I wanted to feel entirely relieved and ecstatic about Diana's news, but for some reason it only grew to make me nervous as a few more days passed by. A part of me wanted to just immediately tell everyone about it, but another part could remember Diana's pleas. It would be the worst thing ever if I slipped up and this put her in danger.

Either way, I had to keep telling myself it was a win. It was yet one more reason for the packs to rethink their ways. It was another reason for Roman to reconsider whatever plans he had for humankind. The end of the werewolves wasn't as near as he suspected. So why was I still so nervous?

Would he still want to move forward, even knowing the last of the curses was lifted?

They lifted all the curses.

I was sitting in front of the lake where that strange ritual had happened under the cloak of night a bit over a month ago, my knees to my chest with my arms wrapped around them comfortably. I kept being drawn to this place and I wasn't sure why. Was it similar to the Chrone's Eye within the abandoned temple? If I stepped into it, would I feel the water on my skin?

I was here on this peaceful night because I couldn't sleep. I found myself lying in bed with my mind twisting and turning over the situation that was my life. So far, my new title as Queen Luna hadn't changed my situation much compared to before I'd gained it, but I was certain it was only because I hadn't completed the steps needed to truly become it.

Would I need to know how to fully shift?

I looked at my hands absently, flexing my fingers as I remembered the power that coursed through them when they were shifted. I had a sharp image of my hand in Lillian's chest and immediately clasped my hands into fists, wincing in response.

They lifted all the curses.

Diana's words were bothering me. It was true, their Goddesses brought back mates and now even birth, but did they really break all the curses? The oracles had been banished, but if they were still here, would their connection to the Goddesses be revived or is that link still severed as Cynthia had told me? And Roman...

Roman Stone.

He was still immortal, wasn't he? It bothered me. This entire messy situation began with him, didn't it? I was relieved the wolves weren't doomed and they finally could be happy once more, but wouldn't that turn things back to the way they were before the blessings were taken away? Roman had still been cursed then; an angry soul tormented among those he couldn't allow himself to deeply care for.

I knew the entire reason I had begun this entire "quest", the reason I had decided to stay in this village instead of running home when I had the chance, was to protect humanity and more specifically the ones I had left behind. In that time, my life had been expanded further than I ever had imagined before, and I had grown to desire a sort of... happiness to be given to the wolves as well. Or maybe peace.

Now, there seemed to be another desire picking at my spirit. Roman was still cursed. Even if he decided not to harm the humans and allowed me to go home to live my human life, he would still be cursed. It bothered me.

The creature within me stirred as I remained gazing into the surface of the lake in deep thought. I paused when I felt the twinge and then dropped my arms to push myself to my feet quickly. I considered running away, as I had been doing for awhile now, but I knew I couldn't keep running forever. Plus, I didn't like Roman thinking I was completely terrified of him. I wasn't. Maybe.

Roman stepped into view and it was breathtaking. He paused when he saw me, as though he weren't expecting me, but he must have if he could feel me as I felt him.

"You're not going to try to avoid me?" His voice carried easily over the peaceful tune of nature in the night. My heart began to pick up pace just at the sight of him, but his question made it only worse.

I shook my head wordlessly. Roman stepped towards me, beginning to close the distance between us warily. His eyes slipped from me to the lake just briefly before turning back to me.

"Were you looking for guidance from the Goddesses?" He asked me, sarcasm slipping through his tone before he cleared his throat and added more politely, "In the past, there were talented oracles that could do it even with puddles, so I'm sure a lake wouldn't be too difficult for someone like you."

I considered several snappy comebacks. 'If I said yes, would you ban me from even drinking water?' I considered asking if he would think of allowing those oracles who did survive to come back to the packs once the blessings of the Goddesses all came back. My mind thought over ways to immediately make him angry, to feel that heat even in my own veins, if only to give me that familiarity I was more comfortable with when dealing with him.

They lifted all the curses. Except for his. Why did I care?

"I wasn't," I admitted honestly, turning to look at the lake myself with a frown. "The Goddesses and I don't really get along like that."

"You're the first wolf I've ever known to be favored by all three Goddesses. I think you're mistaken," Roman responded and the annoyance I expected to come hand in hand with such a statement from him didn't follow. He was acting oddly... respectful.

"Well, I think you're the only one cursed by all of them, so I guess we make quite a pair, don't we?" I said with a nervous half laugh.

"Two of them."

I paused. "What?"

"I was only cursed by two of them," Roman corrected me. I could guess which two he spoke of, but it still surprised me. I was used to him openly hating all the Goddesses as one being. Even after all this time, it seemed he still didn't blame every one of them as equally as I thought. "You shouldn't be out here by yourself. You shouldn't go anywhere by yourself."

