I was the Moon Goddess.
I could feel it in my blood, extending in a network of branches in every corner of my body, right down to my fingertips.
And the Goddess inside is dying to break free.
*****
I woke up with the worst headache in some random person’s room.
“Ow.” I sat up, clutching my temple.
I looked around. There was a shiny, organized desk next to a tall bookcase abundant with books and tiny statues. There was a square mirror overlooking a clean fireplace and three vintage paintings decorating the walls. Nothing was out of place.
This was Even’s room, the one he also used for his office. I didn’t remember coming here but now that I think about it, someone carried me here and the only person it could be was Even.
I stood up, ignoring the stiffness of my legs, and took a look around at his desk. I spotted a bowl of mints and stuffed one in my mouth, the chilled peppermint melting it on my tongue.
There were a few pictures of him and his family. One with his parents, the equivalent of the King and Queen of the pack, one infront of the castle and one in a big family photo.
But one picture stood out from the rest. Even was standing next to a girl with long brown hair and stunning blue eyes. Both of them looked in their pre-teens.
Wait. . .
Wait, it kind of looked like Ever. Except the girl in the photo had paler skin and straight, brown hair. Her eyes were clear and she was obviously very happy.
But at the same time, they had the same face. The spacing between their eyes were the same, the shape of their noses were the same and they had the same heart-shaped face.
Was I going crazy? Were my eyes playing tricks on me?
Was this person the same Ever I’d met?
I heard someone opening the door and tensed. I relaxed when I saw who it was.
“Good morning,”
“Good morning,” I greeted Even and turned my eyes to the picture of him and the girl, “Who’s this?”
Even picked the picture up and looked kind of sad, “My sister, Diana.”
So, were they the same person? She looked so familiar, even if she looked ten years younger.
“What happened to her?” I asked but soon wanted to take it back.
Law’s voice popped into my head, no one talks about it.
“Youdon’thavetotalkaboutitifyoudon’twantto.” I added quickly, slurring my words. I didn’t want him to feel sad but he was exceptionally good at hiding his feelings.
“No, it’s fine. She left the pack a year ago. She was going to be our Alpha.” It sounded like she had everything; a loving family, plenty of friends, a loyal pack, and a beautiful future.
Her life was what I’d always wanted. I wanted people to need me.
“Why did she run away?”
Even looked at me and I could feel it get increasingly more tense, “She’s a twin. . . In werewolf culture, do you know what that means when the heir to the Alpha is a twin?”
“No.”
“Twins have to fight for the crown, they fight to decide who inherits the Alpha position,” Even paused and I looked at him, “To the death.”
I wasn’t expecting that, “They have to fight to the death?” I repeated, not understanding.
He nodded like it was normal but it wasn’t.
“Well, if I were her, I wouldn’t want to fight my brother or sister.” Was that why Ever changed her name? Was she ashamed of her past and wanted to forget?
“I doubt she’s still alive.” He turned his back and walked around.
I opened my mouth, about to tell him that I’ve seen her, but he interrupted me.
“I should’ve gone with her.” I felt bad for him and reached out to comfort him but at the last second, retreated back.
I wished I could tell him that she was fine but the last time I saw Ever, she’d jumped off a waterfall. Not very reassuring news.
“No, going after her would just cause more problems. Your parents would be devastated to lose a daughter and a son.” I wished my parents would worry about me. Even’s parents weren’t like most parents but they obviously cared about their children.
He froze, recoiling as if I just slapped him, “How did you know that?”
“Know what?”
“That I thought I should’ve gone with her?”
“You. . . said that out loud, right?” I asked slowly and tapped a finger to my chin, very confused.
But the answer was no, he hadn’t said that out loud. So what did I just hear and how did I hear it?
Ah, it was the mind-link!
Even grabbed my hand and tugged me out the door, “We need to go, I’m taking you to the Alpha and Luna.”
Even led me around the castles, in what I felt were circles, until we reached a part of the castle I’d never seen before. We stood on the other side of very tall and very grand French doors as Even said,
“Alpha and Luna?”
“Yes?” Even’s mom, Luna Alex, answered politely.
“It’s me.”
Alex opened the door, her red hair in messy waves. She saw the look on his face and quickly welcomed us to her huge, spacious room.
“Even, what’s wrong?” She asked with concern, something I’d always wanted my parents to act to at least know they saw me.
“Hazel can mind-link. She could read my thoughts without even trying.”
“That’s a big. . . step,” Alex raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Now do you believe me?” Even asked a little angrily.
Alex smiled apologetically, “Ares and I didn’t mean to doubt you,” She wrapped an arm around him lovingly, “But we were so sure it was Aria.”
Everyone was, even me.
She moved to sit down on her bed, “When did this happen? Just now?” Even and I nodded.
“Hazel, can you try to talk with the other wolves?” How exactly do I do that? “Think of someone and focus your mind on their thoughts.” Easier said than done.
