The Golden Goddess

Saviour

Lorcan

“I surrender!” Darius bellowed from where his bulky body curled on the mats in a fetal position. His huge arms were nestled around his red hair, shielding his face from my onslaught of punches. I stood up from my kneeling position next to him and held out one hand as Grandpapi and Pops roared with laughter.

Darius squinted through his fingers to check I had retreated before he grabbed my hand in relief and I hauled the ogre to his feet.

“Don’t worry, Uncle D. Your days are better spent in your rocking chair now,” I taunted cheekily.

“P*ss off, you little sh*t!” he laughed, shoving my shoulder.

“I’m impressed, Lorcan. I haven’t seen you fighting in human form for a few months and you’re even better than your Pops now,” Grandpapi smirked, folding his arms across his solid chest in his black suede jacket.

I hung my arms over the ropes, ignoring the sweat that was dripping down my face as I grinned back at him. “Fancy climbing in with me? I’ll let you use your vamp speed to test my reactions.”

“Oh, you’re not ready for that,” he teased, shaking his head.

“Scared, old man?”

“Terrified,” he chuckled.

Suddenly, my mum’s voice entered my mind. ‘Lorcan. I need you to come to Grandpapi’s castle immediately. Something important has come up. Do I need to shimmy to you?’

I frowned at the uneasiness and slight panic in her tone. I very rarely heard my mother panic. She was normally so poised and in control. She hadn’t always been that way, but she had learned how to keep control of her power in even the most trying of situations. She was my inspiration to keep Typhon at bay. My dad was a lot quicker at reacting, but she always thought with her head first and not her emotions.

‘I am with grandpapi, so he can shimmy me back. Is everything alright?’ I asked.

‘I’m not sure. I just need you here as soon as possible please.’

She cut the link and I climbed between the ropes, jumping down from the boxing ring. I grabbed a towel from the bench, dabbing my forehead before I marched over to my mum’s dad.

“Grandpapi, I need you to shimmy us back to your castle right now. Mum just mind-linked me and it doesn’t sound good.”

His blue and brown eyes narrowed with immediate concern as he nodded and gripped my shoulder. Within seconds, the world had blurred and warped. The gym surroundings had morphed into the familiarity of his castle as we stood in the cream and black living room.

‘I’m here. Where are you?’ I mind-linked her and started out the door with grandpapi following me.

‘Upstairs in the office.’

We both made our way up the two flights of stairs towards my grandparent’s private quarters and barged into his office. We only ever held important family meetings here when we needed personal issues to be kept away from the royal guards' ears. My whole body was on high alert as I glanced at all of my family’s confused faces. Ilaria and Leif were sitting on the sofa, while my mum was behind grandpapi’s desk. My dad was standing, leaning against the fireplace. Everyone seemed tense. Everyone apart from Leif, who was grinning at me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, walking past my siblings as my mum stood from the chair and made her way towards me.

“That is what I would like to know too,” Grandpapi announced, standing next to me and holding my mum’s gaze.

“Sit down, Lorcan.”

The tone of her voice was one that should not be messed with. I obediently sat on the sofa opposite my siblings as they both stared at me with odd curiosity. I moved my gaze from them back to my parents as they stood between us. Everyone was studying me intensely and it was starting to cause my skin to prickle in anticipation. Sh*t. What had I done? Did that omega say something last night?

“I woke Kafele today and he told me why he was sent here by his Alpha from another realm.”

“Okay…” I replied with confusion, my eyes darting between them all.

“Their realm is at war with a dark, evil force they call ‘The Shadows of the Cursed.’ They are here to seek a wolf they believe is their saviour and their only chance at defeating their enemy. They believe this wolf is the reincarnation of the Moon Goddess’ original child. The one we named you after,” my mum explained slowly.

“Okay…” I repeated, still not following. “What does this have to do with me?”

Mum and dad exchanged a look of uncertainty before my dad ran his hand down his face in stress and stepped towards me.

“They think that wolf is you, Lorcan. That you are their saviour.”

I blinked up at them both. I’m sorry, what?

“Me?” I burst, chuckling as I slammed my hand against my chest.

“You are the chosen one,” Leif put on a mystical voice as he tried to suppress his own amusement at the situation.

“Leif, now is not the time for your jokes,” mum scolded him.

“Why the hell do they think I am who they are looking for?” I shouted, standing up in shock and pacing the room.

“We aren’t too sure yet. We will let them explain everything in more detail, but we just wanted to prepare you before we let them meet you. They are a little intense and seem very heavy on their beliefs and traditions. Obviously, you will not be going to their realm, but we have to hear them out and make them understand that they have this wrong,” dad announced.

There was a knock on the door and then Neve poked her head around with an awkward smile. “Are you ready?”

I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous this was, but everyone else looked so solemn and serious that I found myself straightening my spine and nodding instead. This was crazy. What the hell was happening? Dad was right. They must have made a mistake.

Neve opened the door wider and walked inside. Kafele followed her in and then I had to do a double take. There were two of him. A slightly taller, more fearsome-looking man but otherwise completely identical to Kafele, closed the door behind him. I turned to greet them both and as soon as my eyes connected with the twins, they glanced at each other. They were clearly speaking in mind-link.

