“You don’t know?” The All-Seer asks.
“I don’t know him, he doesn’t know me, but he felt like mine.”
“These are your scent matches, the only ones you have. This alpha is not one of them. I’m sorry.”
I want to lash out at the seer, but I don’t. Instead, I turn to the omega and hold out my hand.
“I am the Alpha God of the Hunt.”
She takes my hand, and her touch seals the deal and erases any thoughts of hesitation I might have had. Not that there were many.
“I’m sorry.” And I mean it more than I’ve ever meant anything. I would give this omega her moon and all my silver-coated forests.
She nods and reaches for the other alpha’s hand.
“I will not see you two die. Let’s do this, then, we three against the world.”
The All-Seer waves a hand, and a black void appears.
“All you have to do is step through. You won’t even remember what you lost. I am afraid that your lives will be fraught with pain and suffering, but I can tell you, I can promise you, that you will always have each other.”
“Just like that?” the alpha asks. “We just walk through, and we’re no longer gods.”
“Just like that. You walk through, and your souls will be put into an endless rotation of reincarnation, summoned when things get to their worst. You will become the hope that will save both worlds, bringing gods and humans together.”
The alpha huffs a laugh. “No pressure, then. Oh, well, let’s get this over and done before I decide to get weepy.”
He turns and kisses the omega. One soft touch to her cheek. Her eyes go wide as she stares up at him. He draws back slowly, smiling that small, secretive smile.
“I’ll see you on the other side, Omega.” He puts his palms together and bows slightly, then turns and walks into the dark void.
She watches him go.
“The Alpha God of Fire is no more,” the All-Seer says mournfully. Her voice echoes, and I find that I want to cry.
“I don’t regret anything,” I murmur to her. “A chance of a life with you, even a human life, is worth the sacrifice.”
I lean down and touch my lips to the other cheek. Her skin is so soft, and her scent is something I know I won’t forget in any lifetime.
I pause, looking at the All-Seer. “Thank you.”
She inclines her head. “We, the council and gods, thank you for your sacrifice, Alpha of the Hunt.”
It’s a new life, a new adventure, but the promise of that reward is too strong to pass up.
I step through confidently and fall into the blackness, screaming as my godhood and powers are stripped from me.
In an eerie voice, I hear the All-Seer say, “The Alpha God of the Hunt is dead.”
And it feels like I am.
Chapter 24
Do you see a monster in me?
I wake up gasping and scramble away from the alphas as quietly as I can. It’s not them; it’s just my skin feels like it’s stretched too painfully across my bones, my scars burn like they are freshly made, I can smell burned flesh, and I can hear his voice in my ear.
I hit the wall, holding myself up with one arm, a hand pressed against my mouth to make sure that none of the screams come out.
