Dead Luna
Chapter 5

Amelia's POV

I slowly become aware that I am lying on a soft velvety surface. I open my eyes, and can hardly believe what I am seeing! I'm in an immense room, almost entirely filled with shelves that appear to contain many thousands of neatly arranged books. There is an ornate table in the center of the room, with carvings of the moon phases adorning the legs, and a comfortable looking arm chair upholstered in dark blue velvet. I next notice 2 beautiful chandeliers hanging down just above the table, and the tall ceiling above has paintings of gods and goddesses, with the moon goddess in the very center of it all. Sconces places between each grouping of shelves give additional lighting to the room. Although I sense that the beautiful fixtures are completely unnecessary, and that the room actually would have had sufficient lighting regardless of the number of fixtures. But it certainly looks impressive to me.

Sitting up, I replace that I had been lying upon a dark blue velvet upholstered chaise lounge. It feels real to my touch, but Im not positive that any of this is actually real. I suspect that everything I see within the room is nothing more than a projection of my expectations, if that makes any sense.

I turn to my right and see a gorgeous dark brown wolf staring curiously at me with her emerald green eyes. I'm not afraid, I can sense that she is super chill and she feels very familiar to me, somehow.

"Oh, what a beautiful wolf you are!" I tell her, and give her soft brown fur a gentle scratch behind her ears.

You aren't too hard on the eyes, yourself, girlfriend! I hear her reply in my head, and then she licks my hand. I giggle at the unexpected response, then give her a hug, so relieved to not be alone in this strange but wonderful place.

I suddenly recall what happened to me before I awoke here, and look down at myself. I'm wearing a loose fitting plain white dress. I feel all around my stomach with my hands, but no longer feel any pain where I was stabbed. Am I in a hospital? Or... "Am I dead? Is this heaven?" I ask out loud in confusion. "Or is this just all in my head?"

The wolf c***s her head like she is considering the question. I'm not sure. Let's ask Selene!

I become aware of another presence in the room. A tall willowy woman with inky black hair in a flowing white dress adorned with dark blue and gold embroidery is standing over near one of the shelves, and appears to be searching for just the right volume. She pulls one off the shelf, opens it, and appears to read it for a moment before she shakes her head and puts it back on the shelf. Another volume is selected, and once she has peeked inside, she seems satisfied, and brings it over to the table and takes a seat. Then she beckons us to come closer.

"Welcome, Amelia! Welcome, Ambrosia! We are together at last!" The goddess Selene addresses us with her musical voice, and we both bow to her. "I have such plans for us, I can hardly wait to get started!"

Ambrosia and I glance at each other, both wondering what the moon goddess has in mind for us, and more than just a little concerned.

"Oh, don't look like that, it'll be fun! Mostly."

Selene points at the page in the book and asks me to look. I'm surprised to see myself on the page, lying on a hospital bed, unmoving. And I'm very surprised to see Leonard Hart sitting on a chair and gripping my hand tightly, sobbing his heart out, Alpha Derrick and Alpha Zachary standing nearby with tears leaking from their eyes. I feel sorrow for their pain, and realize it's my own death that has brought so much suffering to them all. "So I really am dead?"

"Well, yes. And you can remain that way if you really wish to." Selene says, then looks at the book again. "I had hoped if I paired the two of you together that you would teach Leonard to be less selfish, and to care about someone besides himself. He has only now realized his error, but still he has much to learn. You could still teach him that. It's your choice!"

Then the goddess points at the Alpha of Iron Peak. "Zachary needs someone to steady him, and accept him despite his womanizing behavior of the past. You could be the rock of dependability that he needs. If you choose to be."

Then Selene looks tenderly at Alpha Derrick, and pauses for a moment before telling me his story. "Derricks' wolf Harry has asked me personally to alter fate and let him be your fated mate."

I gasp. "Would you really do that for him?"

"Do you know what is happening in Green Mountain right now?" Selene asks, ignoring my question for now. But I suspect I know the answer anyway.

"The alpha meeting?"

"Exactly!" The goddess confirms. "10 alphas have come together for a meeting. 4 of them are unmated. I've been very busy lately and these wolves have been sadly neglected by me. I need your assistance to replace them the mates that are most suitable for them all. And you may choose whichever one that you'd like for yourself. Or none, if that is your wish."

I think about everything I've just been told, and feel that it's quite a daunting task.

"What about the other two alphas? What sort of mates will they need?"

"So you've decided to help me, then?" The goddess asks with a twinkle in her pale blue eyes. "I'm so glad!"

"Alpha Jerome of Bull Run looks like a big brute of a man at first glance. He's a little rough around the edges. But he has a gentle side especially for his destined mate. He wants someone to protect and care for. Oh, and lots of pups!"

I blush at that. I've always longed to be a mother, as I'm sure Selene is aware.

"Alpha Craig of the Silver Falls pack desires a woman who is his equal, strong and independent of spirit! But he also needs someone with a sense of fun and adventure, to balance his serious side."

"Ambrosia knows all the rules that must be followed, and she's volunteered to help you with this task. You will work together, and will very likely help more than just these few people, I suspect. Ambrosia will act like a direct link between the two of us, so any questions or concerns you have, she will provide all the answers you need. I have faith in both of you. Now we must get you back there quickly, for if you remain dead for more than half an hour then even my powers could not bring you properly back to life. It's not at all pleasant to come back after the rigor mortise sets in!"

"But first, we must address what has happened to you, before you move on to your appointed task. Otherwise you won't be able to cope emotionally."

"The attack?" I manage to squeak.

"That, among other things." She tells me gently. "Your father, whom you have never known. Soon you will learn all, but do not press your mother for answers until she is ready."

I nod. Of course moon goddess understands my desire to understand who I am and where I come from.

"Leonard Hart." Selene tells me next, and I gasp in surprise. "He is starting to feel some remorse for his behavior over the years, but he still has so much more to learn. You need to help him as well, if you can. If you feel that he has become worthy, you may help him to replace a second chance mate. Or not. It will be your choice. And he must prove himself worthy within the next few months by helping you with this task that I have given to you."

I nod in understanding. I'm not sure I like it, but it sounds like I'll need all the help I can get. And if the moon goddess asks this of me, who am I to say no?

"Now. We must deal with the attack that ended your life, before you can begin anew. This will be painful, but I'll be as quick and as gentle as I can." Selene tells me, as she wraps me in a warm embrace. Then she instructs me to close my eyes, and to think about the men who attacked me, to remember all the feelings, the fear, the pain and humiliation. Everything.

I begin to cry and I scream in agony, remembering all the horrible things that happened to me.

"My sweet child," Selene croons softly in my ear as I sob on her shoulder. "None of this was your fault. You are not to blame. And from now on you will be loved and protected. You will go forth now into the world with my blessing upon you, and I will always be with you. Always."

"Now it is time to say farewell, and good luck!"