Rejected At The Altar, Claimed By The Lycan King

12

Zara's POV

I fell into darkness.

Not the darkness of sleep but something deeper and older. Something that pulled me down like a riptide, dragging me away from the surface of consciousness.

I tried to fight it, trying to wake up but the darkness was too strong and then I was somewhere else

I stood in a garden.

The flowers were silver, glowing faintly in the moonlight and the trees were ancient, their branches reaching toward the sky like grasping hands.

A fountain bubbled in the center its water shimmering with an ethereal light.

I looked down at my hands.

They were smaller, younger like a child's hands and I wasn't me.

I was someone else.

I was in her body seeing through her eyes and living her memories.

Athena.

The name came to me like a whisper on the wind.

I tried to speak but the voice that came out wasn't mine.

"Father! Father look!"

I was running now.

Small feet pounding against the grass.

I—she—was wearing a silver dress that sparkled in the moonlight. Her hair was long and dark, flowing behind her like a cape.

A man stood at the edge of the garden. He was tall broad-shouldered with kind eyes and a warm smile. His hair was silver-streaked and his face lined with age and wisdom.

King Alaric.

Athena's father.

He laughed as she—I—crashed into his legs. "Slow down little one or you’ll trip."

"Look what I found!" Athena held up her hand. In her palm was a tiny flower, glowing with soft silver light. "It's a moonbloom they only grow in the sacred gardens."

Alaric knelt down his eyes soft. "So they do." He gently touched the flower. "Do you know what that means?"

Athena shook her head.

"It means the Moon Goddess has blessed you. Only those with pure blood can see the moonblooms." He smiled. "You're special, Athena more special than you know."

Athena beamed. "Like you?"

"Even more special than me." He lifted her into his arms. "You're the future of our kingdom and the hope of our people."

"What does that mean?"

“You’ll understand when you grow up."

Athena wrapped her arms around his neck. "Okay ."

"I love you little one more than the moon and the stars and all the worlds beyond."

And then the scene shifted again

I was older now. I was standing in a grand hall with marble columns, crystal chandeliers and tapestries woven with silver thread.

A woman stood beside me. She was beautiful, with dark hair and kind eyes and her dress was royal blue embroidered with silver crescent moons.

Queen Lyanna.

Athena's mother.

"Hold still," Lyanna said adjusting the crown on Athena's head. "You're fidgeting."

"I'm nervous," Athena admitted. "There are so many people."

"You're a queen Athena, It's natural to be nervous but you must learn to hide it." Lyanna stepped back appraising her daughter. "You look beautiful."

"I look like I'm going to be sick."

Lyanna laughed a warm musical sound. "That's exactly how I felt at my first court. Your father had to hold my hand the entire time."

"Father held your hand?"

"He did and I squeezed it so hard I left bruises." Lyanna smiled. "He never complained."

Athena laughed. "That sounds like him."

"He would do anything for you for both of us." Lyanna's eyes grew serious. "That's why you need to be strong just like him after all you’re his heir and legacy. You carry the hopes of our people."

"I know."

"Your power is growing I can feel it." Lyanna touched Athena's cheek. "One day it will be the greatest gift our kingdom has ever known."

Athena's eyes widened. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so." Lyanna smiled. "Let’s get going we’re running late”

The scene shifted again I was older now, a young woman sitting on a balcony staring at the stars.

Footsteps behind me I didn't turn.

I knew who it was.

"Can't sleep?"

Athena shook her head. "There's too much on my mind."

King Alaric sat beside her. "Tell me."

"I'm scared Father, the war is coming and I can feel it day by day." Athena's voice was small. "What if I'm not strong enough? What if I fail?"

Alaric put his arm around her. "You won't fail."

"You don't know that."

"I do." He was quiet for a moment. "Do you know why the Moon Goddess chose our bloodline?"

Athena shook her head.

"Because we never give up. We never surrender and no matter how dark the night we keep fighting." He squeezed her shoulder. "You have that same fire in you I've seen it since from the day you were born"

"But what if I fall?"

"Then we keep fighting."

Athena leaned into him. "I don't want to lose you or Mother or anyone."

"You won't." His voice was soft. "I promise."

"But you can't promise that."

Alaric was silent for a long moment. "No I can't but I can promise you this: no matter what happens I'll always love you and I'll always be proud of you."

Athena's eyes filled with tears. "I love you Father."

"I love you too my little moon."

---

The scene shifted again.

I was in a throne room but it was different. Darker and chaotic.People were screaming, running and dying.

Fire consumed the tapestries as the silver light of the Moon Kingdom was fading

And there was the Shadow Lord. Massive, terrifying, all-consuming. His eyes were pits of nothingness and his voice was the sound of a thousand screams.

Athena stood before him her silver crown glowing with her hands raised and power surging.

"Father!" she screamed. "Mother! Run!"

But they didn't run instead they stood behind her

"We stay with you," Alaric said. "We die together."

"No!" Athena turned. "You can't—"

"It's already done Athena." Lyanna smiled even as tears streamed down her face. "We love you. We always have and we always will."

"No—"

"Seal him away." Alaric's voice was firm. "Save our people and when you come back, when you return to us—"

"I won't come back. I won't be me anymore."

"Doesn't matter." He stepped closer. "You'll always be our daughter no matter what body you're in you’ll always be ours."

Athena's power surged causing the silver light exploded outward. Alaric and Lyanna were consumed

"NO!" Athena screamed. "NO!"

I woke screaming.

The sound tore from my throat raw and desperate. I sat bolt upright with my hands clawing at the sheet.

My heart was racing with my body drenched in sweat.

"Zara!"