CHAPTER 94: WELCOME IT ALL

Kaya

"You’re sure you can’t come?" I almost plead with Samantha. My best attempt at puppy eyes makes her lips twitch, but her resolve doesn’t waver.

"Sorry, babe. Family dinner that night." She sighs, tension pulling at her features. "Honestly, I’d rather be with the girls, but if I skip this one, my folks will never let me hear the end of it."

I let out a matching sigh, resignation settling over me.

The secret gathering the twins mentioned turned out to be the annual celebration of Lunarium—an ancient tradition where the female wolves of each pack come together to honor the Moon Goddess.

They pray, perform sacred rituals, and make offerings in hopes of winning her favor and securing blessed fates for themselves.

I’ve heard stories of Lunarium before, but I’ve never been invited to witness it. Its date shifts each year, tied to the moon’s cycles. This year, it falls at the very end of December.

"You’re going to freeze your ass off out there," Sam laughs, flopping onto the bed beside me and rolling onto her back. "Do you even know how long that celebration lasts?"

"No." I shake my head. "Have you ever been?"

"A few times." She hums softly, stretching her arms above her chest, her fingers weaving strange, dancing shadows across the ceiling. "It’s not as common anymore—fewer packs hold the tradition—but it’s still a fun experience."

She rolls onto her stomach and leans closer, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "You know you have to get naked and jump over the fire, right?"

A rush of heat floods my cheeks, my lips parting in shock. Samantha bursts into laughter, slapping my shoulder as if my reaction is the funniest thing she’s seen all night.

"Come on, Moonchild! You’ve seen people naked a hundred times—how can you still blush like that?"

I open my mouth to respond, but my mind blanks entirely. Before I can recover, she cups my cheeks in her warm hands, clearly delighted by my embarrassment. "I’m just kidding," she teases, her eyes glinting with amusement. "But seriously, you should do it. Who knows? Maybe the Moon Goddess will hear you then... and grant you a wish."

A wish? The thought repeats in my mind, my heart thudding faster.

"Pray for a mate," Sam hums softly, her voice suddenly quieter. She turns away, hiding her expression from me. "And if you don’t want one... pray for me."

***

"Kaya! You made it!" Megan and Bella are the first to greet me, their pale faces glowing beneath the shimmering light yellow and silver hues of an unusual, almost ethereal makeup.

"Wow, you look... radiant." I smile awkwardly, realizing that every girl gathered for the celebration wears the same glimmering palette, making them look like reflections of one another.

"Light gold and silver are the colors of the moon!" Bella declares, her eyes narrowing as she takes in my appearance. "But you—you’re naturally radiant! I guess that means you’re going to be our Moon for tonight!"

The rest of the girls erupt with enthusiasm, circling me as if I’m some rare, precious artifact put on display.

"Her last name is Moon, too," Jess—a short, sturdily built girl—chimes in. The others nod in agreement. "It’s decided! You’re going to be our vessel—the one who speaks to the Moon Goddess herself!"

I suddenly feel as if I’m standing on a stage beneath a blinding spotlight, every eye on me, my every breath exposed.

"What... what do I have to do?" I ask, my voice tinged with unease at the weight of this sudden responsibility.

The girls burst into laughter, and Megan steps forward, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, her warm smile softening the moment.

"Just be yourself, Kaya Moon. And don’t worry—we’re only teasing. Still..." Her eyes twinkle. "It’s nice to have someone so close to the Moon Goddess among us."

With that, the girls set off toward the forest, their laughter and chatter floating into the cool night air. I follow them, but the thought lingers, heavy and persistent.With everything I’ve endured... am I really that close to the Goddess?

***

Once we arrive at the secret gathering spot, I realize it’s a makeshift camp, likely thrown together only days before the celebration.

Several tents form a circle around a massive fire pit, the flames roaring so high they almost seem to lick the stars. From where I stand, it’s as if the tongues of fire are reaching for the heavens themselves.

There are baskets brimming with wine, fresh fruit, and glistening berries resting atop small mounds of snow, their colors vivid against the winter white. Wreaths of deep red and rich purple flowers hang from spears driven into the frozen earth, their petals defiant against the cold.

Strings of lights wind through the trees, casting a warm golden glow, while the tents are draped with all manner of lunar decorations—silver crescents, pearly beads, and shimmering cloth that dances with each breath of wind. But none of it compares to the sight that steals my breath.

The lake.

How have I never known about this place?

"Doesn’t it look like the moon herself?" someone says behind me, but I don’t even turn to see who spoke. My eyes are fixed, utterly transfixed, on the dark, still water.

They’re right—it does look like the moon, a perfect circle holding the night sky in its embrace. Its flawless surface reflects the moonlight with such clarity it’s as if the heavens have descended to rest upon it.

I feel hypnotized, a magnetic pull urging me closer, compelling me to wade in, to let the cold embrace of the water strip away the restless weight I’ve been carrying for far too long.

"Alright, girls!" Megan’s voice cuts through the haze, sharp and clear as she stands beside the fire. "Welcome to the fifth Lunarium of the Blood Moon Pack!"

Cheers erupt, palms clapping in a chorus of celebration as Megan sweeps her gaze over us, her warm brown eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Every year, we gather here in this part of the forest to honor the Moon Goddess, to thank her for the blessings she has given us—and, shamelessly, to ask for more. Tonight, drink deeply, feast well, and revel in the power of your womanhood. For when midnight strikes, we will meet the Moon Goddess again... and welcome the next Chapter of our fate."

A shiver ripples through me, and my skin blooms with goosebumps, each one lit with sparks of anticipation.

The next Chapter of my fate...The Moon Goddess...My wish.

I think... I’m ready to welcome it all.