LUNA ASHLEY

The Shaman’s Prophecy

“He will be thirty next week, for God’s sake!”

Matthew exclaimed,slamming his hand on the office table. His wife, Kate, stood up from the couch by the window and walked over to him. She sat on his lap and rested her head on his shoulder.

“That’s not what I meant,” she said softly.

“Remember what the shaman said then? That the next Luna is in this pack…?

Matthew cut her off, his frustration growing. “So? Why haven’t they found each other yet?”

Kate stood up, unsure of how to respond. She walked over to the chair facing Matthew’s and zoned out,her mind racing.

“Who were you talking to ?” Matthew asked, staring at his wife. “ Is what I’m saying not important?” His wolf was stirring,trying to take over.

“Of course, it is important, my love,” Kate said , trying to calm him down . “ He’s my son too. I was talking to the beta to call the shaman.” Since they couldn’t mind-link the shaman , Kate had to rely on other means of communication.

Matthew took a deep breath, calming his wolf. He sighed, feeling defeated. Just then , they heard a knock at the door.

“Please come in,” Matthew said, looking expectantly at the door.

An old woman with a hunchback walked in, leaning on her walking stick. “ Alpha , Luna , good afternoon. You called for me ?” She asked, bowing her head.

“Yes old one,” Matthew said. “I sent for you. I remember the last time we talked , you said Titus’s mate is in this pack…right? “He leaned forward, his eyes fixed intently on the old woman.

“The gods never lie,”Evelyn replied,her voice shaking.

Matthew’s frustration boiled over. “So what’s going on ? It’s been over two years already!”

Evelyn’s expression was serene. “As I said before,she’s in this pack, and they should have found each other by now. Finding each other is not in my power; I only deliver the gods’ messages . How they will cross paths…that’s left to the gods.”

Matthew sighed in defeat , feeling like he was missing something. Kate stood up, walking over to Evelyn.

“Let me see you out,” Kate said , her voice dripping with sweetness.

As the walked out of the pack house,the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. Kate and Evelyn walked in silence for a moment before Evelyn stopped suddenly and turned to Kate.

“You can say what you want to say now,” Evelyn said, her eyes glinting with knowing. “We’ve left the pack house, and there’s no one around us.”

Kate’s smile was wicked. “Well ,it’s good you behaved yourself back there. I thought you’d say something you shouldn’t .”

Evelyn’s expression was unfazed. “I said nothing not because I’m afraid of you, Lyra Bloodmoon , but because that’s what the gods want me to say. What will be will surely be.”

Kate’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. Evelyn continued walking, disappearing into the trees. Kate watched her go, a calculating glint in her eye. She turned back to the pack house, a wicked laugh bubbling up in her throat.

Titus POV

As the sun dipped below the horizon,casting a warm orange glow over the forest, I received a mental nudge from James, my beta-to-be. It was time to check the border.

Assuming I had found my mate, this task wouldn’t have been mine. But I hadn’t. And that was the problem. A knot of frustration and anxiety had been building inside me for months. I couldn’t describe the emotions swirling inside me- was I happy, sad, or plain angry?

As the future Alpha, I had a lot on my plate. Our pack’s businesses , from real estate to hotels and event planing , required my attention. How would I balance my duties with a mate by my side? The thought sent a pang of uncertainty through me.

I was angry that I hadn’t found my mate yet. Two years had passed since the shaman’s prophecy, and we had tried everything to locate her. My dad was furious and I couldn’t blame him . I had been told my mate was within our pack, but it seemed like a myth now.

As I walked out of my office, I overheard my parents discussing my mate. I stood at the entrance, listening for a moment before shaking my head and walking away. I needed some fresh air and a change of scenery.

James was waiting for me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “ Tit, what’s sup? You said 5 minutes,and this is 10!” He teased,falling into step beside me.

I apologized, my mind still preoccupied with thoughts of my mate. James noticed my distraction and asked , “ what’s bothering you, Tit? Is everything okay?” His concern was genuine, and I appreciated it.

