Filed To Story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
Music filled the air with enchanting melodies, and the truce celebration began, with dozens of deities surrounding Astraea and Vidar to congratulate them.
He couldn’t even see her, his whole body shaking with anger.
“Don’t look in her direction,” Selene told him as she passed him, heading for the exit. For some reason, the woman that had just crushed his heart and laid ruin to his life didn’t want to stay and celebrate her success. “She knows her role; she will play it well. It’s done. Whatever you had, that is over now.”
“You just made her the unhappiest woman in all the realms,
“Fenrir gritted his teeth, clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white. “And she will never forgive you for that.”
“What would you know?” the Moon Goddess sighed heavily and turned away. “You are just a couple of hundred years old. That is nothing compared to the millennia | have existed. Time cures any pain. One day, Astraea will forget you and forgive me. One day, all this will just be stardust scattered under her feet. Unimportant and forgotten.”
The words stung him, but he wouldn’t show it.
“Go, Fenrir,” Tyr squeezed his shoulder painfully, trying to bring him back to reality. “Don’t create trouble for anyone. It will not end well.”
Their eyes met, and Fenrir wondered how many Asgardians knew about all this because Tyr seemed informed enough.
And so did Freyja. They were the main players, and he couldn’t help but wonder if everyone knew but him.
After he left the hall, he walked for a long time until he found himself right next to what in his mind was their place now, an agonising tightness gripping his chest.
He couldn’t enter the Star Garden anymore. That magical place made him believe in fairy tales, and now he was back to his harsh reality.
He would never have someone like her.
He had to leave.
“Fenrir!” His breath caught in his throat as he heard the familiar timbre of his beloved’s voice, unexpected but so desperately longed for. He turned to look at her on his shaky legs, just the sight of her instantly bringing his strength back.
“Astraea,” he muttered, lost for words. What could they tell each other now?
She was so beautiful today in her intricate shimmering gown. So mesmerising that it was almost painful to look at her
The dream that could have been….
“I begged her to stop this” she said after the silence between them went on too long, tears. streaming down her divine face. “I- I can’t do this! Not with him, not with anyone but you!”
“What about the mate bond?” he asked, hating how weak he sounded
“It’s just some tingles from a man I do not know and do not wish to know!” She let out a desperate sob, and more tears, glistening like stars in the sky, rolled down her cheeks and fell to the ground, giving the grass under her feet a slight glow. “Fenrir- My heart is already taken by another!”
She looked at him with pain and guilt in her eyes, and he couldn’t take it anymore. If she still wanted him, he wouldn’t be saying no to that. He would fight for her over and over, as many battles as it took. Anything for them to be together.
“Don’t cry.” He stepped forward and pulled her against his chest, gently wiping her cheeks with his fingers. “You will not cry because of this. No one makes this choice for us! I choose you! I love you! And no one in any of the realms can tell me that I dor’t have a right to feel that! You are the only one who can reject me-“
His voice broke. It was the first time he couldn’t control his emotions like that.
“I will never reject you!” She shook her head, her fingers digging into his tunic. “I love you too.”
He could hear her heart pounding in her chest as relief washed over him. This wasn’t one-sided; he hadn’t imagined everything in his head
Their emotions intertwined and mirrored in each other’s gazes, the air between them crackling with tension. Fenrir laced his hand into her luminescent hair, bringing her closer and covering her lips with his. Gentle at first, it grew into a whirlwind of passion in seconds. The need to possess her, to hide her from everyone else, was so immense that he couldn’t fight it anymore.
He broke the kiss, looking around and searching for where to take her. They needed privacy which was so hard to obtain.
“There is a temple nearby,” he told her hoarsely. “We can speak there-“
He shifted into a wolf, making himself as small as possible so that she could climb on his back. She did so without him urging her, as if she could read his mind. He raced to the hill where an abandoned temple of Frigg stood. Years ago, Odin built her a new one close to the palace, so Fenrir knew this one would be empty.
Astraea had to grasp his fur to stay atop of him, but it felt amazing for both of them. By the time they got there, it had started raining, and when he shifted back, catching her in his strong arms, Astraea was trembling from the cold
“I’ll get you warm, and we will talk,” he promised as they entered the building. He carefully placed the woman on her feet and clicked his fingers to make every candle and fire pit burn to illuminate and heat the room. Fire was his second nature:
He wanted to search for something dry for her to wear when she grasped his wrist, stopping him from walking away and making him look at her with surprise.
“I only need you to get warm,” she said, her eyes searching for his approval. “And- I don’t want us to talk. I want you, Fenrir.”
“Your wish is my command.” He lowered his head and kissed her again.
**
Fenrir was lying on the altar after they made love for hours, caressing her soft, warm body on top of his and still not believing how happy he was.
She was his. She had chosen him and belonged to him now.
“I love you,” he repeated their new favourite phrase again and kissed the top of her head, watching how her lips curled happily in response and listening to her fluttering heart.
Astraea lifted her head to meet his gaze and was about to say something when the doors to the shrine burst open…
PRESENT
Astrea watched the three women cautiously. The anticipation and excitement they tried to suppress was building on their faces. It was undeniable, and something was fundamentally wrong with that. Mostly because now they looked as if they were happy to see her, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“We need to form the Dragonfly circle now because danger lurks everywhere here,” Lenora insisted as they took their usual positions.
“It’s been a while,” Adisa stretched her neck and offered Astrea her hand, already holding Dominica’s. “Don’t look at me like that. Out of all of us, you probably need it the most, A.”
The corners of Dominica’s lips tilted upwards, and a sense of unease welled up within Astrea, causing a knot to form in her chest.
Something was off.
“I heard Fenrir telling his witch Salome that they could sense magic used here in Solace,” she lied through her teeth, making it sound like she didn’t care much. “I think it’s best if we do nothing and just discuss the job we have.”
“Nonsense!” Lenora growled, baring her teeth slightly.
Almost a threat…
“Ladies, let’s just do it and be done with it,” Adisa purred, her eyes shifting to its cat-like vertical pupils.
“Fine,” Astrea shrugged, pretending to give up. “Let’s do it since you all need it so much.”n
Astrea took their hands, preparing herself for what was to come. She never liked that ritual, but now standing in a circle with these women was simply revolting
The plan formed in her mind very quickly, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but slightly shiver at the thought that they were using her all these years.
Fenrir told her that the snake tattoo was suppressing the other one.
Well, she only had two of those. And why the hell would her dragonfly tattoo need suppressing if it always needed recharging?
Unless it didn’t… Unless everything she knew about it was a lie.
But why would the Teacher lie to her?
Many reasons, actually, Nova had to admit.
“Maybe because you aren’t exactly a Firstborn?” Fenrir asked her once, and this should have been her best clue.
Too bad she was always too busy with other things. He tried to tell her, but she didn’t listen. Was Fenrir the only one who was honest with her?
Now that she was thinking about it, all the other Dragonfies were always eager to have the joining ritual. At the same time, this wasn’t something she enjoyed. Not once. Not ever.
It made her feel so weak afterwards, but she hated to admit it in front of others because back when she was just a lost kid, Joran insisted it was because she was intoxicated with the power that surged through them. She didn’t want to appear struggling with what the new Dragonflies thrived on, trying not to look bad.
She was an idiot.
Lenora’s fingers laced with hers, and Astrea began to feel the tiny sparks as their connection started forming. They didn’t need to say any particular words or perform any actions other than creating an unbreakable circle. Their dragonfly tattoos were doing most of the job from the moment they were tied and in the correct positions. The glow illuminated the rooftop they stood on with its soft silvery light. The glow that was spreading out from her. Not them.