Chapter 167

Chapter 167
Calla

The white space stretched around me like eternity. Selvarra stood watching me with those ancient red eyes, waiting for my answer to the question that would change everything.

"Let me be clear about what I'm asking," the Moon Goddess said softly, her silver hair catching light that came from nowhere. "Your physical body would cease to exist. Your consciousness would join with mine in this realm between worlds, helping me guide and protect what remains of the supernatural world."

I stared at her, my mind reeling. "Forever?"

"Forever," she confirmed. "It's the only way to end the cycle completely. With your sacrifice, I can remake the supernatural world without the hatred that's poisoned it for millennia. Werewolves and vampires will find peace. The killing will stop."

My heart hammered as the reality sank in. I would never hold Axel again. Never laugh with my pack around the kitchen table. Never see Zara's Instagram posts or even watch Finn cooking for everyone he loved.

I would save them all by leaving them forever.

"Can I... can I think about it?"

Selvarra's expression softened with understanding. "Of course. But Calla, you should know - this is the first real choice anyone has ever given you."

Her words hit me like ice water. The first real choice. She was right, wasn't she?

Memories flooded back that I rarely let myself think about. Being seven years old when the car accident took my parents. Waking up in a hospital bed to learn I had no other family, no one who wanted a scared little girl with nightmares.

The state orphanage in Portland had been my home for eleven years. Clean beds, regular meals, and the constant knowledge that nobody chose to be there. Not the kids, not the overworked staff, nobody.

I'd never gotten to choose my clothes - everything came from donations. Never chose my food - we ate whatever the cafeteria served. Never chose my classes - the school district assigned everything.

Even leaving the orphanage hadn't been my choice. At eighteen, they simply handed me a bag of belongings and the address of a halfway house where former foster kids could transition to independence.

That's where I'd met Blake.

He'd been campaigning for state senate, making a stop at the facility that helped kids age out of the system. I remembered watching from the kitchen where I worked preparing snacks for his event, thinking he looked like someone from a magazine.

When he'd noticed me and started a conversation, I'd been so shocked that someone important wanted to talk to me. He'd asked about my dreams, my plans for the future, and actually listened when I'd told him about wanting to study social work.

Even falling in love hadn't been a choice, not really. Blake had been my first everything - first boyfriend, first kiss, first person to make me feel special. How could an eighteen-year-old with no experience say no to someone who seemed to offer the whole world?

The marriage proposal had come with pressure from Mrs. Henderson, the director of the transition home. "Think of what this means, Calla. Senator Hart's funding keeps this place running. You'd be helping other kids like yourself."

Every major decision in my life had been made by someone else for someone else's benefit.

Until I'd run away to Ravenridge and found Axel. But even then, had I really chosen him? Or had the mate bond and supernatural politics made the decision for me?

Now Selvarra stood before me offering something no one had ever offered before. A choice that was completely mine to make. For my own reasons. Based on what I wanted.

"You're right," I said finally. "This is my first real choice."

I closed my eyes and thought about what I wanted. Not what would help the orphanage, or please Blake, or save the supernatural world. What did Calla Hart actually want for herself?

I wanted to be brave. I wanted my life to matter. I wanted to protect the people I loved, even if it cost me everything.

I opened my eyes and looked at Selvarra. "Yes. I'll do it."

The Moon Goddess smiled, and for the first time since meeting her, she looked genuinely happy. "Thank you, child. You have no idea what this means."

Power began flowing into me like liquid starlight. It filled every part of my consciousness, making me feel larger and brighter and more connected to everything that existed.

I could suddenly sense every supernatural being in the world - every werewolf, every vampire, every witch. They were all connected to me now through invisible threads of silver light.

The power was incredible, intoxicating. I could feel myself starting to glow as divine energy coursed through my very soul.

But as I let my hold on Blake slip slightly in the dreamscape, allowing him to scream warnings to the physical world, something occurred to me.

Something that might change everything.