The Quest

Matheius

Everything was going according to plan.

I’d swiftly put my first order into action as the new Moon God.

The harsh rules of my timid predecessor were no more.

The era of matedom was over.

From my perch high in the starry expanse of Astria, I watched the werewolves struggle to adjust.

Mated pairs, both young and old, turned on each other. Sometimes with words. Sometimes with actions.

~Pathetic.~

It was disgusting to see how deeply Selena had corrupted the werewolves.

Without their mating bonds, they were lost.

It was eating them alive.

Leading to their downfall.

At least this would separate the strong from the weak.

Those who couldn’t handle losing their false sense of security would destroy themselves.

Those who could push forward would start a new breed of werewolf.

Smarter.

Independent.

Fearless.

And free from the damaging illusion of love.

No one else would have to suffer the pain I did because of love.

I closed my eyes and took in the chaos.

It was a strange ability to see something so clearly in my mind just by willing it.

A power only Gods should have.

Ordinary people couldn’t handle the gruesome scenes I was witnessing.

But there was one drama unfolding on Earth that caught my attention.

It involved Selena’s next of kin.

Her only living descendant.

~Quinn.~

I thought maybe she, being from such a noble bloodline, might be strong enough to resist love.

But as I saw her through the lens of time and space, I saw just how weak she was.

~What a letdown. I thought she might have been useful.~

Then I wondered. If she couldn’t survive this, who could?

Was the entire werewolf race on the brink of extinction?

Were they really that weak?

I hadn’t considered this before.

I thought some primal instinct must have survived.

Surely, at least a bit of the raw strength and determined individualism that made wolves must have survived thousands of years of evolution.

But so far, it didn’t seem so.

~I’ll give it time. I have all the time in the world.~

As I waited to see how the fate of the werewolves would unfold, I thought about their replacements if they failed.

I imagined a better version of our kind.

Created in a stronger, more determined image.

My image.

Quinn

“What do you mean you’re not coming with me?” I yelled at Jax.

“I have more important things to do! I’m the Alpha of a pack, remember?”

His words rang loud and clear.

He shouted them so clearly that it was impossible to miss them.

But I didn’t believe them.

I didn’t believe in him.

It was as if someone else was in his body.

Someone cold and selfish.

Sure, Jax wasn’t always the most affectionate person. But he respected me.

Even when Aunt Jodie had almost turned me against him, he respected me.

That’s why it was so shocking to hear him talk to me like this.

Jax had risked his life for me before.

More than once.

That was who he was, behind the brooding.

He would never have turned me away in a time of need. Especially such a desperate time.

The loss of matedom had definitely changed our relationship faster than either of us expected.

It was weird and uncomfortable.

But beyond the natural attraction and the inherent desire to be together, I thought there must still be love there, like he said.

A love not dictated by nature, but by the heart and how we felt about each other.

Some part of that had to still be there.

Matheius couldn’t take that away from us.

~Could he?~

I took a deep breath before I let out the hurtful, angry thoughts that were forming in my head because of Jax’s harsh words. Anger wouldn’t solve anything right now. In fact, it would only help Matheius’ plan.

“Listen, Jax,” I said, calmly looking him in his defiant eyes. “We both know what’s happening here. This isn’t you talking. This isn’t us. It’s Matheius trying to drive a wedge between us.”

He stood silently for a moment, considering my words.

“The more we fight,” I continued, “the more power we give him. Every harsh word we say to each other puts our relationship more in his control. I don’t want that. And I don’t think you do either.”

I watched as Jax’s face twisted with conflict.

It was as if two sides of him were fighting within him.

Then he started walking towards me.

I wasn’t sure if he was going to hug me or hit me.

Jaxon

~What the hell is wrong with me?~

I’d never hated a person so much.

I’d never loved a person so much.

I wanted to hold her gently in my arms.

I wanted to hurt her.

My love and hate for my former mate were fighting for control in my chest.

The tide of the battle seemed to change every minute.

But through the back and forth, a bit of logic shone through that made one thing very clear.

I couldn’t be near her right now.

Every moment I spent near her put her at risk of the same fate that Queen Hephesta met.

I looked at Quinn.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and ran out of the dining room, through the parlor, and into the woods.

Right now, I needed to put some distance between us.

After running over burnt fields and thick patches of dead brush, I found a stream.

Along the banks of the stream was a patch of grass and a few tiny wildflowers, the only color in this barren landscape.

I sat down on the grass and stared into the stream.

This seemed like as good a place as any to wait out the conflict within.

At least, whether my love for Quinn won or lost, she would be safe.

The part of me that longed for her wished that I could join her on her mission to Astria.

Facing Matheius was going to be a monumental task.

But she was tough.

Tougher than I could ever be.

Smarter too.

If anyone had a shot, it was her.

But did I have a shot against my own demons?

Quinn

I gazed out the window of the Pack House, my heart heavy.

My heart ached for Jax.

Not as a mate, but as a man I loved deeply.

I understood why he had fled.

He was trying to shield me from the insanity that seemed to come with the loss of a mate.

His actions were rooted in love.

But still, the thought of him out there alone, in a valley filled with death, didn’t sit well with me.

Sky was by my side, her hand in mine.

“He’ll be okay,” she reassured me. “He’ll come back, Quinn. He loves you. Mate or not. There’s no question about that.”

I gave her a weak smile.

I believed he would come back.

But would I?

The idea of going to Astria alone was terrifying.

Could I really face Matheius on my own?

Jax was right. I had already failed once and was still a beginner when it came to using the divine powers I held.

But I was the Moon Goddess’ last hope.

I was the last hope for all werewolves.

I was my mate’s last hope.

I had no choice but to succeed or die trying.

A single tear rolled down my cheek as fear gripped my heart.

Sky wrapped her arm around me in a comforting hug.

I held her tight.

Over her shoulder, I saw Selena and the twins approaching.

I let go of Sky as they joined us.

“Time is running out,” Theodore said, his voice heavy.

He was right.

Every moment I spent here was another chance for Matheius to wipe us all out.

Selena gave me a wise smile.

“Be brave, my child,” she said. “My blood runs through your veins.”

I nodded at her.

She was right.

But as I looked at my friends and loved ones, all I wanted was to run away and find some peace.

I couldn’t explain why, but their expectant stares made my skin crawl.

I turned and bolted from the room.

Sky called my name, and I heard her footsteps following me.

I wished more than anything that she would just let me be.

Matheius

“Ha!” I laughed out loud as I watched Selena and her pathetic group of supporters plot.

~Quinn doesn’t stand a chance against me! I’ll tear her apart the moment she steps foot in Astria.~

But I had only been king for a short while.

And while the idea of destroying the last of Selena’s bloodline was appealing, it might not be worth the risk.

If other werewolves heard that she could breach Astria, what would stop them from launching their own attack?

I needed to show my subjects that I was invincible.

And show Selena that she had no choice but to die among her wounded creations.

Quinn seemed to be a pretty determined girl.

Stronger than her mate, at least.

But I could change that.

I could change that very quickly.

With a simple snap of my fingers.

This so-called savior wouldn’t survive the night.

I laughed as I snapped my fingers.

~They thought King Oron had lost his mind? They haven’t seen anything yet.~