“My name is Rafandra Usoro. Head warrior of the Heroux pack. Are you Lorcan Romano Black? You are the Alabaster Alpha?” The other man asked suspiciously, eyeing me with caution.

“I am not an Alpha yet, but yes…” I replied, stepping towards them both. Neve moved out of the way to allow them to have a full view of me as everyone remained silent. “But I am sorry to say that I do not think I am who you are searching for. I have never heard of your realm or know of your problems and I am most certainly not the Moon Goddess’ original creation. These crazy lot are my family,” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood by gesturing to them over my shoulder with my thumb. The twins didn’t react but continued to stare at me with their penetrating honey eyes.

“We know you would have no idea who we are or about our realm. The seers explained that to us,” Kafele answered, and my dark eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

“The seers?”

“They are like witches but have foresight of the future and are connected to the Gods. They saw your wolf help us defeat The Cursed.”

“As well as our Goddess, who has been having visions of your wolf,” Rafandra added.

I started shaking my head in denial. “Your Goddess? You mean the Moon Goddess?”

“No. The Golden Goddess. She lives within the Heroux pack. You shall meet her when you come with us.”

“How is there a Goddess in your pack? Aren’t they immortal?” Ilaria couldn’t help but interrupt, clearly as intrigued as we all were.

“We were blessed by the Gods to have one of their own among us. But she is not immortal, no.”

“If you have a Goddess, why do you need Lorcan?” Leif asked, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Surely she can defeat some cursed shadows. How hard can it be?”

The twins' jaws both ticked with irritation at my brother and they growled, their wolves showing their disapproval.

“Her powers are limited in the human world. And this is not a joke. We have lost too many innocent wolves to make jest of our situation. We would not be here now unless it was our last resort,” Kafele spoke fiercely, and I saw my brother lean back in his chair.

“We really are very sorry to hear of your struggles and suffering, but how can you prove that Lorcan is the wolf you seek?” Mum stepped up next to me protectively. “I am sure you can understand my concern as a mother. You are asking my son to leave his home and enter a realm that is in a deadly war with no understanding of what is required of him.”

“If he shifts into his wolf, we will know,” Rafandra explained.

“How about you tell us how you will know before he does. That way we will know you are telling the truth,” my dad stepped up on my other side and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes at my protective parents. I held the twins’ gazes and nodded at them as my own curiosity came to the surface. I wanted to know how they were so sure I was this saviour.

“His wolf is of great power. Far greater than any other pure-blood wolf alive. He is faster, stronger, smarter and fiercer. His eyes glow gold with his influence,” Kafele explained as I narrowed my gaze at him.

‘I like him. He can come again,’ Typhon chuckled deeply. It was only a matter of time before I knew he would make himself known.

“That proves nothing. He is an Alabaster wolf. Our bloodlines are extremely rare and we all have those traits, myself and my mother’s wolves included,” Dad argued, folding his arms across his chest.

“Yet, I bet his wolf can outrun, outwit and win a fight against you and your mother’s wolf, even though he is far younger and less experienced?” Rafandra tilted his head to the side as he directed his question to my dad. There was clear hostility there and I could tell they had already had a run-in which didn’t go well. I peered at my dad as he turned his gaze to me, knowing in his eyes. Rafandra was right. Typhon started to outrun his wolf, Aero, two years ago.

“What else do you know?” I asked, focusing my attention back on the twins.

“You have a birthmark on your hip. It is the symbol of the Moon Goddess’ original markings she used to arrange the stars around the moon, the night she created her first children. Your wolf has the markings too on his left hip,” Kafele said carefully, and I stilled. I felt my parents tense beside me.

“Is that true?” Neve asked, looking over at me. I swallowed. How the hell did they know about my birthmark?

I slowly pulled down the side of my gym shorts, revealing the crest of a moon shape with dots either side in a constellation. The twins instantly fell to one knee with their heads bowed to their chests and one fist against their opposite pecs. They started to mutter something in a language I had never heard before as I put my shorts back in place and stared at them in shock.

“What are they doing?” Ilaria quizzed, standing up from the sofa.

“Worshipping,” Leif answered, his multi-colored eyes watching them with interest.

‘Haven't I been telling you for years we were f*cking special? Ha! You should really start listening to me! Moon Goddess’ original creation. Eat that sh*t!’ Typhon roared with delight as I stumbled back a little, feeling completely overwhelmed by the realisation that I could possibly be who they say I am.

My legs gave way and I slumped down on the sofa as my parents stared into each other’s eyes with panic.

“Lorcan. Saviour of our people and our realm,” Rafandra spoke, still in his kneeling position on the floor. “We are your loyal warriors and we are here to seek your help. Without you, our realm will perish. You must come with us and fight the evil and protect the wolves who come from your bloodline. You were the first wolf to create our realm and now you are back to save it.”

I blinked at him, unable to form a coherent word as Ilaria scoffed loudly with disbelief, shaking her head as she looked at me. I knew what she was thinking. What all my family were thinking. What crack were these wolves on? They truly believed I was Lorcan the Ivory Wolf, the first creation of the Moon Goddess? The first white Alabaster wolf to ever exist?

