The Mating Game - Chapter 22：21.

‘India get up now!’ my wolf shot to me. Freaking out would be an understatement. She was losing her mind. I had fallen asleep in the tiny cavern maybe 15 minutes ago and here she was waking me up.

I sighed and rolled over, opening my eyes as I gasped at the sight.

No longer were we in the tiny cavern. We had been transported to another realm.

The floors were a beautiful crystal white marble with flecks of gold shimmering around. I was lying against it, looking up at giant pillars which framed the throne I was now gawking at.

“Where are we?” I whispered to my wolf once I realized we were alone, no guardians chasing us, trying to kill us as they had every day that we had been stuck in this place.

She looked towards me, panic stricken and stressed. ‘This is the end of transition. The goddess is coming’

I lost the ability to breathe. My lungs effectively stopped working and emptied out every single sliver of oxygen I had held onto.

The moon goddess was coming here in this beautiful room to tell me whether I could live or die.

I didn’t feel worthy of her presence.

What had I done to deserve a trial other than slip past the guardians a few hundred times?

I sucked in a breath as the doors behind the throne opened and she walked in gracefully, a blindingly white wolf following beside her.

She was beautiful. I had never seen someone so beautiful. Her hair resembled gold itself, her eyes liquid pools of honey. Her skin was tanned, almost glittering against the stark white of the walls and throne. Her eyes seemed to smile towards me warmly, as if I were her favorite person in the world as she approached. I wanted to look away, to pay respect, but my eyes were so transfixed on her that I found myself in awe, unable to move.

The wolf beside her commanded attention as well, flecks and strands of gold becoming apparent in it’s coat as they neared, the eyes almost a perfect reflection of the pools of golden honey the goddess held herself, but if I thought about it, the wolf was just as much the goddess as the human portrayal of her, as my wolf was just as much a part of me as the human part of me. They were one, and together, they were the most beautiful pair I had ever had the honor of laying my eyes on.

She took a seat in the throne, the wolf hopping up with her and lying it’s massive head in her lap as she ran her fingers through the thick coat, smiling down at the massive creature with so much love it was almost as if you could see their bond glittering in the air around them. They truly were one.

She turned her attention to me then and smiled.

“Welcome India.” Her melodic voice echoed through the room.

“Welcome Alusia.” She said towards my wolf, and I looked at the golden wolf in shock as I took in the fact that my wolf had a name. A beautiful name that fit the beautiful, fiery creature that stood next to me, that completed me, that aided me and gave me strength in every time of need. I wanted to cry, to throw my arms around her furry neck and speak her name a thousand times until I got used to it, but I held it in when her eyes suggested I pay attention to the task at hand.

“I’ve been rooting for you you know.” she smiled and my curiosity peaked.

“You have?” I asked bewildered.

She nodded, still keeping that breath taking smile on her face. “I bet you’re wondering why you’re here now.” she asked and I nodded. Panic beginning to swim through my veins. My heart rate beginning to lose it’s steady rhythm.

“You’ve been summoned. In this room we decide of you are worthy of returning to earth or if you shall continue on to the other life. Let us begin.”

I would have said something. I would have pleaded my case. But a sharp pain rocketed through my shoulder causing me to cry out as my knees hit the marble floor. I watched as my wolf whimpered, mimicking my actions. My eyes shot open with realization as one thing came to mind.

Colton was in trouble.

“I have to leave. Please,” I shot up running across the marble to stand at the foot of her throne, clutching my shoulder as I could feel my wolf practically yelling at me to stop being an idiot.

“Why do you say this India?” She asked in concern.

“Colton. I can feel his pain. He needs me. His wolf needs my wolf. He’s hurt.” I whimpered as the pain began to intensify.

“India. I can not send you back simply because your mate misses you.” She sighed.

“No. He’s been wounded. If he dies he’s leaving a pack who needs a leader. He can’t die. I don’t care what happens to me, just please let him live.” I looked up at her, begging as tears streamed down my face relentlessly.

She sighed as she began to chant something in a tongue I couldn’t place. Suddenly a cloud appeared in front of us, and I was looking down at my body on earth. Only I was surrounded by vampires and not pack members.

“Why am I?” I began as the scene shifted and I watched in horror as Colton fought through guards who were injecting him with shot after shot of mercury.

“NO!” I screamed as the cloud disappeared. I had been kidnapped. Colton was risking his life to save me.

“I’m sorry India. You can not go back simply..” she was cut off as the wolf beside her growled lowly towards the moon goddess.

I watched as they had an internal battle, bickering in their heads.

The moon goddess sighed then.

“You will return to earth. Against my better judgement, my wolf sees something in you that can pull through this mess. Be strong India. The path you are returning to is filled with challenges. Always trust your wolf.” She motioned towards Alusia.

I threw my arms around my wolfs coat and my tears of sorrow became tears of relief.

“Will I be able to hear you when we return?” I asked my wolf.

‘I will try my hardest to get through to you. Listen for me.’ She breathed into my mind.

I felt the marble room disappearing as I was being dragged down, back to my body as Alusia and I began to become one once more, her strength becoming my strength as we were surrounded my a cloud of glimmering gold, mending our souls back to one.

“Be strong.” the moon goddess repeated as the world went black and my soul began to tumble down to the world of chaos waiting below.