Chapter 95 ~The Secret Comes Out~
(Fiona's POV)
I woke up to unfamiliar surroundings.
I looked around to see a vast, silent, and cold void.
It was pitch black.
Oddly, I felt no pain from my fall and there were no sounds here, not even the sound of my own breathing or pulse.
A frightening idea flashed through my mind. “Am I dead?”
“Not yet.” A calm, ancient voice spoke from behind me, startling me.
“Wh… Who is there?” I stuttered, as the hairs on my neck stood on end.
There was a sudden burst of light and an image formed in the void. I shielded my eyes from the brightness, and when I finally opened them, I saw him—the messenger of the moon goddess.
I bowed in courtesy, although I was wondering what I was doing in the void this time. Did I have another mission?
“I woefully failed the last mission, you know.” I blurted out.
“Woefully?” He arched his brow. “That's a bit of a stretch.”
His voice sounded like it was coming from a thousand miles away, even though he was just in front of me. It echoed, fluid, like water.
“I didn't pass in the end. And because of that, I lost everything.” My voice was levelled, belying the turmoil I felt.
The messenger wore a faint smile. “Let's take a walk, shall we, Fiona?”
Before I could answer, he held my hand and we were teleported from the void to another place.
Here was an Eden-like garden. There were flowing streams, the flowers were in full bloom, and birds were chirping in the distance. It was ethereal, blissful.
This time around, I was sure I was dead. This felt like the afterlife.
“Where is this?” I asked, blown away.
“Her garden,” he said, and when I looked confused, he clarified. “The Moon Goddess.”
“It's beautiful.” I took a glance around. “But why am I here?”
“Because you are a chosen one,” he said, staring into my soul.
I froze.
“Chosen for what?”
He pointed to my mark. “The Mooncrest is not given to the weak… It appears when a soul stands at the edge of becoming.”
I stopped in my tracks. “I'm sorry, I'm confused.”
I was supposed to have lost it all when I failed the level-up tests, but at the boutique, after the trance I had, after the old woman mentioned the mooncrest, I felt hope for the first time.
Hope that perhaps all was not lost.
Until the elders said the crest was a curse. “Isn't it a curse?”
The messenger replied, “It's a gift from the Moon Goddess. It could either be a curse or a blessing depending on how it's used.”
I wondered what that meant.
“Does this mean I get all my powers back?” I asked, hopeful.
“It means your path lies where wolves are forged, not born. Beyond what you know… there is a place that will shape you.” He stared intently at me. “But maybe you are not ready for what you are becoming.”
I was lost. Utterly. “The mooncrest appeared just after I lost the level-up system. Could it be some form of second chance?”
There was a moment of silence, after which he responded.
“It's your gateway to Wintercrest Academy.”
I was startled.
Could it be the same academy Xander was being sent to?
Was this a cosmic mistake or a planned event?
“To most people, it's an elite academy but truly, it's where forces are formed,” the messenger said. “Students are trained and battle-ready.”
“What about the Luna Power Level? Do I still stand a chance to save my mother?” I asked, my voice heavy with expectation.
“The system has only just begun,” he said finally. “When you get to Wintercrest Academy, show them your mooncrest and they will tell you what to do.”
I had a lot of questions, but there was one ultimate question on my mind.
The reason why I'd come into this trance in the first place. “What about my child?”
“Some bonds are not meant to last forever.” He shook his head, looking somber. “And unfortunately, this is one of them.”
No.
“There must be a mistake.” My voice shook.
I'd imagined holding my child in my hands, a future, a second chance. And yet, like everything, I'd lost him too.
Anger clawed in my veins. And then came the emptiness. I felt hollow.
A moment of silence passed.
His eyes told me that it was my time to head back.
“Wake up, Fiona. Your story has only just begun.”
And just like that, I was sucked out of the trance.
\-
I woke up in a hospital bed with a sudden jolt.
The machines were beeping faintly. I had a migraine.
“Where's Xander?” I asked the nurse standing beside my bed.
I needed to tell him everything.
She only seemed to notice I was awake. “Miss Hepburn, you're awake.”
“Yes. Where's Xander?” I repeated the question.
“I have something to tell you,” She looked ashen and instantly I knew what she wanted to say.
“I lost my baby,” my voice broke as I said it. I knew I could survive it, but I wouldn't forget it.
But I needed to know how he took the news. “Where's Xander?”
“He left a few minutes ago. He looked alarmed,” she said.
Alarmed?
I needed to find out what happened.
Now.
_____________
(Xander's POV)
(A few moments earlier)
“The baby. We lost him,” the doctor said. “I'm sorry.”
My ears rang.
The Elders.
Julius and Cyrus—they did this.
And they will pay for this.
I could promise them that.
Just as I was processing everything, I got an urgent mindlink from Calvin.
‘Alpha, you need to head to the pack now.’
‘Okay, I'll be there now.’
I gave Fiona's hand a tiny squeeze. “I'll be back.”
I drove to the pack and went straight to Elder Julius and Cyrus' homes.
They were nowhere to be found.
Knowing where they could be next, I drove to the main house.
In the driveway, I was surprised to see multiple cars parked. This was odd because Father was on a business trip.
As soon as I entered the door, I was met with the faces I least expected to see.
Alpha Aaron Reign. His daughter, Dakota.
There were members of the council all present, the elders including Julius and Cyrus, who looked more than pleased.
Calvin looked defeated. He was trying not to meet my eyes.
Yara looked at me, her face clouded with disbelief.
I could tell that she was willing me to say it was all a lie.
But it wasn't.
Somewhere among the crowd, my father, Edgar walked out.
“I cut the business meeting short when I heard what happened.” He said. “Is everything Alpha Aaron said true?”
The only thing I could think about was what Fiona would do when she found out.
My secret had finally come to light and there was no hiding it now.
A small pair of blue eyes peeked out from behind Dakota’s skirt, wild and unblinking.
They were identical to mine.
With a deep breath, I finally said, loud enough for the whole room to hear, “Yes, it is true.”