REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 17

_Lyla's POV_

The rest of the day passed slowly after Aaron’s mother left. I sat on the bed, turning the ruby bangles on my wrists, their cool touch grounding me. Her words echoed in my mind, soothing some of the ache in my heart. But despite the comfort she gave me, I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling inside me.

Aaron still hadn’t returned. His mother told me he was busy with pack duties. Apparently, there had been rogue sightings near the borders, and Aaron had gone on patrol. The worry settled deep in my chest. What if the rogues attacked Aaron?

I had dinner alone in our room, the silence pressing in like an unwelcome guest. Afterward, I took a warm bath. I hoped that it would wash away my anxiety. The water felt comforting, but it couldn’t drown the thoughts swirling in my head.

I curled up on the bed and turned on the TV again. The flickering images and voices filled the room, but they didn’t fill the emptiness I felt. I didn’t even realize when I drifted off to sleep.

That’s when the dream began.

I found myself standing in a vast garden. The scent of roses was thick in the air. The flowers were a deep, rich red, their petals soft and velvety under the golden glow of an unseen moon. The garden stretched endlessly, the sky above painted with stars that shimmered like diamonds. The air felt different—lighter, as if filled with magic.

In the middle of the garden stood a woman. She was breathtaking, unlike anyone I had ever seen. She wore a flowing white gown that shimmered like starlight, hugging her graceful figure. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back, glowing softly. Her skin was flawless, radiant, as if kissed by moonlight itself. But it was her eyes that held me captive—silver like liquid mercury, filled with ancient wisdom and warmth.

She wasn’t just beautiful. She was divine.

Her gaze met mine, and though she was far away, her voice reached me as if she were right beside me.

“Approach me, my child,” she said, her voice soft yet powerful, like the wind whispering secrets through the trees.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me closer. My heart pounded in my chest. There was a mix of awe and fear swirling inside me. As I reached her, I felt small under her presence, like standing before something far greater than I could understand.

She smiled gently, and it felt like warmth spreading through my body.

“It is now time for you to awaken your true powers,” she said, her voice both soothing and commanding. “You will need these powers to protect those who are dear to you.”

I blinked, confusion flooding me. "My powers?" I echoed, my voice small against the vastness of the garden.

“Yes,” she replied with a serene nod. “You are not an ordinary wolf, Lyla. You are the Lunar Wolf—the one born once every hundred years to restore balance in the werewolf world.”

Her words felt like a thunderclap in my heart. I shook my head, stepping back. "No...I am just an omega. I am nothing special. I am weak. I can't can't stand up to Aaron's father without breaking down."

Her expression didn’t change. She remained calm, her silver eyes filled with endless patience.

“No, Lyla. You are special,” she said firmly. “You were never just an omega. Your true strength has been hidden, waiting for the right time to awaken. That time is now.”

I stared at her, my heart racing. "But why me? I am not brave. I am not strong."

She stepped closer. “Courage is not the absence of fear, my child. It is the choice to stand despite it. You’ve endured pain, rejection, and doubt, yet here you are. That is strength. That is why I have chosen you.”

Her words made something stir deep within me—like a flicker of light in the darkness.

“But… what do I do now?” I whispered.

“You must seek the woman named Adeline. She lives near the southern border of your pack’s territory. She will help you understand who you truly are.”

"Adeline"?" I repeated, the name unfamiliar but it was etched into my mind instantly.

“Yes. She will guide you,” the Moon Goddess said, her voice growing softer as the garden around us began to fade.

"Wait!" I cried, panic rising in my chest. "Please, don't go. I don't understand--"

But the vibrant colors of the garden swirled and melted into darkness. The figure of the Moon Goddess drifted further away, her form becoming nothing more than a shimmer of light.

"No!" I screamed. I reached out but she was gone.

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. My heart raced. My breath was ragged. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into warmth and safety.

“Lyla,” Aaron’s voice whispered against my ear, filled with worry. “Wake up. It’s just a dream.”

I clung to him, my body trembling. His scent—pine and warmth—grounded me, pulling me back from the edge of fear.

I buried my face in his chest, trying to steady my breathing. "It felt so real," I whispered.

His hand gently stroked my hair, his heartbeat steady against my cheek. "It was just a dream," he murmured softly, though his voice held a hint of concern.

I pulled back slightly, looking into his blue eyes. They were filled with exhaustion from the long patrol, but also with love and worry.

"Aaron...I saw her," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I saw the Moon Goddess."

His brow furrowed, his hand pausing for a moment before he cupped my face gently. “The Moon Goddess?” His voice dropped to a whisper. It was clear that he did not believe me.

I nodded quickly. “She spoke to me. She said… she said that I am the Lunar Wolf. The one born every hundred years to restore balance.”

Aaron stiffened slightly, his eyes darkening with something I couldn’t quite place—shock, maybe even fear.

“Lyla… that is just a dream.”

“No, it was real,” I whispered. “She told me to find someone. A woman named Adeline. She lives near the southern border.”

The moment I said the name, Aaron’s entire body tensed. His arms dropped from around me, and he stared at me like I had just said something impossible.

“Adeline?” he repeated, his voice low, almost a growl. His face paled, and a flicker of something dark flashed in his eyes—fear mixed with something else.

“Aaron?” I whispered, my heart starting to race again. “What’s wrong?”

But he didn’t answer right away. He stood up abruptly, running a hand through his messy hair, his jaw clenched tight.

Then he turned to me, his blue eyes burning with intensity.

“Lyla… Adeline is a witch.”

The words hit me like ice water, cold and sharp.

A witch?