snaps, alerting the resting women to the thieves' presence, but no one - not even a single guard - is there to stop them. "Please, leave." She whispers weakly, her hand reaching towards the pup who has now settled down. The larger of the wolves growls menacingly, stopping the weak Goddess from moving in fear of her newborn being harmed. The smaller of the two wolves steps forward, her eyes trained on the newborn.

The girl lays there so innocently, swaddled in a black wool blanket with small curly wisps of her white hair peeking out of the fabric. The smaller wolf knows she has come here to kill the infant pup, but instead of closing her sharp teeth around the little one's neck and ending her life as the two had planned weeks before, the smaller wolf picks up the blanketed bundle and gingerly carries the pup away.

Confused, her partner follows suit and they scamper away. The heartbroken wails of the Moon Goddess follow their retreat and the guards are quickly ordered to find Baby Geminie.

☽Chapter 3 - Family☾

Seven years later...

I giggle happily, eyes following my brother Alex as I stumble around the yard, chasing his brown wolf form and reaching for the fluffy tail he wags before me. Alex stays just out of my reach - as always - his tongue lolling from the right side of his muzzle. He gives me a wolfish grin with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes when I finally manage to grab the fluffy tail before me.

"Geminie, leave your brother alone." My father, Bastian Blake, Beta of Hidden Claws, orders. His stern, angry eyes bear down on me, making me stop in my tracks as a small spark of fear buds inside me. Alex nudges my hand gently, whining lowly as he wraps his furry form around me protectively.

"Alex and I are playing, Father." I answer quietly, leaning into Alex for comfort while trying to avoid the glare my father sends me. At seven years old, I have never been able to understand why my parents are so strict with me, why I feel like they hate me. With Alex being only eight years older than me at fifteen, I always felt like he is the favourite of the two of us. From the food he receives to the gifts given, I am nothing but a second thought to my parents. No matter how close Alex and I are and how much my brother adores me, in my parents' eyes I am nothing compared to my brother and the pups of our Alpha and Luna.

"Gem, as always, your brother is the future Beta. Mika will be his priority as Mika will be our next Alpha. You are just a she-wolf who will have to move the moment you find your mate." My mother Jasmine Blake states, rolling her eyes and standing next to my father. Alex lets out a sigh and licks my face, motioning towards the house and silently telling me he is going to shift and put on some clothes before returning to help me with our parents. Alex, thankfully, never agreed with our parents and always stood up for me whenever he could.

"As Alex's little sister, he should protect me too. We are family, and it should be his job to protect his family." I argue back, upset at feeling like nothing to my parents once again. I just want their love and affection too.

Within a blink of an eye my body is falling sideways, and the sting of flesh hitting my cheeks brings me to the reality my mother has just slapped me. Anger radiates off of both of my parents as their eyes glare daggers at me.

"Geminie Blake, Mika will always be more important than you, and that is final." She yells. My father stands silently behind her, disappointment mixed in with his angry gaze as he continues to stare down at me. I hate both of them. I hate their unfair treatment and reminders that I am not important, that I will be nothing but a mate to some wolf one day and must be an obedient lady.

Without another word, tears falling down my chubby cheeks and the stinging sensation on the left side of my face, I take off to the woods behind me and rush towards where I can feel safe and loved. My father's shouting for me to return, along with fear of any punishment they will give me if I turn back, fuels me to run even faster towards the river, where I can hide my scent from anyone who tries to follow me.

Alex taught me this trick where if you enter a river until it is up to your knees and walk in either direction, the water washes away any scent a werewolf can follow and allows you to get away safely. My direction is the waterfall north of the pack territory's boundaries. My safe spot lies just beyond the flowing water.

