"What kind of things did you like to do... do you like to do? Besides being an Alpha?"

My words were light and curious as I looked into Roman's face. I was resting on his lap much more comfortably than I thought I'd ever be with him. My hands were lying against his chest, but his was tracing my face with his own curiosity. I felt backwards, upside down, but oddly content in being so.

"I don't do anything I like," Roman responded simply.

I frowned.

"You're immortal and you've lived for centuries, but you don't have anything you do just because you like to?" I asked skeptically. I couldn't imagine having his power, status, and not just doing whatever I wanted to do. But then, Roman seemed like someone who would punish himself even more so than he was already being punished...

It had already been weeks since I'd first mated with Roman officially. I'd spent most of my days learning everything about the Trinity pack, its origins, its members, and its territory included. I'd been learning about other packs and their leaders. I'd also been training, both with my Sol, Logan, and with Roman himself. Where Logan seemed more intent on honing my defensive and offensive fighting skills, Roman had been helping me learn more about shifting. I was stubborn to this day; I could hold a partial shift longer than before, but the full shift still evaded me.

While I might spend some days without Roman, I spent every night with him being devoured by a wild passion that I was certain I'd grow tired of but never did. What did I think of the King Alpha now? He was terribly handsome and his touch brought heat to my skin. He was untamed, monstrous even, but his voice was like cool water, refreshing and relieving. I looked for him when he wasn't around and I looked only at him when he was. What did I think of him?

"Hmm... I like to train with you," Roman answered my question, running his thumb over my bottom lip slowly.

"That's work," I frowned seriously.

"I like to play with you then," He continued, unfazed. I smiled, despite trying not to.

"I meant before me."

"There was nothing before you," Roman shrugged simply.

"There were centuries before me. You're such a sad excuse for a wolf, Roman," I sighed, leaning forward to rest my forehead against his. Roman only chuckled at my insult, running his hands over my back delicately. I inhaled deeply, breathing in that indescribable scent of his that made the beast inside me shiver in delight. "You smell..."

I paused to keep myself from saying something embarrassing.

"Amazing? Wonderful? The best excuse for a wolf you've ever met?" Roman teased me, leaning forward to steal a kiss. I pulled away sharply, holding my hand over his mouth before looking at him determinedly.

"Like a dog," I lied. I squeaked in surprise when he twisted, flipping me onto my back below him on the bed. But when he hovered above me, I didn't try to struggle or find an escape. I'd long stop trying to escape him by now.

Roman lowered his face over mine delicately, trailing his lips over my right cheek just below my eye and I closed my eyes in response. My heart was racing in my chest and my skin was hot with enjoyment.

"You smell like the trees," Roman said slowly, trailing his lips over my jaw line carefully. "You smell like the Earth and the rivers; the day and the night." He lowered his lips over my collarbone where Lillian's claws had left a nasty scar and my eyes fluttered open in response. "You smell like prey and predator... human and wolf..." He lifted his face back over mine, watching me hungrily. "... tempting and dangerous."

I pulled him to me, lifting my chin to capture his lips with mine. Before he lost himself completely, Roman pulled away, laughing when I reached to kiss him further before pushing me down firmly.

"I have something for you," He explained when I frowned at him. Roman pushed himself up and stood to grab something from a drawer nearby. I sat up, pulling my knees to my chest and peering at him curiously.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to peek around his form, but he kept it hidden. Then he turned and sat close to me once more. I expected a typical gift a man would give a woman, maybe jewelry or flowers. Instead, he held out a sheathed weapon, the hilt a strong metal with intricate designs of wolves among it.

I was enthralled. I reached out for it with great interest and he quickly pulled it from my reach, a determination in his features. I pulled my hand back to my chest and looked at him like a lost puppy.

"Is it not mine?" I asked.

"It's silver," He responded, his voice suddenly intensely serious. He lifted it so that I could see it again, pulling the blade extremely carefully from the sheath until I could see the metal; a sharp and brilliant silver blade. "It's lethal to wolves. A wound by silver is like a wound to a human. We don't heal from it like wolves. You will have to be careful not to harm yourself with it."

Roman suddenly ran the flat part of the blade across his forearm, not even wincing when the metal hissed angrily against his flesh in response as it burned him. I could feel the heat of the wound in my own arm, furious and sharp like fire. The beast inside me seemed to explode with it, desperate to end the source of the pain.

"Stop!" I cried out, reaching to stop him, but he held me back from touching the metal myself. He healed almost instantly; the pain nothing but a memory of an ache on my own skin. Not even silver affected him like it did other lycans.

"Sorry, Milena," He said sweetly, placing the blade back into the sheath carefully. "I forgot that would hurt you as well." Then he lifted the weapon for me to take. I did so quickly, if only to prevent him from trying it on himself further. Once it was in my grip, I looked at it curiously.

