Chapter Text
Her parents told her that it was in her blood. Juno was born to carry on the legacy of the clan. Her power wouldn’t just extend to gray wolves like them, but every wolf that walked upon the earth. They would all look up to her: the successor. That was if she married the right person. Because even though she always called herself the successor in her mind, she would be relegated to the successor’s wife. She didn’t mind. She couldn’t mind, so she waited for her future. But it seemed like her future didn’t want to come.
Her parents started her training young. By the time she was sixteen, she knew how to sway hearts with a smile. She knew how to say what the world wanted to hear. Her parents were proud, and she languished in their praise. She and the clan waited anxiously for the day she would ascend to her rightful place.
Then, he appeared. A grey wolf by the name of Legosi came to the clan with his mother, Leano, and their komodo dragon servant, Gosha. It was just like the prophecies foretold, and she couldn’t contain the excitement that coursed through her veins. They welcomed the trio in with open arms, treating them with the highest honor. They held back on mentioning the prophecy before the new residents settled in.
Juno was quick to introduce herself to the family. Legosi’s silence and simple words threw her, and she hoped the reason behind his stoicism was shyness. Gosha was amicable, and she had no problem falling into easy conversation with him. He didn’t act like any of the servants she had interacted with, but she wasn’t offended by it. His friendliness and familiarity with Leano and Legosi helped her feel less out of place. Leano was quiet as well, wearing clothes that covered her body from the neck down. After the general pleasantries, the older wolf closed herself into her room.
Months into the family’s stay, the clan broached the topic of the prophecy to them. Leano, who was usually subdued and vacant, sprung to life. She grinned at the future the clan showed her, telling them that, “she had dreamt of this day.”
Juno peered at Legosi, wanting to see his reaction to it all. To see if he felt as much pride in his role as she did hers. However, all she could see was shock followed by horror. Legosi quickly glanced in her direction, turning his head when he saw that she was looking straight at him. And then, the wolf went completely white. Leano and Gosha looked concerned to see him in his new fur shade. She felt a weight drop onto her shoulders, but she kept her back straight and her head held high. Even if he wasn’t happy now, he would be. So, Juno walked to his side and curled their fingers together. She held up their clasped hands to the cheers of the clan, ignoring how Legosi’s hand trembled.
Today, Juno was digging up a grave because tomorrow was their wedding. She was in the ancient burial grounds of her clan committing an act punishable by death. She wouldn’t have been forced to do this if Legosi hadn’t stopped looking like he was one second from running away with no return. Was marrying her so detestable? Hot tears stung her eyes at the thought. She sniffled and let them fall. She wasn’t going to let his rejection stop her from her blood-born right. He had confessed to her one day that he didn’t want to marry someone he didn’t love. She didn’t love him either, but at least she understood that they had their whole lives to learn how to love each other. Every single thing in her life had led to this moment, and she would be damned if she let him ruin it.
That’s why she had turned to the legends for help. There had to be something that would help her. When she found the legend of the immortal lovers, she had been overjoyed. The story told of star-crossed lovers so afraid that they would be separated that they pleaded to the gods for help. Aioste, the god of love, was moved by their show of genuine and true affection, so she forged them magic rings to keep them together. The legend went on to say that whoever wore the rings would have Aioste’s blessing as well, and nothing would be able to separate the wearers.
Finding the rings had proved almost impossible. However, an old book in the very back of the library had pointed her here. If the grave was empty, she didn’t know what she would do. The thump of her shovel against the wood of a coffin pulled her from her thoughts. She flung dirt out faster, revealing the entirety of the coffin. She hopped out the hole and opened it. Inside, there were teeth surrounded by bone dust. To her immense joy, two rings sat there untouched by time.
Reaching in, she grabbed the metal. Surprised by how warm they were, she almost dropped them back into the dusty remains of their former owners. With the rings in hand, she felt the magic that radiated from them. It caused the fur on her arms to stand up, and goosebumps to ripple along her skin. She slipped the rings into her pocket and worked to make it look like she was never there.
That night, she went to bed giddy. Everyone had commented on how happy she looked when she got back, and her face hurt from how wide she had been smiling. Legosi had been whisked away by the clan elders for his pre-wedding ceremony, so she felt assured that he would be at the wedding. There were too many eyes for him to escape. Besides, she didn’t think Legosi was the type of wolf who would leave his family behind.
After she had come back with the magic rings, she had sneaked into the ritual house where they were to be wed. She switched the rings and hoped that no one would notice the difference. They would only check to make sure they were there anyway.
She woke up the next morning in a cold sweat, drenched from the remainders of a terrifying nightmare. Trying to calm her racing heart, she clenched the fabric of her nightgown. Her hands were as unsteady as her heart.
“Lady Juno, good morning!” her maid swept into the room, drawing the curtains, “It’s an exciting day for you!”
She cleared her throat, “Yes, it is. It feels like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this day.”
Her maid flashed her a gentle smile. “You parents are so proud.”
“It feels like they’ve been waiting for this day longer than me,” she laughed.
“You know how it is. Once they learned that their child would be the successor for the clan, they arranged for everything to be perfect for you.”
“I know. I’m grateful for all they’ve done. I’m sure a daughter wasn’t what they had in mind for the successor.”
The maid crossed the room to take Juno’s hands in hers. She said sternly, “A successor’s wife is as important as the successor himself. While they did expect a son, a daughter was no less wanted.”
“I understand.” Her maid didn’t look convinced. “Really, I do!”
Her parents didn’t make her feel unloved or unwanted. She loved them with everything she had within her, but sometimes she felt like they didn’t think she was enough. They made her feel like she wasn’t as smart as their potential son could have been. She felt unworthy.
The maid pulled her out of bed, placing the needed clothes, accessories, and make-up for the wedding. The maid said “Once I’m done, you’re going to feel like the wolf you were meant to be.”
“I hope so.”
It took hours to put on the layers of clothes and pounds of make-up. When she looked in the mirror, she couldn’t recognize herself. The long sleeves of her dress touched the floor, and the colorful patterns on the deep red fabric captivated her. She buried the tears that wanted to flow this time. A successor’s wife doesn’t cry. A successor’s wife was composed and serene.
Juno turned to her maid and said, “I’m ready.”
After that, it all blurred together. Before she knew it, she was kneeling in front of Legosi. Her eyes held his, and she dared him to back out now. The defeated look on his face told her that he wouldn’t. The ceremony master’s voice faded into the background as she counted down the seconds for the rings to come. When they arrived, laid the same as she had set them on the satin pillow, she fought the urge to breathe a sigh of relief.
The master’s voice came back, “Shall you both seal this union with rings of promise?”
“We shall,” Juno and Legosi said at the same time.
They each picked up a ring. The rings were too large for their fingers, and Juno had a moment of panic. However, when they were slipped on, they constricted to the correct size. Legosi’s head shot up at the feeling. He said, “The ring…it shrunk.”
Before she could respond, she felt a tugging on her heart. Unimaginable pain flared within her as if a piece of her heart had been ripped from her chest. She bit her lower lip, breaking the skin, so she couldn’t cry out. Legosi’s low whimper had her looking at him. He was clutching his own heart.
A manic smile crossed her face and she breathed, “It worked.”
Legosi’s pain-filled eyes met hers. “What have you done?”
“What needed to be done.”
That was the last thing she said before her entire world went dark.