The Unwanted Luna
Chapter 59

I watch the images in defeat as they keep replaying before me. Each and every one of them tore me apart again and again.

When I agreed to come to the river, I thought it would be easy. Dip myself in the water and then emerge feeling like a burden has been lifted. That it would cleanse me of whatever was holding me back and that would be it.

I never imagined that I would have to face my past again. That I would have to relive the betrayal. But seeing this now, I realize that I never did heal. I pretended that I was okay. That I was over it but I never was. I had just managed to block it and pretend that the pain wasn't there. There was a reason that I was seeing this, and that reason was somehow connected to my cleansing.

"You can do this, Amelia" I tell myself.

These were just memories. They can hurt me only if I allowed them to. I've survived everything thrown at me. I wasn't going to let this one hurt me. I wasn't going to let it have a hold on me. With that determination, I focus on the memories instead of trying to escape it. I watch each and every action. Each and every word said. I dissect them as if they were a lab rat. "You've finally stopped trying to escape", the voice startled me and I almost face plant to the ground.

I was so focused that I didn't notice anyone approaching me.

I turn around and replace three women standing there. All beautiful and somehow identical.

"Hello Amelia, we finally meet", the first one said

I feel their power. It wasn't like any I've felt. Sure, it wasn't as potent as that of Khaos, but it was more powerful than the other deities. I knew who they were immediately. "Fates" I bow in respect.

"Get up child" a second voice said.

I stand up straight and look at them. They look behind me and I see the memories that I had been seeing in my mind were now being projected.

"We never wanted to hurt you or cause you so much pain, but this path was the only one that guaranteed the survival of not only the dark goddess but also the universe", the third one says.

I look at them in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"We are the fates, we see everything. We saw what would happen before your parents were even born. How Agron and Khaos would destroy everything. We did try to look at different scenarios, but the only one that ensured they wouldn't win was the path that would cause you most pain" the first one picks up from the third.

"If you knew, couldn't you have stopped it? Stopped the abuse that led Agron down the path of vengeance"

It was the more logical option, right?

"You have to understand that not everything is in our control. Khaos had already set her plans into motion and not even the three of us were strong enough to stop it once it began taking form" Fate number three explains.

The second fate continues. "We knew we had to act and so we put into motion your birth. We hoped that would be enough, but it wasn't. With every reality we saw, the most painful path was the one that guaranteed victory in the end. That's why we ordered Selene and Nolan not to interfere, no matter how painful it was to watch you suffer."

The first one then comes and holds my hand before turning me around to face the projection.

"What do you see?" she asks me.

"Pain"

"Look closely Amelia, What do you see?" she asks again. Her tone is patient and kind.

I stared at the images. Of everything that has happened from the moment my parents died to a few weeks ago.

"Strength" I finally answered in shock and wonder.

The second fate takes my other hand and squeezes it. "Yes, that's one of them. Everything you've been through has proven how strong you are. You survived Amelia, you rose from the ashes. Despite everything that was thrown at you, by the pack, Bianca, Xavier, Agron and Khaos, you still stood strong. I've never seen any of the deities hold the type of strength you have"

When she is done, the third fate adds.

"You've also shown loyalty, love, kindness, selflessness and determination. You could have let the pack rot in hell but you didn't. You were selfless enough to sacrifice yourself just so you wouldn't turn into a forsaken and hurt those you loved. I could go on and on, but Amelia, these memories don't have to be painful."

"They could represent something good. Something positive. You've endured so much but you've also gained so much. Your whole kingdom sings your praise and so does everyone around you. You've came a long way. The pain that you detest so much has shaped you into who you are today and you should be proud of the woman you've become" she finishes.

I let those words sink in and then stare at the memories with a new light. I see what they're talking about. I've been trying to hide my scars. To escape what happened but I shouldn't. What Bianca and Xavier did was shitty but I survived. I got a second chance. I got a life that I could never have imagined. Despite what Xavier did, he gave a gift. Tristan. I see it now. If I hadn't taken this path, I wouldn't have my baby boy. I would probably never have ascended. I would have never met Selene and Nolan and every other person, god, goddess or the creatures I have met. They were right. What happened to me doesn't have to be negative. I learned and I grew. I became a better version of myself. That is something to be proud of.

I feel the weight I have been holding lightening. I feel free. I feel weightless.

"Thank you for opening my eyes", I smiled.

"Welcome" they say all at once.

"One more thing" the first fate says. "Your bond with Xavier, do you still want it gone?"

"Oh right, I was to ask you why you made it strong and why you revived it?" I said instead of replying.

"We wanted it strong so that when the right time came it would be revived. You needed to face your feelings and your past. You wouldn't have confronted any of that if the bond wasn't there to confuse things.To bring up long forgotten feelings. We wanted to see if your love for him was truly dead. If you would succumb to the bond or you would resist it. We wanted to make sure that you were completely done with Xavier." The second one says.

"I'm not saying that what Xavier did was correct but because of the bond, you now get him, and he gets you. You understand how he felt when he was shackled with a bond he didn't want and he also gets how you felt every time he said he didn't want the bond and wanted to break it...that understanding was needed for your healing" she finishes.

I see some truth in what she said but it was still confusing to me. Part of it didn't make any sense whatsoever.

"Our time is up, but we will revisit the topic of the bond after your quest. If you still want Xavier, then it will stay. If not, we will break it. In the end it will be your choice" the first fate says.

I nodded my head. That was fair enough.

"What about Bianca? Why was Agron chosen as her mate?" I asked.

The third is the one that answers. "You may not remember this, but Bianca has always been a selfish little brat. She needed to be humbled. Needed to learn. Needed to be punished and we did that. That is also the reason why we took her wolf. She doesn't deserve one after how selfishly she acted"

"I don't get it? If this was part of your plan, then why is she being punished? She didn't have a choice, right?"

"That's where you're wrong, Lia. She always had a choice and so did Xavier. Nothing is ever set in stone. We told you that the path that had to get you to where you were had to be painful, but it didn't have to be this exact one. Xavier and Bianca had a choice but decided to be selfish. If they had stayed away from each other and Xavier had accepted you, a different path would have formed. It would still have led to the same measure of pain but at least you would have had your mate by your side. You wouldn't have been so alone" Fate number three said. "Instead they thought only about themselves and it's worse in Bianca's case because she is your sister. No matter what she believed you did, she should have stayed away from Xavier the moment she realized he was your mate. For that, we punished her. Xavier will also get his dues soon enough. Like you earthlings say, No one escapes karma. We are the fates and we're also karma. No one escapes us" she finishes.

I nodded my head and accepted her explanation. We always have a choice. Xavier and Bianca made theirs.

"Now we must go, but remember we are always with you. Once you have drunk the elixir, we will visit you again." The first says.

I respond with an okay and then they disappear as quietly as they came. I sit on the ground and stare at the projection of my life. I smile as I take in the no longer painful memories. I embrace everything about them because they're mine and they're a part of me. With that, my eyes closed and I let the feeling of peace wash over me.