The Moon Goddess's Karma

Chapter 03 ~ Worthy or worthless?

As it turns out, Father was indeed Ms. O’Meade’s former fated mate. Astrid is having a hard time wrapping her head around it.

Ms. O’Meade could have been the pack’s luna. Heck, she could have been Astrid’s mother!

The thought of not being Ameera’s daughter is too painful to even consider, so she tries very hard not to. Her mother is the perfect luna for the pack: the kindest, warmest, most generous, and understanding luna in the whole wide world. She cannot imagine another woman in her place!

Ms. O’Meade, on the other hand, is sitting by herself, glumly eating her lunch early in the cafeteria to avoid the crush of students later. As usual, she wears a perpetually cold expression and carries an almost repellant aura around her. Astrid stares pensively at the older lady from the other side of the canteen, where she is seated with Vixen and some of their other classmates who have been dismissed early from their class because their teacher is feeling unwell.

Almost unconsciously, she stands up, her feet suddenly carrying in the older lady’s direction.

Ms. O’Meade looks up and frowns when she sees her. “What do you want?”

“May we talk, Ms. O’Meade?”

“About what?” the teacher asks flatly.

Astrid’s cheeks suddenly feel warm, understanding the reason behind the unfriendly tone. Admittedly, though, she did not think this through. What is she even going to say?

Miss… I’m just wondering…why didn’t you end up with my father? Oh, by the way…I found out you were former mates because I have been eavesdropping during an intimate conversation between my parents.

Goddess, she’ll never live it down. And Ms. O’Meade would probably report her again, and then Father will find out…

“I expect you to act better in the future. Be worthy of the wolf spirit the Moon Goddess will bless you with in a few weeks. Do not disappoint me again, Star.”

Astrid grits her teeth. Damn it. Her father won’t be so forgiving this time around, especially since she has just gotten a strike recently. Just yesterday, in fact. She shouldn’t even be anywhere near Ms. O’Meade, really.

“I, uh…” She swallows painfully. “I wanted to apologize again for yesterday. It was really not cool… what I said, and I-I just want to make sure there are no hard feelings.”

Ms. O’Meade stares at her coldly. “I would be lying if I said that, but I appreciate that you are trying to atone for your action.”

Bloody Mary, she is not making this easy, and the sad thing is that Astrid cannot even fault her. What must Ms. O’Meade think every time she sees the alpha’s children?

The what-could-have-beens? This must be why she is so bitter and angry all the time.

Sighing in resignation, Astrid nods and leaves.

“What the hell was that?” Vixen asks in disbelief. “Are you trying to get grounded? Like, on purpose?”

Astrid sits down and puts her head directly on the table, her forehead pressed against the cold, laminated wood. “Oh, I dunno. I’m just…I’m feeling guilty for how I acted yesterday. I wanted to make amends, but she just…walled up again.”

Vixen sighs and shrugs. “She’s always been like that. Rumor says it’s because she lost her mate. But my mom said she was the one who rejected him. Said that one’s always been too proud and didn’t care for the mate bond,” her best friend mindlinks, fearful of being overheard by the lady in question.

“What?”

“Yeah! Mom didn’t say who she was mated to, but I figured whoever it was already left the pack. I mean, who wouldn’t? It would have been too embarrassing to be rejected by the one person who was supposed to love you more than anyone else in this world.”

Astrid feels an overwhelming sadness all of a sudden. “Oh, Father.”

Vixen frowns. “What do you mean ‘Oh, Father’?”

Astrid grimaces. She forgot to close the mind link, and Vixen obviously heard her thoughts.

“Nothing. I just… I thought perhaps Father knew, and that is why he was so angry with me. He didn’t tell me anything, obviously…Of course, he wouldn’t…I mean, why would he?”

Vixen stares at her suspiciously before shrugging it off. “Whatever. Anyway, it was a long time ago—let’s not think about them anymore. Hey, when are we going shopping for your coming-of-age party? I really wanna see as many options as possible…”

Just like that, they return to their normal teenage life, worrying about the most mundane things…

Until the most awaited day of her life came. Her eighteenth birthday.

The day she meets the other half of her soul and the greatest gift from the Moon Goddess: her wolf.

