Chapter 56

But by then it was too late. He was gone. He took his last breath.

“Ryleigh, I need your help,” Alizac said.

I looked down once more to see him and the last tear he shed. I closed his eyes and laid him perfectly on the ground. The adrenaline had come back. I was pissed and sick and tired of being hurt! I walked over to Alizac and threw the humans off him. I caught a glimpse of him to realize he was crying. That was his brother. I didn’t care who I killed anymore.

“STOP!” We all stopped in our tracks, confused.

“This is not how we handle things.” We looked over to see two women walking towards us. I looked at Alizac and back at them. One of the women raised her hands which disarmed the humans from attacking.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“My name is Vanessa. I am the Ancient Luna. This Athena Sadar, Moon Goddess,” she said. With that, they fell to their knees to respect the Goddess. But me? I had no respect.

“Ryleigh, what are you doing?” Alizac said.

“I have nothing left to lose. Two dead mates. Dead pack members and now you want to show up!?” I yelled out.

“You could’ve come any minute and you choose now! THIS COULD’VE BEEN STOPPED A LONG TIME AGO!” I was furious yet they both just stared at me.

“Ryleigh, I don’t know the outcome to one’s life. I pair those up because it is written in the stars. Our souls live forever, and those souls will always match up. Except in some cases. I am sorry to hear about your mates and your pack,” Athena said.

But I just wasn’t convinced. I needed someone to hate.

“EVERYONE WILL RETURN BACK TO THEIR PACKS AND LEAVE THE HUMAN GROUNDS!” Vanessa had ordered.

They listened without a second thought.

But not me, I stayed.

“I lost everything, and you both come in demanding and making choices. You should’ve come sooner because we lost so much today!” I continued.

“We came as soon as we heard,” Vanessa said.

“Don’t insult me. I just watched my mate die a few weeks after my second mate died. So don’t you dare stand there and make me the martyr.” I walked past them, but I was stopped.

“We are not done talking,” Vanessa continued.

“You did lose a lot and I apologize even though I can see what’s happening. I can’t stop it. You can mess with the timeline of life without disrupting everywhere else. They were going to die as is because their story was written, and they’ve fulfilled their purpose,” she continued.

“Bullshit! They died saving me! I’d rather be dead than to think that was their shitty purpose. Bring him back to life!” She shook her head in disappointment.

“We have other plans for you. You’ve proven your loyalty to others and for that, you’ve made the Gods proud, but kind of mad, which is exactly what we need in a queen.”

I looked at her astonished. There was only one king, and he was…

“Alizac,” I whispered.

“You’ve been chosen to replace the current mate and become the Queen our people deserve. I am an Ancient Luna, and I am Queen of all werewolves, but I am an elder. You’ve been chosen, which is why your mates had to die. It was going to be Alizac all along.”

I covered my mouth unsure of what to say anymore. I was beyond broken.

“Remember when I told you mates come from a long line of souls that belonged together. It is never perfect, but you two were paired for as long as we can remember. You only end up with who you’re destined to be with, which is why Alpha Anthony and Beta Jax died.”

“Now return back to the pack while we clean up this mess you’ve made. I’ll be back to connect the pieces once again.” Athena had said.

This time I didn’t defy them. I made my way back to the pack but took the long way on my feet before I returned to the palace. Everyone from different packs was there but I paid no mind to them. I walked in knowing I couldn’t let my kids see me like this. They were still so innocent. I made my way into a shower and started to wash all the dirt and blood that clung to my skin. The door opened.

“Sorry Ryleigh, I didn’t expect you to be in here.” I looked at him as I sat on his shower floor.

“I don’t care, come in.” He hesitated and hoped in the shower with me to wash off.

“Are you okay?” He asked. But I just kind of sat there naked with my head back. I think he got the hint when he went back to his shower.

“The Moon Goddess told me it was you I was supposed to be with, in the end.” He looked down at me confused.

“Which I find ridiculous because I have kids and you don’t want kids. All we ever did was fight.” I continued.

“Ryleigh, when I told you I didn’t want kids I meant it. I only meant it because I wouldn’t have been a great father. It didn’t mean I wasn’t open to it but 8 years ago it was so brand new that I didn’t want to think about it. But you already have kids and that's kind of a different story.”

He rested his arm on the wall and stared at me.

“I never told you but the first time I met you, you knew that you were my second chance. I didn’t want you to be because you’re too pure to be with someone like me. I did what I do best. Sabotage.”