The Alpha God’s Luna by Marissa Gilbert
Chapter 77. Epilogue III
When the royal couple of the West returned to their hidden home in the woods, Riannon dashed up the stairs. Her heart set on seeing the man she loved as much as Gideon, if not more.
She found her son sleeping peacefully in his bed with her Beta, Maya, sitting next to the crib while her own daughter, Danielle, was crawling on the prince’s fluffy playmat surrounded by toys.
“Hi,” Riannon smiled, her eyes on her beloved baby, who looked like a little angel. “How was he?”
“No episodes,” Maya smiled understandingly, while Dani destroyed a building cube tower at her feet.
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“Good,” Ria let out a deep sigh of relief. She was sure the Moon Goddess would have sent her a vision if anything was wrong, but after Fenrir and Joran’s bodies disappeared in front of her eyes, a faint but persistent doubt continued to gnaw at her soul. What if they didn’t win? After all, she didn’t have a single vision since they parted and did not know how her sister was doing.
They managed to leave the South unharmed, but the political situation between the countries left much to be desired. The North was accused of despicable things, and it was possible that soon they would have a choice to make. None of the options were good. They would either drop their biggest ally, The Northern Lycan Kingdom, or… would take their people to war. Probably the latter, if she was honest with herself. Gideon would never abandon his sister’s kingdom, and she personally felt safer allying with the northerners, considering they could be trusted. The South turned out to be a bigger problem than she anticipated. Barely anyone there wanted peace, and from what she saw, it looked like they were ready for war.
However, all that left her thoughts when Rafael made a cute little noise and opened his eyes. Right now, she had to be a mother first.
“Mummy is here,” Riannon smiled and played with the blonde curls on his head before picking him up. “I missed you so much!”
“He missed you too,” Maya confirmed, “and we are almost out of milk, so —would you mind?”
“Of course not.” The Queen’s lips curled. She loved their little connection. “Was it as bad as it looked on the news?” the Beta enquired sensing the unrest in Ria’s mood., “Yes and no. It’s complicated.” Riannon walked to her favourite armchair and settled in for a breastfeeding session. “We will have to have a long brief today. You will need to clear your week for strategizing and stuff.”
“Got you,” Maya nodded. “I will call the babysitters in. The Gamma and the Delta are already on the border.”
“Good.” Ria nodded, preoccupied by her thoughts. Luckily, her Beta was prepared for anything.
The unmistakable scent of a dirty nappy filled the air.
“Dani Again?” Maya sighed, rolling her eyes as she realised her baby needed yet another change. “I swear, sometimes this werewolf sense of smell is a curse,” chuckling to herself as she scooped up Dani and walked from the room, leaving Riannon in peace with her son. When the Queen lifted her gaze, instead of her Beta she saw Gideon leaning on the door frame.
“How is Raf Raf doing?” He asked, trying not to display his concern in front of her. Her husband always did that. He stayed strong so that she had the space to fall apart if she needed to.
“Maya said he has been great,” Riannon replied, undoing the buttons on her dress and offering her son a meal. The little lips found the breast in a second, latching on to it as his little hands entangled in her blonde locks. Rafael’s sweet scent enveloped her, and if she could, she would have stayed like this forever, alone with the two most important men in her life.
Gideon watched his family with pride, not wishing to disturb them, and yet he couldn’t help himself from saying, “You’ve never been more beautiful than now.”
Ria chuckled, knowing exactly how she looked after their long flight: hair dishevelled, yesterday’s makeup, circles under her eyes. Yet Gideon still looked at her as if what he was saying was true, and she loved him so much for it. Rafael made a displeased noise, not happy to have her attention anywhere else, and she returned her gaze to him.
“He is going to be one possessive Alpha,” his father noted and then froze as his Beta Reid mind linked him. “Ria, I need to go. A few urgent decisions have to be made.”
“I’ll see you at the briefing, then.” She nodded, knowing that he wouldn’t have left her if it wasn’t urgent, at the same time, trusting he would have told her what it was, if it required her presence. They had gotten that part of the King and Queen thing figured out.
