Later that day, the men in her life gathered again in the building lobby. By "men in her life," she meant all the fantasy men from her webnovels who had somehow been coming in and out of her building in real life.
Jennifer had been minding her own business in her apartment—which meant pacing the floor and trying to think of a good excuse to ask her sister Jessica to ask Rolly's sister, Elsa, for Rolly's number.
Yeah. She was aware she needed a very good excuse if she didn't want to be teased about this for the next ten years.
Anyway, her doorbell rang, and Sebastian stood outside, looking disturbingly serious.
"My queen," he said, bowing slightly, "you're requested at a meeting."
The fact that it was Sebastian—and not any of the ALIVE boys—made Jennifer's stomach flip. This has to be serious. No werewolves fighting, no white horse pooping. God, I miss the days when horse poop was the worst thing to worry about.
She followed him down to the lobby, and the scene made her blink. Duke Chevon stood framed perfectly in sunlight, the clouds outside positioned like some celestial set designer had arranged them just for him. He looked displeased—likely at whatever nonsense Frank Sin had just said.
"Oh, my dear! It's good you could join us," Frank said with too much cheer when Jennifer stepped into the lobby.
Her four MLs were there too, standing politely to the side in their Awakener cadet uniforms, faces tense.
"Hi," Jennifer said nervously.
This isn't about her threatening to marry their grandfather/uncle/father, right?
Sebastian guided her to the settee, and she sank into it, feeling the weight of all the dramatic, dangerously handsome men in one room. Even Alpha King Drake Darkfall was present—sans his usual warriors.
Adrian was here too. Jennifer was quite sure she hadn't threatened to marry him. Okay, now that her threats of marriage were not the reason for this meeting, she was fine. Whatever this was, she could handle it. Probably.
"I called today's meeting for the sake of our goddess," Adrian began, smooth as hot chocolate, with a smile that made Jennifer's knees go soft. She smiled back automatically.
Why did Adrian sound like he was starting a cult? "We all know about the incident at the Crown Hotel yesterday."
"I'd like to clarify that I have no idea what you're talking about," Frank interrupted amiably, raising a hand.
"Shut up, Frank," Duke Chevon said, his voice as royal and final as ever. "We all know you know."
"Can we just focus on our goddess now?" Alpha Drake interjected.
Of course—the wolves had collectively decided Jennifer was their moon goddess. Jennifer blinked.
The wolves are insane, she thought. But okay, let's see how far this goes.
Reasons they were convinced:
Their inner wolves recognized her voice—and instinctively obeyed. Maybe it was because she wrote them. Whatever. She resembled the indistinct marble statue they had of their goddess. Sure. But have you seen that statue? That could be anyone. She had promised to lift the Darkfall curse. Only a goddess could do something like that.
Everyone else nodded like Alpha Drake was making perfect sense.
"I have seen that statue. The likeness is remarkable," Duke Chevon added.
"Indeed," Frank agreed. "Although, I cannot say I have seen it myself."
Duke Chevon chose to pretend he didn't hear Frank.
"Awakener Adrian, before we continue, I would advise you to choose your words with care. Matters spoken before me seldom remain without consequence—particularly where the Crown's interests are concerned."
"I'm painfully aware," Adrian admitted with a small wince, "that I could lose my head before the courts ever hear my name. But I also know this—Your Grace is not a man who mistakes silence for guilt, nor truth for treason."
Duke Chevon considered this. "Go on."
Adrian inclined his head. "I called today's meeting because I believe we all have reason to keep our goddess safe."
And so Adrian explained his identity ability as an Awakener—and that Jennifer's identity was goddess. Although he hadn't known what to make of it at first.
"I have yet to report it to the Pandora Corps." He raised a hand before Duke Chevon could speak. "Not because I intend to conceal it from the state, but because I fear that a premature or clumsy revelation might endanger our goddess—and jeopardize our nation."
Alpha Drake raised his hand next—also to stop Duke Chevon from speaking. "So you acknowledge our moon goddess?"
"Just 'goddess,'" Adrian corrected mildly. "But yes. I do believe in this goddess. She has been very lucky for me and my ALIVE boys so far."
Everyone nodded. The idol group was making a serious breakthrough right from their first release. On top of that, their recent livestreams of white horses, werewolf fights, and alien portals had set them apart. They were adventurous, fun, and daring—the boy group who were truly ALIVE.
And Adrian believed this was all thanks to the goddess he met in their building.
But the world was in great peril—so much so that Adrian had to return to the Pandora Corps to assist President Xel at headquarters.
"Who will take care of your boys?" Jennifer asked. What would happen to Liam and the others?
"I have a new business partner. Shaun will manage ALIVE in my stead," Adrian answered.
Jennifer nodded. Shaun. Her ML. That was good—perfect, really. Shaun was capable and ambitious. In her original timeline, he had wanted to leave acting for a producer or manager role. Becoming Adrian's partner was a great step forward.
This hadn't happened in her planned timeline—but then again, there had been no alien invasion in that version either.
Also, Shaun was probably about to start dating Sarah—the FL. Liam's ex-girlfriend, who was out for revenge. But if Shaun was Liam's manager… he wouldn't destroy ALIVE for her sake, right?
"Good," Jennifer said. "If Shaun sees the ALIVE boys as his own brothers, he might scold them—but he won't destroy them."
"What?" Adrian's confusion was oddly satisfying. Then he smiled—that soft, melting marshmallow smile. "I see. Thank you. Please continue watching over their stars, goddess."
"I'm not the goddess!" Jennifer protested.
Adrian only smiled. "Forgive my mistake."
Around the room, the other men exchanged wry smiles and raised brows, making no effort to hide the fact that they were humoring her.
And just like that, the meeting continued—as if they were the ones in charge. Which, in their own stories, they were.
It felt less like a discussion and more like a council of bosses.
Alpha Drake raised his hand before Duke Chevon could speak again. "To proceed, everyone here should explain their own revelation of our moon goddess, just as Adrian has done."
"I'm not the goddess!" Jennifer said, more sharply this time.
"Of course not, my dear," Frank replied with an easy smile. "We are simply discussing another goddess."
And the men all looked rather pleased with how well they were handling her.
Duke Chevon stood. Raising a hand to forestall interruption, he said, "Since it has come to this… I would like to confess."
Never mind the wolves. All her characters were insane.