Secrets of his Mate

Eighteen

Roman

    There was a thick fog engulfing the woods. An eerie silence filled the air. The only sounds audible being the faint buzzing of insects flying across and birds chirping in the distance. I looked down at my bare feet standing on the cold, brown soil. It felt like I was floating with each small step I unknowingly took. As I paced myself past the trees, I noticed someone's figure directly across from me. A female body figure with hypnotizing curves and long, dark hair was drawing me closer and closer.

    I smiled at the woman standing a few feet away from me. My heart skipped a beat as her angelic face became clear. She was also barefoot wearing a simple white dress with a radiating glow all over. My smile grew wider as I reached my hand out to her and said her name. "Elana."

    Suddenly, her glow turned into a dark aura. The white dress she wore turned black and her sweet eyes became fiery red. She eyed me up and down then gave me an uninterested look. She took a step back and swiftly disappeared in a blink of the eye.

    I rubbed my eyes. Did I just imagine seeing her? I was positive of what I saw, yet I was now questioning my sanity. How did her looks change so abruptly and why did she look so evil? More importantly, why did she give me that look? Did she not realize who I was? She knew I loved her. I knew she loved me, right?

    Confused with what had just happened, I began searching for her in all directions. I shouted out her name as my feet moved faster and faster until I was out of breath and ended at the same spot I began. I sat on a large rock dumbfounded and rested my head in my hands. Where did she go? We were going to live happily ever after. Without realizing, I felt a few tear drops escape my eye and fall down my cheek.

    Suddenly a small gust of wind picked up rustling the fallen leaves on the ground. There was almost a faint, soothing voice calling out to me. My ears flickered as they attempted to decipher the barely audible sound. I adjusted my eyes trying to find pinpoint where the voice was coming from, but there was nothing in sight, only a slight mist slowly growing thicker. Just as I started to believe I was imagining things, the breeze whispered to me again, "Roman."

    My eyes darted around finding no one in sight. "Who's there?" A part of me knew I should be on high alert, but something about the wind was calming and comforting.

    "It's me," it cooed. "Shed no more tears, my little one."

    Still not one person in my view, but yet, I was not afraid. The voice was sweet and gentle as if wrapping me in a warm hug. "Who are you?" I asked intrigued.

    "Most werewolves call me The Moon Goddess," the breeze whispered back.

    My heart almost skipped a beat. Could this be real? Why would the moon goddess reach out to me? "Really?" I repeated shock evident in my voice.

    There was a shift in the environment making me believe she was smiling at me. "That's right. It is me."

    I felt like a little boy meeting Santa Clause. "How- but why me?" There were very few tales of the Moon goddess making contact with living werewolves, but they were all believed to be just that- tales.

    "Because, sweetie, you need me. I can see the pain you're in. Your soul is being crushed, your heart is breaking, and you're struggling to continue on."

    "How do you know all of this?"

    There was a very low chuckle. "Oh, honey. I know everything about all of my children's feelings." There was a brief moment of silence. "Now tell me, dear. What is it about this girl, Elana, that's got your heart all twisted?" she asked in a motherly tone, but said her name laced with disgust. It made my face turn sour, but I quickly recovered. I knew better than to challenge or disrespect the moon goddess.

    Another tear narrowly escaped my eyes as I thought about Elana. "I just don't get it. Why was she not mated to me? She's so hypnotizing. Between her perfect body and the way she looks and talks to me, I know she's the one. I knew her biggest secret of her online life. I've adored her for much longer than Alessandro ever knew she even existed."

    "Your jealousy is clouding your judgement," the breeze whistled gently. "Believe me, I don't make mistakes. I promise you'll find your mate when the time is right. But, if you must know, they're mated because she is exactly what he deserves."

    I shook my head. How could there possibly be someone else out there that's a better match for me than Elana? I refused to believe it. I sat in silence for a moment thinking. "What do you mean she's what he deserves? I deserve to be with her!"

    "That's where you're wrong. You are destined for greatness, Roman. When evil wages war on your pack, you'll return and be the only one to stand chance to end the bloodshed. It's already started marking the territory and growing stronger each day. The future of Silver Moon pack is in your hands. It always has been."

    "She's right, son," a familiar, husky voice caused my head to turn in surprise. There he stood as I last remembered him wearing a long sleeve button down shirt with gray slacks. His dark, curly hair was slicked back with gel. A few gray hairs tugged at sides.

    "Dad?" I managed to choke out as I gazed at the deceased man. At the same time, the mist began to disappear and the wind was gone. I knew the moon goddess left my father and I to speak.

    He smiled at me adoringly. "You need to prepare yourself for the fight of your life. Every moment of your life has been leading up to this."

    I was extremely confused. "What are you talking about?"

    "Focus! I don't know how much time I have left. I need you to listen carefully," he stated in a no nonsense tone. I nodded slowly in understanding before he continued. "You are the one who will restore our family's place in this pack and expose the Moreno's lies."

    "What lies?" Nothing was making sense.

    "My grandfather was raised as a baby by the Moreno's after his parents were killed by rogues. He then grew to become Beta creating our family's Beta hierarchy. But the truth is, his parents weren't killed by rogues. They were murdered by the Moreno's so they could become Alpha and Luna of our pack. Each of their following generations knew about this, including Alessandro. When I found out, I decided to kill his mother. Then his father walked in, and nearly died of a heart attack seeing his mate lifeless so I just finished him off. But then Alessandro came in and slashed my throat then killed your mother."

    I began shaking my head. "No. That can't be." Realization began to kick in as I took in every word my father said to me. "He took everything from me!"

    "Don't work yourself up now. You need to strategize," he said sternly. "I know you will take him down, son. Make me proud."

    With those words, he fainted into the background leaving me searching for him frantically. I didn't want him to go yet. He left me with jaw dropping information then disappeared. It wasn't fair.

    I was about to yell out for him when my eyes fluttered opened waking me from my very vivid dream exposing me to the very bright room I recognized as the infirmary. Was anything I dreamt of true? It felt so real. I decided not to make any rash moves. I needed to confirm what my father said was true. If so, I was going to tear Alessandro apart limb by limb.