“Love you both.” Gideon quickly reached his wife and son, giving a soft kiss to each of them, and left the blue-hued room.
Taking a moment more, savouring their time together, as Riannon gently settled the blissed out Rafael back into his crib, she felt a presence in the room.
Her sister’s aura was so different now. She could sense the divine energy and wasn’t sure how to behave.
“You should have told me,” Astrea appeared right next to her. She was wearing a long, flowing silver dress with intricate bead patterns adorning it, and her hair was much longer than the last time they saw each other. So different again. Ria smiled to herself, remembering how every time she saw her little sister, she was able to adapt and change from the innocent Astrid at The Luna Trials, to Astrea the assassin. Now, her sibling was a serene goddess who could alter the entire universe with a flick of her finger. The Queen of the West did not know how to respond given this change.
“You should have told me,” Astrea repeated more firmly.
“You had a lot on your plate as it is,” Riannon sighed, “besides, I already knew you cannot fix it.”
Astraea pursed her lips. She knew that too. However painful that was, healing the child now would require turning back time and the gods had definitely overused their intervention opportunities. This was why she had never attempted to so something like this before. Once you alter one destiny, then, when you need to change another, you no longer have a choice to do so anymore.
“I won’t leave it like this,” she promised. “I couldn’t! Perhaps, over time—”
“Astrea, please, I am not sure I am ready to talk about this.”
“I am so sorry, Ria. I would never forgive myself… If I hadn’t used that potion on you during the Luna Trials, it could have been different.”
Riannon placed her palm on top of the goddess’s hand, giving it a light squeeze.
“I don’t blame you, little sister. The Moon Goddess told my wolf that there is no way to know what caused this. Sadly, we will never get the answers and even if we did, they wouldn’t change a thing in Rafael’s life. Maybe it was the potion, maybe it was Jormungandr’s attack on me, or maybe it was our destiny all along. I personally prefer to blame Joran.”
Ria let out a bitter laugh, but at the same time, tears rolled down her cheeks. She was about to wipe them when Astrea caught her wrist and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Even if my hands are tied to heal him now, I promise you, he will never be alone,” she whispered.
“Will you stay?” Riannon asked, not wishing to let her sister go. “I can’t,” Astrea bit her lip to suppress a sob. “The divine realm is a mess. Someone is hunting the gods, no-one is safe. The balance is almost broken, and unless we mend it from up there, all realms could crumble.
It has already happened once in the past and it would be best not repeated. Not to mention these demons that have become active. I am really needed up there.”
“And what about us, here, in Midgard?” Riannon rebutted.
“Fenrir blessed both your countries, the North and the West. You should withstand even if the South attacks.”
“But what about the demons?” This time, the Western Queen distanced herself from her sister. “They attacked us! We barely managed to survive.
“We are working on that too, I promise.” Astrea clenched her sister’s hand. “I will never leave you alone. Not again.”
“Then why does it feel like I am losing you all over again?” Riannon exclaimed, letting the question slip off her tongue. She was always more reserved than that, but something told her Astrea would know how she felt, anyway.
“You will never lose me,” the goddess smiled. “And I have something for you.”
Riannon felt a row of beads materialising around her wrist.
“Is that—” She couldn’t believe this.
“They are mostly healing beads,” Astraea told her. “For when my nephew needs them, or you… if you’ve wasted too much of your gift helping him.”
“Thank you so much!” She did not know what else to say.
“I wish I could have done more for you now,” the goddess admitted. “You are not her anymore, are you? You are not Astrea.” The words were like daggers to them both.
“I am, and I am not.” The answer was the truth, a realisation they both had already harboured deep within. “You are family to me, Riannon, but I can’t stay in the mortal realm for long. I have the memories of my first life back, and the rest is returning to me little by little. Now, I am both Astrea and Astraea, but no matter what, you will always be my sister, and I will always come to your aid. One day, the balance will be restored, and we will meet again.”
“I will wait,” Ria said, tucking her face in her sister’s hair and wrapping her arms around her until she disappeared.
Riannon knew more about the rules of the divine world than any mortal, but still couldn’t help but feel the loss.