"I want you to keep it with you and don't be afraid to protect yourself with it against any wolf that tries to harm you, understand?" Roman was watching me with a frown until I finally turned to smile at him.

"I understand," I answered. He trusted me with a secret weapon not allowed to any other wolf or human, if only to help protect me. It warmed me just knowing that. It also frightened me to know I held such a dangerous weapon in my grasp and I hoped I'd never have to use it.

~...~

The water was cool over my legs and up to my waist. My bare feet flexed over the soft dirt underneath me. Diana stood in front of me, her hands held with mine pressed against them before us. We stood in the dark of the night under the waning moon, just her and I. It wasn't cold, despite the water. The air was warm from the previous summer day. I was in a tight sleeveless shirt. Before we got here, Diana was in something more loosely fit, though as she stood before me she had taken off her baggier shirt to reveal the tank top underneath.

She was beginning to show, only slightly; a tiny bump over her stomach that could be mistaken for a food baby. No one had seemed to notice that she was sticking to a baggier wardrobe to hide it. She had been training herself to match her heartbeat with the child's with a determination only a woman desperate to protect her unborn could do. Even now, before me, I couldn't hear the child's heartbeat beyond hers. It was impressive, really.

I had no idea what type of things she'd done to prevent Beta Caleb from finding out, but I could tell already there was a strain between them and Caleb didn't know why. I wanted to tell him, but I knew it was up to Diana to do so. She was afraid he would tell his Alpha. And even though she wouldn't speak it, she was afraid what Roman would do. After all, there was still not a single other wolf with child in this or any other pack.

I hadn't participated in any prayers for fertility yet, so that may have been my fault. With the new tasks Roman had given me, along with the training I did with Logan, plus spending my nights in Roman's bed... it was hard to find a moment to get away. On this night, I'd only gotten away long after Roman had fallen asleep and even this was stressful enough. I had expected him to catch me at any moment.

"We must be respectful to the cycle of the moon," Diana said to me finally, her voice quiet as she glanced to the sky. "And in our respect, we must still be grateful to the Trinity. So when we want to pray to the Maiden, we do so during the waxing moon. When we wish blessings from our Mother, we do so during full or new moons. Tonight, any prayers we give will be in honor of the Crone, our Goddess of the waning moon."

"Is that why we're in the water?" I asked her curiously.

"You know of the Crone's Eye?" She responded, twisting her fingers through mine before looking over our hands to me.

"I've been told," I answered truthfully. "The water acts as a bridge between our world and the Goddesses. It's where oracles go to seek answers from the Crone."

"And tonight is in the honor of the Crone, under her moon, so yes; this is why we're in the water," Diana confirmed easily, flattening her hand over mine again. "How much do you know about Hecate?"

"She's the one who brings death," I said, my voice hushed as though it would summon tragedy just speaking it. Diana chuckled at my ominous statement.

"Without an end, there would be no cycle. The flower would grow, absorbing the fruits of the ground for eternity, until the ground had nothing left to give. What might have grown in its place will never be born. And the flower would be alone in the end, without peace," Diana said to me wisely, closing her eyes as she took in the breeze lightly drifting over us. "The Crone is the most frightening Goddess to those who are already alive, but to the dead, she is warmth. It is her face that will be our last comfort before she guides us on our last and longest journey. Do not fear her, Mila."

I closed my eyes as well, imagining what type of otherworldly creature would exist to guide the souls of the dead into the afterlife. Would it be a morbid Goddess? Or maybe an angry one, who's seen nothing but the anguish of those who wanted more time? I couldn't imagine a kind, warm type that Diana apparently thought of. Even the name spoke of something old and decrepit; a Crone.

"Artemis, huntress of the moon, make my aim true," Diana began, her voice soft yet solid in the night as she repeated the prayer from the night she'd asked for fertility. I followed her lead, repeating those words in an echo: aim true, aim true, aim true. As she spoke, the water seemed to still around us and I could hear the beginning of that familiar call in the night; an energy raising around us that made my voice lower to a whisper hesitantly.

"Selene, white-armed mistress of the shining moon, the silver crescent crowns your ebon hair. Cloaked in darkness, you cross the night sky, Oh Goddess. To you, Selene, I offer my greeting, my praise, and my thanks for your many gifts," Diana called out, the humming around us seeming to grow. I opened my eyes, looking to the side and around us as though I could pinpoint where it was coming from.

The surface of the lake had turned into that eerie vision of the night sky, clear and vibrant yet smooth like the surface of a mirror. Even my movements did nothing to disturb this. When I looked to Diana, she was looking at me as well, a small smile on her features as though to comfort me. I was struck with the image of my own mother, comforting me after a bad dream in the night.

