“You opened your soul, Journey. My ability to help you along the way opened the window to a new life for these broken souls.”
“So, a human praying to you gives them a chance to be mated to a rogue?” I asked.
“Or the other way around. The rogue themselves can ask for a second chance. They must believe in me once again. If they close their soul to me, there isn’t much I can do. If I had known that I needed a prayer from at least one of them for the first human and rogue pairing, their lives wouldn’t have been lost.” Her hand balled into a fist, her white nails piercing the skin. Crimson blood stained her light blue robe.
“You didn’t know.” I tried to soothe her. “You didn’t know they had to be open to you, but now you know. It’s just, I know the club, the rogues, they won’t pray to you.” I shook my head. “We’ve tried, we told them–”
“Ah, but you are trying, Journey. And that is why you are extra special. You are the first human to pray to me for help. The Fates have blessed you for it. To help me correct my mistakes.”
“Grim is my gift, I know.” I smiled.
“No, another gift.” She shook her head.
I raised an eyebrow, and she made me stand. We walked to the edge of the cliff and stood underneath the large moon that lit up the forest below us. Snow still fell, but the moon shone over the entire valley.
“You have a giant soul. A soul so large, it’s been itching to come out since you were a child.”
I wrapped my arms around my body, feeling the coldness seep inside. Selene opened her robe and engulfed me inside them. She could be taller than any man I’ve ever met.
She was a goddess, so I shouldn’t expect anything less—not in this new world.
“You are not just becoming a wolf, little one. You will become my voice. You will become the very first wolf priestess.”
My mouth dropped, and I looked up at her. “A priestess? Me? I don’t think I can do that!” I tried to step away, but she pulled me closer.
“Darling, you are perfect. You hold your past human life in your hands and understand how difficult a transition it is entering the world of fantasy. You can help open their souls, so I can bond them together. You and Grim are the catalyst for a new beginning.”
I shook my head. How could I be that important? I had prayed to anyone, anything to help me and now that help had come, she’d asked for my help? Could I help with something so much bigger than me?
For many years, I was a toy for men. I didn’t have any special power. There was nothing special about me other than Grim had saved me, and he no longer scowled when he entered a room. I could bring a smile to his face, but helping other humans, like me, could I do it?
“Do you know the twitch in your eye? How you can’t sit still, how you were always different from everyone else as you grew up?”
I bit my cheek, squeezing my hands together tightly until I finally nodded.
“Because your soul was meant for great things, Journey.” Selene knelt. “The Fates chose you to help me.”
“Maybe they’re wrong. I don’t even have a high school diploma!” I said, exhausted.
“They are never wrong. They can see multiple futures, and this path is worth taking. I know you can do this. You helped your mate; you will help others.”
Selene leaned forward, her forehead touching mine.
“Accept this calling, Journey. Your heart is large, and even without the powers I will give to you, you can already see the work I’m trying to pursue. With your help, these rogues can become whole again.”
A goddess was pleading with me, asking me for help. Little me. But what if I failed? What if I couldn’t do what she was asking?
“Did you help me forget my past? Selective memories? Those…men?” I choked, grabbing my neck. I could no longer see them, feel them, but the thought of men touching me made me emotional, nonetheless.
“Yes, you will never remember them. I’m sorry I couldn’t help more. I got the help to you as soon as I could,” she defended. “You were never drugged, Journey. I kept you under so they couldn’t take what was left of your beautiful soul.”
For the first time in a long while, I cried openly. I wrapped my arms around her neck, and she squeezed me just as fiercely.
“You were dealt a hard life, little one. And I know I’m asking much of you to become my priestess, my voice, but it will help so many of your friends.”
“Like Delilah?” Her name jumped out of my mouth before I could stop it. I knew Delilah and Hawke were special. It wasn’t just the attraction they had, they were magnetic.
Selene rubbed her lips together, trying to hold a smile. “Just like Delilah.”