Chapter 208: Mouthpiece

Selene’s POV

"What are you trying to say? I’m pregnant with twins?"

I asked her only to be certain I had heard right. I had barely stepped through her door, and already the ground had shifted under my feet.

"Yes. You’re carrying twins, Selene. You can’t escape destiny. Lucian is your fated mate, and you were always meant to bear his children, not the children of the man you’re with now. William," Madam Josephine said.

My hand flew to my belly before I could stop it.

"Madam Josephine, that is a very heavy thing to say," I said, keeping my voice level, though my pulse was anything but. "Words have consequences, just like actions do."

"Then wait until you give birth," she said calmly. "If you don’t deliver twins, do whatever you like to me. My words don’t fall to the ground."

My legs were already trembling from standing. She hadn’t even offered me a chair, not for a pregnant Luna, not once. Spiritualists were always so proud. I pulled a seat out for myself and lowered into it with a quiet groan, then forced my voice steady.

"But the bond was rejected years ago," I said. "When I swore Lucian was my fated mate, they ran the test, and the goddess said no. I heard her say no."

"Yes, about that." Her eyes didn’t leave mine. "The test was manipulated by your rival at the time, Tessa Crane. You are his rightful mate."

The breath left my body in a rush, and then I couldn’t seem to stop sighing and gasping, as if the room had run out of air.

All those years. How badly I had been deceived and trampled on, how many nights I had cried myself to sleep over a lie. Those years were buried and behind me, and this old wolf was digging them up with her bare hands.

"The time has passed," I said, my voice cracking. "That was then. I’ve gotten over it. I never want to see the faces of the people you just named again."

"The stars are aligning in favour of you and Lucian. You will end up together. That is the verdict of the goddess."

What the hell was this old wolf saying? I was fucking married to William. Couldn’t she see the ring on my finger? And why did the goddess love playing games with my life? She kept tossing me between mates like I was trash she couldn’t decide whether to keep.

"You’re lying," I snapped. "Don’t mention that name again. I was looking for a way to get rid of the child I’m carrying for him, and now you’re telling me this?"

My own words made my stomach turn. I looked down at my belly, ashamed and afraid.

"Your children will be an extension of the goddess’s mercy," Josephine said, her voice softer now. "They will continue from where you stopped. They will make sure the wolf line doesn’t go extinct."

"So there’s going to be another war?"

"I didn’t say that. I can’t say for sure. But even if there is, those twins will be preserved."

"Listen." I leaned forward, and I hated how desperate I sounded. "That’s what we’ve been working toward for months. We don’t want war. We’re doing everything to prevent it. Please, ask the goddess how we can win this for good." I was begging her, and I didn’t care.

"In all my years as the goddess’s mouthpiece, we haven’t always known everything. We can only glimpse a little." She paused. "What this territory needs is togetherness. If you don’t stand together, you cannot defeat the enemy."

A cold unease settled over me. I couldn’t predict anything anymore. Anything could happen. How was I supposed to build togetherness when I couldn’t even stand the thought of being near Lucian?

But it was starting to look like I wouldn’t have a choice.

"How do we achieve this togetherness?" I asked quietly.

"The children you carry will help foster it. But all of you must have one mind when opposition comes."

For the first time that day, something in my chest loosened. It felt like fate that I had met her at exactly this moment, neither a day too early nor too late.

"I wish I could make you my special advisor," I said, "but I know you’re devoted to this place, to serving the goddess."

"I’ve been here for over forty years, doing the same work. As long as I’m alive, I won’t watch this territory go extinct." Her gaze sharpened. "True Luna Selene, bring everyone together. And never trust the enemy."

"Thank you," I said, and my throat tightened. "For being here, for being the goddess’s mouthpiece, for protecting this territory." I knew I had no choice now but to follow her instructions and unite my people.

I rose to leave, but my feet wouldn’t carry me. I couldn’t walk out empty-handed. I reached into my bag and pulled out every bit of cash I had on me. I wouldn’t need it anymore, I had more than enough, and I set it down at her feet. Her face stayed perfectly straight. She didn’t even glance at the money.

"Don’t bother with the money. Take it back. We do this because it’s our calling."

"No. I can’t take it back, Madam Josephine. You have to survive too," I said, already moving toward the door. "When all of this is over, I’ll do more for you, and you will accept it from your Luna."

"Luna Selene!"

I turned. Her expression hadn’t changed at all, not even a flinch.

"Keep those babies at all cost. You must not lose them. They are far bigger than you think."

I nodded, my hand pressed to my belly, and stepped out of her presence. The air outside felt like a fresh start. I hadn’t gotten every answer, but I had the ones I needed to start making things happen the way they should.

I would have to tell my husband some of this, but I would edit it first. He couldn’t know everything. He definitely couldn’t know I’d gone to a mouthpiece. Some things were better left unsaid.