Filed To Story: Luna Riannon and Alpha Brayden Novel
“Protection?” She threw her head back laughing, while exhaustion and anger pulsed through her. “If she is with you, you will only put a target on her back!”
“Didn’t you want me to be her friend just now?” he growled, anger surging through him.
“I wanted you to be her guard!” Selene snapped. “It’s an honour for someone like you!”
“Someone like me? Am I not the same as your favourite creations?”
“The same?” The Moon Goddess let out a cold, heartless laugh, not caring that her words would stab him in the heart. “Don’t compare yourself to my wolves, boy! I created my werewolves, carefully selecting humans to be rewarded with the honour of hosting an immortal soul and a beast to go with it to allow them to protect themselves. Yes, they are wolves, but they are also my fallen brothers and sisters, my loyal comrades who went to war on our side. While you-You are an abomination created by your father for fun! You call yourself a god? I doubt that even your father is one!
What does that make you? A self-proclaimed deity! A demon! A monster! Never compare yourself to my werewolves ever again!”
It felt as if she had slapped him in the face over and over, but at the same time, it also explained a lot. The important piece of information finally sunk in and explained something Fenrir couldn’t understand before. For weeks he thought about why Asgardians treated these deities from the other realm like dear guests and not potential rivals.
Just a couple of hundred years back, they would wipe them out and then laugh about it at a feast. Asgardians were killing their own with ease, let alone outlanders. Now he finally knew what could cause such a change.
If Selene found a way to preserve the souls of falling Olympians, even in such a questionable way, this could be her bargaining chip here. This was why she was the one to come here. This was why Odin did not destroy these rivals, using their weakness. It became clear that he would want to know such an invaluable secret and pay for it with whatever Selene wanted.
After all, despite being the most powerful divine creatures, the gods of Asgard could still be killed. Even Odin was familiar with the pain of losing the ones he loved.
This complicated everything because there was no place for him in that plan of theirs.
“Tell me what to do!” For the first time, emotions slipped into his tone, betraying him. “Name your price. I will do whatever you need from me.,l will fight for your realm; I will kill-“
“Just leave!” Selene replied, exhaustion overtaking her. ” They hate you here. You can scare them, but she will never be safe with you; she will never be respected if she is your wife. It’s not what I want for my daughter.”
“But she will be happy,” he argued his case, knowing deep in his heart that it was true. He often watched Astraea while she was with the others and could tell she was only at ease beside him. When they were together, she was funny and relaxed, a real alive woman and not the beautiful perfect statuette she was during the day while performing her duties in front of other deities. He was the only one who saw the real her.
“She will be happy with the one I chose for her,” the Moon Goddess said, but for the first time, she did not sound so sure anymore.
“You were in love before,” he decided to use his one and only leverage, “you know how precious that is. Not everyone gets to experience it! Will you take this away from her? No matter how safe and powerful she is, she would despise you forever if you broke us up!”
The silence between them grew heavy, and he was afraid to ruin the fragile success of his words.
“Just Just think about it,” he offered. “You don’t have to make the decision now. Deep in your heart, you will know what is right.”
“Fine,” the woman muttered. “You can leave now.”
He decided to take this little win and, with a curt bow, turned on his heel and rushed to the Glowing Garden, where he knew Astraea was waiting for him.
***
After a sleepless night he spent with Astraea, holding her in his arms and kissing under a blossoming glowing tree for what seemed like hours, Fenir refused to change anything in his schedule. He had to act as he usually did so as not to draw unwanted attention.
He had made only one exception which was a strategic choice.
“I am surprised I don’t have to drag you to the feast this time!” Tyr clapped his shoulder warmly and gestured for the servants to bring them mead. “And you even dressed for the occasion!”
“Father said I need to make an effort,” he lied, searching for the Goddess of Stars with his eyes and finding her in the same company as usual. Freyja, Vidar and other bright stars of Asgard were surrounding her.
He wanted to join them and was already on his way when his gaze met Freyja’s, and she immediately stood up with a goblet in her hand
“I think it’s about time for a gift exchange!” she announced loudly, and the others grew quiet.
Freyja was the most respected deity after Odin, so when she spoke, no one dared to say a word, giving her their full attention.
“T have prepared something for you, sweet child.” She beamed at Astraea, eliciting a nervous smile from her.
“I have to apologise,” the Starry Goddess blushed slightly,” my present for you is not yet finished-“
“Nonsense, my dear!” Freyja smiled at her. “I visited your garden this morning, and it is lovely. My dragonflies only want to live there now. Speaking of which-“
The goddess lifted her hand, and her fingers emanated a golden glow which slowly materialised into a beautiful golden dragonfly. The delicate creature shimmered with ethereal radiance as it fluttered its wings.
Freyja pivoted to face Astraea, and the magical insect flew off her fingers, gliding elegantly through the air. As if drawn by an unseen connection, it lingered in the air next to the Goddess of Stars as if waiting for something.