I shoved my hands in my pocket, feeling the night chill seep into my bones. “Yeah, I’m fine , buddy.” But James knew me too well.

He turned to me , his expression serious. “You know you can tell me anything, man.” James and I had grown up together, and he had found his mate at 18. I valued his insight and experience.

I sighed, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

“It’s just about my mate. I’m tired, and everyone’s worried about me finding her. I think I am too.” I admitted, feeling a pang of vulnerability.

James nodded sympathetically. “I understand, it can be frustrating. How are you even coping? I couldn’t imagine not finding my mate at your age.” He teased,trying to lighten the mood.

I shot him a mock-angry glance. “I’m not joking, man.”

James’s expression turned serious. “I know. But you have to trust the gods. It’s just a matter of time.” His words were reassuring, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling of uncertainty.

I nodded, feeling a sense of resignation wash over me. “Well, I guess I have no other option.” As we walked toward the border,the night air seemed to swallow my words, leaving only the sound of crickets and the distant howl of a wolf.

******************

At exactly 1 a.m.,a figure emerged from the pack house through the back door, casting a cautious glance around the moonlit yard. Kate, her blond hair tails hidden beneath a black hoodie, quickly covered her head and walked swiftly toward the forest, her sneakers sinking into the wet grass.

The dew-kissed blades releasing a sweat,earthy scent as she transversed the lawn. The forest loomed before her, its towering trees swaying gently in the breeze.it was a good twenty- minute walk from the pack house to the forest’s edge , but Kate moved with a purpose , her long legs eating up the distance.

As she walked,she passed by the silent houses of her pack members, their windows dark and unlit.

She glanced at the moon,its silver light casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. The houses gave way to a narrow dirt path, which would its way through the trees. Kate followed the path,her senses heightened as she navigated the darkness. The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath her feet were the only sounds that broke the silence.

Before long,she stopped beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient tree, its trunk twisted and gnarled with age. The moonlight filtering through the leaves created dappled shadows,casting the forest floor in a mystical light. Kate waited, her eyes fixed on the darkness , her heart pounding softly in her chest.

A few moments later,a man materialized from the trees, his footsteps quiet on the forest floor. He approached Kate , his features obscured by the shadows. “Hope you masked your scent?” Kate asked, her voice low and urgent,as she eyed the man with a questioning gaze.

“Yes, I did,”the man replied, his voice smooth as silk. “You said you wanted to see me urgently. Is everything okay?” Kate’s expression twisted into a scowl. “Nothing is okay. The alpha is getting increasingly annoying with his son’s mate hunt .”

Her anger was palpable,like a living thing.

The man nodded thoughtfully. “I heard he called the shaman. The plan is to wait until turns 18, which will be in the next two months,so he can find his mate first. Then , the throne will be passed to him.” Kate’s eyes flashed with frustration. “ I know that’s the plan, but we need another plan now. My powers can’t work on the Alphas. I was able to prevent Titus from finding his mate because he’s not an alpha yet. So , what do we do with his father?”she demanded, her voice laced with desperation.

The man’s smile was wicked, a thin-lipped curve of his mouth. “I really don’t know…wait, you have to find your true mate before you can be an alpha, unless she’s dead!” Kate’s eyes narrowed, her anger simmering just below the surface. “So , I don’t get you,” she spat, her words dripping with venom.

The man’s smile grew, his eyes glinting with amusement. “You were able to marry him because his mate died. Just convince the alpha that Titus’s mate might have died. She might be from this pack, but what if she’s dead? Try to convince him ;the alpha will be the one to take the next step of marring someone else to him, I assure you.” Kate’s face lit up with a wicked smile as she grasped the man’s plan.

She walked closer to him, her eyes locked with on his, and pressed her lips to his in a fierce kiss. “You always have a solution to all problems,” she whispered, her breath hot against his skin. The man’s hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. “That’s why you have me here, my love,”he murmured, his voice husky with desire. They stood there for a few moments, lost in their passion, before finally parting and disappearing into the night.