Chapter 20
Elyssa's POV
The moon shone brightly in the night sky as I walked alone, tracing the familiar path that wound through the outskirts of our town. It had been two years since my parents sacrificed their lives to save a stranger, leaving me behind at the tender age of seventeen. Since that tragic day, I had become an outcast, shunned and despised by everyone in our close-knit community. They blamed me for my parents' noble act, accusing me of bringing sorrow upon our town.
Loneliness consumed me, a constant companion as I wandered the streets unnoticed. The pain of losing my parents still lingered, gnawing at my heart like a relentless beast. The only solace I found was in the moon's gentle glow, a comforting reminder of the love my parents had bestowed upon me.
As I walked, lost in my thoughts, I heard a soft rustling in the bushes nearby. Startled, I turned my head and caught sight of a silvery figure emerging from the shadows. It was a wolf, larger than any I had ever seen, with mesmerizing blue eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. The wolf tilted its head, as if understanding my words, and then a voice echoed in my mind.
"I am Luna, the Moon Goddess, and I have chosen you," the voice whispered, its ethereal tone sending shivers down my spine.
"Chosen me? But for what?" I questioned, bewildered by the unexpected encounter.
"You are destined for greatness, my child. I have watched you endure the pain and loneliness, and it is time for you to find your place among the pack," Luna replied, her voice filled with compassion.
A surge of hope welled up within me, intertwining with skepticism. Could this be true? Could I finally find acceptance and love? The weight of my past burdens lifted ever so slightly, replaced by a glimmer of anticipation.
Days turned into weeks, and the whispers of the townspeople grew louder as they watched my every move. Their disdain followed me like a shadow, but deep inside, a newfound confidence was taking root. Luna had promised me greatness and with that promise, I held onto a sliver of hope.
One evening, as the sun began its descent and cast an orange hue across the horizon, I found myself in the heart of the town square. Murmurs filled the air as people exchanged curious glances. It was then that I heard a commotion erupting from a nearby alleyway.
Intrigued, I cautiously made my way towards the sound. As I rounded the corner, I froze, my breath catching in my throat. A young man, about my age, stood in the center of a circle of onlookers. His dark hair framed a face that held a hint of defiance, and his eyes, oh, his eyes were a deep shade of amber that seemed to burn with a fierce determination.
The townspeople sneered and jeered, taunting him relentlessly. It was clear he was an outsider, much like myself, but he refused to back down. His words resonated with an unwavering strength, each syllable laced with conviction.
"Leave him alone!" I shouted, stepping forward, surprising both the crowd and myself. The townspeople turned their attention to me, their eyes filled with contempt.
"Stay out of this, girl. He's not one of us," spat an elderly woman, her voice dripping with venom.
"But neither am I," I replied, my voice steady, fueled by the fire ignited within me.
The young man's gaze locked with mine, and in that intense moment, I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes. It was as if he could see past the loneliness that cloaked me, the pain that still haunted my soul. And in that instant, I knew.
"Who are you?!" he barked at me, his voice rough and rude to my ears and I was taken aback by how rude he was but I quickly brushed it aside because it was probably because he didn't know me and thought I was just like the townspeople that were jeering at him.
"My name is Elyssa and I can see that we already know each other from another realm" I replied, my heart pounding with newfound purpose and in eagerness to hear his reply but he just kept looking at me without saying anything.
The townspeople fell into a stunned silence, their eyes darting between the young man and I. It was a pivotal moment, a turning point that would either unite or further isolate us. But I was done hiding in the shadows. I was ready to embrace my destiny and prove that love and acceptance could conquer even the deepest of wounds. This was my mate. Was this the greatness that the moon goddess had spoken about?
As the moon ascended higher in the sky, its glow casting a soft radiance upon us, the crowd slowly dispersed, leaving the young man and me standing alone in the center of the town square. We both stood staring at each other and it seemed awkward for a while until a tentative smile graced his lips, mirroring the
hope blossoming within me, I could see that he was getting more comfortable with me and did not see the need to be rude anymore,
"You said your name is Elyssa right?" He asked and I nodded my head in affirmation,
"You didn't tell me yours though?" I enquire of him and he looks me up and down in a way that I could not really describe before replying
"My name is Caleb" he reveals, his voice razz and deep and I smiled at how beautiful his name was to my ears, the moon goddess has indeed blessed me.
I nodded my head as my heart swelled with happiness and determination. I could already picture how happy our life together was going to be I could already picture how we would forge a path of acceptance, breaking the chains of prejudice that bound our town. And in doing so, we would honor the memory of my parents, who had given their lives to save a stranger but who would have thought that I was going to be so wrong.