Violet

The temple was surprisingly larger than I had expected. Now I understood just why Rowan had marvelled about it.

It really did look magnificent.

It rose before us, right close to the populated center of the capital. Its structure was carved rather than built, from a rocky hill that had previously been in the nation during the early stages of Silverwood being established.

It shocked me. I hadn’t expected it to be so old, neither had I ever seen a building actually carved from stone rather than built.

And Rowan had said it had taken decades to fully create. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The pale grey stone of its walls seemed to glow faintly in the afternoon light. Tall pillars framed the grand entrance, each one etched with intricate patterns of moons in various phases intertwined with flowing lines that resembled rivers of starlight.

Climbing vines with small white flowers wound their way up the pillars, softening the stone with touches of life. The entrance itself was an enormous arched doorway, the doors made of dark wood inlaid with silver that caught the light.

Despite the busy city beyond the courtyard, the open space was oddly peaceful and not as crowded.

There was something about this place that made me also want to be quiet.

"It’s beautiful," I murmured.

Rowan smiled beside me. "I thought you might like it."

There were two figures at the entrance waiting for us.

A priest and a priestess, both dressed in flowing robes of deep midnight blue trimmed with silver thread. The priest was an older man with kind eyes and grey hair pulled back from his face. The priestess was younger, likely only a few years older than me, with dark skin and silver ornaments woven into her braided hair.

They bowed respectfully to Rowan.

"Supreme Alpha," the priest said warmly.

Rowan smiled, gesturing toward me. "This is Violet. She is a special guest of mine, and I wished to show her around the temple."

The priest and priestess turned their attention to me, and I saw curiosity flicker in their eyes. They were clearly surprised to see me for some reason, but whatever thoughts they might have had, they didn’t talk about it.

I couldn’t help but wonder if they knew I was a Lycan or if it was because Rowan had come here with a woman by his side.

"Welcome, Lady Violet," the priestess said, inclining her head. "We are honoured to have you."

"Thank you," I said quietly, feeling suddenly self-conscious under their gazes.

"Please," the priest said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the entrance. "Allow us to show you around."

We followed them inside, and I was met with even more surprises.

The main hall was vast, and the ceiling soared high above us, supported by more of those elegant pillars carved with lunar patterns. But it was the ceiling itself that drew my eye.

It was painted to look like the night sky.

Deep indigo and black, scattered with silver stars that seemed to glimmer in the light filtering through the tall windows. And dominating the centre of the painted sky was an enormous full moon, carved in such exquisite detail that it almost seemed to glow.

"It’s incredible," I breathed.

The floor beneath our feet was polished stone, dark grey veined with silver that caught the light as we walked. Along the walls, alcoves held statues and offerings; carved wolves in various poses, bowls of water reflecting candlelight, and arrangements of white flowers and silver trinkets.

The air smelled faintly of incense, something soft and herbal that made me think of cool nights and quiet forests.

The priest’s voice was gentle as he briefly talked about the temple. Some wolves had stopped to stare at us and bow in greeting while others had been too engrossed in their activities to notice us.

I listened as the priest and priestess spoke of the temple’s history, its traditions, and the rituals performed during full moons and lunar eclipses. The priestess added details here and there, and the stories were oddly soothing to listen to for some reason.

Rowan’s hand occasionally brushed mine as we walked, at times distracting me. It would have been nice to hold hands, but I thought better of it. All in all, he barely spoke, letting our guides lead the way, but I caught him watching me sometimes, a soft look in his eyes.

As we moved through the temple, something strange began to happen.

The deeper we went, the calmer I felt.

By the time we reached the inner rooms of the temple, I felt oddly peaceful.

Genuinely peaceful.

It was strange. Almost unsettling in how unfamiliar the feeling was. Especially for it to happen so suddenly within a specific place and such a short time.

The energy here was clearly different and I strangely wondered if this was the goddess’ energy. It was strange, but welcoming.

"Are you alright?" Rowan asked quietly, noticing my expression.

"Yes," I said, surprised by how true it was. "I feel... calm. Very calm..."

He smiled softly. "The temple has that effect on many people. This place was blessed by the goddess herself, as many other temples are."

I wasn’t sure I believed in blessings, but I couldn’t deny what I was feeling.

We passed through several more chambers, each one beautiful in its own way. One held a reflecting pool, the water so still it perfectly mirrored the painted ceiling above. Another was filled with candles, hundreds of them, their flames casting dancing shadows on the walls.

Eventually, the priest and priestess led us down a quieter corridor.

"The temple also houses a small library," the priestess explained. "It contains texts on lunar cycles, celestial events, and the spiritual practices of our ancestors."

She opened a door to reveal a cozy room lined with bookshelves. It was tiny, but the books in here had been arranged with obvious care.

The priest gestured toward an arched doorway at the end of the corridor. "We, along with the other attendants live in a connected structure through there. We dedicate our lives to maintaining this sacred space and serving those who come seeking the goddess’s guidance."

Finally, they led us to the uppermost floor of the temple, which was an observatory and private worship room where they mostly recorded details and calculations about the moon, along with where blessed items were kept.

We climbed the stairs, and when we emerged at the top, I stopped in the doorway.