Luna. Chapter 79

(Lyra's POV)

I found myself sitting on the back porch that evening, staring at the full moon and trying to connect with my wolf. After Felix and Sally left, I'd spent hours thinking about celestial wolf powers and whether I could really learn to use them.

"Aria," I called softly. "I need to talk to you."

My wolf stirred in my consciousness, alert but somehow distant.

What is it, Lyra?

"Felix and Sally think I can learn to use celestial wolf abilities. Powers connected to lunar energy that could help me protect Asher and Victor."

There was a long pause before Aria responded.

That would be... difficult.

"Why?"

Because I haven't been able to connect with our lunar source for months.

I felt cold despite the warm evening air. "What do you mean?"

Ever since your transformation, I've been trying to establish the connection that should exist between all celestial wolves and the moon goddess. But something is blocking it.

"Blocking it how?"

I don't know. It's like there's interference on a radio frequency. I can sense that the connection should be there, but I can't access it.

I stared up at the full moon, which looked beautiful but somehow distant. "Is that normal?"

No. Celestial wolves are born with an inherent link to lunar energy. The fact that we can't access it suggests something has been deliberately severed.

"Severed by who?"

That's what we need to figure out.

I thought about everything that had happened over the past few months. The poisoning, the cursed objects, the systematic attacks on my family.

"Could this be connected to whoever's been targeting us?"

Possibly. If someone wanted to prevent you from developing protective abilities, severing your connection to lunar energy would be an effective approach.

The implications were terrifying. Not only was someone trying to hurt my family directly, but they'd also taken steps to ensure I couldn't defend us using my supernatural heritage.

"Can the connection be restored?"

I think so. But it would require understanding why it was severed in the first place.

"And how do we figure that out?"

Aria was quiet for a long moment.

We need to find someone who understands celestial wolf magic better than we do. Someone who might be able to identify what's blocking our connection.

"Like who?"

Like the moon goddess herself.

I almost laughed at the impossibility of it. "And how exactly do I have a conversation with a goddess?"

The same way celestial wolves have been doing it for centuries. Through ritual, meditation, and a willingness to open your consciousness to something larger than yourself.

"That sounds dangerous."

Everything worthwhile is dangerous, Lyra.

Fair point. I'd already survived rejection, exile, pregnancy, supernatural politics, and cursed objects. Attempting to contact a moon goddess seemed like just another item on an increasingly bizarre to-do list.

"What would I need to do?"

There are traditional rituals for establishing divine contact. But without our lunar connection, they might not work.

"So we're back to square one."

Not necessarily. There might be another way.

"Which is?"

Find another celestial wolf who still has their divine connection. Someone who could act as a conduit between us and the moon goddess.

I considered that. "Do you know any other celestial wolves?"

Not personally. But there are old bloodlines scattered throughout the supernatural community. Families who've maintained their connections across generations.

"How do I find them?"

Start with the people who already know about your heritage. Alpha Nova, the Council members, anyone who's studied supernatural genealogy.

It felt like a long shot, but it was better than sitting around waiting for the next attack on my family.

"Aria, can I ask you something personal?"

Of course.

"Are you scared? About not being able to connect with the moon goddess?"

Aria's response came slowly, thoughtfully.

Yes. The lunar connection is fundamental to who we are as celestial wolves. Without it, we're just regular werewolves with fancy ancestry.

"But we're still us. We still have each other."

True. And that connection might be enough to get us through this. But Lyra?

"Yeah?"

I miss feeling like part of something larger. The moon goddess represents home in a way that physical places never could.

I understood that feeling. The sense of belonging that came from being connected to something ancient and powerful and eternal.

"We'll figure out how to restore the connection. Whatever it takes."

I hope so. Because without our celestial powers, protecting Asher from supernatural threats is going to be much more difficult.

That settled it. Tomorrow, I'd start making calls to find another celestial wolf who could help us understand what had been done to sever our lunar connection.

My son's safety depended on it.

And if contacting ancient goddesses was what it took to keep him safe, then that's exactly what I'd do.