Curse of the Moon Goddess
Last Time Together

I could feel disappointment boiling inside of me as I took in the scene before us. I had given strict orders that I was to be informed if anyone outside our pack came onto our land. Apparently, I needed to do some major security training. But some of that frustration melted into pudding as I heard the musical whisper say, “No way.”

I opened my mouth to say something to Sage but was cut off by the horrific sound of two girls squealing and running into one another’s embrace. I stood in stunned silence, as did everyone else, as Sage and her friend began talking rapidly, tripping over one another’s words.

I could only catch bits of the conversation.

“Oh my gosh, what are…”

“Girl! What have you been doing …”

“Is everyone ok?”

“Are you ok? What’s with the bump?”

“I can’t believe you’re here!”

“This is so crazy.”

“I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Adam and I were worried sick…”

“You shouldn’t have come here…”

“Who’s the hottie?” her friend asked, silencing Sage as she glanced over to see who her friend was referring to.

Our eyes met briefly. I looked away first as Venessa let out a low warning growl that I immediately silenced with a look. I may not know everything about Sage’s friends, but they are obviously human.

“Let’s breath a second,” Sage said, taking a literal deep breath.

Her friend let out a giggle but didn’t say anything.

“Ok. Let’s start with introductions. Everyone, meet my best friend Lizzy. Lizzy, this is Jace, Venessa, Ian, and Lukas,” Sage said pointing to each person in turn.

“Who’s he?” Lukas said, nodding to the guy still standing by the door.

Sage turned to look to see who he was referring to.

“Adam! You’re here too?” she exclaimed, surprise and something else tinging her voice.

“Nice to see you too Sage,” the guy, Adam, chuckled out as he moved in and embraced Sage.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as I took in Sage’s stiff form awkwardly hugging Adam back. Were those two a couple? From the way he looked at her I’d say that was the case. Except for the way Sage didn’t notice his presence. She had been solely focused on Lizzy and completely disregarded him. Maybe it was a one-way thing then.

I felt my wolf hum with satisfaction at the thought of Sage rejecting this guy. He didn’t like the idea of any guy liking Sage, but he did like the idea of her rejecting them. What was with him? Shouldn’t he be acting like that with Venessa?

I had lived enough lifetimes to know how my wolf was. He always went crazy when we found a new mate. Not because he didn’t care for Aleina’s wolf, but because his natural instincts would take over. Even the times where I met the reincarnated Aleina my wolf never went crazy over her. We decided it was because her scent changes. For us it stays the same since we are practically the same person over and over again. For her though, her scent is always based off of the life she grows up. I remember the last time I saw her like it was yesterday.

I was alpha of the Midnight Lightning Pack. It was Christmas time in 1852 and all the single wolves in the surrounding area were invited to a party hosted by the council. The council were a set of wolves chosen by the Moon Goddess to serve in the capacity of peacemakers and rule makers. You knew you were called to that position when you first shifted. Each of them would have a crescent moon on their forehead. I guess the Moon Goddess was generous enough to give them time to live with their families before they were whisked away to start training. She was cruel, but she did have a soft spot for children.

At the time, I had just rejected my newest mate. It was still a fresh wound on my heart, so the council decided it would be wise for me to attend the Christmas party. My beta and gamma had already found their mates, so there was no point in them coming. But that didn’t keep them from arranging a fitting for a new suit for me and replaceing a bright red mask for me to where. I still don’t know whose dumb idea it was to make this Christmas party a mascaraed. After all, if we do replace our mate we will know regardless of a mask.

I hated the idea of going. I already knew I wouldn’t meet a second mate there. There was no way I was going to tell my beta and gamma that though. So, I was stuck in a brand-new tux with a bright red mask going to a party I didn’t want to be at.

Upon arriving, I kept to the back corners of the room, not wishing to dance or mingle. To be honest, I was actually wallowing in self-pity about the predicament I was in. My wolf wasn’t helping as he was whining constantly in my head.

