THE GODDESS CHOSEN LUNA' S DEFIANT FATE

CHAPTER 002

“Mate? Goddess, why him of all people?” I mutter under my breath, pacing back and forth along the bank of Clearwater Lake. My mind is in chaos. The pack house feels suffocating, so I ran here to find some peace. I sigh and begin to strip off my clothes, walking into the water. It's clear today, and the surface is like a mirror. Since the pack house's showers are off limits to me, I come here to bathe. I wasn’t born into this clan, but I’ve been here all my life. The Midnight Clan—once the strongest, most powerful clan—now barely hangs on. My mom and dad were killed by Strays when I was just a kid, leaving me to pick up the pieces. Each clan has its mark, and ours is a star placed on our wrist. If you leave and join another clan, the Alpha has to bite your wrist, and you bite theirs. Only then will your mark change. But I’ve been told it’s rare for an Alpha to do that. People have consistently assured me that no other clan will welcome me. I either stay here or I turn into one of those Strays that killed my parents. I dunk my head under the water, trying to clear my thoughts. “Maybe I’ll just go live in the human world or something,” I say to myself, pushing my hair back. I look around, and there’s Connor walking out from the trees, heading toward me. He holds a towel in his hand. “Thought I’d find you out here,” he says with a smile, laying the towel beside my clothes, which are neatly folded. He sits down, slipping his shoes and socks off and dipping his feet into the water. “Just trying to clear my mind,” I reply, watching the ripples in the water as he settles beside me. “I figured,” Connor says with a sigh. “Liam gave you the rest of today and tomorrow off, huh?” “Yeah, he told me. That I’m his damn mate.” I throw up my hands in frustration. “Not exactly thrilled about it.” Connor glances away, giving me some privacy as I quickly wrap myself in the towel and sit beside him. “I’m truly sorry, Emma,” he says quietly. “It’s not your fault. I’m going to reject him anyway. He makes you do horrible things to me. You don’t have a choice, since you’re his Second. I just hope he rejects me first, so I can get out of this mess. The soft sound of the wind blowing through the trees fills the air as we sit there, silent for a moment. It’s peaceful. The water looks like glass, with the sun dipping lower, painting everything in a soft golden light. “I know I said I’d meet you later tonight, but Liam wants me by his side. When midnight comes, his wolf will try to find you,” Connor continues, looking at me with concern. “You need to stay away from him tomorrow. His parents are coming, and the Elders already knew about you two being mates. They told his parents.” “Great. I murmur, leaning back and staring up at the sky. Connor’s voice lowers, barely above a whisper. “Liam doesn’t intend to reject you, as far as I know.” “I can’t do it, Connor. He’s vile. He’s evil. He’s sadistic,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I know,” he replies softly. “That’s why I want you to reject him. And when you do, I want you to leave. Leave the clan. Because if you stay, he’ll either force you to be with him or…” His voice trails off. We both know what the ‘or’ means. I've always regarded Connor as my big brother. We grew up together and trained together. It hurts to hear him say I need to leave, but I understand why. He wants to protect me from any harm. And I know he feels guilty for everything he’s done, but Liam would kill him in an instant if he didn’t obey. “I intended to leave anyway. But… I don’t want to lose contact with you,” I say, my voice soft. He hesitates. “In your…” “Closet,” I finish for him. He gives a small laugh and then becomes serious again. “I put a bag in there. Pack your stuff in it. I put a phone inside, with my number already programmed, and some money so you don’t go hungry. I wish I could take back everything I’ve said and done to you. But what I can do is help fix things between us. And I hope the Moon Spirit gives you a second chance, mate. Someone better than Liam.” I’m stunned by his words. “Connor, you didn’t have to do all that for me. I don’t deserve any of it.” “You do,” he says gently. “Liam hates you because you were there when your parents died. Now that you survived and your parents didn’t, he’s no longer the strongest in the clan, so he takes it all out on you. Emma, you were never at fault. I watch him as he stands up, walking over to put his shoes and socks back on. The sun is setting now. The sky turns pink and orange, and I know I’ll be out here long enough to watch the moon rise. Connor turns to face me, his face serious, his eyes a little sad. “The sun’s setting; stay here as long as you can. I need to get back to Liam,” he says. I stand up and look at him, feeling a bit lost but grateful for his support. I give him a hug, and he kisses the top of my head. “Thank you,” I whisper, hugging him tightly. “If I have to chase after you tomorrow, I’m sorry. But I’ll let you go. I have to. Just know that I’m doing it to keep you safe,” he says, kissing my forehead one more time before stepping back. “I need to get going. Liam is mind-linking me to return. I’ll see you later, bug.” I watch him disappear into the woods. The cool night air makes me shiver as I walk over to my clothes. I drop the towel and get dressed quickly. For the first time in five years, someone informed me that my parents' deaths were not my fault. That was a weight I didn’t realize I had been carrying around. After finishing my dressing, I recline on the soft grass, gazing up at the sky. The clouds are turning violet and orange, though the colors don’t last long. I decide to stay out here until the moon’s highest peak. “I’ll be 18 in just a couple of hours,” I say aloud, hearing the crickets chirping. My wolf will come to me tomorrow, but I won’t shift until the next full moon. Tonight should be the Waning Crescent, so I have a while before I can shift. I lie there for a while, watching the moon rise, waiting for it to reach its peak. When it does, I stand up and walk toward the pond, watching my reflection in the moonlit water. My skin is pale, my gray eyes staring back at me, my black hair falling around my shoulders. I don’t like what I see, not at all. “Maybe one day, I’ll look better,” I say with a sigh, turning away from the pond and walking toward the trees. “Why, my dear? You’re already gorgeous,” a voice says, soft and soothing. I freeze, looking around in confusion. “Who said that? Show yourself.” “Hello, Emma. My name is Aria. I’m your wolf,” the voice purrs inside my mind. “Wait, is it midnight already?” I ask aloud. “Yes, it is. Our mate is somewhere close by,” Aria responds with a soft purr. “I’m sorry, Aria, but I’m rejecting him. He’s an evil man,” I say, hoping she won’t be upset. “I know,” Aria says gently. “I’ve been with you since you were ten, but I couldn’t speak to you until tonight. I’m fine with you rejecting him.” “Thank the Moon Spirit, you understand,” I reply, feeling a sense of relief. At least now I won’t be completely alone. Aria chuckles softly. “Alright, dearest. I’m exhausted. Have a wonderful night.” “Goodnight,” I say, feeling my eyelids growing heavy. I yawn and start walking back. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day, and I need some rest.