Chapter 674: The Moment Before Everything Changed

Chapter 673: The Moment Before Everything Changed

"I must leave now," Selene said finally.

Orion watched her quietly.

"Time has already elapsed," Selene continued softly. "I have done what I came here to do."

"And now," she added, "the rest is up to you and Sophia."

Orion did not answer immediately.

He was tired.

Not simply physically tired, though he certainly was that too, but exhausted in a way that settled deep beneath his skin after speaking to the goddess for this long. Every answer she gave seemed to create three more questions, and every truth uncovered only made the past look worse than before.

Still, he listened.

Selene’s eyes returned to him.

"I will tell you the same thing I told Sophia," she said calmly. "If you need me, you may come to me."

Orion raised a brow faintly.

"That sounds suspiciously generous coming from you."

Selene ignored the comment completely.

"But only in the right place," she continued. "And even then, I will not always be able to answer."

Orion exhaled softly through his nose.

"Because of fate," he muttered.

Selene inclined her head once.

"Yes."

Her gaze shifted briefly toward the moonlight pouring through the window.

"This conversation alone is already interference," she said quietly. "Though not severe enough to carry the same consequences as before."

Orion stared at her for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

"You really enjoy making everything sound dramatic."

That earned the faintest flicker of amusement from Selene.

But it disappeared quickly.

Then her expression softened again into something more serious.

"This time," she said quietly, "you and Sophia must change fate yourselves."

The words settled heavily between them.

"You must rewrite the story," Selene continued. "Both of you."

Orion remained silent.

For some reason, hearing those words now felt different from when Sophia had explained things to him earlier. Perhaps it was because the goddess herself was saying it now. Or perhaps it was because Orion finally understood just how much depended on them actually succeeding.

Selene turned her attention toward the window again, toward the snow-covered world outside Nirvana.

Then she spoke softly.

"You should sleep now."

Orion frowned slightly.

"What?"

But the moment the words left his mouth, exhaustion slammed into him so suddenly it almost made him stumble.

His body felt heavier instantly.

His eyes burned.

The exhaustion that had faded during their conversation returned all at once, stronger than before, wrapping around his thoughts like thick fog.

Orion narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.

"...did you just—"

"Yes," Selene answered calmly.

Orion stared at her for another second before letting out a tired breath.

Honestly, he was too exhausted to even argue anymore.

And after everything they had spoken about tonight, he no longer had the energy to continue standing there glaring at the goddess while trying not to curse at her every few minutes.

So instead, he walked back toward the bed.

His arms wrapped around Sophia, bringing her closer to him.

He pulled the blanket slightly higher over her before finally looking back toward the goddess.

"You know where the door is," he muttered tiredly. "See yourself out."

Selene’s lips twitched faintly, almost like she found the response amusing.

Then Orion closed his eyes.

And sleep claimed him almost instantly.

---

The next thing Orion became aware of was noise.

Voices.

Familiar voices.

"...it’s already noon and he’s still asleep."

"That just means he was tired."

A snort followed immediately after.

"More tired than Sophia? That just makes him weak."

"Be quiet before you wake him up."

Orion frowned slightly at the familiar voices drifting through the haze of sleep.

Then slowly, reluctantly, he opened his eyes.

The room was brighter now, sunlight filtering through the windows while the snow outside reflected enough light to make the entire room seem pale.

And standing near the bed were Ronan and Tobias.

Sophia sat nearby too, looking significantly more awake than he currently felt.

The moment Orion opened his eyes fully, Ronan grinned.

"There he is," he said. "The sleeping Alpha finally rises."

Orion stared at him blankly for a moment before rubbing a hand across his face.

"You people are disturbances," he muttered hoarsely.

Ronan’s grin widened immediately.

"I know."

Tobias sighed softly beside him, though there was amusement in his expression too.

"You slept like the dead," Tobias said.

Orion sat upright slowly, still trying to shake off the lingering exhaustion clouding his head.

And then suddenly, the memory of last night returned fully.

His gaze shifted immediately toward Sophia.

She noticed the look instantly.

And judging from the expression on her face, she already knew something had happened.

Ronan’s grin faded slightly then, his expression sobering.

"The elders are calling for a meeting," he said.

Orion blinked once before nodding slowly.

Ronan and Tobias exchanged a brief glance.

And Orion immediately understood that whatever this was, it was not small.

"You should head home first," Ronan said carefully. "Take a bath. Change your clothes." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

His expression tightened slightly.

"Because things may take a turn after this."

The room grew quieter after that.

Orion looked toward Sophia again.

She remained calm outwardly, but he could see the faint tension in her shoulders. The slight hesitation in her breathing.

She was thinking about telling them.

About everything.

Tobias noticed it too.

"You don’t have to tell everyone yet if you’re not ready," he said softly.

Sophia looked at him for a moment before slowly shaking her head.

"No," she said quietly. "It’s better they know now."

Her gaze lowered briefly.

"Besides..." she added softly, "there isn’t much time anymore."

Those words settled heavily over the room.

Ronan swallowed once before nodding slowly.

Then he stepped slightly closer, his voice quieter this time.

"Whatever happens, sis," he told her, "we’re on your side."

Sophia smiled at that.

And despite everything waiting for them in the future—war perhaps, the truth, fate itself—Orion realized that smile alone was enough to make him want to fight the entire world if necessary.