The Moon Goddess’s Daughter

PROLOGUE Years ago, the Moon Goddess got mated and fell in love with an ordinary werewolf, leading to a great battle between darkness and light. The whole werewolf world was thrown into a state of chaos, greed, and obsession, causing them to face different challenges and ridicule for their love. But because of their strength, resilience, and the power of their love, they defied all odds and finally changed the rules of the realm, allowing werewolves and gods to co-exist and live together in perfect harmony. But the story didn’t end there. After winning the great battle and changing the status quo, everything returned to normal and the Moon Goddess conceived, bringing forth the first hybrid in all werewolf history — half god and half werewolf. Her name was Isadora. This is her story. ⸻ 8 YEARS AGO “Isadora! Wait up! I’m afraid of the dark,” six-year-old Lyra complained, her voice trembling with fear as she rushed after six-year-old Isadora. Isadora snorted. “Come on, Lyra. Don’t be such a princess. It’s just a tunnel. I’ve been to places worse than this one,” she replied, rolling her eyes at how scared her bestie was of darkness. Lyra heard a low growl and shrieked, running to catch up with Isadora. “Don’t you think we’ve come far enough? I think we need to return home now. Our fathers will be worried sick.” “Oh, please,” Isadora snickered. “We are almost there. We can’t go back now,” she said, holding up her torch as she made her way out of the tunnel. She smiled, but her happiness was cut short as she came face-to-face with two giant bears. Lyra finally made her way out, but when she saw the bears towering over them, she screamed and quickly hid behind Isadora, her body shaking with fear. “We’re gonna die, Isa! We shouldn’t have come here.” “Shhh, they can smell fear,” Isadora shushed Lyra before looking up to meet the gazes of the ferocious bears staring down at her, their tongues running over their mouths like they had seen the most delicious meal ever. Isadora wasn’t the least fazed by their growls. But Lyra had already wet her panties out of fear. The bears, seeing that Isadora wasn’t showing any signs of fear, became even more infuriated. They snarled at her, their eyes glowing with a menacing yellow light. Isadora, however, just stood there, her hands on her hips and a smirk on her lips. “Isadora, we need to go! What if they attack?” Lyra whispered, but Isadora didn’t flinch. Nothing was going to stop her from finding what she was looking for. “I’m not scared of them,” she whispered back, never taking her eyes off the bears. “And I don’t think you should be, either.” Lyra shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes at the thought that if she stayed here, she was going to be bear food. She was sure they’d make a sandwich out of her. What if they ate her raw, tearing her from limb to limb? What if they made a barbecue out of her? Terrified, she screamed and took to her heels, causing the giant bears to go after her. Lyra’s screams echoed through the forest as she sprinted, her tiny legs doing little to take her as far away from the bears as possible. “Isa! Help!” Lyra screamed. Isadora cursed under her breath and went after them. “Lyra, stop running!” she yelled. “Are you crazy?” Lyra screamed, increasing her pace while the bears growled behind her, causing the hairs on her skin to stand. She let out another shrill scream. “Oh Goddess, help me!” Isadora exclaimed and suddenly felt her powers course through her. She disappeared, reappearing in front of the bears. “Stop right there!” she roared, her eyes burning a bright gold as she raised her hands. The bears stopped in their tracks, confused and wary of Isadora’s sudden display of power. They growled, their stance shifting, ready to attack. Isadora shook her head, a smirk still playing on her lips. “You’re not going to hurt my friend. You’re not going to hurt anyone.” As she spoke, a gust of wind began to swirl around her, picking up leaves and twigs. The wind grew stronger, causing the bears to back away, their eyes widening in fear. Lightning crackled in the sky, thunder booming as if the very heavens were obeying her command. The winds began to form a funnel, a whirlwind that surrounded the bears, forcing them to move back as they cowered in fear. Isadora focused on her powers with her eyes shut, and the whirlwind hurled the bears into the distance, far away from her and Lyra. She was about to give one last blow when a gentle but firm voice interrupted her. “Isadora, enough.” Isadora’s eyes snapped open, and she turned to see her mother standing behind her. Selene’s eyes shone with a soft, lunar light, and her presence seemed to calm the air around them. Isadora felt a wave of obedience and immediately dissipated the whirlwind, banishing the bears from the area. She took a deep breath, feeling her powers settle back into place. Selene approached her, a warm smile on her face. “You’re getting stronger, Isadora. But you must learn to control your powers and to use them wisely. You almost killed those bears.” “I’m sorry, Mother,” she lowered her head, taking a deep breath. “But the bears wanted to hurt Lyra. I couldn’t think of what to do. I became angry and…” she trailed off. “…that happened.” Lyra, still shaken, emerged from the trees she had hidden in, her eyes wide with wonder. “Isa, your powers… they’re amazing!” Isadora smiled, feeling proud of herself, but on the inside, she feared the kind of powers she possessed. This wasn’t the first time she had almost lost control. “I understand, sweetie,” Selene smiled, taking her hand. “But you know,” she tucked a strand of Isa’s red hair behind her ears, “there is a way you can stop them without hurting them. I’ll teach you that soon.” Isadora nodded with a smile. “Can you teach me too?” Lyra asked excitedly, and