A loud growl was the only warning it issued, and then the white lone wolf was charging towards the Goddess of Love in fury and righteous vengeance.
It was in that moment that Alpha Killian Silvercrest realised just how much the Lunar Goddess had been fighting on his behalf in the shadows, how she had stayed true to her word, offering him her protection even though for the love of him, he could not think of anythingje had done to deserve such honour. Even Aphrodite, who normally seemed to be unfazed by anything actually did a double take on this one, for she instantly changed into a brilliant white dove, just managing to evade the angry wolf’s clutches by sheer luck.
“Easy, Mene… you have got to learn to take a joke sometimes,” Killian heard the Goddess of Love say in a sing-song voice… which was kind of crazy when you looked at it, because, she was technically an animal… but the Alpha without a pack was quickly learning that in the world of the supernatural— a world which he was very much a part of, everything was indeed possible. His only concern in that moment though was his mate’s dead body in wolf form, which was still hovering in the skies all thanks to the red beam, which did not seem to have faltered a little bit despite the two goddesses’ tussle, but it seemed that the two deities seemed to have forgotten all about her altogether.
“You cursed the wolf, Aphrodite… gave him a condition on what to do if he wanted the curse broken. He did everything you had asked of him… Killian broke the curse, so why are you going back on your promise now?”
By now, Killian was pretty sure that the entire dialogue was going on in his head… but he did not have the time or the desire to actually confirm it.
“Well, your interference is what has caused all of this in the first place, Mene… so you have no right to talk to me in that manner,” The dove—or should he say the raven haired beauty, (she wasn’t exactly that anymore now though) cleared her throat, trying to calm her quickly rising temper, “Look, why don’t we talk about this like the mature beings that I know we are?”
The Alpha heard no reply, and then there was that now familiar dazzling golden light. The white wolf was engulfed by the light, and then in its place stood the pretty woman that he had already had the privilege of meeting once, bathed in a pale opaline gleam—the Moon Goddess.
“Whatever it is that you have to say, you had best say it now and say it well,” She said in a loud echo, this time, that lovely smile he knew from before gone from her face. She was pissed off and rightly so too. “Lest we have another war of the Gods on our hands.”
Aphrodite's transformation was much quicker and without a much fanfare as the Moon Goddess’ own—just a poof of red light, and then she was back to her normal form in her rose bush dress. An amused gasp escaped her lips at the Moon Goddess’ words, “You, start a full out war? I could very well call your bluff out if I so wish, Mene… because we all know you would not dare,” She decided.
But Selene was quick to counter that, “If a fucking war is what it will take for you to leave the young wolf be, then you had best be rest assured that I will indeed resort to it, Aphro… and that I will not stop until you are totally destroyed.”
Perhaps, it was the seriousness with which the moon Goddess delivered her reply, or perhaps, it was something else entirely… but then the raven haired Goddess of Love, Lust, Beauty and Procreation's countenance quickly turned serious as well. “I must confess, Mene—though I say this not because you have so blatantly threatened me—that I have truly been doing some thinking, and I realise that perhaps, I have been too harsh in my judgement of the Silvercrests—”
“THEN FUCKING TURN OFF THAT LIGHT AND LEAVE MY MATE AND I ALONE SO I CAN FUCKING MOURN HER IN PEACE!” Killian cut off with an explosive outburst, having had enough of the seemingly fruitless banter. He had seen the Moon Goddess appear, and he had suddenly felt hope, but that hope was quickly dying by the minute.
“It would interest you to know where I am going with all of this, Silvercrest, so have patience and let me finish,” The Goddess of love told him calmly, a part of her amazed with her own character development— for had this been another time, she was not sure he would have still been standing after going off against her like that.
Such progress.
She liked it.
For all it was worth, if it came down to it, she guessed she had Selene to thank for all her new changes… because had the Goddess of the Moon not come to her that fateful afternoon on Mount Olympus, when she had been peacefully lounging on the courtyard, to complain about how harsh her punishment on Killian was, who knew what path she would have been on by now?
Granted, she had been her usual stubborn self at the confrontation, making things even worse for the poor wolf, but she had come around eventually, hadn’t she?
That was all that mattered if you asked her.
“I will restore your mate’s life, Silvercrest… and then I will grant her the same blessings the Red Moon seems to have bestowed upon you.”
“Which blessings?” Killian’s confusion was very much apparent, for he had not seen the new changes just yet, being consumed with thoughts of his mate. But his wild anger was slowly coming down, making him more susceptible to reason.
