Flora’s P.O.V
The figure of a woman appeared from the center of the column of light that stretched up straight to the sky.
Clay was by my side in an instant, holding my hand in his as the winds swirled around us wildly. Thunder rumbled, lightning struck the land around the column of light and we moved back further to shield Malachi and Ezra from the flying debris.
The war among the wolves had also come to a sudden halt and everyone was now looking at the column of light in fear and anticipation.
And then the light disappeared, leaving behind a Goddess.
Just like the Moon Goddess, Goddess Artemis stood taller than us by a few feet. Her skin was the color of ivory and it held a glow to it, like the blood inside her veins were illuminated. She had long dark brown hair that reached her mid-back and her eyes were a dark brown.
She wore a white tunic with a short skirt that reached her knees and on her hand was a golden bow. A leather quiver was slung over her shoulder, resting on her back and all the arrows inside were made of gold as well. A golden headdress adorned her forehead and her ethereal beauty shore through the simplicity of her form.
My wolf called to her and I felt a connection to her that was far deeper than the connection that I felt with the Moon and its Goddess. This truly was Artemis, the Goddess of Beasts and the Goddess of the Moon. And the power in her made my wolf bow its head in respect. However, I wasn’t the only one who bowed to her. Friends and foes, everyone lowered their head to the Great Goddess, both out of respect and fear.
“Who here summons me?” Her voice rang out loud and clear, echoing around the clearing. “Who here hunts the deer?”
I looked up at the Goddess, swallowing the fear. “I did.”
“Brave wolf healer.” Artemis tilted her head to the side, studying me up and down. “Tell me, one wish that you truly desire and I shall grant it for you.”
But before I could speak, another lightning struck not too far away and another column of light appeared to descend down from the heavens.
Dread settled in my stomach as realized what was happening. Turning to Clay, I motioned towards Malachi. “Shield him. The Moon Goddess isn’t going to be happy that we interrupted the ceremony.”
“Is there no way we can stop her?” Clay asked, looking away from the blinding display of lights.
“We are mere wolves…” I shook my head. “How can we interfere if a Goddess wants to sacrifice her own son?”
Clay looked at Malachi with wide eyes. “Her son?”
“Selene…”
I whipped around to the scene in front of us and as we had expected, there she was, the Goddess of the Moon in all her beauty.
Her long silver hair blew back in the wind and her pure white robe floated around her in waves. This time, her pure white wings spread out from her back, fully open in a span of about six feet on either side of her body and just like the Goddess Artemis; her form was tall as well, almost as tall as Artemis herself.
Selene’s translucent eyes sparked fire as she looked at Artemis.
“How dare you hurt my son?” She hissed at the other Goddess, her wings flexing even wider.
“Now you worry about your son hurting?” Artemis gave Selene a smile. “Weren’t you about to receive you other son’s blood as a sacrifice? Father isn’t too happy with your meddling.”
For an instance, Selene looked visibly shaken to hear the statement. It took me an instant to understand why.
Artemis’s father was Zeus, the God of all Gods in Olympus and Selene had once been his lover as well.
Shit! This was bad. Did we end up creating a war between two Gods? If so, then the mortal realm would suffer for our consequences. Because when Gods fought, everyone else died.
“Goddess!” I called out before they could talk to each other any further. And at that moment, I knew I was done for.
“You dare interrupt us.” Selene screeched, raising her hand as a sphere of light appeared in her hand.
“Hold, Selene.” Artemis interrupted her. “This wolf is the one who summons me. I own her a wish. You cannot interfere until she had made her wish.”
I sphere of light disappeared from her hand as Selene looked at me up and down. “Ah, I remember you, little wolf.” She gave me a cunning smile, somehow still managing not to look evil doing it. “Before you make your wish, remember that each wish comes with a condition. If you think you can save yourself from my wrath, then your lover shall take your place. So wish wisely.”
I looked back towards Goddess Artemis helplessly, but she gave me a sad smile. “Selene is correct. Every wish comes with a condition. So wish wisely.”
Wish wisely?
I looked back towards Malachi, Ezra and Clay, all of them nodded in unison, letting me know that whatever I wished for, they were going to accept it.
But that was my biggest dilemma. What was I to wish for? What could I possibly wish for that would benefit everyone here and not just me and Clay?
I could choose to stay happily with Clay, but what about Malachi and Ezra? What about the other wolves that rejected the mating bond? And if I chose that the Goddess Selene revoke the law of the mating bond, there was still a chance that she would want to continue the Blood Moon ceremony and Malachi could become a sacrifice along with Ezra.
Then what could I choose that would be helpful for every single person here, every single wolf.
I looked up at the sky in exhaustion, looking for a sign, any sign to help me decide what to do next…and then I saw it.
The red sky.
The Blood Moon.
And everything became clear to me.
“I’m ready to make a wish.” I told Artemis, balling my hands at my sides. I dared not look behind me at anyone else, because if I did, my will would falter and I couldn’t risk that happening.
This was it. It was now or never.
“Tell me, child.” Artemis spoke. “What is your wish?”
I looked at the Moon Goddess once; saw her looking at me with a smile. She thought she had me trapped, but I wasn’t. And my wish was for her, not me.
“I…” I shook my head before starting again.
“We wish for Endymion to wake up.”