Page 32 of The Power of a Myth

“We’ve kept a secret from you for so long now, Brayden, but no more. You have to know so you and Selene can both make the decision for yourselves,” Kas spoke.

Selene flinched as Jane let out a whimper. “Please don’t.”

“You know I have to—it’s what he wanted.”

Jane placed her hand over her mouth, and tears started to fall down her cheeks. “I don’t think I can relive the memories.”

“You can because you’ve always been strong and are the reason Brayden is the man he is.”

“Enough,” Brayden snapped, and Selene jumped at the anger in her mate’s voice. “Stop with the riddles and private conversations. I’ve been lied to for most of my life about how my father died, and I won’t have any more lies added to the roster.”

“After this, Brayden, you won’t have anything kept from you,” Kas replied.

“What?” Brayden shook his head in confusion. Selene made her way from where she was standing by the bones and took Brayden’s hand. Her mate looked at her.

“I believe Kas is going to finally tell you the truth about your father,” Selene explained.

Brayden’s head spun to their alpha. “Why now, when Selene has this decision to make?” he questioned.

“Because it shows just how important all this is.” Jane sobbed next to Kas. “How important you are.”

“Tell me,” Brayden demanded as he pulled Selene closer to him. She reached out, and taking his hand, she placed it where their child grew in her womb. Together they would give him the comfort he needed.

“Your father died a hero in so many people’s eyes but not least in the eyes of the multi-shifters. They knew of Selene’s importance to our fight, but they also knew of yours. You saw earlier how Molly’s love helped Hayden control his powers as a dragon? Well, your love will do the same and so much more. Without you, Selene would not be able to touch the bones. Their power would kill her. The two of you together are the key, and your father, along with Jane and I, knew that.” Kas lowered his head. “So did my brother and grandfather. Fate is a cruel master sometimes. When you were a young boy, Nuka led you into a trap. There was nothing we could do to stop it. My grandfather was lying in wait.” Kas paused again, and Selene felt Brayden squeeze her tighter. “Your father had a split second to make his decision—the fate of the world or his life. He didn’t hesitate. As my grandfather attacked, your father protected you and saved your life. I arrived a few seconds later with other members of the pack, and we retaliated against my grandfather. He lost his life, and I took over as alpha that day. I mourned my best friend and vowed never to let anything happen to you. The memories were wiped from your mind to allow you grow into the man you are now, the one Selene needs. We made decisions for the future, and that is why we’ve never told you.”

The entire cave around them was eerily devoid of any emotion as Kas finished speaking. Brayden turned around and looked at the bones on the ground. He let go of Selene and stepped forward and picked one up.

“My father died for this?” Brayden finally spoke.

“Yes,” Kas replied solemnly.

“He died saving me because of a prophecy made by a seer a long time ago.” Brayden threw the bone down onto the floor, and Selene watched as it landed near to her. “Why do we have to live in a world of stories and fables? Why can’t we just live as the people we are? Have you ever thought that these stories might be the reason we now face annihilation at the hands of the humans?”

The anger was radiating off Brayden, and Selene felt the waves of emotion slamming into her. She placed her hand on her stomach and became lost in her thoughts as Brayden continued to rant in the background.

Protect your child. Sacrifice all.Selene’s thoughts cleared to the one true path in her life. She knelt down and reached out slowly for the dragon bone by her foot. The instant she touched it, she felt the change come over her. The power was so intense it knocked her backward onto the floor.

“What the fuck?” Brayden was at her side. “What have you done, Selene?”

“Saved our child, just like your father did,” Selene cried out as the first wave of powerful change came over her.

The world around her shrunk as she grew in size. Her body changed, sharp spikes appeared on her back, and her skin turned into black and white spotted scales. Teeth, horns, and a long tail—they all grew from her body as the power of the dragon magic took over her.

She knew the moment the transformation was completed as she let out an almighty roar that echoed around the cave.

Destiny was fulfilled.

Brayden stared up at her.

“Get on my back,” she ordered via their telepathic link and knelt down so he could do as she requested.

He quickly clambered up, and she felt him hold tightly to one of the spikes on her back. Her belly was swollen still with the child inside her—he or she was now probably in dragon form too. Whatever Selene touched, so did her child.

Selene looked down at Kas and Jane, small in comparison to her now. She snorted a breath out of her nose before testing her wings. She flapped them hard, and in an instant, she and Brayden disappeared out of the cave and into the night sky.

To be continued in Banishing Regrets.

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