Fenrir stiffened, watching Astraea offer the magical creature her palm, the dragonfly landing gracefully at once..
The colour of its glow changed almost instantly to a silvery one, and the wolf’s breathing hitched, recognising Astraea’s star magic.
“I didn’t have to think too long for my gift to you, child;” Freyja’s face radiated joy. “My dragonflies chose you themselves, because you are so similar. They belong to two worlds, and so will you, child, starting today.”
Astraea looked at him, aching sorrow reflecting in her eyes as Freyja continued her speech. They never spoke of why she was in Asgard. This was the one and only topic off-limits when they were together.
“They are born in water but live in air. Their souls are with me in Asgard while their lives are in the human realm. They are hunters and symbols of power in their delicate bodies.
Just like you, Astraea.” A kind smile graced Freyja’s lips. ” And just like you, they can fly against any storm. The dragonfly I gave you today will be your protection and strength for as long as your soul exists. It’s my pledge to you and a symbol of a new beginning as I am sharing my magic with you. Here in Asgard, you will be loved and accepted by all. May my gift always accompany you in your new life.”
“Thank you,” Astraea’s eyes filled with tears as she bowed her head in a grateful gesture, not adding anything to it.
The new kind of magic was surging through her, but Fenrir wondered if it would be of any use to her, considering that her future power was predicted to be greater than Freyja’s.
The Asgardians erupted in jubilant cheers, and he hoped it would be the end of this, but when the Moon Goddess rose from her seat, slowly walking to the centre of the hall, an unsettling sensation crept up his spine.
“Sharing magic is very generous,” Selene smiled at Freyja, who was now taking her seat. “I have a gift too. Although I am no Goddess of Love, I know a thing or two about it.”
Approving murmurs echoed through the room.
“You already know what I have been busy with lately.” She smiled, her voice carrying a celestial melody to it. “My fallen brothers and sisters of Olympus, as well as my loyal subjects, have received a new life in the human realm. This is something I am offering to the Asgardian deities. But there is more.”
No one dared to speak or make any noise, and Fenrir realised how important this was to everyone present today.
Gods were dying. Asgardian gods were prophesied to be wiped out at the end of days, and a hint of desperation lingered in the air for as long as he he had lived here. They would do anything to get a second chance.
“My werewolves have proven to be of pure hearts, and I found the best reward possible for their loyalty,” Selene went on. “An ultimate gift of a mate bond.” She accentuated the words.
A wave of gasps erupted, and Fenir’s heart started racing like crazy. A sense of foreboding washed over him, his instincts suddenly on high alert.
“I have to say,” Freyja interjected, “at first, I was reluctant about this. After all, love is love. You either feel it, or you don’t. You cannot fake it. But when Selene showed it to me
– Even I had to admit it was perfect.”
“The mate bond is given to two souls perfect for each other, two souls that can work as one. When they find each other in what you call Midgard, they will recognise each other at once,” Selene explained. “No mistakes will be made; they will know they belong together because they will experience a pull like no other. When mates find each other, they still have a choice, though. If they choose to embrace the bond and mark each other, it will become more than just a physical attraction. Together they will grow stronger, the emotional connection and understanding between true mates will transcend time and space. They will feel each other’s pain and joy, understand each other’s feelings and emotions. They will be able to trust unconditionally, knowing the other person will always be on their side.
When nourished, the mate bond strengthens them, making them and their heirs more powerful.”
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am sold!” Someone joked in the crowd, and approving chuckles rippled through the room.
“Two mates can always rely on one another.” Selene raised her hand, and moonglow appeared on her palm. “Together, they can achieve anything. This is why I think there is no better gift to my daughter, who is to be wed here in Asgard, than this sacred connection.”
For a second, Fenrir hoped that the Moon Goddess would give the mate bond she talked about to them, but when his eyes locked with Astraea’s, he saw the colour drain from her face as panic surged through her.
“Vidar and Astraea, accept my gift to you,” Selene said, and Fenrir felt a thousand blades piercing his heart. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Before he could do anything, the moon magic coalesced and flew to the woman he desperately loved and to her betrothed
The glow reached the couple, enveloping them in its warm embrace of celestial energy, making Astraea’s lips part from the shocking realisation that she was now bound to another. She cast an accusatory glare at her mother, but at the same time, two strong arms possessively wrapped around her shoulders.
Vidar seemed pleased with the situation, and Fenrir had never seen him like this before. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her. The wolf in him couldn’t stand that silent prick.
“We thank you for such a generous gift,” he spoke for the two of them, and Astraea visibly shuddered as his thumb drew circles on her bare flesh.
“This requires more mead,” Odin let out a laugh, which everyone gladly supported.
A loud growl escaped Fenrir, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. Tyr appeared by his side at once, shoving a goblet into his hand with a nervous false smile playing on his lips.
“Skol!” The God of War shouted as loud as he could, and others joined him, roaring in a cheer that muffled another growl from Fenrir. Asgardians did not spare any more attention on him.