I finally turned my gaze back to him. Roman was standing only a few steps in front of me now. His scent was drifting in the air with the breeze and catching the attention of that beast within me in response. I tensed, balling my hands into a fist before releasing and repeating again.

"I'm not by myself," I answered quietly.

"If you give up your title, you would be free to do as you wish without worrying about challenges or attempts on your life," Roman ignored my comment, but his voice had grown rougher. And so, we were back to this topic. "We could find a volunteer to take your place, stage a challenge to relinquish the title, and leave you with your life in the end."

"That sounds humiliating. No thanks." A heat of anger flashed through me, from Roman, but also from me as well. The image of some 'volunteer' taking the title and taking him was enough to bother me further. I sighed, running my hand over my arm as if to rub away that heat. My sudden frustration made me brave. "I already told you. I don't want anyone else by your side."

"It doesn't matter who's by my side. It doesn't change anything," Roman said carefully, hiding what thoughts were crossing his mind from appearing on his face. But the heat from his anger had faded almost the moment I told him the truth. His words still stung even without anger.

"Is that true?" I asked him. I knew he meant it wouldn't change how he ran the pack or maybe even what plans they had for the future, but did it really not matter to him who was his Queen Luna? Was I really just a body he saw unfit? Would anybody do?

Roman tilted his head, his face set in such serious lines of someone deeply dissatisfied.

"Do you want the truth?" He finally inquired, his voice quiet. It made my heart jolt nervously. Did I? I nodded without speaking, my eyes wide on his as I tried to prepare myself for further insults. "I'm worried about you. If the title puts you in danger, I don't want you to have it. That's the truth."

I hesitated. He was worried about me? And before he said he was trying to protect me... For some reason, it made me happy to hear it. Even though we pretty much had been fighting each other since day one, it made me glad to know I was able to do even this much to chip away at that steel heart of his. Why did it make me happy?

With Diana's pregnancy, I could relinquish the title, couldn't I? I could use the last of the blessings as reason enough to no longer continue the path the Goddesses placed before me. After all, why keep going? The wolves would probably see no point in harming humanity. Everything could go back to how it was. I could give it up now, knowing Diana's situation would be revealed far before the Hunter's moon.

I looked at Roman carefully. He was frighteningly beautiful. I felt out of my element.

"I could ask them for you," I said slowly before even realizing I was speaking. I felt stupid the moment I said the words and I didn't elaborate further in hopes that Roman wouldn't catch it. Of course, he did.

"Ask who what?"

I blanched. I tried to think of a cover up, something that would sound natural, but my mind was blank. Instead, I tensed in preparation of further fury and told the truth of what had crossed my mind.

"I could ask the Triple Goddesses... to... make you mortal," I finally forced the words from my lips with great difficulty. When I didn't feel a responding anger and Roman didn't answer immediately, I felt awkward.

I wouldn't even know where to begin with trying to ask any Goddesses anything, but I wasn't lying. The Goddesses seemed focused on stopping Roman, on taking and giving their blessings based on if the wolves were in their good graces, but nothing seemed to indicate they would release Roman in the end even if he were to change his mind. If it was a matter of just praying, Diana was secretly going to teach me the ways in that aspect. I wasn't sure how well Roman would take me offering to do a criminal act for him despite it being outlawed by him.

Roman's beast seemed to stretch out within him even before he said anything. It was speaking to that otherworldly creature within me, making my skin heat up wordlessly. Even if Roman acted like I was the biggest headache in the world, his beast never held animosity towards me. I didn't feel threatened by the odd sensation.

"I've asked them for that for centuries. What makes you think they'd listen to you?" His voice was low, a struggle underneath them that I couldn't understand.

"You said it yourself. They favor me. If they refuse, I could... offer them something in return. A blessing for a blessing, maybe? I could ask them to take away my ability to control animals in return for releasing you from that curse," I was rambling at this point, embarrassed at how childish I sounded. Like I could just ask the sky for a trade and it would work flawlessly.

"You would give up your blessing for something like that?" Roman was stunned. I hadn't expected him to be. Before I could answer him, he took a large step closer to me, closing the distance between us abruptly. "Do not even think of doing that. You wouldn't last a day as you are if you lost that power." His tone was sharp and demanding once more, but his words were yet another echo of what he'd been forced to say before. He was worried. He wanted to protect me.

"Even if it means giving up mortality?" I asked in disbelief.

Roman was silent a moment, too close for comfort. I felt like I was suffocating, but for some reason I didn't mind it. My skin felt sensitive, waiting for his touch after him standing so close to me, but he hadn't lifted his hands to even grab my shoulders as he'd done in frustration before.

"I would never pick myself over my mate," Roman finally said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. I was caught off guard and in my discomfort, I resorted to a bit of sarcasm to protect myself.

"But you'd pick another woman over me," I answered quickly, sharply.