"Is there nothing you wish to ask of the Crone, Mila?" Diana asked me lightly, as if there was nothing frightening in reaching out to touch Gods. But her question made me calm as I thought about what kind of things I would ask the Goddess. The call around me still hummed vibrantly, an energy pulsing as though waiting for my words.

"Mighty Hecate," I began quietly, without Diana's assistance. I hesitated, but then cleared my throat and closed my eyes before starting again with more determination, "Mighty Hecate, Goddess of the Oracles, you are both the dark and the light. You are the way and you are the light along it. My Goddess, you hold the keys of all creation."

Diana began to repeat the prayer, chanting it as I stood stiffly before her. Could the Goddess hear me? Would she be listening, wondering why this pitiful mortal was calling to her now? Would she answer if I asked her to?

"Please," I said, frowning at myself, "Stop punishing him."

Diana hesitated mid-chant, but then continued determinedly.

"Stop punishing Roman Stone," I repeated, "Please, let him rejoin the cycle and find peace." After repeating my request several times, actually pleading with a Goddess I wasn't sure would even hear me like some religious fanatic, I began to chant the prayer with Diana once more.

I didn't receive any vision nor hear any response. In the end, the hum of energy faded into the night as though it never came and for all I knew even if the Goddess had heard me, she probably turned away stubbornly. What had Roman done to deserve mercy, after all?

After leaving the lake, Diana put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to her fondly.

"I think she was listening," Diana told me, her mood light.

"Yeah, right. I probably annoyed her," I replied, my own mood darkening. Now that we were walking back towards the village, I felt a bit ridiculous; talking to the sky in the middle of the night.

"Many wolves have prayed for the King Alpha to die, so I'm sure she's used to it," Diana answered, laughing at the look of sudden horror on my face. I stopped walking, clasping my hands together anxiously.

"I wasn't asking her to kill him!" I suddenly burst before turning to storm my way back to the lake and let the cursed Goddess know just that.

"I know, I know, I'm just teasing," She quickly declared, pulling me back to her. "The Goddesses can hear our intent beyond our words, of course. You don't have to worry." I still felt nervous as she continued to lead me back, glancing behind me and thinking maybe I should go back just in case.

"Anyway, let's clean you up before sending you back to the King Alpha. He won't be happy at all if he hears you're participating in illegal rituals," Diana answered with a sigh, running a hand over her stomach thoughtfully. I glanced at her small bump curiously, wondering what the world would be like after her child was born. Was that what the Goddesses were waiting for? Would the curse be fully broken after Diana's child was born?

"I'll come during the waxing moon next time," I told her, lost in my own thoughts. "If you think it'll help... but maybe you shouldn't do anymore rituals yourself. What if you're caught?"

"I'll be careful, Queen Luna," Diana reassured me before looking at me long and hard. "Thank you for keeping my secret. I'm sure it's been killing you."

"Honestly, seriously killing me," I groaned, running my hand through my hair in exhaustion. Diana laughed, which made me smile in turn, and we continued back towards her house before I would return to Roman; keeping yet another secret from him in the night.

After I changed clothes at Diana's home, being quiet and sneaky per her direction, we both were saying our goodbyes when the lights suddenly came on within the front room. I yelped and hid behind Diana, knowing we had been caught in the middle of the night by Beta Caleb.

"What are you-" Caleb began when he saw the two of us, Diana standing as though nothing were wrong and me hiding behind her as though something definitely was, but then he shook his head. "I don't even want to know."

"Is everything okay?" Diana asked Caleb, ignoring the fact that we were obviously up to no good. I looked at Diana in surprise. She was good. It was no wonder she could hide her pregnancy from her own mate so far. She didn't look guilty at all.

"Alpha Roman just summoned me." Caleb responded somewhat stiffly, reminding me of the tension that still remained between the two of them. At Roman's name, I stood straighter, realizing there was no way he didn't know I wasn't where I was supposed to be now. I was doomed.

"Is it about the Queen Luna?" Diana pressed, pulling me from behind her protectively. She was no doubt about to think of some brilliant excuse to save me.

"It is and isn't. There are visitors from the brother packs here. They want answers about the Red Moon Alpha's daughter," Caleb answered honestly. He turned his eyes on me with a frown. "Stay here, Luna Mila. Either I or the King Alpha will come for you when it's safe."

"Okay," I said quickly, much too agreeable. I had been saved by the brother packs... or maybe they had doomed me. Either way, I wasn't in immediate danger of having to explain to Roman why I'd been out in the middle of the night.

As Caleb moved to head out, he reached out as though by habit towards Diana who quickly stepped just out of reach. Caleb paused, tensing his outstretched hand into a fist, and turned away before leaving without another word. I looked after him and then back to Diana, feeling my own heart twist at the sight.

"I know," Diana said with her own pain in her voice to whatever thought must've crossed my face. "He just needs to wait a little longer..."