Rafael’s tiny arm twitched in his dream and Ria tensed, but when nothing followed, she breathed out in relief.
“It’s all going to be okay, Raf Raf,” she smiled at her son, knowing she needed to concentrate on him and his well-being now.
★ ★ ★
Salome placed her hands on the wall to help herself stretch her back. In the limited space of her modern cell, she quickly realised that keeping herself busy and moving was important not to go crazy. The walls blocked her magic and there was literally nothing else to do in here but pace.
The sounds of steps made her alert, but she did not plan to show this to any who visited her cage.
Hey.
Forrest Romero’s voice made her turn on her heels slowly and raise a questioning brow at him. “It took you long enough!” She folded her hands over her chest.
“Getting a criminal out of prison during this chaos is not an easy matter,” he retorted with a smirk, showing her a paper in his hands with the southern seal and stamp, “but I did it, and now you are officially working for me, under probation.”
“Yay,” she said unenthusiastically. “Lucky me.”
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He moved his fingers, ready to rip the document in two, and deep inside she felt he’d do it, if she didn’t stop him.
“No need,” she shrugged. “I guess working for you is better than staying here.”
“You still have to be careful,” he warned her. “Your new workplace is connected to your private quarters and you are not allowed anywhere else. Sorry, but this is the best I can do for now. We will work on better conditions over time.”
“Fine.” The witch decided not to argue. This was the best any of them could be expected to do right now.
Fenrir was gone, there was nothing for her in Solace anymore. Coming back there would be too painful.
At the same time, with her new criminal reputation, going back to her Coven would also be a mistake. This was indeed the best she could do presently. Not to mention that hopefully, thanks to general Romero, she would have insider information to send to her friends.
Forrest took her away from the Alpha Convocation building, but she noted that they didn’t drive for long, despite him covering her eyes on the way. She also had to wear the magic blocking cuffs. However, he handed her the key for those on their way down a lengthy corridor to her new abode, allowing her to remove the blindfold from her eyes.
“Where are we?” the witch asked, looking around and noting the old stone walls. It looked like a castle, but the South did not have many castles, as far as she remembered.
“It’s probably best you don’t know for now,” the wolf general confessed.” Baby steps, okay?”
“Baby steps?” she scoffed. “Are you serious? For now? I saved your as.s during a demon invasion, and you took me from one prison to another.”
“And this is exactly why I am doing this.” Forrest opened the massive wooden door before her with a badge, and she realised that the old look of the building was just a façade.
The room with tall ceilings was filled with all the equipment she could possibly need. Jars with rare ingredients, glass bottles for potions, test tubes for experiments, and anything else a witch could possibly have need of for her work, were here on massive wooden tables. It was a complete laboratory, and she was impressed by how prepared he had been.
Still, she wasn’t going to show it.
“So, your surprise is more work for me?” She rolled her eyes at the general.
“No,” Forrest shook his head, and now she was finally interested.
Salome followed his gaze and only now noticed a dark figure in the corner.
“What are you doing here?” She gasped as tears stung her eyes. She thought they agreed she would deal with all of this alone, but here he was.
“I am not officially here. Not yet.” Warg informed her, pushing off the wall. She threw the handcuffs, the key and the binding from her eyes at Forrest before running to her friend.
He caught her in a tight embrace, and she felt so safe in his large arms. Safe and guilty.
Warg shouldn’t have done it. He shouldn’t have come here for her. Not when she wasn’t offering anything in return.
“I am the ambassador from the Eastern Kingdom,” he informed her with a slight curl to the corner of his lips. “It is my job to stay here now and improve the connection between our countries.”
Salome smiled. “That’s—amazing, Warg.”
“Sorry, but we need to go now,” Forrest informed them. “It was already trouble enough to bring you here today, but over time, we will work on letting you two see each other more often.”
“You do know that no one actually attacked the South, right?” Salome furrowed her brows at Romero. “It was Vincent all along.”
“Do you have proof of that by any chance?” Forrest tilted his head and watched the witch cast her eyes down. “I thought so. Until we get the proof, I am afraid my hands are tied. But I do hope for the support of the East in suppressing this war.”
