Chapter 634 – I want to cross over

Chapter 634: Chapter 634 – I want to cross over

Ethereal realm.

Oriana sat on a bridge over what seemed to be a cloud, her legs dangling over the edge. Below her, the werewolf community played out like a living tapestry, births and deaths, love and loss, joy and sorrow.

She could see everything: the pack gatherings, the celebrations, the quiet moments of intimacy between partners. She could see her son growing up, becoming the Alpha she had always known he would be. She could see the woman who had stolen her life living in her home, sleeping in her bed, loving her husband.

She tried to go back, to step off the bridge and return to the world she had been ripped from. But the guardians of the werewolf kingdom prevented her, their forms everchanging and ethereal. "You can’t go back." Their voices echoed in unison, cold and unyielding. "You have been declared dead."

Oriana looked at the far end where celestial beings wined and dined, their laughter drifting across the divide. Golden light spilled from their realm, illuminating everything it touched.

It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, a paradise beyond imagination. "Then let me go there." She pointed toward the ethereal realm, her voice desperate. "I should join them."

The guardians of the werewolf community did not speak, their silence answer enough. But the guardians of the ethereal realm prevented her the moment she reached the end of the bridge. Their forms were made of light, their voices like wind chimes. "I’m sorry." The words were gentle but firm. "You can’t pass on. You don’t have authorization."

Oriana’s gaze sunk as she saw people moving from the werewolf community to the ethereal realm, souls released from their earthly bonds, their forms ascending into the light.

She had watched this for thirty-two years, trapped on a bridge that led nowhere, belonging to neither world. She had the chance to speak to the moon goddess most of the time, could see all that was happening between both worlds, but could not enter either. No amount of tears could give her entry, leaving her on that bridge for thirty-two whole years.

The more she watched the man she’d loved all her life loving her twin sister who’d put her in this mess, the more she hated them. Hated Olivia for stealing everything she had. Hated Vladimir for not fighting for her. Hated herself for being so powerless.

But something happened. She saw the exposure, the confessions, the efforts made to uncover the truth. She saw her husband’s grief when he finally learned the depth of Olivia’s deception. She saw her son’s determination to right the wrongs of the past.

Something moved inside her, a flicker of warmth in the cold prison of her heart. But she was still upset when the woman who caused her all the pain appeared on the bridge.

"Olivia." Oriana’s voice was a snarl, years of rage boiling over. "I hate you with everything inside me." She grabbed Olivia by the corner of her simple white dress, yanking her close. "Do you have any idea what you did to me?"

"Oriana, you have every right to hate me." Olivia’s tears wet her cheeks, her voice trembling with genuine remorse. "But you should blame our parents and the circumstances surrounding our birth. I thought you were dead." She shook her head, her eyes pleading. "I was afraid of returning to my abusive husband. Yes, I was selfish, but I wasn’t a Luna. I had no idea special rights needed to be performed."

Oriana slapped her hard across the face, the sound echoing across the cloud bridge. "You made me lose my wolf." Her voice cracked with anguish. "You made me lose everything." She raised her hand to land another slap, but Olivia was pulled away by the guardians of the ethereal realm, their light enveloping her.

When Oriana saw her twin sister allowed access to the paradise beyond, her anger burned white-hot. "Right, just right." Her voice was bitter, laced with despair. "She did this to me, and yet you allow her entry. So what about me? What about all the years I’ve suffered?"

The guardians did not answer. Their silence was absolute, crushing.

But when Oriana turned around, a white wolf stood beside her. It was magnificent—pure white, its eyes glowing with ancient wisdom. "Oriana." The wolf’s voice was soft, feminine, reassuring. "I’m Star. Your new wolf."

Oriana blinked, her heart hammering. "What is that supposed to mean?" Her voice was barely a whisper, hope and confusion warring in her chest.

But the wolf vanished, dissolving into light, and Oriana could only hear the voice in her head. ’Your husband would explain everything.’

Before she could ask further, warmth flooded her entire being. She was engulfed in a familiar tight embrace. The thing was, time in the ethereal realm was different from that of the werewolf community.

Those three days in the living world was more like thirty minutes in the ethereal realm. So technically, the thirty-two years she’d spent trapped on that bridge was a total of eighty-one ethereal days.

"Ana." Vladimir’s voice was broken, raw with emotion. "I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when you gave birth to our child." His arms tightened around her, shaking with the force of his grief. "I was so upset when you chose to give your life, and it cost me everything. Please forgive me."

Warm tears wet her cheek as Vladimir shook from embracing her so tightly, ensuring the content of the vial he held doesn’t pour out.

He pulled away with difficulty, his hands cupping her face, his eyes searching hers. "You have to drink this, Ana." His voice was soft, pleading. "I came to take you back."

But Oriana refused, her gaze hardening. She turned him to face the ethereal realm, pointing toward the golden light. "Look there, Vlad." Her voice was reverent, filled with longing. "It’s so beautiful. That’s where I want to be. I want to cross over."

It was indeed very beautiful, a paradise of light and peace, of eternal joy. And for a moment, even Vladimir didn’t want to return. The pull of the realm was seductive, promising an end to all pain.

However, when he remembered the issues at the pack, the responsibility that awaited him, he tried to convince her. "We shall all make it there one day." His voice was gentle, coaxing. "But the pack needs you. Our son needs you. I need you."

"No." Oriana refused, her voice firm. "I want to cross over. You can go back if you want." She turned away from him, her gaze fixed on the golden light.

Vladimir turned her face away from the ethereal realm, forcing her to look at the werewolf community below. "Can you see our pack from here?" His voice was urgent. "Your son has been dying to meet you. He won’t be able to take it if you cross over."

He paused, his voice softening. "The shaman is also about to pass on, and you are the one to take her place. The moon goddess chose you, Ana."

"The moon goddess told me that, but I told her I wanted to journey to the ethereal realm." Oriana’s gaze lowered, her voice small. "I already knew of your coming."

Vladimir’s hand lifted her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes. Without warning, his lips pressed against hers. The kiss was warm, deep, filled with decades of love and longing.

It brought back memories Oriana had long tried to bury, their first meeting, their wedding, the birth of their son. Their happy times and low times were all blended into that single moment, years of emotion channeled into one embrace.

He pulled away slowly, his forehead resting against hers. Without asking, he offered her the vial, his hand steady despite the trembling of his heart. "Please drink it."

His voice was barely a whisper. "Your twin sister caused this, and she gave her life for it."