ZORA'S POV
The impact of the revelation hit me like thunder. Priestess? Abandon my right to the throne, give up the possibility of having heirs, renounce the predestined bond? A flood of questions invaded my mind, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
A mixture of disbelief and shock struck me hard. “A priestess? But... father, does that mean I would have to give up my right to the throne? I couldn't have heirs, not even a predestined wolf!”
Garnet nodded seriously. “Yes, Zora. That is the fate the Goddess desires for you. But don't worry about the throne. You couldn't assume it anyway; only your husband, and who knows who that might be, could be a weak wolf, and then maybe, looking from that angle, the Goddess is sparing us from that burden.”
A knot formed in my throat. “And what if I don't want to follow this path? What if I want to keep my right to the throne, have a family, and lead the pack with my predestined wolf?”
Garnet narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening. “Do not dare to question the will of the Moon Goddess. She is being benevolent, despite the circumstances.”
Rebellious, I couldn't contain my anger. “Benevolent? It was you and Ignis who caused all this, and you expect me to accept this imposed fate as if it were a blessing!”
Garnet raised his hand in a threatening gesture. “What did Ignis tell you?”
I looked at him disdainfully. “Ignis told the truth, father. How you claimed the Alfa King throne and how it was a farce for you to be the Alfa King. You don't deserve to lead our pack, in fact, none of them.”
Garnet's hand rose toward my face, but I stepped back, not allowing him to silence me. “Do not dare to speak to me like that, Zora.”
“I will not become a priestess,” I declared firmly.
My skin burned with the mark of his touch, but my determination remained unshaken. “I will not be a puppet of the Goddess or of you, father.”
I turned towards the exit, determined not to accept a destiny that was not mine by choice. Garnet, however, ordered me to stop. “You are not free to leave, Zora.”
I faced him defiantly, my eyes reflecting my rebellion. “What will you do if I leave, father? Kill me? So far, I am your only heir, and so it will be until the end.”
Garnet kept his gaze steady, a palpable tension in the air. “Do you think you can simply abandon your destiny? The Moon Goddess guided me in the choice we now face. You are the key to the stability of the pack.”
I scoffed. “Stability? This sounds more like an excuse to keep me under your control. I will not become a priestess, an offering to the Goddess!”
Garnet took a deep breath, clearly containing his anger. “Zora, you do not understand the importance of this. Refusing to follow the path designated by the Moon Goddess will only bring disaster to us all.”
Defiant, I crossed my arms in front of me. “The Goddess should not dictate my destiny. I choose my own journey, Father, even if it means going against divine will.”
Garnet stared at me, his eyes issuing a silent warning. “Do not underestimate the consequences of your choices, Zora. The balance we maintain is fragile, and you, as a priestess, could strengthen it.”
I laughed ironically. “I prefer to face the consequences than live a life that is not mine. Goodbye, Father.”
I walked towards the door, determined to forge my own path, even if it meant challenging not only my father but the will of the Moon Goddess herself.
---
The party was still lively as I walked with fury in my eyes and my face marked by Garnet's slap. My white dress contrasted with the anger emanating from me. Pack members watched, surprised, as I passed determinedly.
Ignis, was always attentive, approached, and concern reflected in her eyes. “What happened, Zora?”
I stared at Ignis intensely and replied, determined, “Meet you at the river.”
My words sounded like a sentence, and before Ignis could react, I continued my way out of the party.
As soon as I reached the privacy of the forest, I tore the white dress that symbolized the submission they tried to impose on me. The transformation came naturally, and in moments, I was a red-furred wolf, running through the night as an expression of freedom.
Amidst the run, I promised myself that from that moment on, I would be the forger of my own destiny. The full moon illuminated my path to the river, where I intended to confront the Goddess who supposedly orchestrated my fate.
Arriving at the riverbank, I faced the Moon with eyes sparkling with anger. “I was right all along, wasn't I? You hate me.” My words sounded more like a challenge than a simple realization.
That's when I heard Ignis's steps approaching. She stopped by my side, looking at me with concern. “Zora, what's happening? Why did Garnet slap you?”
I sighed, letting out the frustration I carried. “He communicated something that the Moon Goddess 'desired' for me. To become a priestess.”
Ignis, with a sorrowful expression, tried to comfort me. “I'm sorry, Zora. Perhaps it's the best fate for you.”
My patience ran out, and I confronted Ignis. “Get into the river, consult the Goddess, and tell me if this is true.” My words were challenging, reflecting my disbelief in Garnet's words.
Ignis hesitated, looking at me with concern. “Why doubt, Zora? Your father, the Alfa King Garnet, communicated what the Goddess desires. It might be divine will.”
I stared at Ignis firmly. “I don't believe what my father said. I want to know the truth and what will happen to me if I refuse to be a priestess.”
Ignis sighed, aware of the gravity of the situation. “It's not that simple. The Goddess usually sends information about pack-related matters. But I don't know if she will answer a simple inquiry.”
I ordered impatiently, “Do it, Ignis. I need to know the truth.”
Ignis hesitated for a moment, but, yielding to my demand, she removed her black dress and entered the water. The Moon reflected in her worried features as she submerged.
The water murmured softly, as if nature itself were attentive to the conversation between two creatures linked by destiny. Ignis, now in the water, lifted her eyes in my direction, indicating that she was ready to connect with the Goddess.
The wait felt endless, but finally, Ignis spoke. “The Goddess confirms, Zora. The priestess is the destiny she desires for you.”
My expression hardened, and anger burned within me. “And what if I refuse?” I asked, defiant.
Ignis looked at me with sadness. “It's not that simple, Zora. The Goddess did not reveal the consequences of a refusal, but she usually guides them on important matters for the pack. Her answers are enigmatic. She speaks of balance and intertwined destinies but is not clear about your fate if you refuse to be a priestess.”
My determination did not waver. “Then I will seek my own answers.”
Ignis tried to argue, but I was already decided. I transformed back into a wolf and ran away from the river, leaving behind the uncertainty of the night and entering the forest in search of the truth that would shape my destiny.