"How did you end up in his car?!"
The moment I stepped into Kate's house, questions came flying like arrows.
"Why did he ask you to get in?!"
"He dragged you?!"
"The audacity just because he's the Alpha he thinks he can treat you however he wants?!"
Kate threw a deadly glare at her mate.
"Zaki talk to your dear friend right now before I tell everyone the truth."
"Hey no!" I panicked instantly. "It's not that serious. That's not why I'm here. I actually came to tell you both… I'll be leaving. To the human lands."
All noise stopped.
"It's safer there. No discrimination. No one cares about ranks or titles. I'll actually be accepted… not treated like a weakling."
Silence.
Kate didn't speak she just stared at me with glassy eyes… then suddenly hugged me tight.
"I'm going to miss you so much," she said softly, her voice muffled against my shoulder.
I forced a smile. "I'm sorry. I just… can't stay here anymore."
"I know. It just hurts that you have to leave… because of him." Her voice cracked.
And just like that I started crying too.
"I'll come back to visit," I promised.
If only I knew that was the last time I'd ever see her…
I would never have said such naïve words.
We talked for hours until the pain eased a little. I finally left her house when it was close to nightfall.
On my way home I ran into my worst nightmare.
Clara.
Elegant as ever her presence alone made her omega maids tremble behind her. Poor girls. I almost pitied them.
She stared at me with pure hatred. I turned to walk away — not in the mood but she suddenly yanked my hair backward.
Pain exploded through my skull.
Before I could react, she slammed my head into the wall. My vision blurred warm blood trickled down my forehead.
Clara hated it when her victim didn't scream so she hit me harder.
"HOW DARE YOU SIT IN THE LUNA'S SEAT!?" she screamed.
"Luna seat?" I breathed out.
"I could smell your disgusting vanilla scent on Levi's front passenger seat!"
"Oh, that," I said calmly, despite the pain. I even chuckled. "But I didn't see any label on it."
"W–what do you mean?" she snapped.
"I mean I didn't see where it was written: 'LUNA'S SEAT.'" I said slowly, staring her dead in the eye. "You're paranoid because you know you're not his fated mate. Let me guess he hasn't completed the marking? You haven't even mated yet. And you're out here claiming the Luna crown like you're something special."
Her face twisted with rage.
I turned to leave but she pointed at her omega maids.
"Beat her. Now."
They obeyed.
What happened next… I can barely describe.
I was beaten mercilessly to the point I couldn't stand my eyes swollen shut, lip split, ribs screaming with pain.
I couldn't even go home.
To say I wasn't heartbroken…
would be the biggest lie.
I couldn't go home like this Micha would use it as another excuse to end his friendship with Levi. I didn't want that. Dad wouldn't like it either.
I couldn't go to Kate's house, and I had nowhere else to go. The woods were my only option. I didn't have a choice I couldn't even transform, and every part of my body ached. The woods weren't safe, I knew that. They were dangerous.
But Micha and I had our secret spot there a hidden place no one else knew about.
Tall trees surrounded the clearing, fireflies flickered softly, and the moon shone bright above. I collapsed onto the ground, groaning from the pain.
A tear slipped down my cheek.
The only reason she dared to treat me like a slave was because I was weak. If I hadn't been rejected, she wouldn't have even tried. If only I were stronger... stronger than her.
A strange desperation filled me. All I could think about was making Clara kneel making her feel what I felt.
As I lay beneath the moonlight, lost in my thoughts, the air suddenly grew heavy.
The wind died.
From the darkness, a figure emerged tall, pale, ancient. Her crimson eyes glowed like dying embers.
"W–Who are you?" I stammered.
She smiled faintly. "Someone who can give you what you crave... power."
I froze, torn between fear and temptation. "What do you want from me?"
"Only your trust," she whispered. "Come with me to my realm a place far beyond this world. There, you will never be weak again."
Before I could move, reality shattered. A surge of energy wrapped around me, pulling me into a spiraling void of darkness.
My scream never escaped.
My soul was ripped from my body and when I opened my eyes again, I was standing in another world.
A world unlike anything I'd ever seen.
The skies shimmered crimson and gold . Black castles floated above glowing rivers. Armoured beings with sliver eyes bowed as I passed.
And then , one of the a towering figure clad in obsidian armour
Stepped forward and knelt before me.
"Queen Erin" he said solemnly his voice echoing like Thunder. " We are so glad to have you back. Forgive us for failing to protect you during the great war that happened decades ago".
I blinked in confusion, "I_ I think you're mistaken. My name is Michelle, not Erin. I'm not your Queen".
The stranger who brought me here frowned and said , " you have to stop calling your self that , do you want to continue being the weak Michelle, who relied on her brother's position, someone who couldn't protect herself, you're more than that now , your Queen Erin , the one who fought for us".
She was right I have to stop calling my self Michelle, I was just a bit confused, the one who fought for us ? How .
The creature _ the Goldren as the others called him looked up , eyes gleaming with reverence.
"No, my queen," he said softly, " No matter form you take , we will always recognise you . You are Erin our creator, our goddess. We exist because of you."
My breath caught.
Creator? Goddess?