Chapter 31: The Truth About Destiny

I couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

"You're lying," I finally said. "This is another test."

"We wish it were," the old man said. "But prophecies don't lie."

"Show me."

The woman gestured. Someone brought out the same book The Elder had shown me before. The original prophecy.

But this time, they opened to a different page.

"Read it," she said.

My hands shook as I took the book.

When darkness rises and hope seems lost. The Luna born of silver light must pay the cost. Her life for theirs, her blood for peace. Only through her death will the demons cease. And with her falls the one she loves. Bound by fate to the stars above. Two souls joined, two lives as one. Both must end before war is won.

I read it three times. Each time hoping I'd misunderstood.

"This can't be right," I said. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't," the old man said. "We've studied this for three hundred years. The prophecy is absolute."

"So I have to die. And Cole has to die. And there's nothing I can do?"

"Not nothing," The Elder said. She'd been quiet until now. "You can choose. You can refuse. Save yourself and your mate."

"But then the demons win."

"Yes."

"And everyone else dies."

"Yes."

I looked around the room. "Why didn't you tell me this before the trials?"

"Because we needed to know if you were strong enough," the woman said. "Strong enough to make the choice when the time came."

"And are you?" the old man asked. "Strong enough to sacrifice yourself? To let Cole die?"

I wanted to scream. To cry.

Instead, I asked the only question that mattered. "When? When do I have to die?"

"Three days from now. At the final battle. When the demon army rises." He paused. "You must face their leader. The Demon King. And you must let him kill you."

"Let him kill me?"

"Yes. Your death must be willing. A sacrifice. Only then will it work."

"What about Cole?"

"The mate bond," The Elder said softly. "When you die, the bond will break. And breaking a mate bond kills the surviving mate. Always."

I thought about Cole. Outside waiting for me. Trusting me.

He had no idea that in three days, I was going to get him killed.

"Does he know?" I asked.

"No. Only Luna Alphas and Council members know. We keep it secret."

"How am I supposed to accept that I have to die? That Cole has to die?"

"By remembering why," the old man said. "You're not just saving wolves. You're saving everyone. If the demons win, they'll enslave everything. Turn the world into hell."

"So it's my life and Cole's life against billions."

"Yes."

I sat down on the floor. My legs wouldn't hold me.

"Why me?"

"Because you're the only one who can," The Elder said. She sat beside me. "Your bloodline. Your power. Only you can banish all demons at once. But it requires your life force."

"What happens after? After I die?"

"Your soul will be bound to the earth. You'll become like a guardian spirit. Watching over all wolves."

"So I don't even get an afterlife. I don't get to be with Cole."

"No. Your souls will be separated. He'll move on. You'll stay behind."

That was worse than dying.

"Can I tell him?" I asked.

The Council members looked at each other.

"That's your choice," the woman said. "But if you tell him, he'll try to stop you. And there is no other way."

"So I either lie to him for three days or watch him suffer."

"Yes."

I stood up. "I need time to think."

"You have three days," the old man said. "Use them wisely. And when the time comes, be ready."

"What if I refuse? What if I choose to live?"

"Then we'll find another Luna Alpha. Eventually. But it will take years. And in that time, the demons will destroy everything. Millions will die."

"No pressure," I said bitterly.

"The weight of the world is heavy," The Elder said. "That's why only the strongest can carry it."

She walked me to the door. "I know this is hard. But you're stronger than you know."

"Have I? Because right now I feel like I'm breaking."

"That's because you're human. You feel. You love." She put her hand on my shoulder. "But you're also Luna Alpha. And when the time comes, you'll do what must be done."

The doors opened. Cole was there.

He took one look at my face and pulled me into his arms. "What happened? What did they say?"

I couldn't tell him. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

"They told me about the war," I said. Not a lie. "About what's coming."

"And?"

"And it's bad. Really bad."

He pulled back to look at me. "We'll face it together. Whatever it is."

I wanted to cry. Because we wouldn't face it together. I'd face it alone. Then die. Then he'd die.

"Yeah," I said. "Together."

We walked to the truck. Got in. Started driving.

Cole kept looking at me. "There's something you're not telling me."

"There's a lot I'm not telling you."

"Lita."

"Can we just drive? Please? I need time to process."

He nodded. Drove in silence.

I looked out the window. Watched the trees pass.

Three days.

Three days to live. Three days to love Cole. Three days to prepare to die.

How was I supposed to do that?

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

We know what they told you. We know about the prophecy. But there's another way. A way for you to live. A way to save Cole. Meet us tonight. Midnight. The old warehouse on Fifth Street. Come alone. We'll show you the truth the Council doesn't want you to know.

I stared at the message.

Another way?

Was it possible? Or was this a trap?

But what did I have to lose? I was already condemned to die.

"Who's that?" Cole asked.

"No one. Just spam."

I deleted the message. But I didn't delete the address.

Tonight at midnight, I'd find out if there was another way.

Even if it meant going behind the Council's back.

Even if it meant risking everything.

Because I wasn't ready to die.

And I wasn't ready to let Cole die either.

There had to be another way.

And I was going to find it.