“This is absurd,” my dad shouted, pacing back and forth. “He is my son. He is my heir and next in line to the Blood Moon pack. He is not some reincarnation of the first born. He is not your saviour and I refuse to allow him to leave this realm and follow you to his death!”

“I have to agree with my mate,” mum said, shaking her head. “My son is a Prince of this realm and protector of our people. We feel for you and what your realm is going through, but we cannot allow him to leave.”

“With respect, this is his decision to make, not yours,” Rafandra stated, standing back up to his feet as Kafele followed suit.

They continued arguing, their voices growing louder and my siblings and Grandpapi joining in as I sat rigid on the sofa trying to process everything that was happening.

‘Typhon, is this true? Are we their saviour?’

‘Oh, now you want my opinion.’

‘Don’t be an ass. Is this why we are different? Is this what our purpose is?’

‘Yes. I believe it to be true. We have the power gifted to us from the Moon Goddess herself. I am reborn.’

‘What do you mean ‘reborn’?’

‘I think they are right. I can sense it. I have been here before. Different human but same wolf. I was the first and I created the Heroux realm. They are my pack as much as the people in this room are your family.’

‘This is insane,’ I grumbled, lowering my head into my hands as my family continued to refuse to acknowledge that this was my fate.

‘Maybe. But it is our destiny. You want to help them, don’t you?’

An unmistakable feeling of awareness swept through me as I lifted my head and looked around the room. No matter whether I was who they believed me to be or not, I really did want to help them. A natural urge to protect these wolves I had never met gave me the clarity I needed.

I stood up, allowing Typhon to share control with me in my human form for the first time since I could remember. With that clarity came acceptance for my wolf. Of who he truly was. I understood him better now. He was still an obnoxious assh*le but now I knew why.

“I’ll go.”

Everyone in the room paused, turning to face me. My eyes shone gold with Typhon’s power and the twins smiled so brightly when they saw them.

“What? You can’t be serious?” Ilaria shouted, grabbing my arm.

“I have to help them. If I am their only chance, how can I refuse?” I answered, moving my gaze to my parents. My dad’s jaw was tight and my mum’s eyes watery. “You know I have been battling Typhon for a while now. That he has this power and longing to be greater than I can allow him to be here. This is his purpose. I have to go. I have to save these wolves. You raised me to care for our people above all else. So let me.”

“Lorcan,” mum stepped towards me, reaching for my hands. “Are you sure? You have no idea how dangerous this is! You aren’t prepared for whatever evil is in their realm. How can you expect me to agree to this?”

“Because you know, if it was you they needed, you would go. What good is being powerful if you cannot help the people that need you?” I smiled, repeating the words she always told us as children.

“Fine, then I will go too,” Dad growled, glaring at the twins.

“So will I,” Ilaria added.

“Well, I’m not missing all the fun,” Leif stood up, standing next to me. I smiled at my family, knowing they would request this. They would always have my back. But my smile faded when I saw the twins shaking their heads.

“This is not possible. The portal we came through is protected by dark magic from an ancient white witch to stop the war of The Cursed from entering the human realm. Only pack members and Lorcan will be able to return.”

“Well, I am coming,” Neve stepped forward.

“No. It is too dangerous,” Rafandra snapped harshly, refusing to look her way.

“But I am a pack member now,” she argued. “Kafele marked me so I can enter your realm.”

“That is true, Neve, but Rafandra is right. Our realm is too dangerous. I will come back for you once it is safe,” Kafele replied softly, squeezing her hand in his.

“Not happening. I am coming with you both and Lorcan,” Neve folded her arms over her chest and I smirked at her stubbornness. Rafandra looked furious as Kafele sighed heavily.

“Well, if Neve and Lorcan are going, so am I!” Ilaria shouted, her eyes flashing with her demon’s anger. “I am not going to allow my best friend and my brother to enter a deadly realm without me.”

“There is no way you can enter,” Kafele said carefully. “Vampires were banished from our realm centuries ago. You will not be welcome.”

“I don’t give a sh*t if I am welcome or not!” she snapped, stepping forward with her fangs bared.

“Ilaria,” I warned, slamming my arm across her chest as she approached the twins. “I love you all. But this is not your battle. I will go alone.”

“But—” so many voices protested, but I allowed Typhon’s power to radiate from me in invisible ripples, silencing them all.

“When do we have to leave?” I asked the twins.

“As soon as possible,” they said in unison.

“It is our birthday tomorrow,” I explained, my head turning to my siblings. “I would like to stay for that and then we can go.”

They both nodded with respect and left the room. Neve followed them out. As soon as the door closed behind them, the room erupted with angry protests and I closed my eyes. I loved my family more than anything but they would not sway me on this. I had made up my mind. My parents and grandparents had won many wars and defeated their own evil enemies. They had made a name for themselves and earned respect for their positions. Now was my chance to do the same. All my life I tried to live up to everyone’s high expectations of me, but there was none higher than being called ‘The Saviour’. I wasn’t about to start letting everyone down now.

I would defeat their evil or die trying.

‘That’s the spirit!’