The Goddess’s Revelation

Eila opened her eyes, but she was no longer in the forest. She stood in a grand, gleaming hall, bathed in a soft, silvery glow. The walls shimmered like the surface of a lake under the full moon, and an otherworldly chill lingered in the air, making her shiver. Despite its coldness, the atmosphere was comforting, familiar even—like she had been here before, in some distant memory she couldn't quite grasp.

In front of her, seated on an ornate golden throne, was an ethereal woman draped in a flowing white gown. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with hair as silver as moonlight cascading down her back and eyes that held galaxies within them. Despite her youthful features, her gaze was ancient, filled with unfathomable wisdom and experience.

"Eila, my dear child," the woman spoke, her voice like a gentle lullaby echoing through the vast chamber. "I can finally talk to you. I have waited for this moment for a long time."

Eila's breath caught in her throat. Who was this woman? And how did she know her name?

She rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. It had to be a dream. Or perhaps some kind of illusion? But everything around her felt too real—the weight of the air, the coolness of the floor beneath her bare feet, the way the woman's voice resonated in her bones.

"I don't understand," Eila said cautiously, taking a hesitant step forward. "Who are you? What is this place? Where am I? And—" She suddenly realized something was missing.

Panic surged in her chest. "Where is Seraphina? I can't feel my wolf!"

A flicker of amusement crossed the woman's divine face as she responded gently, "Calm yourself, my child. Your wolf is safe, merely resting. She cannot accompany you here."

Eila's heart pounded. Here? Where exactly was here?

The woman's expression softened as she continued, "Let me introduce myself properly. I am the one known as the Mother of all werewolves—the Moon Goddess."

Eila's breath hitched. The moon Goddess ? The deity she had prayed to since she was a child? The very being who had blessed her kind with their wolves and fated mates?

Without thinking, she dropped to her knees, bowing her head in reverence. "My Goddess," she whispered in awe. "It is an honor to be here, to speak with you. But… I don't understand why I am here. I was only trying to explore my powers. How did I end up in your presence?"

The Goddess smiled, and the room brightened as if responding to her amusement. "I am well aware, dear one. And I know the distress you feel over your mate. But that is not why I have brought you here. You are special, Eila—far beyond what you or anyone in your pack realizes."

Eila swallowed, suddenly uneasy. She had always known she was different, but to hear the Goddess herself say it filled her with an unfamiliar weight.

"You possess abilities that no other werewolf has ever been granted," the Moon Goddess continued. "You can heal others without touching them, but you can also wield that same power to harm. You can travel great distances instantly, without the aid of any magical objects. Your dreams will reveal glimpses of the future—though be warned, they will come unbidden, beyond your control."

Eila's mind reeled. Healing, harming, dream clairvoyance? This was already overwhelming, but the Goddess wasn't finished.

"You also have command over the four elements—air, fire, water, and ice. These are rare gifts, Eila, meant only for those destined for something greater."

The Goddess hesitated then, her eyes darkening slightly.

Eila's stomach twisted. "But?" she prompted.

The Goddess exhaled slowly. "But such power always comes with a price."

A cold shiver ran down Eila's spine. "What kind of price?"

The Goddess did not answer immediately. Instead, she gazed at her with an expression that held both sorrow and expectation. "These gifts were given to you because you are meant to lead. To protect. Your fate is intertwined with the survival of your kind, and the balance of all things."

Eila's breath quickened. "Lead? But I'm just… I'm nobody. A house helper's daughter. A weak, unwanted mate. How could I possibly fulfill such a destiny?"

The Goddess only smiled, radiating a sense of quiet reassurance. "You are stronger than you believe, my child. The path will reveal itself in time. Trust in yourself, and trust in the bond you share with your mate. Even if he does not realize it yet, he will come to understand your importance."

Eila wanted to argue, to tell the Goddess she had the wrong person. But before she could speak, the room around her began to blur, shifting into an indistinct haze of light.

"No, wait!" she called out. "I have so many questions!"

The Goddess's voice echoed softly, as if carried by the wind. "One more thing, my child… You do not have just one mate. You have three."

Eila's entire body stiffened. "What?"

The words rang in her ears like a tolling bell. She had misheard. She must have.

But the Goddess never joked.

Before she could react, everything faded.

——

Eila gasped, her eyes flying open. Sunlight streamed through the trees, and birds chirped in the early morning light. She was lying beneath a massive oak, the dewy grass cool against her skin. The forest was waking up, and with it, so was she.

She sat up abruptly, clutching her chest. What the hell was that?

Seraphina's voice drifted into her mind, still groggy from sleep. "You're finally awake. The sun is rising. We should go home before people start looking for us."

Eila blinked, her mind still clouded with the Moon Goddess's words. Three mates.

She must have imagined it. She had to have it.

Seraphina, oblivious to her internal crisis, asked, "By the way, where were you all night? I couldn't reach you. It was like you disappeared completely."

Eila hesitated. Should she tell her?

Instead, she said, "I… was looking for my powers."

Her wolf sounded intrigued. "Did you find anything?"

Eila exhaled slowly, her hands clenched into fists. More than I ever wanted to know.

She didn't answer, only shifting into her wolf form and sprinting toward home.

Because before she could accept her powers, before she could even think about what the Moon Goddess had said—

She had to find out if what she heard was true.