Chapter 179

Chapter 179
Ximena

The hours went by as I rendered the alphas powerless. I had just finished up with Dani, who still sat mute when Carmine walked in with my whole pack. My heart skipped a beat the minute I set my eyes on them.

“All hail Luna Ximena, all hail,” they chorused as they all bowed, acknowledging my reign as Luna.

Tears immediately streamed down my cheeks as everything happening in front of me occurred just like I'd always dreamt of. The same dream Ruby never understood; if only she were alive to see this, to see who the Luna Ximena I'd always dreamt of was.

I walked slowly in their direction, but all of a sudden… One minute I was taking steps towards them, and the next I couldn't see or feel my feet as everything suddenly went black.

I woke up minutes later in a magical world… Magical but not strange; I'd been here before countless times, and I thought I'd never get access here again. It was the afterlife.

I stood up from the ground, taking a deep breath of fresh air. For some reason, the air was different compared to the last time I was here and when I was attacked by those rogues Dad saved me from.

“Congratulations, Ximena,” a soft voice echoed, making me flinch as I turned in its direction.

In front of me stood… I paused for a while, looking around surprised at who I was staring at - myself. I was staring at Ximena, with a little boy holding her tightly by her side.

“Am… Am I dead?” I asked, my heart pounding loudly against my chest.

A light chuckle erupted from the shadows as two figures came out from nowhere in particular.

“No, my child, we’re congratulating you for waging the war and saving your people,” Dad's voice echoed in my ears.

“Dad?!” I exclaimed the minute I saw him, but this time he wasn't alone; Mom was standing right next to him with a smile on her face. “Mother,” I called out as glass-like tears streamed down my face, wrapping my hands around her and pulling her in for a hug.

“Oh, Ximena,” she said softly, tightening her grip around me. “I told you I'll always be with you.”

“I miss you so much, Mom,” I muttered with tears in my eyes.

“That's enough now, Ximena. You now have us at your disposal; we’ll always be here whenever you need us,” Dad said.

“What do you mean?” I asked, releasing my grip from Mom as I stared at him.

“When you killed your uncle and took my powers, you took a part of me that will always be with you and grant you access here whenever you'd like to see us,” he explained.

“Really?” I asked softly, but they only gave me a light nod.

“Yes, my child, you did it!!” He said, placing a light kiss on my forehead. “My blessings are with you and your little one,” he added.

“Little one?” I asked with creased brows, my eyes darting back and forth from my mom to Dad, to myself, who still stood at the far end with the little boy of about one year, and then back to my Dad.

“You're pregnant, Ximena,” Mom blurted out.

“What?!” I exclaimed softly, turning my gaze to her.

“It's true, my child. You are carrying a very powerful seed inside you, Ximena. A descendant not just from the moon, but a child birthed directly from the scroll. The baby you're carrying is more than a hybrid, Ximena,” he explained.

I just stood there frozen as I stared at them with widened eyes and parted lips. “What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means that until this child comes of age, there are still going to be all kinds of enemies, not just from your world or the witch world. His or her scent is going to draw different kinds of creatures to your world, so you’ll have to guard it with everything you've got,” he explained.

“And I'm supposed to do this for the next nine months?” I asked as panic set in.

“It may not even take that long, Ximena. Usually, pups like this are born earlier than usual; you stayed for only six months inside me before you were born,” my mom chimed.

“Listen to me, Ximena; you still have one last assignment to do,” Dad said.

“What's that?” I asked.

“You have to build a large and undefeatable army, an army of people you know you can trust,” he said.

“And how am I supposed to do that?” I retorted.

“Follow your heart, Ximena. Also, reunite the two worlds of witches and werewolves, produce more hybrids like yourself… And train them in the way of the scroll. Teach them the importance of trust so when the time comes, you and your pack would be undefeatable,” he said. “You've done a really great job, but you have to buckle up, especially now that you're growing a unique seed inside of you. Your child is going to be the leader of the pack of hybrids,” he added.

“Okay, Father,” I replied.

“You can do this, Ximena. Don't forget we are just a sleep away whenever you need us,” Mom added, and with that, they disappeared into thin air.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a blurred figure sitting in front of me, staring down at me.

“Oh thank God, Ximena, you're awake,” Carmine's voice echoed in my ears as he tried to pick me up, making me sit upright.

“Ouch,” I groaned, clutching my hands to my head.

“Easy, Ximena, easy,” he said. “Here,” he added, stretching a cup of tea towards me. “The healer said you'd love this. She's from your pack,” he explained.

I took a sip from it as I gulped it down. But the moment the tea clashed with my tongue, I widened my eyes in shock. “Who's this healer? Can I see her?” I asked softly.

“Why? Is there something wrong with it?” he asked with creased brows.

“No… Not at all, it's just that it tastes so much like my mom's,” I replied.

“Oh,” he replied. “Alright then,” he added, gesturing to one of the soldiers to go bring the healer.

Speaking of soldiers, “Why are there so many soldiers in the room?” I asked.

“Uhm…. It's for extra protection, Ximena. I just found out now that…” he tried to speak.

“That I'm pregnant?” I cut in sharply.

He paused for a while, staring at me in disbelief. “Yes… How… How do you…” he stuttered.

“I traveled to the afterlife. Mom told me,” I announced.

“You saw Ma’am Lia?” he asked with widened eyes. “How's she? Is she okay?” he asked eagerly.

“Yes, Carmine, she's doing fine. She's with Dad now,” I replied with a smile.

“Oh, that's good,” he replied softly with a smile.

“But she did say something, though,” I continued.

“Which is?” he asked.

“That my child is going to be more than a hybrid and that I should guard it with all I've got,” I replied.

“I'm already on that,” he blurted out sternly. “If you want, I can increase the number of guards protecting you, and…” he continued.

“No, Carmine, it's fine,” I said, letting out a light chuckle. “I'm fine, but I do need to see Rogan and Carly, including you… I think you all are the only trustworthy army I have right now, until my child is born,” I said.

“Consider it done,” he replied.

Just then the door flung open, revealing an old lady as she walked inside the chamber. “Are you the healer?” I asked, but she only replied with a nod.

“Luna Ximena,” she greeted, bowing her head lightly.

“How did you know how to make that tea?” I asked.

She smiled lightly as she rose. “I was one of your mom’s trusted betas during my youthful days just before you were born. She loved making this tea for herself a lot, and I'd never leave her side. I only went out for an assignment when Vincenzo attacked and took her away from me. I've never been able to forgive myself ever since. I'm not sure I got the taste right, though. But please don't stop me from making this, Luna,” she said, keeping her gaze to the ground.

“Rise, Beta, rise,” I said, but she kept staring at the floor. “Look at me,” I retorted, making her raise her gaze upwards. “There's no need to be scared; I loved the tea. And yes, you can continue making it for me; it helped a lot,” I replied, making her curl her lips in a smile as she stared at me, her eyes lighting up in excitement.

“Thank you so much, Luna… May your reign be great!!” she exclaimed.

“It's fine,” I replied. Just then the door flung open, revealing Carly and Rogan as they rushed towards me, pulling me in for a hug. “Ximena,” they called in unison with trembling voices.