Purple Crescent Moon

Chapter 14: At Peace With A Dead Wolf

Anya POV

I stare at the scene before me; Kara killed Rani…Me. I peer behind the wolves hovering over Rani's body, and my heartaches. Walking to my mother's bloody wolf, I dropped to my knee's bringing a shaky hand to her white fur. My hand hovers above her, knowing that the journey the Moon Goddess has put me on won't allow me to touch her. Athena howls as I hug myself in sobs... When I woke up as Anya, I couldn't remember how I died. I didn't remember that my best friend betrayed us and took part in my mama's death. Bitterness and hatred creep into my soul as the voices behind me begin to grow. I turn to the wolves arguing over my body and tremble with rage. My eyes start to glow purple in a fiery rage. Athena screams, "KILL THEM ALL!"

She forces our claws out as I rush towards them; I fly through their transparent bodies. I scream and turn around, slashing my claws at them but only landing in the air. I see Kara's smiling face and try to punch and claw at her but still...Nothing. I scream in despair, regret, and anger. I didn't protect my mother; I wasn't there for her when she needed me most. I didn't even notice the subtle changes Kara had shown me through the years. I would dismiss the envious glares and small comments she would make. I trusted her, and she murdered mama. My heart feels like someone has slammed their hand inside my chest and squeezed it, slowing its beating. I grip my chest and open my mouth in a soundless scream at the pain.

Out of nowhere, the scent of honeysuckles consumes the room; I stop crying to gaze up at a tall womanly figure dressed in all black; the Moon Goddess...

Her long thick hair is draped around her body like a cloak to her feet. She scans the room, looking at the Alpha black, Kara, and the warriors. She c***s her head to the side and sucks her teeth gently as if disappointed. She cast her eyes below them to Rani's bloody body; her face is blank. She turns to mama's body, and a gentle smile creeps up to her face. Taking her time, she squats her long curvy body down and caresses Edme's bloody fur in long soft strokes, her dark hand a beautiful contrast to the white fur. The wolf's body slowly shifts back into mama's petite naked frame. The Moon Goddess keeps her eyes on mama as she says, "Anya, come to say goodbye to Edme."

I was startled when she said my name. I didn't realize she could see me, but of course, she could. She is the Moon Goddess. The rest of the wolves are oblivious of us as I crawl towards the Moon Goddess. I get to them and hold my hand over mama's head, scared I won't be able to touch her.

"Go on." The Moon Goddess coaxes me.

I place my hand on mama's white hair, feeling the softness beneath my fingertips. I let out a loud sob and fall onto her body-hugging her. I pull her close to me as she did when I first shifted. I kiss her forehead and hair, stroking her face lovingly while rocking back in forth. My tears paint her lifeless face with glistening water. The Moon Goddess is silent as she lets me hold my mama for the last time.

"Anya, it's time to let Edme go," she whispers lovingly. I look up at her and know she is right. I reluctantly let her go, placing her gently back on the ground. The Goddess touches mama with a long black claw; her bruises, scars, and blood disappear instantly. She is now in an all-black tulle dress that matches the Moon Goddesses. Her waist-length hair is void of blood and debris, and her face has a slight smile, a look of peace.

"You did well, my Edme; time to go home." The Moon Goddess smiles as Edme's body vanishes.

My aching eyes stare at where mama used to be; oddly enough, I feel a sense of peace. She's in a better place; I know it as the Moon Goddess has gifted me with the ability to see her go home. The Moon Goddess stands and extends her hand to me; I grab it, and I'm immediately sucked into another vortex. The trip is short as I land back in an all-white room, the one I started the journey in. A gold metallic chair stands in the center of the room. The Moon Goddess sits peacefully with several wolves of all colors of the rainbow lying around her. An Icy blue wolf with white eyes gazes up and runs to me, licking me all over my face. Athena jumps and yips loudly with whines at the sight. It's mama's wolf! I cry happily as I hug the wolf tightly around its neck. The wolf runs in circles, barely containing her excitement.

"Now, now, Winter, let me talk to little Anya," The Moon Goddess says with a chuckle.

The wolf gives me one last lick and then runs off into the distance of the snow-white room until I can no longer see her. I stroll to the Moon Goddesses throne.

"As I promised, I would show you your birth and death. I also promised to show you your rebirth and your purpose…We are halfway there." Her voice dances around me softly as she points to white and gold french doors.

I know she wants me to open the doors without asking; I walk over to the doors and grab both gold circular handles, pushing forward. I bring my hand up to my mouth in surprise at what I see. A massive table about 4ft high, stopping below my chest: the table is a white marble with pink and gold coursing through it. On the table lies two she-wolves, nude with their eyes shut. I walk cautiously to the women lying on the marble slab and peer into their faces…my face.

On the table is two replicas of me; one is a little skinnier, with cheeks a slightly gaunt. I realize this one is me from my past life, Rani. The other is more tanned, curvier, with more muscle showing through her frame; Anya, the doppelganger. I realize I'm still in the past, watching how I was able to reawaken as My true self in the doppelganger's body.

The Moon Goddess appears on the other side of the table and holds her hand over Rani's chest. I step back and stare in wonderment.

Her black-clawed hand begins to glow thousands of colors one after another; then, a black shooting mist exits the palm of her hand into Rani's chest. Rani's body begins to shake violently until it just stops. A tiny white sliver of smoke begins to pull from Rani's chest, forming a glowing white ball above the Moon Goddesses' palm. The orb grows bigger and bigger until it resembles the moon.

The Goddess turns her hand over, and the ball follows and hovers over her palm. The craters of the moon pulsate with light purple running through it. She slowly moves her hand over to the doppelganger. She turns her hand over, palm facing down, and stops. She looks up at me for the first time and hovers over the doppelganger. While staring into my scared eyes, she declares

"Your time is not yet done, Anya. A supernatural war is coming filled with an evil your world has never seen. I will need You, Athena, and Chi to lead an army to your world's salvation. You will need help from others; you will need patience and grace. Most importantly, you will need to trust in me. I gift you this new life for you to rise again and follow your destiny."

She slams her hand into the doppelganger's chest, forcing the glowing orb into her. The doppelganger's chest rises abruptly from the marbled bed and lands back with a smack; then… she vanishes. The room starts to spin, white and gold merging until it turns pitch black, the spinning stops abruptly, and I realize I'm back in my room at the castle.

I'm still in my tank and shorts, sitting on the edge of the bed. I bring my hands up and touch my face, pressing my fingertips into my cheeks; I gaze at my thighs and pinch one. Yep, that hurt. Am I back?

A soft knock echoes off the door "Queen Anya, are you okay?" Shayla, my beta's stern voice, carries through the room.

I open my mouth to speak but stop taking a deep breath and clear my throat. "Yes, Shayla. Thank you." I wait to see if she actually can hear my voice.

"Okay… Do you need anything?" She asks through our mind link

I walk to the door, opening it to reveal Shayla standing close to the door. She is 5'6, the average height for a she-wolf, with short brown curly hair with little streaks of blonde. She has a light brown complexion with dainty little features. I smile, remembering how her tiny frame means nothing to her strength. I have memories of her ripping a man's head off in battle; she is fearless and devoted to me.

"I do need something, Shay…I need to know the location of Alpha Black's pack and everything you can dig up about him. His mate especially." I say blankly.

Shayla's expression contorts in confusion. "Who is Alpha Black?"

I smile sweetly with glowing shades of gold and amber emitting from my eyes… "A Dead Wolf.."