Chapter 47 The Book of Origins

Chapter 47 The Book of Origins
The return from their quiet week away felt… different. Peaceful on the surface—but beneath it, something stirred. Zoe carried it with her, the weight of the book, the letter and Morgana. For two days after they returned, Zoe kept to herself as much as she could. She fulfilled her duties as Luna, met with pack members, checked in with Angela and Joel, and ensured the pack was settling back into normalcy—but every free moment…

She was in her room, door locked, curtains drawn, the book opened in front of her; it was ancient, that much was undeniable. The pages were worn but untouched by time, ink still dark, symbols still sharp. Some parts were written in a language she didn’t recognise—but somehow…

She could understand it, not perfectly and not everything, but enough as it spoke of beginnings, of creation, of power and of her. Zoe’s breath would catch every time she turned a page. Stories of the Moon Goddess creating wolves, stories of balance between light and darkness and then, there was something else, buried deep in the book, a warning, a legend and about a being born not of one ... but of many. 

Zoe closed the book slowly, her mind raced, and he couldn’t keep this to herself any longer. The next morning, Zoe stood in her Luna office, the book rested on her desk, and the letter was beside it. Zack entered moments later, closing the door behind him. “You wanted to see me?” he asked. Zoe nodded.“Yeah… we need to talk.” Something in her tone made him pause.

Zoe stepped aside and gestured toward the desk “I need you to read this.” Zack frowned slightly, walking over. He picked up the letter first, his eyes scanned it twice, then his expression darkened, “What the hell is this?” Zoe crossed her arms slightly. “It was in our room the night of the ceremony.”Zack’s head snapped up. “You’re telling me this has been here this whole time?” “I didn’t want to jump to conclusions,” Zoe said carefully. “Not until I understood more.”

Zack exhaled sharply, then picked up the book. He turned it over in his hands, his brows furrowing.“This doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before.”

“It’s older than anything we know.” Zack flipped it open and scanned a few pages. His jaw tightened.“This isn’t normal history.”
“No,” Zoe said quietly. “It’s not.” Zack looked back at her. “This Morgana… She's real.”

Zoe nodded. “And she wants something.” Zack’s eyes darkened. “This ‘him’.”

“Yes.” Silence filled the room, then Zack closed the book. “We need help.” Zoe nodded immediately. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“There’s only one person who might know anything about this,” Zack said. “The High Priestess.” Zoe’s eyes flickered. “Yes.” The call was made within the hour, and the response came quickly.

Not over the phone, but through a message, instructions: Come to the Moon Goddess Temple, located within the Moon Light Pack. Sacred ground, neutral territory, it was an ancient pack and untouched. Zack and Zoe left that same day. The journey was quiet, and they were deep in thought.

As they approached the Moon Light Pack, the air itself felt different, lighter, older and more powerful. The temple stood at the centre of the territory—built from white stone that seemed to glow under the sunlight. Ivy climbed its walls, and water flowed gently through carved channels around it.

Zoe stepped forward slowly. “I’ve never felt anything like this before.” Zack nodded. “Neither have I.”They entered together. Inside, the air was cool and still, and candles lined the walls. Symbols of the Moon Goddess were carved into every surface, and at the centre—She stood, the High Priestess, tall and graceful, her silver robes shimmering softly as she turned toward them.

“I’ve been expecting you,” she said calmly. Zoe stepped forward. “You know why we’re here?” The Priestess’s gaze softened slightly. “Yes.” Zack placed the book and letter before her. “This was given to my mate,” he said. The Priestess examined them carefully, and her expression shifted almost instantly. Recognition, but also something deeper. She scowled, “This should not exist,” she whispered.

Zoe’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?” The Priestess looked at her. “Because this story was buried.”She gestured for them to follow her. “Come. You both need to understand.” They were led into a deeper chamber within the temple. At its centre was a circular platform, glowing faintly with moonlight—even though they were indoors.

The Priestess stepped onto it. “The Moon Goddess created the werewolves,” she began. “To protect balance.” Zoe listened carefully. “Witches were created alongside them and gifted with knowledge. Power. But unlike wolves… they were not bound by loyalty.” Zack crossed his arms slightly. “We were taught they were wiped out.”

“They were,” the Priestess said. “After they turned against the balance. After they began experimenting… creating things they should not have.” Zoe’s breath caught. “What things?” The Priestess looked at her. “Hybrids.” Silence. “Creatures born of multiple powers,” she continued. “Witch. Wolf. Vampire.”

Zack stiffened. “That’s not possible.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.” The Priestess’s gaze hardened. “But one… succeeded.” Zoe’s heart pounded.“One?” The Priestess nodded slowly. “The first hybrid.” The room felt colder. “He possessed the strength of wolves… the immortality of vampires… and the magic of witches.” Zoe swallowed. “What happened to him?” The Priestess turned to her fully.

“You did.” Zoe froze. “What?” The Priestess stepped closer. “In your previous life… long before this one… You were not just a wolf.” Zoe’s breath hitched. “You were chosen.”

“For what?” Zoe asked, “To stop him.” Zoe’s hands trembled slightly. “No…”

“You were stronger then,” the Priestess said softly. “Closer to the Moon Goddess than any other.”

Zoe shook her head. “I don’t remember any of this.”

“You wouldn’t,” the Priestess replied. “Your memory was erased.” Zack stepped forward. “Why?” The Priestess’s expression darkened. “Because of what you did.” Zoe’s heart raced. “What did I do?” The Priestess held her gaze. “You didn’t kill him.” Silence. “You couldn’t.” Zoe’s breath stopped. “So, you hid him.” The words echoed in the chamber.

“You sealed him away,” the Priestess continued. “Somewhere no one could find him.” Zoe stepped back slightly. “No…”
“You made the ultimate choice,” the Priestess said. “And then… You erased your own memory of it.”Zoe’s mind spun. “That’s not possible…”

“And yet,” the Priestess said quietly, “here we are.” Zoe looked down at the book, then at her hands, at everything she thought she knew.

“Morgana…” she whispered. The Priestess’s expression darkened. “She is not just a witch.” Zoe looked up. “Then what is she?” The Priestess’s voice dropped. “She is one of the last… and she remembers everything.” Zoe’s chest tightened. “She’s looking for him.”

“Yes.”

“And she thinks I know where he is.” The Priestess nodded.

“Because you do.” Zoe’s breath trembled. “I don’t remember anything.”

“You will,” the Priestess said softly. Zack stepped closer to Zoe, placing a steady hand on her back.“What happens if she finds him?” he asked. The Priestess didn’t hesitate. “Then everything ends.”Silence. Zoe’s heart pounded because now— She understood. This wasn’t just about her, this wasn’t just about the past, this was about the future and whatever she had hidden…was about to be found.