"If it means keeping you off of our brother pack's hit list, then yes, I would pick anyone else," Roman replied, still not budging on his idea of protecting me.

"Forget it," I said stubbornly, "Hit list or not, I'm the Queen Luna. You'll just have to make sure to protect me. Jump in front of me if I'm being attacked. Take all the injuries. Be my shield. All that stuff that come with the perks of being an immortal mate." I was halfheartedly joking, but the way Roman watched me only made me more nervous as I spoke.

"Then you've decided," He said simply, without elaborating.

My heart jolted in my chest at the simple statement. I felt more comfortable when facing potential death fighting deity beings than standing before Roman like this. I had decided. It wasn't my duty to make any decision. I didn't decide based on what the pack needed or even what humanity needed. It wasn't to win blessings from the Goddesses that played with our lives. It was an accumulation of understanding, of unexplainable feelings beyond anger and fear that had been stirring ever since the moment I had first taken in his scent in our first actual battle.

I nodded once, afraid to speak.

"I had hoped you would change your mind, but I also hoped you wouldn't," Roman admitted, his voice lowering with wolfish intentions. I was a statue in front of him, staring openly for any hints as to what doom awaited me. And yet, my blood within me sang of a type of excitement; an adrenaline different than that which came with fighting for my life. "I have my demands."

"Demands?" I asked absently, my mind racing.

"You'll live with me from now on. I'll groom you into the position of Queen Luna. I don't want you known any further than you already are to the other packs until you've shifted completely," Roman listed the demand easily as though he'd already considered this as an option long ago. He lowered his voice further before continuing. "I want you to stay close to me."

"So you can be my shield?"

"I'll count to 100." Roman ignored my question. The abrupt declaration startled me. His eyes were watching me with fresh hunger, his usual stoic features were lit up with it.

"What?" I asked, my mind going blank.

"I'll give you a head start, as is custom. Run as fast as you can," He said firmly. A deep blush flourished over my skin. I was not prepared. My heart was pounding in my chest and my breath was heavy. Roman's eyes raked over my form, a look of satisfaction crossing his features before he closed his eyes reluctantly.

"One. Two. Three." He counted slowly, deliberately. It was as though he knew it didn't matter how far I was able to run, he had no doubts he would catch me. He continued counting and I stood frozen before him.

I took a couple quick steps back, intending to run as he had suggested, but I paused. I didn't want to run. I'd thrown myself into death matches without running and I wouldn't run now, even if there was some sort of tradition. I wasn't prey and I wasn't a wolf. I peered at him as he stood so tense and ready to follow through on such an animalistic ceremony. It felt more comfortable with his eyes closed to look at him fully. He seemed less intimidating.

I lifted a trembling hand to the fabric of my shirt, lifting it from my form and dropping it to the ground below me. I'd been dressed to go to sleep, so it left me bare from the waist up. This was the extent of my bravery. I lifted my arms to cover myself, feeling entirely breathless with uncertain anxiety.

"Sixty-eight. Sixty-nine... you're supposed to be running, Milena," Roman called my name teasingly. With enormous courage, I forced myself to take those steps closer to him that I'd previously taken away. "Have you changed your-"

Roman opened his eyes, the blue of his irises glowing in the night as he took in my presence. I felt exposed and uncertain as to what to do, but under his stare I felt something else entirely. I felt admired and beautiful, all in one look. My skin heated under the intensity of his gaze.

"You won't run?" He asked, his voice husky with desire.

"I don't want to fight you anymore," My words trembled truthfully.

Roman lifted his hand abruptly, making me jump despite all efforts, but he only clasped my wild onyx hair between his fingers carefully. I tightened my grip around my chest, as though I would be forced to expose myself any moment to him, but he didn't even look away from my face. He released his grip on my hair, grasping at his own shirt before pulling it off as well. I looked from his face to that scar riddled chest of his; spotting the fresh scar he'd placed above his heart when stabbing himself with my own dagger. I absently lifted a hand, touching the scar carefully and remembering his anguish.

Roman grabbed my wrist and caught my full attention. He paused and I could feel the desire of his beast boiling within him throughout me. I wondered what he felt from me. Still, he didn't ravage me as I felt his beast wanted. After a moment of gaining control, he stepped impossibly closer to me and lowered his face over mine. I lifted my chin on instinct, my eyes fluttering shut, and lost my breath as his lips claimed mine.

The mark pulsed on my shoulder and it made my entire body feel like it was on fire. I forgot everything. I lifted my hands up and around his neck while his arms moved around my waist to pull me close to him. His rough hands trailed along my bared back, the feeling so foreign yet entirely too enjoyable.

Roman released me from his kiss and immediately lowered his lips over my shoulder where he had bitten me so angrily long ago. I gasped in surprise, the touch of his lips on the mark enough to send a shock of pleasure throughout me. He growled appreciatively against me and chills trailed over my body in response.