Selene pecked her cheek. “Come, let’s return home. We have much to discuss, and your father will be worried.” Isadora nodded, and together, the three of them began walking out of the forest. ⸻ GOLDEN SWORD PACK “Isa! Isadora!” Dominic called as he walked around the palace, looking for the little girl who wouldn’t sit her tiny butt in one place. This was the third time she’d left the palace walls without telling him today. Currently, the Golden Sword Pack was at war with the Wild Fire Pack, and the last thing he wanted was Isadora getting ambushed. But the little princess was very stubborn. “Where could she have gone again?” he ruffled his hair, sucking in a breath. “Gone missing again?” Bryce asked as he approached Dominic, who nodded with a sigh. “For a little girl, she sure has a lot of energy. She disappears without warning and appears like a ghost — not to mention how super strong she is. She is just six years old!” Dominic snapped, throwing his hands in the air. “And the daughter of the Moon Goddess,” Bryce added with a smirk. “Her mother is a divine being. Are you expecting her child to be a normal wolf?” Dominic sighed. “She is a hybrid, Bryce. That’s why I’m more worried—plus this feud between us and the Wild Fire Pack.” Bryce brushed it off. “She will be fine. I’m sure she and Lyra are having fun.” “If she doesn’t bully your daughter, that is.” Dominic began walking away and Bryce followed. “C’mon, they are best friends.” They got to the garden, and Dominic’s eyes widened when he saw Selene seated on the swing with Isadora sleeping soundly on her lap. “Daddy!” Lyra called, rushing to embrace Bryce, who bent to her level and pecked her cheeks. “Moon Goddess,” Bryce bowed with a smile. Selene looked up and smiled upon seeing them. Dominic smiled back as he approached them. When he got there, he kissed her on the lips. “You are back early,” he smiled. Selene chuckled. “Well, someone almost killed two huge bears today. I have no idea what she was doing in their territory, but Artemis wouldn’t have taken it lightly.” They laughed. “I’ll take her inside.” Bryce took Lyra from Selene and walked away, leaving the two lovers to themselves. Dominic took a seat on the swing, and Selene rested her head on his shoulder. “How are things going in the realm?” he asked, playing with her hair. “Pretty cool. Marlene has completed her training and can handle most things there now. Plus, she has the gods on her side. The hardest and trickiest ones will be handed over to me, so…” Dominic faced her. “So?” he asked, and she smiled. “So, I’ll be staying here with you for a while. We will raise our daughter together,” she said, and Dominic beamed. This was the best news yet. “There is a prophecy about her and I need to train her. But for the meantime, we have to seal her powers.” Selene took in her bottom lip, waiting for Dominic’s reaction. Dominic blinked. “What! Seal her powers?” he asked, his eyes widening in shock. Selene held his arm. “I know this has come as a shock, but her identity as the daughter of the Moon Goddess must not be found out. When she is ready, the powers will return. By then, she should be able to handle it. She’s too young now.” “We can train her to master her powers. And what prophecy are you talking about?” Dominic asked. Selene sighed. “The Prophecy of the Moon Goddess’s Daughter.” “But there has to be something we can do. You can’t just seal her powers. She will be devastated. And how are you going to train her if her powers are gone?” “There is another way we can—” “No, Selene,” Dominic sighed and held her hands. “Please. You know how much she loves her powers.” “Those powers will only make her an easy target, my love,” Selene placed her palm on his cheek. “I’m not taking it away completely. She will have them back. For now, no one must know her real identity.” “But… why?” “Because the prophecy foretold of—” The ground under their feet suddenly shook, cutting Selene off. Selene and Dominic stood to their feet, both exchanging confused glances. Lightning rippled across the sky like it was going to tear it in two. “What’s happening?” Dominic asked, but before Selene could say anything, Apollo appeared, his expression grim. Selene rushed to him. “What’s going on?” Apollo lowered his head. “Ares has escaped Tartarus.” Selene and Dominic gasped. “How is that possible? No one can escape Tartarus.” Dominic ruffled his hair. “Exactly. And for Ares to have escaped, it means there is something we do not know. Zeus has asked us to find him, and he demands that you lead us, Selene.” Dominic couldn’t believe this. “C’mon, she just got back. We have a daughter to raise.” “I understand you,” Apollo sighed. “But Ares is free, and he is out there. The world wouldn’t be safe for anyone if we don’t find him.” Selene bit down on her lower lip. She really wanted to be part of Isadora’s life this time, and now she was going away. The look on Dominic’s face broke her heart even more. She took his hands and placed kisses on them. “I will be back before you know it. Ares probably hasn’t gone far.” Dominic sighed but nodded in understanding. “Be careful out there.” “I will,” she forced a smile and kissed him. Apollo coughed awkwardly and Selene smiled against Dominic’s lips. When they pulled away, she sighed. “There’s one last thing I need to do before I leave.” She disappeared and appeared in Isadora’s room. The girl was sound asleep, her chest rising and falling slowly. Selene smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead. She conjured a moon bracelet and put it around Isa’s wrist. “This will protect you from those seeking to exploit your powers. I will come back soon.” Selene took one last look at Isadora. She knew Ares was after her. And the sooner she found Ares and locked him up for good, the sooner she could stop that prophecy from coming into fulfillment.