“And you’ve got it,” Warg promised.
“I’ll help too,” Salome joined them. “Whatever it takes.”
“Well then,” Forrest went to the huge fridge installed into one of the walls and produced a bottle of champagne, “I think we should celebrate our new alliance then.”
Nikki finished unpacking and sat on the old couch, looking around. After Joran and Fenrir disappeared, she managed to slip into her Teacher’s old bedroom and found his briefcase with a stack of fake documents, money and cards. Altogether, it was enough for a small house in the middle of nowhere. Including making her traces disappear for anyone who could have been of interest.
Just perfect for her because, she wanted peace.
Forrest helped her to cremate Bjorn’s body, and all she had now from that big, incredible love of hers was the urn with his ashes.
Better than nothing, but not nearly enough.
If only she didn’t ask him to return… If only she thought of him more than of Astrea back then… If only…
An ethereal light illuminated the room, making her jump to her feet.
Astrea knew she couldn’t count on a warm welcome, but the hate she saw in her friend’s eyes was still unexpected.
“Nik-“
“Go away,” Nikiah said and turned away as if she wasn’t in the presence of a goddess.
“Niki, I am so sorry.”
The words would never be enough because of what was taken from her. If anyone in the entire world knew what it was like, it was Astrea.
“I am sure you are.” The Firstborn let out a bitter chuckle. “I still got visited second after your real sister, right?”
“Niki, it’s not like that,” Astrea tried to protest, but saw her friend clenching her fists harder.
“You know what his last words were?” The Firstborn turned to face her former mentor. “Do you even want to know?!”
The Goddess of Stars nodded.
“He said that gods cannot be trusted, and honestly, I now think that Darius knew exactly what he was talking about! You—you use us for as long as we are useful, and then you are done and move on. While us mortals have to gather up the pieces after your divine intervention.”
“Niki, I came to—”
“You came to make yourself feel better, but you know what, you have others for that. It’s not my job anymore!”
“I am sorry you lost him,” Astrea said, locking their gazes. “I still think you would like to know that now he is finally at peace.”
Nikiah’s lips parted in shock.
“You saw him?”
“It will be a while until his soul is ready to “see” anyone, but he is in a peaceful place. He is not tortured anymore. Bjorn—Darius is happy now.”
Niki didn’t know why it hurt her even more than before now.
“I have something for you.” Astrea broke the silence.
“I need nothing from you.”
“It’s not from me,” the goddess stretched out her arms and an old blue wooden box appeared in her hands. “It belonged to him.”
Niki recognised that box. It used to stand on a mantle in Darius’ old room on the Firstborn island, and she was never allowed to touch it.
Finally, she would have something of his. Something to remember him by.
“Thank you.” She took the box out of Astrea’s hands and turned away not to let her see her teary eyes. Her anger faded slightly, but it didn’t change anything.
“I just want you to know that if I could—”
“But you can!” Nikiah faced her again, fury rippling through her. “You are the most powerful goddess ever to exist. I did my homework. You can turn back time. Or you can give his soul a new host. You can do so many things, but you just brought me an old box of his old cr.ap!”
“Niki, things are bad up there. We can’t make big changes anymore.”
“And why is that?” The Firstborn laughed through tears. “Oh yes! It’s because your love and his brother entertained themselves with a mortal war, blessing everyone on their way and taking that opportunity from others. All of you — are the same! And now I—I have to live my life alone with my memories of the life that could have been!”
She finally let out a loud sob and covered her eyes.
“You are not alone,” Astrea said softly, taking a hesitant step towards her former student.
“No offence, but I don’t want you in my life anymore!” Niki announced, and although it hurt like hell, Astrea stepped back, respecting her decision.
“I am not talking about me,” she said, and Niki stopped crying, darting her gaze back at her ex-friend.
“What are you—”
“Don’t you know yet?” Astrea tilted her head. “You are with child, Niki.”
The werewolf’s hands slid down to her stomach. She was sure it was all the stress eating, but now, when she touched her slightly rounded belly, it felt so different.
