SWNOVELXO Chapter 22: Chapter 21 - The Night
---- The wedding night-----
That night had been anything but ordinary.
The grand hall had been filled with beings and smaller gods from all corners of the supernatural world—vampires, witches, fae, and wolves. They had all gathered under a single banner, a single cause: to strip the gods of their power.
It was said that the gods, the ancient ones who had once been revered, were now seen as nothing but corrupt figures who had manipulated the balance of the supernatural world for their own gain.
The wolves, in particular, had suffered the most. Luna's kind had meddled too much, interfering in the natural order. They had created chaos, driven packs into wars, and destabilized the once-thriving wolf world.
The elders, once called gods, had grown distant, disconnected from the world they were supposed to protect. Their greed and thirst for power had poisoned everything.
The wolves had stopped turning to the gods for guidance long ago.
They had sought out witches, made pacts with vampires, anything to break free from the chains the gods had wrapped around them. The last straw had been the decision made by the supernatural council—a collective agreement to strip Luna, the last remaining ancient wolf goddess, of her divinity - Destroy the only connection left with the Elder gods , after all in their eyes they were nothing but dead souls . No one knew what would happen once she was stripped—whether she'd survive the ritual or be destroyed along with her powers.
The hall buzzed with anticipation, a cauldron of greed and hidden agendas. Some were there to witness the downfall of the wolf kingdom, believing the loss of their goddess would lead to their collapse. Others hoped to seize her power in her moment of vulnerability. A few were simply here to watch the drama unfold—morbid spectators savoring the end of an era.
Behind the scenes, however, the real puppeteers lurked: The Three Young Moon Gods—Luna's own kin, whom she had once saved from Lucifer's wrath. It was their hands that had set this plan in motion, whispering poison into the ears of the other wolves, stoking their hatred until rebellion was inevitable. They blamed everything on the Elder Gods, knowing she'd remain oblivious until it was too late. And tonight, in this very hall, they had drawn her into the trap.
Alex's presence at the wedding was an anomaly.
He hadn't wanted to be there, not amidst the pack, not in the halls steeped in memories of a life he'd abandoned. Though still the Alpha King in name, Alex had long distanced himself from pack politics. His Beta, Charlie, managed most affairs, allowing him to lead a solitary life, haunted by the ghosts of his past—his failures, the loss of his mate, the destruction of everything he had once fought for.
But tonight, he had been dragged back into the fray.
The bride was Davina—his former mate. Years had passed since their separation, but she was happy now, set to marry Theo—Lucifer himself. Despite the lingering pain, Alex bore no grudge. He had made his peace with their past and had come to offer her his blessings, to show her that there was no resentment left in his heart.
The hall was grand, filled with representatives from every supernatural faction. But the joy and celebration in the air were like a mockery to Alex's turmoil. He didn't belong here, among these power plays and alliances. He was about to slip away quietly when his father intervened, pulling him aside into a private chamber.
"We need you, Alex," his father said, voice heavy with something unspoken.
Alex frowned, a knot of unease twisting in his gut. He had no intention of getting involved in pack matters, but the urgency in his father's tone made him pause.
"What is this about?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing.
His father's gaze was grim as he revealed the plan—the council's decision to strip Luna of her powers. "She and her kind destroyed lives, manipulated fate, and left us to suffer. She's the last of them, Alex. The last Elder Wolf Goddess. And she will be held accountable."
Alex's mind spun. Anger surged, not just at the gods, but at the entire situation. He didn't want any part of it, but here he was, ensnared in a plot to dethrone the last of the gods. Before he could fully grasp the enormity of what was happening, the doors swung open.
She entered.
Luna.
The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stop. There was something haunting about the way she carried herself, unaware of the trap set for her. For a brief moment, Alex felt his resolve waver, but then the memories rushed back—the betrayal, the manipulation, the gods interference in the wolf world.
His hatred flared. She wasn't the one that did everything but she was one of them. One of the beings who had ruined him, his pack, and his life.
She was responsible.
The hall fell silent as Luna looked around, confusion flickering in her eyes. Her gaze landed on Alex, and in that moment, she knew. She knew something was terribly wrong.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with uncertainty.
She had entered the hall, oblivious to the plan unfolding around her, and for a moment, the world had stopped. Alex had felt something stir within him, something dark and unsettling.
Rage, resentment, and something else—something he didn't want to acknowledge.
She was a god, after all, one of the very beings who had caused so much destruction. His hatred for what she represented had flared, yet in the same breath, he had felt a pull toward her that he couldn't explain.
She had no idea that the entire room was planning her downfall. No idea that the decision to strip her of her divinity had already been made. All the supernatural factions had come together for this, and Alex had been at the center of it all, whether he wanted to be or not as being the Alpha King of the wolves - he didn't knew or stopped anyone .