With Roman and Caleb meeting with the brother pack visitors, I was left back to the familiar guest room within Diana's home. In the night, I thought I could hear her quiet cries which broke my own heart listening to, but I reassured myself they would be okay once Caleb knew why his mate was keeping her distance.

I was restless. Were the packs demanding that Roman pick another Queen Luna right this moment? He wouldn't tell them of me until I was fully shifted, as he'd said so many times before, so what kind of answer would he be giving them in the meantime? I rolled over in my bed, uncomfortable.

Maybe I could just go eavesdrop a little...

I shouldn't. I had already done one thing to anger Roman tonight. I shouldn't add another. I hesitated, but then reached out for him tenderly across our mate bond. I couldn't feel him. He was blocking me again.

I sat up sharply. This meant he wouldn't know I was nearby if I did eavesdrop. I laid back down. I really shouldn't. Honestly, how much could I get away with in one night? I rolled over with a sigh. I couldn't hear Diana anymore. She was probably deep in slumber by now. I could just go peek, just for a moment...

I flung myself from the bed and began to make my escape. No one stopped me as I snuck out of the house, making my way towards the King's Corner. I had no doubt that's where they would be. I'd gone there plenty of times to learn how to sneak around, too. Besides this, I was Queen Luna, and the entire Trinity pack knew this. So I didn't have to sneak around if I didn't want to.

I approached two of the lycan guards; Ben who was Deb's mate and Thomas who was without a mate so far. They nodded to me as I entered without a word, not making any move to stop me as I expected. Roman probably hadn't thought I would come. He would learn one day, I'm sure.

I was a lot sneakier once inside the building. While I didn't mind pack members seeing me, I didn't want any non members to announce my presence. I went the back way towards where a private entrance to Roman's office was. I carefully opened it to find no one within, but I could hear Roman's voice in the distance.

In the room adjacent to this one was the large table room Roman took me often to teach me about the world we lived in. The wolves were in there, speaking with vigor and full of dark emotions. I carefully approached the door as quietly as possible, listening intently as I did so.

"I don't believe you," A man declared sharply. "Why wouldn't you send word of what happened if it was that simple? Lillian lost the challenge? And the challenger died as well? It's a ridiculous claim."

"It's a true claim," Beta Caleb stated angrily. "There is no Queen Luna of this pack. How many times does your King have to tell you this?"

"Then pick another."

"I won't," Roman said darkly. "It was a foolish thing to do in the first place and a waste of time." There were shuffles of discomfort and anger at his declaration.

"So you expect us to believe you'll continue to reject this abomination of a mate, with no Queen Luna between you, and proceed as planned?"

I leaned against the door further with intrigue and it opened just a tiny crack silently. I paused, not hearing what was said next, but when no one seemed to notice I used the crack to peer within the room curiously.

There were six men within the room. Roman and Caleb were standing with their backs to me. The angriest of the visitors was standing across the table from them with his arms crossed. He looked older, more so than my own father, but still strikingly handsome. Beside him was another man, equally as intimidating. And on the other end of the table were two more who seemed more focused on the table itself.

"This mate is a last effort of the Goddesses to change the fate of the humans. It won't work," Roman stated dangerously, leaning forward to rest his palms on the table. "We will proceed. When the time comes, I will send out the message."

"Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are our biggest concerns," Beta Caleb chimed in, pointing at the table determinedly. I slid my gaze from their forms to the table itself and realized it was the same map that Roman had shown me before. There were figurines on top of the map this time, indicating packs and human villages. Caleb moved six of the pack figurines together, pointing to the three human villages he had mentioned.

The six packs were surrounded by the villages... or rather, was this on purpose? A meeting point, where they could fan out easily in one swoop?

"We will attack together, ending the highest density of humans here, while the rest of the packs will wipe out the ones they're stationed by simultaneously. From there, we'll comb the lands for any who might have escaped. This might take months to years until the purge is complete, but on this night, the first night, it will be over."

Roman spoke the words coldly without a hint of remorse or mercy. It was... convincing. It was truthful. I watched as he knocked over the figurine for Gamma, Beta, and then hesitated over Alpha before promptly knocking it down as well.

"This is what I intended from the beginning. I won't stop now," He promised the wolves before him, standing stiffly. He turned his head just slightly to the side, as though listening towards my direction, and I froze. Then I promptly turned and bolted from the room before I could be caught.

My heart was racing. I knew he was planning to end humanity since the beginning. I knew this, but it felt different knowing just how it was going to happen. My family flashed in my mind; my mother wailing in terror, my father clinging to her protectively, my brother standing frozen among the chaos, and all of them being torn apart.

I can't stop it. I can't stop it.

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Music: Taska Black- Backwards Love (feat. TRACE)