Rejected, I chose his father

ra's

beating so loud I thought it

was th

n Goddess would

folded neatly at the edge. Soft silver lined with threads of light blue t

ss I would wear

o my chest and

spered. "Please

mbling to myself, sudde

ce came through the do

she was, grinning at me as if sh

leep, did you

y head. "

lding in a laugh. "Who could sle

us, and despite the knot in

anging over her arm - a deep forest

sses," she said, twirling once

Goddess will be kind

eezing it. "She will. She alway

re the moonlight still shined. Our h

ce steady and full of hope."Guide our steps, bind

ds, my chest fil

the faintest shimmer in the light - a

posts. Flowers were braided into garlands, spread across the stone steps that led

was a holy day. Wolves from every corner of t

ce scenting perfumes and

d as we passed, some curious, some mocking - I felt their stares pricki

hair twisted into braids, her eyes sharp and kind all at o

d beneath the blessing of our Moon Goddess. She who weaves the bond

she prayed, her voic

its other half. Let love root deep, let loyalty bind stron

rd - strength - a loud cheer

her hands. "Let t

d, drawn to one another by that i

rough tears, some clung to their chos

n sparks, in scents, in he

nds clutched in front of me, pr

it ha

into my nostrils like a wave. Rich perfume, smoke and beneath it was somethi

almost

ard inside me, howl

s searching and

ci

staring at me,

a moment, the world fell silent. There

in my throat, tea

was

always

lips, whispering so only the goddes

but undeniable, wrapping me in warmth and j

y in my entire life. I've been mated to the man of my dreams, the

other until I was stan

," I br

s face was unreada

a bus mate would be but maybe h

th, desperate to press myself into his chest

lifted, he lifted his h

r than fire. I stumbled, s

ke from t

e, sharp and c

aved in at

in them I saw not love, not r

t, sharp enough to shr

ject you, Nyxa