“Oh, you will see them soon.” Came her amused reply even as she flicked a hand. Suddenly the red beam which had been holding Kendra’s wolf suspended in the air began to bring her down, and then she slowly transformed into her human form right before the Alpha without a pack’s eyes, naked as the day she was born. The Alpha was by her side in a minute, overcome with this intense feeling to shield her nakedness from their watchful eyes… but when he touched her, all thoughts of concealing her from them vanished when he realised that she was not breathing and was still very cold to the touch.
Still very dead.
He raised his head and shot the two deities a confused and inquiring glance.
“Relax son, this will take quite a while,” Selene smiled at him. Her words most definitely assuaged his worries somewhat, but of course it did not stop him from watching over her like an overprotective mother. Turning to Aphrodite, the Moon Goddess said, “I am glad you have come to your senses, Aphrodite…”
“Well you did not exactly give me a choice, did you?” She countered begrudgingly, a small smile making its way onto her face as glint of gratitude made its way into her eyes. “For what it is worth, I was not going to kill Kendra.”
Killian shot her a pointed look at that… one that had her quickly taking back her words. “Alright fine… that had been the plan, but when I had finally managed to take it all away from you, Killian— everything you were slowly loving and coming to care about… the joy and the satisfaction I should have felt from being triumphant never came. Instead, all I felt was… regret.” She said the words as though she was unfamiliar with it, and truly, she was… for Aphrodite was one of those people who did things without thinking of the consequences.
But Killian believed her.
Her blue eyes were shining with so much openness that Killian could not help but believe her. “I would have restored her life anyway, even if Selene had not appeared.” She confessed softly.
“I find that all I can think of your supposed magnanimity is how much I hate it with all my heart,” Killian spat in her face, his hatred for her shining in his silver eyes, even though he knew she was speaking the truth. “You are talking about restoring Kendra’s life as though it is some favor you owe me when you know damn well that I have worked hard… suffered enough to have her in my life. It is the fucking least thing you owe me and my entire generation for how you almost wiped us off… so if you are expecting some kind of gratitude—or—or some kind of appreciation, then you are wasting your time, because you will not be getting it from me.” He finished, chest heaving from how passionately he had spoken.
“I like you, young Silvercrest… you are proud, strong… brave. I promise you this, you and your generation have my protection from now onwards…” Her gaze shot to Selene who seemed so proud of her, “Of course you already have Mene’s protection,” She said, “But you have mine as well and you have my word.”
There was a small cough from Kendra, and then she started to breath normally. Relief flooded the Alpha’s veins at the observation .
“Now, will you look at that,” Aphrodite grinned, her light blue eyes twinkling in delight, “I guess my work here is done.” Killian was surprised to see her sink with the rose bush, becoming smaller and smaller until she completely disappeared, leaving only the beautiful blooming bush in her wake.
In that same moment, Kendra’s eyes fluttered open. “Killian?”
The Alpha was by her side in a minute, hugging the life out of her, kissing her senseless… suddenly quite oblivious to the fact that one deity still remained, watching them with love and relief. But Kendra noticed her, breaking the kiss. Her mind was hazy, her memories quite befuddled… but from the way Killian clung to her, she was willing to bet her last penny that something dreadful had almost happened. “W—who is this, Kill?”
“Uh… this is, Selene—”
“The Moon Goddess!” Her bewilderment was apparent even as she lay in her mate’s arms, her naked state suddenly registering in her head.
But Killian was naked too, and he didn’t seem to mind?
The realisation settled her nerves a bit.
“Nice to finally meet you Kendra Sullivan.” The deity smiled down at her, the ivory light around her bathing her pale skin in an even more iridescent glow. “I am glad you honoured my blessing and got together with Killian despite your initial opposition.”
Kendra was humbled, “It was something I should have done a long time ago anyway, and so I guess I have you to thank for pointing me in the right direction.” She said.
“Everything is fine now,” Selene continued, assuring the two of them. “All the bad times are past, only good things await you two now. Go back to Silver Crest, reclaim the pack, build it, I will be there to reintroduce you two to the entire pack on your mateship ceremony.” She disappeared with those words, leaving only the ivory light in her wake, then the heard the words, “Peace be onto you, children of the Red Moon.”
And then she was gone.
The Red Moon seemed even bigger than before after she was gone, almost as though she had disappeared into it or something like that, it’s size and luminance catching their attention. They watched, mesmerised as the giant ball of light suddenly began to change colour.
Gradually and gradually, it went back to its normal ivory colour and then everything else was restored.
Kendra and Killian sank into each other in immense relief.
They had done it.
They had made it through the Red Moon.