Thirty six
1447 Words
Desiree POV
Coronation Day
The morning of my coronation arrived with a strange stillness that settled deep in my chest, the kind that made it impossible to tell whether it was excitement or something far more unsettling. Sunlight filtered gently through the tall windows of my chamber, casting soft golden patterns across the floor, yet instead of warmth, I felt an unfamiliar tension coiling tightly within me, as though the day carried more weight than it should.
I stood before the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me.
The gown I wore was breathtaking, crafted from shimmering silver and white fabric that clung to my body like moonlight itself, every detail designed to reflect power, grace, and authority. My hair fell in soft waves over my shoulders, adorned with delicate ornaments that caught the light with every slight movement. I looked every bit like a Luna.
And yet…
My hands trembled slightly at my sides.
Not from doubt in my strength.
Not from fear of the title.
But from something deeper, something I could not explain.
A quiet knock broke through my thoughts before the door opened, and Avery stepped in, her usual lively presence dimmed just enough for me to notice. Her eyes softened the moment they met mine, and for a brief second, I felt grounded again.
“You look unreal,” she said, her voice filled with awe as she walked closer, her gaze trailing over me. “Like the Moon Goddess herself decided to show off today.”
A faint smile touched my lips, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You always exaggerate.”
“I do not,” she replied quickly, reaching out to adjust a strand of my hair with surprising gentleness. “You just refuse to see what everyone else does.”
“When did you get back?” I asked her.
“This morning, I won't miss your coronation, I know we just met but you stood up for me in front of your mates and I will forever be careful” she said.
“I am glad I could help, how is Ethan too” I asked.
She blushed slightly. “He is fine” she replied.
I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting back to my reflection.
“I feel… strange,” I admitted quietly.
Her expression shifted immediately. “Nervous?”
I shook my head. “No. Not nervous.” I hesitated, searching for the right words, but none felt right. “It feels like something is about to happen.”
Avery did not laugh this time.
Instead, she studied me carefully, her brows drawing together slightly, as though she too could feel the shift in the air.
Before either of us could say more, the door opened again, and Daphne stepped in, her presence calm but purposeful.
“It is time,” she said softly.
My heart skipped.
There was no more delaying it.
Avery reached for my hand, squeezing it gently as if to remind me I wasn’t alone. “Then let us go,” she said with a small smile. “Your pack is waiting.”
—
The moment I stepped into the open, the weight of hundreds of eyes settled on me instantly.
The entire pack had gathered, forming a wide circle around the ceremonial ground, warriors standing tall at the edges while elders occupied the front. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, with pride, with curiosity that bordered on scrutiny.
Whispers spread like wildfire the moment I appeared.
“That is her…”
“Our Luna…”
“The one who won the challenge”
“I heard she beat Elder Maeve's daughter”
The whispers went on and on that I had to shut them out.
I kept my posture straight, my steps measured and steady despite the way my heart pounded, each beat echoing loudly in my ears as I walked forward.
At the center stood Brandon.
Grayson and Zachary flanked him, both of them watching me with an intensity that steadied me more than anything else could.
The moment I reached them, Brandon stepped forward, his presence grounding, his gaze softening as his hand found mine.
“You are ready,” he said quietly.
There was no hesitation in his voice.
“I am,” I replied, though the strange unease still lingered beneath the surface.
The ceremony began shortly after, the elder stepping forward with measured authority as he raised his staff, his voice carrying across the clearing as he called upon the Moon Goddess to witness the moment.
The words were ancient, powerful, woven with meaning that resonated deep within me, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to sink into it, to embrace the significance of what was happening.
But then, that feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
The air shifted subtly, growing heavier, as though something unseen had settled over the gathering. My chest tightened slightly, my breath coming slower as my wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin.
Something was wrong.
“Do you, Desiree,” the elder continued, his voice unwavering, “accept your place as Luna of this pack, to lead with strength, to protect with wisdom, and to stand beside your Alpha?”
“Yes,” I answered, my voice steady despite the unease clawing at me.
“Then step forward and—”
A sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing.
The elder faltered mid-sentence, confusion flashing across his face as murmurs rippled through the crowd, unease spreading like a shadow.
My heart began to race.
Not from fear.
But from recognition.
Something ancient stirred within me, something deep and unfamiliar, rising to the surface without warning.
Then—
I felt it.
A cold presence was watching us.
My breath hitched as my gaze shifted instinctively, scanning the crowd, searching, until everything around me seemed to fade.
The voices, the people.
Even my mates.
It all blurred into the background as the world narrowed into something else entirely.
And then—She appeared.
Her figure seemed to form out of nothing, standing just beyond the ceremonial circle, untouched by the chaos, her dark eyes locked onto mine with unsettling calm.
My breath caught in my throat.
No one else reacted.
No one else saw her.
A chill ran down my spine.
“What…” My voice barely formed the word as I took a small step back, my heart pounding harder with every passing second. “Who are you?”
She smiled faintly. “Zelda”
“Zelda?”
“Do not be afraid,” she said softly, though her voice carried directly into my mind rather than the air around us.
My pulse quickened. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my effort to remain steady.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me in a way that made my skin prickle.
“You feel it, do you not?” she asked.
I swallowed hard. “Yes,” I admitted before I could stop myself.
“That is because today changes everything,” she replied calmly.
Confusion tightened in my chest. “What are you talking about?”
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she stepped closer.
And the air around me shifted again.
“You think you are simply a Luna,” she began, her voice low, deliberate, every word sinking deeper than the last. “A woman chosen by fate to stand beside powerful men.”
My breathing grew uneven.
“But you are far more than that.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “What do you mean?” I whispered.
Her gaze darkened slightly. “You are not just bound by the Moon Goddess,” she continued. “You are a part of her power itself.”
The words made no sense.
And yet— They felt true.
“You are not just Moon-Born,” Zelda said, her voice dropping further, carrying a weight that made my knees feel weak. “You are the origin of the bond. The one through whom mates are created… and unmade.”
My breath caught sharply. “No…” I shook my head, stepping back again, my thoughts spiraling. “That is not possible.”
“It is,” she said simply.
The ground beneath me felt unsteady.
My entire existence everything I thought I knew felt like it was unraveling all at once.
“Who… am I?” I asked, my voice barely audible now.
Zelda’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. “You,” she said slowly, her eyes locking onto mine with unsettling certainty, “are the vessel of the Moon Goddess’s will.”
- Writer
