e Woman Chose

y

ber like a death sentence while I watch every Elder who

ile trying to stand thereby k

row

rop

ten the most powerful peo

around, his sharp gray eyes

hat you j

Priest is waiting

nd continue, "He said the Mo

le

g in the fireplace sud

ian's expression shifted from his cold expression to that of con

rd the door, while the Elders hurried aft

I was left alone in

ll

se two female guar

ou be taken to the easter

lin

astern

no

ay there unt

nig

woman

ne gently

is

floors reflected the golden chandeliers hanging overhead. Portraits of pa

we

hor

nt

g this pa

that I had

they were doing to stare

s followed me

's the b

he's only

thin

She's carrying t

y she k

tence caught

ly sh

w w

rds stopped in front of a p

hed the

r ro

and my breath c

r than the tiny house my

m, fresh flowers filled crystal vases while a bed big enough f

s bea

beau

as preparation just like animals t

ted my thoughts

rying dresses, jewelry,

iled p

ere to pr

r w

Blessing

a long silver gown. It shim

red a

something th

u d

hy

ous glances until finall

the Alpha must receive the Moon Go

ach tig

y br

o.

allo

ot the

e answ

s answe

che settled

assian needed b

ey all

all dis

r

ing happen

seemed to noti

poke

ions no one is w

could barely re

ir had been braided with tiny white flowers with a deli

rs I could no longer reme

lizatio

d anything before and i

walked toward the tall window

d for miles I cou

ing g

rd

e to

moving through th

e had a

e belon

ept

the door drawing me b

urn

o older than eig

ar too big for her tiny frame.

really

hed qu

said that t

the room, holding

ame i

Lyr

kno

ted before

s talking

ure th

it he

he Moon Priest cam

row

M

dded e

dess has been silent f

il t

art s

er even met th

kno

aned c

y everyone

ld ask anoth

A

as a palace guard stood in t

y has been m

ha

insists it happ

hy

into my eyes. His face h

ause

llowed

Moon Goddess has a

left the room in

for him to laugh and admi

did

ed painfully a

e a mistake,"

d shook

ses to begin the cere

, Ivy. Her face had gone pale, and she

r seen this happen b

her

shed back in

em urged as she st

e council

eing lead through the e

mosphe

an

ed their heads respectfully others looked at me with open fear. Even

t made se

looked down on this morning, so why

at the highest point o

ple was built entirely from white marble. Moonlight ref

taircase, I heard chant

ent

ouldn't u

eveal more than a hundred p

rals stood in full armor and Priestesses

er stood Al

him, instead, he wore a ceremonial black robes embroidered wit

looked less like a ma

ered. For a brief second, I see s

ios

one like it n

n old man with snow–white hair and golden

o.

e settl

Lyria A

my head re

es

led me

ched in silence until

s impos

xchanged ner

t?" Elder

est ign

ted his hand to

fingers hovered

lver light exp

lled the

staggered

o.

ice tr

annot

above the altar suddenly

n the temple i

le outside the temple

ter an

zens more j

iest fell t

proph

ly at Alpha Cass

as be

erupted i

prop

this p

only a

sed his voice

len

, everyon

owly

oon–Blessed Female for

e turned

standing be

eyes fill

onally marked by

ver ran do

rk

down at

looked d

derstand,"

st smile

u w

ed for m

p, a silver crescent shaped mar

asp

er seen tha

had anyo

stumbled

oon Ma

hispered

ually e

rned toward A

no longer

s expressi

do you

ct is no longer an

oice echoed thr

n born from

pau

he future of ever

fell deat

my knee

ldr

tu

happeni

one could

oar shook the

nd rushed inside. The massive temple doors slammed open on t

her carry the

apped toward

ded by black mist. He slowly raised

if she

e turned

become the en