The Beta's Forbidden Mate

Chapter 7 - Purple dusk

Ryder POV

Of all the visitors to come, it had to be The Oracle. I could not believe she would show up again after speaking the prophecy to River and I when we were seventeen. It was like we developed a trauma. Not that we truly hated the prophecy, because it was through it that we knew we would be meeting our one true fated mate.

However, who would like to go through another war again? Or to go through another series of waiting, suffering, and heartache?

Not me definitely. This prophecy made us lose lives. Two people who have been part of our lives. As much as they were nuances, they were still important to us. We lost our best friend, too. How I wish we could have Sam back.

I was not one to back out on any challenges per se, but for the sake of our mate, I would want us to live in peace. Perhaps that was not the case for us as we got to have the privilege of The Oracle's visit.

When Kimberly voiced out the Moon Goddess’ message, then lost consciousness earlier, I knew this was serious and a real deal. Kimberly was a powerful witch. She wouldn’t just succumb to some kind of energy. The Moon Goddess’ power had done this to her. Was this one way of punishing us? We wouldn’t know.

“Hunter, do you know anything about the purple dusk?” I was with Kimberly back in our room. She had just uttered the message and upon mentioning the purple dusk, I knew I had to ask about it. I have never heard of purple dusk.

“No. I know nothing,” my wolf answered.

“You’re a big help.”

“I know. Thank you.”

“We need to know. How would we know it is purple dusk already, so we can do this offering? What if it happens later? Or what if this purple dusk happened sometime and we were not ready? What should we do?” Some help Hunter was. For a werewolf, why did he not think about this thing?

“Human, I was born when you were born. Don’t blame me for something I do not know. Go to the library and find something in the history if purple dusk had happened before. Or ask Dad and Mom. What’s happening with you and River? Looks like you had your brains fried or you left them somewhere.”

I got past the insult and asked, “Wait. What’s up with River?”

“He was also asking Hayden about it. As if he knew.”

I was contemplating on what to do next when River came in looking like he was in deep thought or worry. I bet he was both.

I couldn’t take not doing anything, so I stood up and told River I would be going to the library to check on books. Our other option was to ask the elders, but I hoped we wouldn’t have to do that. I didn’t like going to the elders as they give a litany of lectures before they could get to the point. Well, I wouldn’t want to give away what had happened right away. There was no cause for panic, right? We would be able to go past this, same with our other problems.

Leaving River with Kimberly, I left the room. I knew I should give time for River to be with our mate. I had been getting all her time and helping our River less. River didn’t complain, but I wouldn’t want us to come to that. I had to do something and put an effort into this relationship and into our work.

The mated bond was making it hard to be away from my baby. However, I do what I must. Reaching the library, I didn’t know where to go first. This was one of River’s sanctuary. When was the last time I was here? Probably when Kimberly was here and I came to get her. She got lost with the number of books we had in the library so that she forgot the time.

Looking for werewolf history books, I scanned the titles on a shelf. The Alpha Kings of the Medieval Ages, The Infamous Alpha Kings, and The Dark Ages in the Werewolf History were some of the books I saw along the row. I scanned more titles, row after row, until I saw one book that seemed to be on the wrong shelf – The Encyclopedia of Werewolf Terminologies.

Perhaps I could find the meaning of purple dusk in here.

Moving to a table, I sat down and opened the book. Scanning page after page, I finally saw the word purple dusk!

Purple dusk is a rare phenomenon. Rarer than the blue moon. This phenomenon happens when the sky turns purple. However, instead of eventually turning into a dark night, the sky would stay purple until the sun comes out again the following day.

It is said to be an omen, promising the destruction that is to come. However, this rare happening is a gift from the Moon Goddess providing the werewolves the moment to make offerings to glorify her, to appease her, or to ask for her favor. In the early days, many werewolves would participate in the offerings. However, as time passed by, only the royals made use of the purple dusk.

It was said that the Moon Goddess used the color purple as it is the color of royalty.

Offerings can be in the form of a run and howling to the heavens. In other ways, when alphas and lunas want to ask for an offspring, they perform s*x in an open area. It is not mandatory, but their pack would come to witness the act to support their leaders in their journey to conceive an heir. The last alpha couple who did this act were Alpha King Markus and Queen Luna Grace in 1812. They were able to conceive an heir, Alpha King Gregory.

What the f**k did I just read?

I stared at the page, not believing the words on it. This could be one of those joke books.