The council remained silent, their eyes cold and unyielding. Then the server who came with Luna spoke, his voice filled with a bitterness he couldn't suppress. "You don't deserve to be a goddess, You never acted like one. While our people suffered, you turned a blind eye. You let other gods destroy everything we had , manipulate us for your greed." The server was not a wolf but a low level warlock god who sneaked in dressed in as server .
Luna's gaze snapped to the server, fury igniting within her. She stepped forward, her voice low yet powerful, cutting through the silence.
Luna's eyes snapped to him, her fury like a storm. Her voice low and sharp as a blade.
"I let them destroy everything? You dare speak of failure to me? While you turned your backs, I watched my kin vanish one by one for your sins. I am not your equal, nor one of those false gods you bow to. So ,choose your next words carefully."
"Then where were you," Alex interjected, voice laced with venom, "when your own people were burned to ashes by selkies? When witches hunted us for sport, when our young ones were slaughtered in their sleep? Where were you when your people begged you to save them?"
The accusations crashed down around her, each one a dagger to her heart. The other wolves joined in, their voices a chorus of bitterness and pain. One by one, they hurled their grievances at her, laying the blame for all their suffering at her feet.
"You failed us!"
"You abandoned your own!"
"You're no goddess. You're a curse."
The words struck her like physical blows. Surrounded by wolves, vampires, and witches, Luna realized, with a crushing sense of finality, that no one would stand up for her. She was truly alone.
"You think stripping me of my divinity will set you free?" she whispered, voice a low, dangerous growl. "You will learn the cost of your arrogance. You may hate me now, but mark my words—you will regret this."
And then, she began to chant softly, the ancient words of surrender falling from her lips. The air grew cold as white mist swirled around her. Her voice, trembling with sorrow, echoed through the room as the mist enveloped her.
The mist curled around her, thickening until Luna's form was swallowed whole by the swirling haze. Then, from within the fog, a chorus of voices emerged—low, ancient tones that vibrated through the air, words slipping into a language long forgotten by mortals. The whispers seemed to come from every corner, layered over each other in a haunting melody, their resonance piercing through the hearts of those present.
"Tuor venah te'rath niara... Sha'an tora eseri."
("You are burdened by sins not your own... Yet, you must bear the weight.")
"Dhel'en yaethra lunien... Rasae tel'mor kai."
("The chains of your kind have bound you... But it is the price of their salvation.")
"Fara eshae doriel... Ven mirathai."
("Rest now, Luna... We will carry the burden from here.")
The voices echoed, harmonizing in a sorrowful, ethereal hymn. Though the others in the room could not comprehend the meaning, the words held a power that vibrated through their very bones, each syllable pressing into their minds like cold steel. Some flinched, recoiling as if struck, while others fell silent, fear spreading through the assembly. Yet, the words were soft—gentle even—meant only for her.
"Ellaran kor'ai... Mi'nira vashae..."
("You are not alone, not forsaken... Believe in us, as we believed in you.")
As the mist swirled tighter around her, the voices seemed to wrap her in a cocoon of comfort, filling the air with a bitter-sweet promise. They were not condemning her but mourning with her, acknowledging her sacrifice, her endless struggle. They carried a sadness deeper than words could capture, lamenting the fate of the goddess who had been betrayed by her own kin. Yet, despite the pain, they called her home—to a place where she would be understood, where the endless burdens could finally be lifted.
The language was incomprehensible to the others, sharp and melodic, but the intent behind it was clear: this was no punishment, no condemnation. It was a farewell. And in that instant, as the mist shimmered and Luna's form began to fade, Alex felt something stir in his chest—a hollow ache, a sense of irrevocable loss.
Alex stood frozen, the weight of his words crashing down on him. He had wanted her to face the consequences, to be held accountable for the destruction she had caused, but not like this. He hadn't expected her to simply comply, to give up everything with just one remark from him , He expected her to fight back .
This happened so quick - The voices he couldn't understand but it felt like he knew the feelings they bought , her face he saw for the last time shattered something deep inside him, and before he could stop himself, he moved toward her.
The fog thickened, swirling around her until Luna's silhouette blurred and then vanished entirely. As Alex reached out, it dissolved before his eyes, taking her with it. Silence enveloped the room, heavy and suffocating, and Alex's heart twisted painfully.
Was she dead?
Had he been the reason?
A thousand questions stormed through his mind, each one clawing at his sanity. She couldn't be gone—she was the Elder Goddess. She had to be invincible.
But the truth was undeniable. He had let his anger blind him, and now it was too late. She was gone, her divinity stripped, and the crushing weight of his actions bore down on him. He had wanted her to suffer, to experience even a fraction of the pain his people had endured, but not like this—not to be erased from existence.
Guilt sank its claws into his chest, relentless and unyielding. He tried to tell himself she deserved it, that she needed to know the suffering she had caused. Yet deep down, the hollow ache whispered what he refused to admit—he had betrayed himself. Driven by hatred, consumed by vengeance, he had let his rage destroy the very thing he never knew he couldn't lose.