She has been anxious the whole day because one meets one’s wolf at precisely the same time one was born, not just at the stroke of midnight on the day of one’s birth. Astrid had to wait a whole day and a few more hours because, according to her birth certificate, she was born two minutes before midnight. She might as well have been born the day after.

When the clock strikes 11:00 p.m., her family accompanies her to the top of the hill where she will be left alone for her “second birth.”

She will meditate for half an hour and remove her clothes in preparation for her wolf bursting out of her skin. Astrid cannot wait to meet her wolf, but the truth is, she’s also very anxious. What would it be like, having another voice in her head, twenty-four-seven? What if they don’t get along? What if she doesn’t want to have it in her head anymore? It’s not like she can put her wolf up for adoption or leave her at the dog pound.

Whenever she thinks of the lack of privacy, the blessing starts to feel more like a curse.

Her mother had assured her many times it was impossible not to love one’s wolf, for in truth, it is simply a part of you. Astrid remains plagued by doubts, though.

At quarter to midnight, she starts to feel a tingling all over her body, starting from the soles of her feet and spreading upwards.

Her heart begins to pump wildly as she recognizes the changes on her skin, and inside her, another consciousness slowly awakening.

“Is that you?” she dares to ask, her voice trembling in anticipation. “Are you my wolf?”

“Well, unless you’re secretly a monkey shifter, then yes, I am indeed your wolf.” Is the reply full of sass. Astrid cannot help but laugh. “If they sent me to the wrong host, I’m gonna have to ask for a refund.”

Snarky and sarcastic. Not bad. At least it won’t ever be boring. But still…oh, this will take a lot of adjusting to.

“I’m Astrid. What’s your name?”

“Rieka.”

Rieka? Why does that sound familiar? “I’m pleased to meet you, Rieka.”

When her wolf responds, it isn’t exactly unfriendly, but her voice is hard. “I’ll have to reserve judgment before I say likewise. No offense.”

Ouch. No filters or mincing her words either. This will be…interesting.

“None taken,” Astrid answers quietly. At least, not that much, she thinks to herself.

“I have an agreement with the Moon Goddess,” Rieka informs her. “I will only accept a human who can prove herself worthy. I am no ordinary wolf, and I deserve an extraordinary human host. You will prove your merit, or I will find another who can.”

Astrid’s jaw drops. She could possibly lose her wolf!? She never even thought it was a possibility! Suddenly, she remembers having doubts about wanting to share her mind with another being. Now, it seems the tables have turned, and her wolf actually gets to decide whether she wants to stay or not.

Astrid glares at the full moon, a wave of resentment threatening to pull her under.

The Mean Goddess probably knows about her sentiments regarding having a wolf and is giving her the taste of her own medicine, just to teach her a lesson about gratitude.

Suddenly, this whole sacred moment of receiving the Moon Goddess’s greatest blessing is marred by fear and annoyance.

Reality hangs over her head like a bloody guillotine. One wrong move, and she could lose her wolf. If that happens, Astrid will forever be known as the alpha’s wolfless daughter.

Historians would write books about her, but not in a good light. “She Who Is Unworthy,” “The Girl Who Lost Her Wolf” or worse things she doesn’t even want to think of.

Oh, this is a disaster!

Don’t panic! Let’s think this through. It’s fifty-fifty at this point…I can still salvage the situation. I just have to prove myself worthy—wait, wait, wait! She frowns as something comes to mind.

“I am the alpha’s daughter. I am not weak just because I’m the only female in the litter,” Astrid declares proudly. “Who are you to demand my worth?”

Her wolf snarls, and in her surprise, Astrid backs down in submission instinctively. Rieka seizes the opportunity and takes over, choosing that vulnerable moment to shift for the very first time.

Astrid screams as she feels her bones rearranging and muscles stretching, feeling absolute terror when she realizes her whole body is no longer under her control.

She watches from a faraway corner of her mind, as if in a trance, while a new creature is born.

In the clearing now stands an enchanting wolf with electrifying blue eyes and an astonishing reddish coat. It finally dawns on Astrid why her wolf’s name is familiar.

She has already heard it, in her history class.

“I am Rieka. Warrior Queen of the wolves.”