"Lay down," He demanded roughly, his voice thick with desire.

I took a shuddering breath, my mind reeling under all these new feelings, but his demand made me nervous all over again. When Roman released me, I tried not to immediately cover myself and run away despite my previous stance on the entire thing. I took another steadying breath and lowered myself on the ground nervously as he'd requested. Even though I tried not to, the moment I was on my back, I covered my chest again with my arms.

Roman was immediately hovering above my form, lowering himself to the ground just to the side of me in a way that felt much less intimidating than the times I'd fought him and ended up in a much more intimate position. I watched him openly, trying to deduce what he would do next before he did it as though I could prepare myself.

"I won't hurt you," Roman said to me, tilting his head as he looked at me.

"I know," I whispered softly, my voice nearly lost under the pounding of my heart. "Will you kiss me again?" I couldn't believe I even asked, but Roman didn't tease me for it. He immediately lowered his lips over mine, sending me reeling all over again.

Roman's hands started caressing my waist first, trailing over my stomach and then up under my protective arms, between my breasts, and over my throat possessively. I immediately grasped his wrist in response, forgetting about covering myself. His hand then trailed over my collarbone and grasped my exposed breast, caressing me fondly. I gasped against his lips, my face hot from such an invasion, but I didn't fight him off.

His lips moved from mine to my throat, lowering over my chest until he was running his tongue over my breast eagerly. I had lost my grip on his wrist and instead grasped at the dirt under me, panting at the pleasure pulsing throughout me as he devoured me.

Roman only removed his mouth from my chest to begin pulling the fabric of my shorts down from my waist over my legs. My heart was in my throat and my skin felt heated all over as I let him bare me completely. I kept my knees tightly pressed together, only allowing an inch of space when he undressed me before closing them again. I felt entirely... shy.

I didn't know what it would be like; my first time with a man. But I definitely hadn't expected it to be a deity shapeshifter under the stars among the trees. I trembled underneath his hungry stare, afraid but not wanting him to stop.

Roman moved forward to place his lips over one knee and then the next, coaxingly. His hands gripped my thighs lightly, not forcing anything. I held my breath, but then parted my legs slowly and just barely. It was enough.

Roman slipped between them easily. I gasped, feeling the fabric of his pant press against me as he settled above me comfortably. His lips were suddenly over mine again, his hand running over my body as I panted below him. And then his hand moved between my legs, between us, and brushed deliberately over my most sensitive area.

I tensed in surprise, grasping his shoulder and arm on either side as though he could steady me. But as his lips continued to devour mine and his hand caressed me at my core, I found myself melting in his grip. He was intrusive, exploring me and suddenly moving in a way that sparked enough pleasure to make me throw my head back in response.

Roman used the opportunity to run his lips over the mark again, nibbling at the curve of my neck demandingly until I was shaking with desire. I didn't even notice when he'd moved above me, moving his hand from between my leg to grip my thigh firmly.

I cried out. Roman was pushing into me, far more carefully than he wanted to. I could feel his own desires clawing at me from within and I could feel him fighting his urges. I dug my fingers into his flesh, panting heavily as he continued to push deep into me. He waited a moment, breathing heavily as well against my shoulder. I didn't need to hear him say it. He felt amazing. Even the sudden sharp pain didn't take away the pleasure of him inside me. I lifted my head, spotting the mark I'd given him on his shoulder as well, and placed a fluttering kiss on the mark. I felt the shock of intense pleasure thrill through him and gasped in surprise.

"You're tempting my wolf," Roman warned me, his voice thick with his beast. I didn't hesitate. I lifted my lips again and bit lightly on the mark, running my tongue over it and almost purring at the responding pleasure I could feel within him. Roman growled, tightening his grip on me, and he began to rock into me with a struggled restraint.

I released my kiss on his shoulder, falling back to the ground as I felt him thrusting into me, taking me as gently as he could at first. But as I clung to him, grasping at him and asking for more, he began to lose the control he struggled to keep. I whimpered as he grew rougher, his hands grasping at me hungrily and his hips thrusting against mine more wildly.

I felt something pooling low in my stomach; a feeling of heat and pleasure beginning to quicken my breath mindlessly. Roman made a noise of such beastly longing, grasping my nape of my neck to pull my lips to his hungrily. I gasped against him, tensing as a rush of pleasure exploded throughout both of us, blinding me further with passion until it faded slowly.

We remained panting for air in each other's grasp, Roman's face just above mine. I lifted my hand to touch his face, my thumb running over his cheekbone affectionately. I felt, for the moment, that I had known him for hundreds of years. And in that moment, my heart was so full I felt it might burst.

Roman kissed me deeply again. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Music: Euphoria by Echoes