Darius’s child. She would have her child. A piece of him was living in her. A piece of him will forever live in this world.
He wasn’t entirely gone.
“Niki, I know you don’t want to hear from me for now,” Astrea used the opportunity, “but know that I will never leave you. Not really. I will not be able to visit for some time, but I will always look over you and your little one.”
The Firstborn wasn’t sure what to reply to that. Too many thoughts were in her head.
All this… it wasn’t the end.
“As I have said,” Astrea cleared her throat, “I will not be able to be here for at least a few years, so I want you to have this.
She touched the young woman’s wrist, and a row of beads appeared on it. “Use it for you and your son’s protection,” Astrea asked, and slowly, Nikki managed to offer her a nod. Those beads were priceless. Those beads meant protection.
She would have a son. His son. With silver hair and the strength of a bear. “Thanks,” the Firstborn brushed her fingers over the cold beads. “Niki-”
“It’s not that I don’t want to forgive you,” she said, interrupting the goddess. “I just can’t. At least not now. Not soon. It would feel like betraying him.”
“I understand.” Her old mentor forced a little smile on her face. “You can call me anytime. I will come to help you, I swear. It’s the truth because—”
“The words of the gods are binding,” Nikiah finished for her. “But, they also, always, have a double meaning. Leave me. At least for now.”
This wasn’t how Astrea wanted their last meeting to be, but she had to accept it.
“I hope to see you again,” she added before disappearing.
Niki was finally alone, her hand still on her stomach. She cried for weeks and now, for the first time since Darius’s death, her lips curled into a warm smile.
“Hello, my little cub.”
Now that she thought about it, she would never be alone again.
Bastian hoped to leave unnoticed. He hated long goodbyes, and knowing his friends, they would want to throw him another party. So, his plan was simple. Just portal to the mortal realm and be done with it.
“Going somewhere?” His father’s voice startled him and he slowly turned on his feet.
“We really don’t need to do this.” He was by his parent’s side for centuries, trying to repay him for what had been done to him.
Bash knew really well that he wasn’t a product of love, yet his father tolerated him. Fenrir was to be admired.
“Let’s agree to disagree.” The ruler of Asgard arched his brow.
“I just want a taste of freedom and independence!” Bash let out a chuckle. “You were always free. I hope you know that.”
He knew, but… he had never really felt it before. The debt he placed on himself, the fault… they were too real and the nicer Fenrir was to him, the worse he felt. Surely, he did not really think he was his son. When Astraea gave him children, they would be his real family and heirs.
Now, his job was done, and he had to leave to give them peace and let them be happy without any reminders of the past.
“Anyway,” Fenrir cleared his throat, “I have something for you, Skoll.”
“What is it?” He flinched hearing his old name, but tried to play it cool. “You are going to look for the Hunters,” his father reminded him, “I am not the one to prohibit you from doing anything. You know that. After all, you have long passed an age of needing to listen to me. However, I can’t let my child go on such a quest without some additional… help.”
“Please, don’t make me take the mad flying horse!” he begged.
“I wish!” Fenrir rolled his eyes laughing heartily, “but Astraea would never part with that thing. However, I can easily part with something else in my possession.”
He stretched his hand, and immediately, Odin’s spear appeared in it.
“You can’t!” Bash couldn’t contain his astonishment.
“I absolutely can,” his father insisted. “It is yours now. It’s about time I create my own damn divine weapon, and I would feel better knowing that you, if I knew had this one in your possession during your adventures. Use it at your will. You have my complete trust, Skoll.”
The young wolf wrapped his fingers around the cold metal spear and felt electricity ripple through him as the power within acknowledged him as its new owner.
“Just— be careful when you pierce people with it,” Fenrir warned him. “It may revive them and leave you with… complications. Just saying.” ‘‘I’ll keep this in mind,” Bash smirked. “Thanks.”
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. “And now go, son. Write your own story.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE: The book is officially done, and now I can go and lie down. Maybe show my kids I am still alive, haha. Thank you so much if you read this story until this chapter. I will be back with His Shadow Luna and The Forgotten Bond very soon.