I finally decided to do the one thing I hated most. Eat sweets. There was an array of amazing looking goodies all along one wall. I didn’t have a major sweet tooth, but when I was depressed it was straightway to the sugar.

To my disappointment, I didn’t make it far before someone tapped on my shoulder.

“Alpha Richard?” a man asked.

I nodded as my name at the time was Richard. I’ve had so many names I’m not sure I remember what the first name I had was.

“I heard you recently rejected your mate. Is that correct?”

I wanted to flinch but managed to control myself. Again, I nodded.

The man didn’t sound condescending as he continued to speak, “A she-wolf from my pack recently rejected her mate as well. She’s been having major depression and I’m afraid she won’t last much longer. Could you please speak with her? I know it’s a lot to ask since you don’t know her, but she is someone I care deeply about.”

“Oh?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

The man chuckled, “Not in any romantic way. She’s my cousin. We both come from only child homes, so she is the closest thing I have to a sibling. Please. Will you at least talk to her?”

I wanted to hesitate or come up with some excuse to say no, yet I found myself nodding and following the man to a back corner of the room.

“Alpha Richard. Let me introduce Natalia,” the man announced, gesturing to a dazzling woman hidden in the shadows.

I bowed low and spoke gently, “Nice to meet you Natalia. You have a lovely name.”

She gave a quiet smile as she curtsied and replied, “It is an honor to meet the infamous Alpha Richard.”

I chuckled, noticing Natalia’s cousin making his escape.

We both stood there uncertainly for a moment. Unable to bear the awkwardness I held out my hand as a new song started and asked, “May I have this dance?”

She smiled at me with a nod and placed her hand in mine. I led her out onto the outskirts of the circle of dancing couples.

Once in a spot I was comfortable with, I used her hand in mine to guide her in front of me. I gently placed my right hand midway on her back as she rested her left hand on my shoulder. We swayed back and forth to the music, enjoying the sound and rhythm.

“I love this song,” she abruptly announced.

Taken back a bit, I nodded too.

“I love this song too. It reminds me of someone I once knew,” I said, unable to keep the sadness out of my voice.

The song playing was Aleina’s favorite song. It was a rendition of one I had written for her when I first confessed my love to her. It evolved over time to the point only some of the original notes were still apart of the song. Yet, no matter what version of it I hear I think of her.

“I take it that someone was very close to you,” Natalia observed.

I nodded. Then, for some unknown reason I blurted out, “Why did you reject your mate?”

I couldn’t ignore the pain on her face as I asked, but instead of ignoring the question or stomping off she replied, “I’ll answer your question based on how you answer mine. Why would you like to know?”

“I too rejected my mate. I know my reasons, so I was curious what yours were,” I replied as honestly as I could.

If I was being a hundred percent honest, I didn’t like the idea of rejecting mates. Even though Aleina and I were the first to reject ours I didn’t approve of the reasoning others give for rejecting theirs. Ours was for the one we love. Others seemed to do it because they wanted someone richer, stronger, better looking, etc. All things that were so superficial. However, there were those few who did it because of the horrid personality of their mate. I’d met a few whose mate was an abusive person. I wished some of those would have rejected their mate.

Seeming to like my response she said, “In all honesty, I’m not sure. He has everything. Wealth, the looks, is my cousin’s beta, etc. I just didn’t feel the connection to him the way everyone describes it to be. And my wolf, well, she wouldn’t let me accept him. She kept telling me that I’d understand one day. You probably think I’m crazy too. Everyone does.”

I shook my head frantically.

“Come with me,” I said, pulling her off the dance floor, out the side doors, and to the fountain by the forest I knew was there since I had ordered it to be built five lifetimes ago.

Once we stopped, she asked, “What is it? Is something wrong?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head again, unable to contain the bubbling excitement growing with each second, “In fact, if I’m right, then everything is perfect.”

She raised a blonde eyebrow quizzically.

“Do you have a half-moon scar?”