Wading into the shallow part of the river, I wipe the tears still falling from my eyes to help me see as I make the two-hour trip to the waterfall that falls from the large mountain our pack sits in front of. I soon find the vines that climb up the side of the rocks that I easily slide behind. Keeping inside the small stream that flows into a hidden cave, I let the glowing moonstones guide me toward my destination. The stream breaks into two and a light at the end of the cave indicates sunlight. A lush meadow greets me, my short legs hidden in the tall grass and wildflowers as I walk towards the weeping willow tree, wiping angrily at my tears. This is my happy place; I refuse to cry here.

"Gem, who hurt you this time, Little Wolf?" A soft, melodious voice fills my ears as I lean against the tree where she waited.

"My parents, as usual," I whimper, feeling strong arms pick me up and hold me gently to a warm body, one who smells like the wildflowers here.

"What happened this time?" Lizaria, the elf who guards this hidden meadow, continues, her long black hair blowing in the wind as she comforts me.

"The usual. Alex and I were playing but I was told to leave him alone. I will never be important to them, will I?" I answer, my voice growing quiet as I look into the elf's green eyes.

"You are bound for remarkable things, Little Wolf. I can see it," She says instead, always dodging my questions. I pout, tears flowing down my chubby cheeks once again. Lizaria sighs, carrying me from the comfortable shade under the willow tree towards the small lake where unicorns drink and frolic around.

"Little Wolf, one day I may not be able to protect the unicorn. Witches and werewolves, especially Soulless, hunt them for the magic hidden in their bodies and their blood." Lizaria sighs out, playing with my hair. I nod, understanding that the unicorn population has dwindled, only a few herds left and under strict protection.

"Do you know why I let you come in?" She asks, her eyes holding pride at the hidden home she protects. I shake my head no after thinking, my white curls bouncing with the movement as a light breeze brings the scent of flowers closer to us.

"Because you look at them as friends." She answers, surprising me as I look at the unicorns once more.

"I was wary that day I found you here, curled up amongst the foals, fast asleep. Always sending you back home every chance I could, but you would show up without failure every few days, tears staining your cheeks as you cuddles a foal." Lizaria smiles at me, her slender fingers wiping away the tears from my face as she kisses my forehead. That was last year after a fight father and I had. I followed a comforting scent up the river and that's where I saw the unicorns.

"One day, I hope you can take up the mantel and protect these creatures. You respect and love them as much as I do." Lizaria finishes, my eyes widening for a moment.

"Do you mean it?" I ask quietly, hiding my face in the crook of her neck.

"Of course, Little Wolf. I know this herd will be in good hands with you. Now, go to sleep, it's late. You'll wake up at home soon." Lizaria's voice soothes me to sleep, my eyes closing and my little body exhausted from all the crying and being held safely by the elf I think of as my mom.

"Gemmy, is this where you have been hiding since the argument?" A hand shakes my shoulder gently awake, and my eyes slowly open to see Alex looking worriedly at me. His hand touches my face, causing me to wince, and his eyes harden in the dim light. I most likely gained a bruise from that slap earlier today. I am in Alex's closet, lying on a teddy bear two times the size of my small body, as the clothes hanging above me hide me from view in case anyone comes looking for me. This is the same place Lizaria always sends me to keep me safe, she knows that Alex will protect me from our parents.

"Yes, I fell asleep crying." The lie comes easily as Alex ruffles my hair and carefully scoops me into his arms with a sigh. Silently, my brother carries me into my room and tucks me into bed, a look of sadness in his eyes that I have never seen before.

"I always tell them that you always hide in my room when you run away, but they never listen. You're my little sister, and I know you, Gemmy." Alex starts off, running his hands through his hair and staring outside my window at the Full Moon shining down on us, a warm glow from the white orb in the sky bringing me a sense of peace.

"I know, Alex." I yawn, giving my brother a sleepy smile at his concern.

"Go to bed, Gemmy. You have a big day tomorrow with the Alpha Family, hopefully that bruise fades by then." He bids me goodnight and flicks off the lamp beside my bed before getting up and leaving me to sleep under the comforting glow of the moonlight.