I stared at Simon, my eyes wide and my thoughts were running a mile a minute. "What are you talking about?"

Simon ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't want to say anything until I was one hundred percent sure and then I got this aura from you that was so weird. It was something I had never seen before. I did some spells and I figured out that you're going to be the next Moon Goddess. I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want you to freak out but then I thought that you should know so that you can be prepared."

I felt like I was going to throw up. "What do I do now?"

"You choose. You choose to become the next Moon Goddess or you back down and decline the offer."

I now felt like I was going to throw up. "Why me? Why am I the chosen one?"

"The Moon Goddess has a strategy on picking who is next. She just knows who is going to be next. She studied all of the she-wolves and their history. She watches them grow up to be who they are today."

"But I didn't grow up like a normal wolf. I grew up like a human. If I never came here, I probably never would've turned."

Simon shook his head. "That's where you are wrong, Bailey. If you never came here, you still would've turned. She would have made you turn either by something tragic happening to you like a car accident or you meeting someone else that is a werewolf. Anything that can trigger the dominant wolf gene in you."

This was all too much. I was getting a headache. "Do I tell Chance? What would I even say? We haven' t talked."

"You do what you think is best. If you don't want to tell him until the night of the Super Moon, then don't. IF you want to tell him now, then go right ahead. The choice is yours, Bailey."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. "If I choose to become the Moon Goddess, what happens?"

Simon stopped pacing around the room and looked at me. "It's different for everyone. You might never be able to come back. Your memory might be erased as well as everyone you have ever come in contact with. You will never have had a mat. It will be like a fresh start. Your family will think you died as well as Chance but they wouldn't be able to remember your name. if the Moon Goddess before you is feeling generous, which rarely happens, she might let you keep your old life. You would be able to see Chance and your family again and again. The only thing with that is that you never die, Bailey. Chance and everyone else here that is mortal, will die. You would have to be okay with never growing old but watching all of them grow old and die. You will never be able to give Chance children so there would be no heir to the pack. There are so many pros as well as cons to becoming the next Moon Goddess."

"So, I become immortal?"

Simon chuckled lightly. "That's all you got from that? But yes, you become immortal like me."

"Did you know any of the Moon Goddess'?"

Simon sighed. "Well, I've only been around for 233 years. I knew the last Moon Goddess but the Moon Goddess can never die. It's not possible unless the world ends because the moon is her power source, it's what keeps her alive. When the original Moon Goddess passed her powers down, she reincarnated herself into that young woman. Do you follow me?"

"No, you're confusing me."

"Bailey, you are the Moon Goddess. She is inside of you. You are the Moon Goddess herself from all of those years ago. That's why you were chosen because the original powers live within you."

Not wanting to hear anymore because I was feeling overwhelmed, I looked at Simon and then ran out Simon's front door. My wolf being just as confused at me.

***

When I made it back home, I was greeted with a silent Jason and a very, very angry Alpha.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Chance screamed at me.

I was not in the mood for his shit. We haven't talked in god knows who long. He thinks he can talk to me like this knowing how I feel? "I was out."

Chance's eyes flashed yellow. Was he going to kill me too? "Out? Out where, Bailey."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Stop acting like you can control every aspect of my life. I don't want to talk to you, Chance. Can you not understand that? I'm scared of you."

Jason looked uncomfortable. "I need to know where you are at all times. You're getting into trouble and it's a bad reputation for the Luna. I told you I would stop the punishments completely. I've been taking my medication. When are you going to forgive me?"

"Bad reputation for the Luna? Forgive you? I can never forgive you for killing Jenna. I am a damn good Luna and you know it. You should have rejected me when you had the chance. I never wanted any of this! Maybe you should have thought before marking me and initiating me into this godforsaken pack. Go find someone else to bother about this. I'm done with this conversation and I'm done with you."

I think both Chance and I had reached our breaking points. He wanted everything to go back to normal and I was still processing everything that has happened. Chance started shaking, his claws extending from his fingers. He advanced towards me, striking at my face, leaving a stinging feeling to go down the side of my face. I stepped back, stunned, not knowing what to do as I felt tears trickle down my face. I looked up at Chance and at the other people in the room. "What the actual fuck, Chance? You just did the one thing I thought you would never do."

He came towards me but I stepped back even more, scared. "Don't come near me. You're a disgusting piece of shit and I wish I had never met you. I trusted you to never hurt me. I hate you."

Chance looked like he was going to cry. I felt numb. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry."

Wiping the tears from my face, I stared at Chance and said something I hope he would never forget. "You're no better than Carter himself."

And with that, I stormed out of the house, feeling like I was going to die at any moment.

***

I was by the edge of the pack boarders. One more step and I was in Brandon's territory. I was tempted to walk over there and ask Brandon if I could stay there for a little while but he seems loyal to Chance and would probably force me back here. However, seeing the red hand print on my face might make Brandon feel bad enough to let me stay there with him.

When did everything get so hard? So confusing? So painful? I miss my old home and my dogs. I miss my old life. I wish I wasn't a werewolf and that I had never met Chane. I wish I was able to choose my fate. Maybe if I accept becoming the new Moon Goddess, I could leave Chance and all of this behind me and life would be so much better.

The cracking of a tree branch behind me broke me from my thoughts. Jason stood behind me, a sympathetic look on his face. I sighed, not wanting to deal with anymore bullshit today. "If you're here to bring me back, don't even try. I'm not going anywhere near that pack right now. We can fight and I'll beat you ass and then run."

Jason nodded, a look of amusement on his face. "I wasn't here because of Chance. I came out here for you. You're my Luna and I wanted to make sure that you're alright. It looked like Chance really got you there."

I nodded, feeling the stinging on my face slowly fading. "Well, I'm fine. Thanks for coming all the way out here to check on me. What's he doing?"

Jason smiled. "Nothing, as of now. He'll be just fine, though."

I took a step back, suddenly feeling a little weirded out. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It just means that he won't be able to hurt you anymore."

"Jason, what are you going on about?"

Jason took a step toward me. "I'm sorry that I have to do this to you, Luna."

Everything went black when Jason lunged at me.

_________