The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 72

Marvin's

POV

I was sitting in my office going over some paperwork for the pack. It had been a difficult few days, with resistance from every corner of the pack. People are not happy that I am now the Alpha. Not everyone, but many people, seemed to have the same mentality that Logan and Gregory did. Getting through to them was going to be difficult and take time. People were listening to me because they had to, not because they wanted to. "At least they're listening for the most part," Ray reminded me.

I was happy that Julia was faring better than I was. Sandra had returned home the other day and told me all about her visit and how Julia had gotten to meet her birth father. Although I knew it was probably hard for Cornelia, I knew she was happy for Julia. She was a remarkable woman and mother to be able to do what she did. Frustrated that I wasn't able to come up with a new training schedule, I reached for my bottle of whiskey that was on my desk. Pouring myself a small glass, I drained almost all of it in one gulp. Why did I accept this role from Julia? I should have just taken off when I had the chance.

"Do you think we should have a meeting with the pack or something to hear what they have to say about us being the Alpha?" I asked Ray. I was trying to think of some way, anyway, that I wouldn't have to end up banishing half this pack. Strangely, Ray didn't answer

me.

"Ray? Did you hear me?" Still there was no answer. What was happening? Before I could figure out the answer, I started to feel strange. My heart started to race, and I was becoming dizzy. Standing up from my chair, I stumbled sideways, knocking my glass onto the floor. I followed it, landing hard on my side. The world around me was growing dark as my vision tunneled in. I tried to yell for help, but nothing more than a whisper left my lips before the world went dark around me.

Waking up, I realized I was lying flat on my back somewhere dark and cold. I couldn't remember what happened and my head was killing me. Something large and furry came and laid down next to me, twisting my fingers in its soft fur, I heard it purr out. "Ray?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah, it's me." This was so weird; where was I that Ray was in physical form at the same time as myself? Rolling onto my side, I sat up on my knees looking at the area around me. It looked pitch black for miles, not a sound or another soul in sight. "Where are we?" I asked him.

"If you don't know, I don't know," Ray said with a sigh. He and I sat there on the ground gazing around, trying to figure out where the he** we were for a few minutes.

"Is it getting lighter in here or is it just me?"

"I think you're right," he responded. The room was slowly fading from black to gray, as if someone was using a light dimmer but in reverse. I squinted and blinked a few times as the room became fully engulfed in bright white light. It was like looking at the sun if it were one thousand times brighter. I had to place my hand in front of my face to shield my eyes. The light finally started to diminish, and I was able to remove my hand from in front of my face. When I opened my eyes, I was shocked to see a woman standing in front of me. She had long black hair, beautiful gray eyes, and was wearing a long flowing silver dress that looked as if water was cascading down her body. She didn't seem solid, but she wasn't a ghost either. Her high cheek bones are prominent on her gorgeous Goddess- like face. The look on her face was that of joy but also pain and regret.

"Who are you?" I asked, mesmerized by her beauty.

"Hello, Marvin. My name's Selena, I'm the Moon Goddess." Shock and confusion were coursing through my body. How was I kneeling before the Moon Goddess when a moment ago I had been in my office? "The... Moon.... What?" She laughed a melodic laugh that rang out in my head.

"The Moon Goddess my child." There have been stories of the Moon Goddess presenting herself to people in human form, but these usually only happened when the person was close to death or in a dire situation. "But, if you're here with me, does that mean.... Am I....."

"Dead?" she finished. The only thing I could do was nod my head, as Ray laid beside me in complete bewilderment and astonishment, his mouth slightly open as he gazed at Selena. "I'm not actually sure about that myself. Come, walk with me," she said, pirouetting, and walking away from me. Clumsily, I got to my feet to follow her, nudging Ray that he should do the same. Closing his mouth, he stumbled to his feet and began trotting along behind me.

"I don't understand. If I'm not dead, then why am I here? And why are you here?"

"I wish I had the answers to those questions myself, but even I don't know."

"How is that possible? Don't you know everything?" She laughed her melodic laugh as she threw her head back, making her long black hair dance behind her.

"My dear Marvin, even I don't know everything. Free will and decisions change many things in the universe."

"Do you know what happened to me?"

"What do you think happened to you?" she asked.

"I remember sitting in my office and being overwhelmed with paperwork. I poured myself a drink, and that's when things get a little fuzzy. I couldn't talk to Ray." I looked behind me to see Ray still trotting along behind us.

"So, if you couldn't reach your wolf, that means....."

"Someone slipped me wolfsbane....."

"It's a little worse than that," she said, gliding across the floor as if her feet weren't even making contact. "They slipped you silver as well, and a lot of it."

"So, does that mean I'm dying?" I knew pure silver injected straight into a wolf was enough to kill them in a matter of minutes, but I didn't know about ingesting it. She stopped walking and turned to face me; I couldn't read the look she was giving me. Her eyes were sad, but not so much that I was made to believe this was the end for me.

"If I'm being honest, I think you are." Ray whined behind me, as I felt as if my world was crashing down to earth. How could I be dying? I had some much left I had to do. I had a mate to take care of and two girls who didn't even have pups yet. I wanted to hold my grand pups and watch as they grew up into strong, powerful wolves. This wasn't happening, my breathing started to come quickly and in gasps. My chest was tightening, and my legs felt weak.

"Breath, Marvin," Selena soothed. How could I when she had just dropped a bomb on me? The tightening in my chest was getting stronger, and it felt like my heart was going to race right out of my chest. Selena placed her hand on my shoulder, and I felt an instant warming and calming feeling wash over me. As if I had just been plunged into a warm pool.

"Thank you," I whispered to her.

"You're welcome. Now listen, things might not seem good right now, but this is the path you must take. You have done great things throughout your life. Protecting Julianna as you did, taking on Logan and Gregory. Attempting to pick up the pieces of a broken pack. I'm very proud of you, my child. I don't believe all hope is lost for you, not with the people who are trying to save you."

"Who would that be?" I asked, confused.

"You know who I'm talking about. They're all with you, and if you trust in them, amazing things will happen." I thought about her words for a moment. She must mean Julia and Alexander. They must have somehow found out what was going on, which meant I was in good hands. "How do I help them?" I asked.

"Just trust, trust in her love for you and her willingness to do anything to save you."

"Am I just stuck here until they figure it out? How long have I been here?"

"No, you could come with me. Move on to the land of wolves before you, be at peace. As for how long you've been here, I'm not sure. Days, weeks, months? Time moves differently here than on earth. What would you like to do?" I glanced behind me at Ray who was shaking his head vigorously no at me. Although it would be the easy way out, I didn't want that. I haven't finished with my life yet.

"I don't think I can go with you," I told her. She smiled warmly, like a mother would when one of her children achieves a great accomplishment.

"I was hoping you would say that. I've enjoyed our time together, but this is where I leave you." She closed her gray eyes tightly, and without warning she placed both hands on my shoulders and shoved me hard. I fell back onto Ray, who was also falling as the floor disappeared from under us. He and I were tumbling through space and were thrown back into total blackness. The air was rushing past us quickly as we fell further and further. It didn't seem like we were ever going to reach the ground. Then suddenly, I felt my back make contact with something. Ray and I both slammed into the ground hard, closing my eyes, as I hit. When I opened them, I was blinded by bright white lights and the sound of machines beeping filled my ears.