Goddess’s Revenge

A Warrior's Broken Bond

"Take her to my villa in the Celestial Realm," I commanded, my voice leaving no room for hesitation. "Summon Epione immediately. Cassandra's heart has suffered enough. She will need more than healing—she will need comfort."

"At once, Goddess."

My Divine Guard bowed before lifting Cassandra gently into his arms. With a single step, he disappeared through the moonlit portal I opened before him.

Only after the portal sealed shut did I allow myself a slow breath.

She was safe.

For now.

I turned back toward the wolves still kneeling throughout Alpha Robert's office.

Not one dared look at me.

Fear rolled from them in suffocating waves.

Good.

My Divine Guards silently took their places behind me while I leaned against Alpha Robert's desk, studying every soul before me.

"Raise your heads."

No one moved.

"I gave you an order."

Slowly, trembling faces lifted toward me. The women wept openly while the men struggled to control the shaking of their bodies.

"Now that my little wolf is safe," I said quietly, "we have many matters to discuss."

The silence was deafening.

Finally, Mariah found the courage to speak.

"Moon Goddess... please..."

My eyes narrowed.

"You spoiled little pup."

She recoiled as though struck.

"What did you honestly believe would happen?"

"I... I..."

"I have watched your life from the moment you drew your first breath. Every birthday. Every celebration. Every achievement. And every injustice."

I stopped directly before her.

"You were handed everything your heart desired."

"My Goddess..."

"While Cassandra received whatever scraps remained."

"That's not true!" Alice cried.

My head snapped toward her.

"If you dare utter another lie..."

The room darkened as divine power flooded the air.

"...I will remove the tongue that speaks it."

Alice's mouth slammed shut so quickly her teeth cracked together.

"You never loved Cassandra as you loved Mariah."

Neither parent denied it.

"You adored Mariah because she reflected yourself. She resembles you. She speaks as you speak. She craves attention as you do. You praised her loudly."

My gaze drifted toward the portal through which Cassandra had disappeared.

"But Cassandra..."

A small smile touched my lips.

"...was gentle. Quiet. Observant. Wise beyond her years. Kind, even to those who never deserved her kindness."

The smile faded.

"And because she was different..."

I looked back at Alice.

"...you convinced yourself she mattered less."

Alice collapsed into sobs.

I turned toward Daniel.

"And you, Daniel Stone."

He flinched.

"You were blessed with two daughters. Yet you spent years praying for a son. Instead of cherishing what was already yours, you allowed one daughter to disappear while the other became the center of your world."

Daniel lowered his head in shame.

Alpha Robert finally spoke.

"Moon Goddess... Mariah carries the Alpha's heir."

I slowly faced him.

"Oh yes."

Sarcasm coated every word.

"The precious heir."

Mariah's hands instinctively covered her stomach.

She already knew.

She knew exactly why I was looking at her.

"Would you care to confess your deception?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"No?"

I tilted my head.

"Then perhaps someone else should reveal the truth."

Turning toward Alpha Robert, I spoke with absolute authority.

"Summon Warrior Michael Hanson."

"Y-Yes, Goddess."

Moments later, a knock echoed through the office.

"Enter."

The door opened.

"You summoned me, Alpha?"

Michael stepped inside before freezing.

His eyes darted around the room.

The Alpha kneeling.

The Luna crying.

Mariah trembling.

Seth pale as death.

Then his gaze found me.

His eyes widened.

"Moon... Goddess?"

He immediately dropped to both knees.

"My Goddess."

"Rise, Michael."

Confused, he obeyed.

I stepped toward him and gently took his trembling hands into mine.

The poor young wolf flinched.

"Oh, Michael."

My heart ached for him.

"You have endured more pain than anyone here realizes."

His composure shattered.

"I'm sorry, Goddess."

Tears spilled freely down his face.

"I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't keep the gift you blessed me with. I couldn't make my mate happy."

I gently brushed a tear from his cheek.

"No, sweet wolf."

My voice softened.

"The fault does not lie with you."

I turned toward Mariah.

"It lies with the one who refused to treasure what she had."

Every eye shifted toward her.

"Mariah has always believed she deserved more than fate gave her. She coveted titles, power, and status. When she learned her fated mate was a loyal warrior instead of the future Alpha..."

I allowed the truth to settle over the room.

"...she decided fate had made a mistake."

Gasps erupted.

Seth stared at Mariah.

"N-No..."

His voice trembled.

"You're... mates?"

Mariah couldn't even look at him.

"I had hoped that once your Mate Bond formed, she would come to love the kind, loyal wolf I chose for her."

I smiled sadly at Michael.

"You would have cherished her. You would have given her a peaceful life."

"I would have," Michael whispered.

"I loved her from the moment I scented her. After we mated, I thought we'd live happily together. When she asked me not to mark her, I believed she simply wanted to wait until the Full Moon Ceremony."

His voice broke.

"I never imagined she planned to reject me."

My expression hardened.

"Instead..."

I looked at Seth.

"...she seduced another woman's mate."

Shock rippled through the office.

Seth stumbled backward.

"Tell me she's lying."

Mariah's lips trembled.

"I..."

Nothing came.

There could be no lies beneath my light.

"Mariah accepted her fated mate," I said. "She shared his bed, experienced the bond destiny had chosen for her..."

My gaze never left hers.

"...and rejected him the very next morning."

Michael closed his eyes.

"You spent an entire night suffering the agony of rejection," I said quietly, "while she pursued another man."

"Yes... Goddess."

Seth's face drained of all color.

"The child..."

Mariah instinctively wrapped both arms around her stomach.

"I found out I was carrying a pup," she sobbed. "I had no choice."

"No choice?" Seth shouted.

"You let me believe that child was mine!"

"I deserved to be Luna!" Mariah screamed. "I love you! You chose me! We've been together for years! You made a mistake!"

The room shook violently.

Every window exploded outward.

Silver moonlight burst from my body as my divine aura crushed every wolf to their knees.

"I MADE NO MISTAKE!"

My voice thundered through the heavens.

"I have watched kingdoms rise and crumble. I have witnessed oceans form. I have guided wolfkind for thousands of years."

My silver eyes blazed.

"And you have existed for but a heartbeat compared to me."

"I created your kind."

My voice became deathly calm.

"And should I deem it necessary..."

"...I can unmake my own creation."

Mariah collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

No one dared breathe.

I turned back toward Michael.

"When she rejected you..."

"...did you eventually accept the rejection?"

He nodded.

"Not at first, Goddess. After spending a night in unbearable pain... I accepted it."

Relief washed through me.

"Good."

The room fell silent.

Michael looked at me in confusion.

I smiled.

"That makes what comes next much easier."

I lifted one hand.

Silver moonlight spiraled around my fingertips before reality itself tore open.

A radiant portal shimmered into existence.

Warm sunlight, blooming flowers, and divine energy flowed through the opening.

I projected my voice across the heavens.

"Hera..."

The portal blazed brighter.

"It is time."

A regal woman stepped gracefully into the office.

Golden robes flowed like liquid sunlight around her.

A crown of stars rested upon her brow, and the air itself seemed to bow before her presence.

Every wolf immediately lowered their heads.

Even I inclined mine in respect.

"The Goddess of Marriage has answered my summons."