Chapter 119 — What living means

GINA’S POV.

I found myself in a field, lying as I gazed at the skies. I wasn't sure where I was, but it felt and looked like paradise. The moon’s gaze met and I felt a sense of serenity.

A hand suddenly caught my attention as it reached out to me. Without hesitating, I took it and I was pulled off the ground. As I stood on my feet, my breath hitched when Praya stood in front of me.

My heart warmed as I pulled her into an embrace.

“I missed you so much. I’m here now,” I whispered into her neck, breathing in her scent.

She was real because I could feel every part of her; from the beating of her heart and the warmth radiating from her body. When I looked in front of me, my mother was standing there, waiting, with a genuine smile on her face.

We pulled away from our embrace and Praya held my hand, guiding me further into paradise as she spoke, “Now we can be together.”

I followed, my heart radiating with joy. When I reached my mother, I wrapped my arms around her and sank my face into the curve of her neck. Joy surged through me and I was more than happy to be here, yet, something tugged at my heart. Being here with my family was all I could ever ask for, yet I felt like I was leaving something behind, and it drilled an empty void in my heart.

What was it?

“Let’s go home,” my mother said, as she held my other hand, guiding me to follow. But I couldn’t move, as my feet remained fixed to the ground. They turned to look at me, with concerned expressions on their faces.

“What’s wrong?” Praya asked in a soft tone.

“I’m not ready. I’m not supposed to leave like this,” I paused as tears streamed out of my eyes. I wiped away the tears from my eyes but they didn't stop falling. I didn’t know why I was crying, but I couldn’t control it, “I’m leaving something behind. It’s not my time yet.”

They both looked at themselves in understanding, then turned back to me.

They left my hands.

“Then go,” my mother said, “Go back.”

“When the time is right, we’ll always be here waiting,” Pray added.

Something surged into my heart, and I threw my hands around them, as I placed a kiss on their cheeks.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

They nodded and I turned around, and then I started to run. I didn’t know where I was running to or why I was running but I kept moving forward without looking back. I felt alive as the wind whipped through me, my heart pounding as I raced. The paradise seemed endless, but that didn't stop me.

I stopped abruptly when a woman stood in front of me.

She wore no clothes, had beautiful alabaster skin that glowed like the moon, and long white hair that moved around her like she was submerged in water. She was breathtaking, and surreal, and had to be the most beautiful person I had ever seen.

“Take my hand, Gina,” she said without moving her mouth and I realized she had spoken in my mind. Her voice was soothing, caressing the walls of my mind like a melody. Without hesitation, I placed her hands in mine and she smiled.

“You worked so hard and sacrificed so much for love, and I'm proud of you,” her words brought comfort to my soul, “You deserve to live a long life filled with happiness and joy, and that is my reward to you, my bravest soldier.”

She leaned in and placed a kiss on my forehead, and my heart swelled. I couldn’t speak as I wallowed in her fervent love; similar to a mother’s affection for her child.

”You've earned it.”

A burst of light suddenly filled my vision, and everything faded away until darkness settled.

As I opened my eyes, my gaze adjusted around me, trying to understand where I was. When my eyes caught what was in front of me, my heart leaped to my throat.

Devyn was slumped in a chair, his eyes closed as he held a silver blade raised over his heart.

‘No!’ I yelled and his eyes suddenly flew open.

I watched as confusion swirled in his eyes, and then watched as they widened in realization. He didn't move, almost like he was frozen. I pushed myself off the bed and when I got to the ground, I realized how entirely different I felt.

I looked down at my legs and shock surged through me. Instead of my legs, limbs stood, coated in white fur.

Realization dawned on me.

Devyn approached me carefully, looking at me like he was seeing the wildest thing ever.

The miserable look on his face made my heart sink. I didn't even think of how my death had affected him.

“Gina?” the vulnerability made my heart shatter, “Is that really you?”

I nodded my head, and couldn't hold back my excitement and joy as I felt my tail wag. When I was close enough, he rubbed his hand on my mane, and I purred.

“You came back.” He dug his face into the neck and I felt tears streaming down my eyes. “But how? You died.” He pulled back to look at me, “And now you're a wolf.”

At that moment, I realized who the woman I met was, ‘The goddess… she gave me a second chance, and I think she made me a werewolf,” I said to him in his mind.

His eyes widened in surprise, “You’re here, alive, and that's all that matters.”

I imagined what would have happened if I had come back a minute later. A shudder ran through me as I shook the thoughts away, ‘I’ll never leave you again. I promise,’ and I meant it.

He rubbed his head against mine as he whispered, “I promise to protect you this time.”

“Do you want to shift back? I can guide you.”

‘No, not yet. I want to enjoy this moment with you.’

He nodded and shifted into his wolf. He walked up to me, and and licked my face as he playfully nudged me with his large head.

‘Let’s go for a run,’ he said and I felt excitement course through me.

With that, we jumped out of the window and raced as fast as we could.

As my muscles tensed as I ran, feeling the wind rush through me, I thought I’d known what living was.

Now, running alongside Devyn, I realized I just started.