Chapter 114

I have lived in many cages. Some with iron bars. Some made of illusions, some built from my own hope, crumbling when I realized no one was coming to save me.

I thought I had finally escaped. That with Lucas, I had built something real. But it was all another illusion, another carefully constructed lie.

Now, I stand on the edge of another choice-run, as I always have, or turn around and face the ghosts I spent my life running from. My mother, my aunt… they claim they have answers. But why should I believe them? Why should I listen?

Because of the baby. Because of the life inside me, the only thing that is still mine.

I have no choice but to turn back.

I walk into Matthew's pack house again. My mom is standing over Matthew, reciting incantations to try to heal his burn wounds. When they see me, everyone stops.

"I only came because I want to know the truth. It's the only way to protect my baby.''

The quiet part I hadn't said out loud was why. Because I was all alone now. Lucas kicked me out, I had no one but my child. The world was cruel to me, I needed to make sure it wouldn't be cruel to my child.

"Come, sit.'' Aunt Bella says, scooting over. I deliberately walk over and sit on the furthest spot on the sofa. She doesn't say a thing, they all gather around me. "To understand who you are, what your baby means, you need to understand how this all started. How we all came to be."

"Once, long ago, the moon goddess walked among us." My mother's eyes grow distant. "Not as a deity, but as a woman who loved deeply and tragically."

"Like a normal person?" I lean forward despite myself. All my life, I'd heard snippets about the goddess, but never the full story.

"Yes. And like many of us, she fell in love." My mother pauses, watching my reaction. "With a human."

The irony isn't lost on me. A goddess falling for a wolf, just as I, an omega, fell for a powerful Lycan.

"But the human became an evil man. Many believe that the human was pure until he was touched by the mon goddess. That humans can't handle such power, they're forced to confront their darkest desires. From their union came triplets." She sets down her cup, the china clinking softly. "Three children, each blessed with enormous power. But power..." She sighs. "Power changes people. Changes their hearts. It ofcouse didn't help that their human father later became a mad man that chose to flee from the goddess inorder to beat his murderous urges. But as for the kids, the damage was already done. The moon goddess knew that one of her children had inherited the darkness of their human father. That added to the power of a goddess breeds calamity."

I think of Lucas, of how his power as Alpha shaped him. Of how he fought against his nature every day.

"What happened to them? Who was it?" My voice comes out barely above a whisper.

"Each child's character shaped what they would become. The noble protector became the first witch, channeling their power into magic to help others." She looks at me meaningfully. "The submissive one, always seeking peace, became the first werewolf."

"And the third?" I already know the answer, but I need to hear it.

"The third child chose darkness. Became the first Lycan. Power corrupted her completely. She believed she deserved more than her siblings. More than her mother."

"What did she do?"

"She killed the goddess." My mother's voice breaks. "Her own mother, slaughtered for power."

I feel sick.

"The siblings changed after that. The peaceful wolf found rage. The noble witch sought revenge. And the Lycan?" My mother laughs bitterly. "She lived in fear of her siblings' retribution."

"But that's not the end, is it?" I press, sensing there's more.

"No. As generations passed, each species inherited their ancestor's nature. Lycans carried darkness, craving power and bloodshed. Wolves remained humble, rising only when pushed too far. And witches… We kept to ourselves, wielding magic directly while wolves and Lycans only had the power to shift."

I think of all the stories I'd heard about Lycans. About their brutality, their darkness. About Lucas fighting his nature every day.

"The Lycan sibling became obsessed," my mother continues. "She believed killing her mother's children would complete some ancient ritual, transferring all power to the Lycans alone."

"Is that why witches went into hiding? Why they abandoned the wolves when they begged for help?"

My mother's face falls. "We were afraid. A thousand years passed, and still, we hid. Until Darian was born."

Lucas's father. The tyrant king.

"But there was hope," she says quickly, seeing my expression. "The goddess's spirit chose to speak to a young wolf named Amaris."

I freeze. "Amaris? But I thought..."

"No. Amaris wasn't a witch." My mother leans forward. "She was a simple wolf, chosen by the goddess herself to be high priestess. When the goddess tried to stop the war between her children, she sent Amaris."

"But Darian killed her." The words come out flat. I'd heard this part before.

"Yes. And in her final moments, the goddess offered Amaris anything she wished." My mother's eyes lock with mine. "Instead of asking for her life back, Amaris wished for Darian's worst nightmare."

I sit back, my mind racing. I remembered the story from my memories, but I didn't know so much about the origin of our goddess. All this time, I'd thought Amaris was my past life as some powerful witch. But she was just a wolf, chosen by the goddess. Like me?

My hands drift to my stomach. It's a habit now, something I do when I'm overwhelmed. But this time, something is different.

A small flutter. A shift.

My breath catches.

My baby moved.

It should be a happy moment, something I should celebrate. But my mother and Aunt Bella are watching me closely.

"You felt it, didn't you?" Aunt Bella says.

I nod slowly.

"That's only the beginning."