_The Past

Still Rain's POV

We are all so absorbed in the moment, that no one notices the bright light shining from the tabernacle in the middle of the stage. The light becomes more intense, and as the energy it releases seems to scorch the entire room, the Sages simultaneously utter a cry of terror.
The whole room, including the Royals watch open-mouthed as the curtains slide and a snow-white ball, shaped like an egg, becomes visible. A magnetic field circles around it, releasing so much more energy that everyone shoves backward. And then the egg breaks open, one of the shells falls to the stage floor. But what catches our attention most of all is the woman stepping out.
Her beauty is hard to describe.
Her skin is radiant and her eyes shine mysteriously. On her head, there is a crown made of the purest gold. It is impossible to look at her for too long; the feminine energy radiating from her is too hefty for the eyes. Everyone now realizes that the Moon Goddess herself has arrived. Out of deep respect, we all lower our eyes as we speak softly in unison. "Welcome to our midst, Selene."
"Alpha Jasper, Luna Rain, King Ralph, Alpha King Remus and the Elders of the Kingdom and Storm Forest. Please all come and stand around me as far as you can. I have a confession to make," she speaks in a melodious voice in which her authority is not lacking. "The Royal couple and Luna Rain's family can stand one step behind you as witnesses to my words." Submissively, we all walk toward her and stand as she has instructed. Ralph comes to stand to my left while Jasper grabs my right hand and holds it to his heart. It hasn't escaped anyone's notice that Selene called me Jasper's Luna, thus ending the Council's drawn-out investigation once and for all.
It is impossible to keep looking her in the face, so we all stand with bowed heads. "Three hundred years ago, the Kingdom was defeated in a bloody war. Inexplicably, the Lycans lost their power and were slaughtered by a number of werewolf packs. The packs received help from some black witches in exchange for a permanent habitat," Selene speaks. "However, the youngest son of the King and Queen managed to escape. He was a baby and was rescued by a white witch. To make him unrecognizable, she bound his Lycan genes, making him only a normal werewolf."
The Elders nod, much of this story is in the books in both the Kingdom and Storm Forest. "The white witch gave the baby to the Alpha of Storm Forest. The man had a sexual preference for men and thus would never be able to provide an heir. He was overjoyed with the boy and this one succeeded him as the Alpha". Selene remains silent as everyone starts to realize where this story is leading. "In order not to leave the werewolves adrift, I agreed to reinstall a new Kingdom. The baby was too small and the threat of war was still real. I chose Ralph's bloodline because his grandfather nursed and saved many from the battlefield. He had the heart in the right place".
The reactions on the stage and in the hall varied.
I, myself, can hardly fathom it. The facts as they laid out now are that Jasper is the rightful King while Ralph is merely a substitute. As I run my eyes around the room, all mouths are open in utter amazement. Elder Nicolas and Antony come out of their hushed situations first. "I wondered how it was that my pack was the youngest yet the strongest," muses Elder Antonius. "And our books went back only three hundred years ago. About the period before that, we know nothing".
Then the room begins to grow restless.
The high-ranking werewolves are panicking. The situation threatens to become chaotic. But even in this, Selene intervenes. "Silence!" she exclaims with authority. "But Moon Goddess, how do we proceed from here? We now have two Kings, then. You have blessed Ralph yourself, there is no turning back," indicates Elder Nicolas.
"Elder, I am Selene, the Moon Goddess. My works are never unfinished or thoughtless. Everything I do lies within a plan," she points out. "My judgment of all that has happened is this. Ralph and Jasper will share Rain; she will be the fated mate of both. Ralph already feels the bond, the one for Rain I will activate as soon as she is ready. Ralph is infertile, the succession in the Palace is with the unborn pups with Rain. Alpha Jasper is the biological father, but Ralph will acknowledge them as his own. Both men will live in the Palace with their mate, Ralph remaining the King until his death. Storm Forest as a whole will move to the Kingdom where it belongs. Such is my judgment, the supervision lies with the Council and no one will dare come to that".

And then the sound of thunder peals in the distance.
All eyes turn to the sky, where a carriage with horses is approaching. They head toward the hall. With a wink, Selene stands by the carriage, she waves to us for a moment before getting in. Within seconds, she is gone. In shock, everyone stares at each other. It seems like a dream; no one can believe they have seen Selene with their own eyes. Some pinch themselves to make sure they are not dreaming.
"My King, Selene's words were abundantly clear. We proceed with the mating ceremony," the Council President belied. "Next, the preparations to move Storm Forest will start. That should be done within a month. When the Kingdom is complete again, the Coronation of Rain and Jasper will take place".
Still in shock, Jasper frantically holds my hand.
"Rain, this is not a victory. Now I have to share you," he whispers sadly. I dash into his arms, my arms tight around his neck. "Everything is a victory when we can be together, Jasper. Selene has spoken, we must bow". He nods, takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply. Behind us, another jealous growl is heard. Ralph grabs my hand and gently pulls me out of Jasper's arms. "Our mating ceremony begins, Saray. Come with me." Unwillingly, I detach myself from Jasper and walk with Ralph to the Sages and the Oracle to perform the rites...