Kalia POV

  "Damn it. Are you sure Kalia? You checked the whole world?" Selene paced about her sanctuary hidden in a cave on Mount Latmus. Normally, she resided in a small castle in the Endless Meadow on another plane of existence, but she had a promise to fulfill on Earth. In 3,000 BCE, Selene unleashed her wrath upon her creations that were destroying the Earth with endless wars and hate. Before her children of the night were turned human, she made a promise to the last Lycan King that she would give his descendants a chance to regain their power. It’s been 5,000 years, and Selene was at her wits end trying to find a worthy heir to the Lycan King.

  "Yes, Selene. I have searched the whole Earth seventy-nine times now. There is no other option," Kalia, the sky nymph, answered. "Korinne Althea is the last descendant of your great-grandson, Lycan King Eron."

  Selene looked nervously at the ethereal, blue nymph. Time had gone by too quickly. She hadn’t thought that the Lycan King’s bloodline, her bloodline, would have diminished this much. “Kalia, it’s only been two hundred years since the last heir tried to pass the trial!” Selene scoffed. “Colin Aldonis was the perfect candidate in an acceptable time to awaken my children. He had land where they could flourish, a natural born leader, a natural protector, and he didn’t question my methods. I still don’t understand how he failed. What makes this candidate so special?”

  Kalia rolled her eyes at the moon goddess. This was not the time to pussyfoot around the situation. “Honestly? Nothing stands out about her, she hasn’t shown any signs of her blessing, or any wolf traits at all, however, you don’t have any other options. Twenty-three heirs have tried and failed, Selene. We tried to pick the last three heirs out of the bloodline and failed. Of the last three, the first one was killed by the villagers around them, the second one refused your offer because it was against his religion, and the third one failed to bond with his wolf. We don’t get to pick or wait anymore.” She crossed her arms watching the pouty goddess in front of her.

  Selene wanted to control everything. Hell, since she is a goddess, it’s in her nature to want to control everything. “We have gone this long without my children having magic. Why should we give it back to them? My children are mortal humans living their normal lives on Earth. Who am I to change that? Besides, humans don’t even know I exist. They have never known Greek magic or monsters, and they stopped believing in me ages ago anyway.” Selene shook her head. The twenty-first century felt as if it opposed magic. How could she revive her children in such an unforgiving environment? Surely, the Fates knew this. Korinne could have children and continue her line just fine. All Selene would need is a little help from Aphrodite…

  The nymph watched as the goddess began to plot and attempt to find a loophole although the nymph knew there was none. The Fates had her tell Selene that Korinne was the only option for a reason. What the Fates had seen that brought them to this conclusion, Kalia did not know, but they seemed serious about what was to come. Chills ran down Kalia’s back when she thought of eyeless faces of the Fates staring at her. Selene knew not to cross the Fates, at least Kalia hoped Selene wouldn’t.

  “Okay, I have decided. Let’s visit the Fates,” Selene announced, causing Kalia’s eyes to bulge.

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  Kalia ran in front of Selene as she tried to exit the cave, “Selene, please, you can’t be serious. The Fates do not like unannounced guests.”

  “Then, fly on the wind and announce to them, Kalia,” Selene commanded. The woman didn’t slow as she ascended toward Mount Olympus.

  Kalia rushed past Selene in the wind. She flew through the clouds in an instant she arrived at Mount Olympus. Barreling into the hall and bouncing along the solid cloud floor, Kalia crashed right outside the Hall of Fate. Nervously, she knocked on the dark blue door. The large door creaked open, allowing her to enter. Looking up, Kalia saw the Fates on their stage at work.

  “What brings you back here, sky nymph?” The tallest Fate, Lachesis, questioned.

  “She came to announce my arrival,” Selene gracefully approached the Fates.

  “Ah, the moon goddess. She has come to ask why she must complete her vow to the mortal with this particular heir of the bloodline,” Atropos muttered, crossing her arms.

  Selene nodded.

  “This heir is set to be the last unless she can act fast. With a wolf at her side, she will survive the ordeal that is coming for her. If all goes well, a queen she might become, but she must unite them all for the day to be won,” Clotho said, nonchalantly.

  Lachesis watched the moon goddess process her prophecy. “Korinne is your only chance, Selene. Or else, your vow will mean the end for you because the girl will meet her end otherwise.”

  “Surely, there is another-”

  “Ungrateful goddess! We have answered you. Now, leave,” Atropos commanded, forcing the goddess and Kalia out of the Hall of Fate.

  “Hmph,” Selene grumbled, descending back toward her cave. Kalia followed behind her. They both arrived in the cave without saying a word, but the nymph couldn’t stay quiet for long.

  “Why did we go there Selene? Nothing has changed,” Kalia crossed her arms.

  Selene ignored Kalia. She felt stuck, so she tried watching her beloved as he slept to clear her mind. Nothing was going like she imagined it would. The only simple thing was her love for Endymion. She wanted better for her children.

  Kalia watched the goddess stare at the sleeping man for what felt like forever until she couldn’t take the silence anymore. “You are just bitter since Endymion was put into eternal sleep by Zeus. It’s been 4,000 years, Selene. Stop punishing everyone for Zeus’ curse on Endymion. The Fates didn’t deserve it, and this girl will be fine. They said so,” Kalia retorted to Selene.

  Bitter? Selene had never been described as bitter. Was she bitter? Yes. She was. Her only consultation was her sleeping Endymion asleep in his glass case. She would have him forever. Maybe, she had punished the humans instead of the god responsible, but if her children of the night hadn't tried to wipe out the world with their wars then Selene could have stopped Zeus. She couldn't change the sleeping beauty curse, and her children of the night were gone. Except for this Korinnne Althea, her last heir to the werewolves, her mortal children. Should she let sleeping dogs lie?

  "Selene, you can't ignore this. You made a promise that you vowed to keep. If you don't do it willingly, the Fates will force your hand." Kalia stated to the goddess who was daydreaming.

  "They already are. As you said, all of Eron's descendants are dead, except her. I can't pick his successor nor can Korinne deny her destiny. The Fates have decided," Selene groaned.

  Kalia shook her head. "The almighty moon Selene is pouting about doing what she vowed to do in the first place. My how the mighty have fallen."

  "You know, Kalia, you could be kinder to the goddess of the moon," Selene retorted.

  With that response, Kalia knew Selene was giving in. Kalia smiled. Finally, she could let her worries rest. They would at least try to help this girl realize her potential. Kalia would hate for anything to happen to Selene because of a silly vow she made in her youth.

  "Summon Korinne. We have work to do." Selene answered Kalia.