I inhaled and exhaled slowly, “I’ll try.”
I closed my eyes and Ken’s face popped into my mind. I wanted to know why he hadn’t tried to talk to me, who that girl next to him at the festival was and why he chose her over Aria. I scrunched up my forehead, wondering why he wasn’t into her anymore, they hit it off so well.
My thoughts were running wild and I couldn’t get them sharpened down to a point.
Why wasn’t this working? Ken’s thoughts, Ken’s thoughts.
I tried so hard I was getting a splitting headache and needed to stop. I opened my eyes and winced, a cutting pain throbbing on the side of my head.
“I can’t do it. I don’t understand.” I rubbed my temple, helping a little to dull the pain.
“Strange. Yet interesting,” said Alex.
“What’s so strange and interesting?” I asked and she just looked at Even.
“She could only mind-link with you.” She smiled, a glint of something in her eyes, like she knew where this was headed.
“But why?” And why could I do it with the rogues?
“Sometimes wolves can only mind-link if their mind is comfortable. I see it with young pups, some guard their minds so it takes longer for them. They have to want their minds to be read. You have to want to be apart of the pack.”
Alex’s words made a little sense, I guess I just had to open my mind to the pack; a pack that hated me.
That explained why I could mind-link with the rogues and couldn’t before with this pack. I wasn’t opening my mind to them.
Wait, was my mind open to Even? It’s not like I could control it, right? Or maybe I could.
I pictured Ken’s face and let my thoughts open, like a flower blooming in the spring. I didn’t care if he knew all my secrets, it’s not like he cared. He was a friend, my first werewolf friend.
Am I doing this right? There was nothing. Hello? Ken’s thoughts? Still nothing but emptiness. Ugh, this is useless, I’m never going to do this!
Who is this? Ken’s confusion turned into surprise, Hazel? Since when can you mind-link?
Since just now. I’m still trying to understand it.
This is the weirdest thing ever, I’ve never had a human talk to me through the pack link. This is insane! I could hear him getting excited. It felt weird, like I was just intruding on his private thoughts. With the rogues, it was different, everything was out in the open.
So who was that girl you were sitting next to yesterday at dinner?
Oh, Melanie?
Yeah, so who is this Melanie?
That’s a story better told in person. What? He couldn’t just tell me her name and not explain.
Ken, just tell me.
She’s my mate. He thought happily and I could literally feel his whole mind warm into a foreign emotion. And that was love.
So Ken. . . found his mate? Then what about Aria? Did she know?7
When did this happen? How did you two meet? Where did you meet her? Is she really your soulmate?
Sorry, this isn’t twenty questions. I told you it’s a story better told in person. And with that last thought, Ken left.
*****
I caught up in my schoolwork pretty quickly. Except for Mr. Leonard’s class. He gave me a week to makeup a month’s worth of tests and homework and expected me to take a test on stuff I’d been absent for tomorrow. All of my other teachers gave me a month to catch up and three even offered to tutor me after school if I needed help.
“Ms. Brook, what is the answer?” Mr. Leonard singled me out and I froze, wanting to make myself as small as possible.
“I, uh-”
“Four hundred twelve.” Law spoke up.
“I didn’t ask you, Mr. Tanger.” Despite saying the correct answer, the teacher practically glared at him.
“You’re welcome.” Law replied with an edge to his voice and Mr. Leonard didn’t challenge him. He continued on with his lecture and I turned gratefully to Law.
“Thanks,” That was the only conversation between us until the bell rang.
“I’ll walk you to your next class.” Law offered with Even correcting him,9
“We’ll walk you to your next class.”
“Aren’t you supposed to wait for Aria?” I asked, feelig weird about having people walk me to my classes. It’s not like I needed protection twenty-four seven.
“You’re the Moon Goddess, Hazel, not her.” Even said as we left the classroom and headed for the history hall.
When I looked back into the crowded hallway, I met the eyes of someone I didn’t want to see.
As soon as Aria spotted me, she stalked over to me with Harry behind her. Both looked pissed off.
“I’m still not convinced she’s the Moon Goddess, I mean, look at her.” Aria said lowly so only me and the three other werewolves could hear.
“Is everything about looks with you?” I asked, “How shallow.” I wanted to cover my mouth, I couldn’t believe I said that to her face.
Aria growled and I didn’t have to read her mind to know that she wanted to kill me. For real this time, no joking around.
“You think you’re so damn special, don’t you? Oh, I’m Hazel, look at me being all so special and perfect all the fucking time.”
I wanted to stay calm, fade into the background like I always had.
But the Goddess inside wanted to fight and stand up for myself. The way I never had.
So I did.
“I’ve tried to support you and be the good sister I know am but I’m tired of keeping it all in. I know it’s hard for you to accept that you aren’t the special one anymore but. . . but I hope you’ll understand that things change, sometimes for the better.”