Inevitable Prophecy

“I believe you have questions longing to be answered,” he stated, and I confirmed from his eyes that he had long observed me in silence.

The dining room brought a feeling of normalcy that I didn’t expect from a wolf of prestige. Just like the hall where we had our greetings, the ambience felt homely.

After he caught me in my own thoughts about my worries, my eyes dropped to catch sight of a bowl of porridge before me.

When did he place a meal without me getting a whiff of its delectable smell?

I felt foolish and obvious from the lack of focus around my surroundings and the Seer called it out.

“Oh,” I said as I grabbed the spoon that was neatly placed next to the bowl. “Sorry, I have been rude, despite your hospitality.”

“Well, I don’t blame you for the confusion of all things that happened to you. For instance, you were forced to marry rather than become a devoted nun to your Church.”

“Yes, about that…” I gripped on my dress as I mentally brace myself to speak what came to my mind.

“Seer, am I truly Varick’s life mate?”

“Without a doubt, yes.” It was a straight answer.

There was no sign of concealing or anything between the lines that could help me find the answers to my uncertainties.

“Never in Lycan history shows any records of Hatiist supporters having their mates. After all, the Hatiist Church was looked down by the Moon Goddess herself.”

“Despite that, she has chosen you to be the current Alpha leader’s fated mate.” He sipped tea and placed it back into its saucer.

“The moon goddess knows that if the descendant of Skoll could change history, then it will. The prophecy doesn’t lie.” His chin leaned on his hands as he smiled. “We shouldn’t question the impossible, Luna.”

‘So, my happiness is being robbed, all for the sake of the prophecy?’ I thought and the aching pain in my heart throbbed from the realization and I noticed the sudden pain from my womb.

“Are you all right?”

I grimaced. “To be frank, it was a stinging pain, but it would subside.” And after that, it did, to my relief.

“Perhaps it was caused by the physical infliction.” He pulled back from his chair. Its wooden feet made a creaking noise as the Seer stood up.

“Allow me to provide you with some herbal ointment used by humans.” He walked straight to the overhead cupboard and tiptoed as soon as he opened them.

“I could sense that the infant is perfectly safe, but we can’t be too sure if there are any long-term problems.”

“A-And the alcohol? Will it hurt the baby?”

“As long as you don’t consume from now on, it won’t affect the pup’s development,” he explained while he was rummaging through the cabinet. It looked awkward the way he tiptoed with his whole body gave too much pressure on his toes so he could reach above.

I stood up. “Should I help you find a stool?”

“There’s no need to burden yourself. Aha! I found it!” He turned to me with a vial.

Purplish color that reminded me of bile was shoved in front of me. I could see the tiny bubbles rising from above and I suddenly felt nauseous just from the sight of it.

“You need to drink this.”

I felt like my skin lost its color. “Pardon?” My eyes blinked as I instinctively backed away. “I have to drink this? H-How often?”

“Just once and I assure you it works. Also, it helps you get better during your morning sickness.”

“Morning sickness?” I remembered the time in the bathroom that led me to faint right after.

If I had to choose to experience that once more and drink what reminded me of last night’s vomit…I would choose the latter.

I accepted the vial, pulled out its cover and—Oh, Hati! The stench was enough to give me a heart attack—and threw it all out to my mouth without a second of complaint.

At first, I gagged, and I had the urge to throw up from its powerful smell and flavor. But the Seer grabbed my chin and pushed it up.

“You have to swallow them all.”

With his help, I forced the liquid inside of my mouth until its last drop.

I gasped after he released me, and I held my stomach tight. All I felt was the pain inside my body as a tear gland fell at the corner of my eye.

“W-What is this?!” I screamed as I dropped to my knees.

“It’s a side-effect, you have to fight it!”

How could I when it was too painful? I dropped my body, and I was caught by the arms of the Seer.

“You will get better soon, trust me.”

Why did I have to endure this? In fact, pray tell why didn’t the Seer warn me after taking it all?!

With that, the excruciating pain subsided, and I was left catching my breath.

The Seer pulled my body up to his arms as he placed me on the chair where I sat earlier. He gave me a glass of water that was left untouched and I accepted willingly and drank the fresh water to my satisfaction.

After calming down, I turned to give him a flabbergasted look.

"The medicine was meant to cleanse any harmful effects to your infant. Even if there were no signs, it was a strong concoction for safe delivery."

"I h-hope I don't drink this again."

He smiled. "As long as you take good care of your body, then you have nothing to worry about."

Should I thank him after experiencing something so…vile and painful? I only give him a glance of acknowledgement and decide to…change the subject for my sanity’s sake.

"About Varick’s fate…”

His calm expression changed before he frowned. "Had the High Mage broken his vow to reveal the prophecy to you?"

I nodded. "But he meant it to make me aware of the future. I do hope you can keep it from my husband."

"I noticed during our brief conversation…do you not trust the words I spoke from the Moon Goddess herself?"

I immediately shook my head. "N-no. I do trust her words. But the thought of Varick's death is beyond me."

I recalled how he defeated the rogues, those murderers, with ease.

"I couldn't imagine anything or anyone could easily kill him."

"What if he had to sacrifice himself?"

I blinked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He stood up as he walked around the room as his long robes followed behind.

"I only heard words from the Moon Goddess, albeit briefly without further details."

"She quotes: 'Until such time when thy sons of the Moon wolf beseech for peace, the moon wolf shall be reborn to live and to slaughter anywhere in thy path.'

He turned to stare at the flower meadow outside the window as he continued.

'When thy exist with its flesh and wolf in thy grounds of the mortal world, the Moon Wolf's ancestor, unfortunately perishes after twenty four full moons.'

He turned to gaze at my shocked expression once more.

"These were the words given to me about the current Skollist Alpha's fate."

Now, the room became tense and I lowered my gaze.

"Varick accepted his inevitable death and only wished to save this pack."

I shook my head in disbelief. My lower lip trembled while I clenched my fist.

"That's not true."

The Seer raised his brow in a mild surprise. "So, you don't believe the words of the Moon Goddess?"

"I do! B-but…" I paused for a second.

And my eyes centered to show my determination, I said.

"However, I believe in Hati more than any prophecy."

"And he, the Sun God, shall be the one to save us all."