Wren POV
The years passed without incident. Selene stayed true to her word, and so did I. She allowed the werewolves to find their mates as they always had, and once a month, I joined her in her palace. At first, it was awkward and we found it difficult to converse with one another, but eventually, we grew to be friends. We spent our time together laughing and drinking tea. We watched the werewolf world from above and predicted when they would find their mates. Of course, Selene was better at the game than I was, but I suspected she cheated.
I watched the werewolves I knew from before find their mates and fall in love. It was beautiful, and I don't think I can ever repay Selene for the opportunity she gave to me. Still, there was one I kept a close eye on. Sadie.
She never searched for her mate. Instead, she stayed hidden in the shadows, ashamed of what she had done in the name of a forbidden crush.
About two years after she returned to Earth, Mother held a mate ball. Sophie and Scarlett insisted that Sadie go. A handsome Beta from the South Pack claimed her as soon as she walked through the door.
She dreaded the Texas heat and complained about leaving her sisters, but when he kissed her on the hand like a true southern gentleman, she followed him like a love-sick puppy. He treats her like a queen, and I found myself thanking Selene for blessing her with such an adoring mate.
Selene leaned back in her throne and smiled. I got the feeling she missed Sadie more than she would ever admit aloud. It is a void that I could never fill for her, no matter how hard I tried.
In the Immortal Realm, the twins grew too quickly, and their curiosity about the magic that stirred beneath their veins grew. I tried to teach them, but their magic was beyond that of the Immortal Realm, and I knew I was failing them. Veyra knew it too.
It wasn't long before Veyra asked to accompany me on my monthly trips to Selene. She begged, claiming the Moon Goddess could teach her what I couldn't, and she wasn't wrong. Destin and Charlie protested, refusing to see the change in the Goddess, but when Veyra pushed out her bottom lip and begged, they couldn't deny her.
Selene doted on her as if she were her own. She decorated a wing of her palace to appease Veyra. She taught her everything she needed to know about the celestial magic within her. She allowed Veyra to create mate bonds between the werewolves and assigned her responsibilities over them. With each passing month and year, they grew closer together, and I feared I was losing her to the Moon Goddess. By the time Veyra was sixteen, she demanded that she be allowed to stay on the Moon with Selene.
I wanted to refuse, but in the end, I knew it wasn't my decision to make. I dropped to my knees and begged her to wait two more years, but the child I had raised as my own simply smiled and shook her head no.
"I belong here," she assured me. "Just like you belong on the werewolf throne."
"I left that life behind," I croaked.
"You belong there," Veyra whispered. Her eyes sparkled with a wisdom that was beyond her years.
My eyes filled with tears. "I am not ready to lose you."
Selene took pity on me. "My sweet child, return to say goodbye to your family. Then you can return here to finish your training."
Veyra straightened her shoulders and nodded. Then we found ourselves in front of the cabin we had made a home for the past eleven years. I struggled to walk inside, but Veyra didn't. She had always known who she would be and what was best for her. This moment would be no different.
Now, I sit in the corner of our living room, and try to fight back the tears gathering in my eyes. The raised voices of Charlie and Destin are not helping my anxiety.
Destin turns to me with anger burning in his eyes. "You told her she could go."
I hang my head, not wanting to meet the gaze of my mate. "Veyra is a smart girl, and if she believes this is right for her, I will not stand in her way."
Charlie growls. "You know what Selene has done."
Veyra gets to her feet, standing toe to toe with the man she has considered a father. "You only chose to see the bad."
Destin scoffs. "And you believe she has changed."
Veyra looks to me for help, and I groan loudly. "She has."
"What if this is all a trap?" Destin roars.
A thumping sound pulls my attention. Coren is dragging a suitcase down the stairs and gestures for his sister to join him. Veyra rushes to his side, and he tucks her under his arm. "I am going with her."
A sob heaves in my chest, and tears fall down my cheeks. I expected Veyra to leave, but I never thought they would both choose the Moon Goddess over their home here. Coren drops to his knees in front of me.
"You have been the best mother I could ever hope for, but I need to be with Veyra. I am going to protect her."
I nod my head. "I know."
Charlie snarls. "Do we not get a say in this?"
Coren turns his gaze to my mates. "You have given us the best life here, but now it is time for us to fulfill our destiny."
"You can do that from here," Destin argues, but he knows that isn't the case.
Silence falls over the room, and I rise to my feet. "I think it is time that I stop running from my responsibilities as well."
Charlie's brows wrinkle with confusion, but Destin sighs. "Many things have changed in eleven years, Kitten."
My teeth grind together. "I know, but the weight of the werewolf crown can't rest on my mother forever. It would be selfish of me to do that to her."
Charlie's eyes light up with excitement. "We are going home?"
"I think so," I glance at Destin. "If that is okay."
Destin reaches his hand out for me. "I go where you go."
The End