Aiden’s heart pounded in his chest as he stood frozen in the doorway. The woman before him, her silver hair whipping in the wind, seemed unreal—like something out of one of his grandmother’s stories. Her gaze pierced through him, and though she looked human, there was an otherworldly aura about her that made his skin tingle.

His mother, still gripping his arm, whispered urgently, "Stay behind me, Aiden."

"Who is she?" Aiden managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.

The woman took a step forward, her boots crunching against the grass. Her presence filled the space around them, the air heavy with the scent of ozone and the distant rumble of thunder. "I am Selene," she said, her voice echoing like it was carried on the wind. "I’ve come for him."

"For me?" Aiden’s mind spun. Why him? He was just a high school kid. His life wasn’t extraordinary. He had soccer practice, homework, friends. There was nothing that would make someone like her—whoever she was—care about him.

"Over my dead body," his mother hissed, stepping protectively in front of him.

Selene’s silver eyes narrowed, and the air crackled with tension. "I have no quarrel with you, Amara. But you knew this day would come. You cannot shield him any longer."

Aiden looked from the strange woman to his mother. The fear in his mom’s eyes was something he’d never seen before. His mother had always been the strong one, the rock in his life. Yet now, she seemed terrified, and that fear was infectious.

"Mom, what’s going on?" Aiden’s voice wavered as confusion turned to panic. "Who is she? Why does she know my name?"

Amara tightened her grip on his arm but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to Selene. "He’s not ready," she said, her voice trembling. "He’s just a boy."

Selene’s expression softened, but only for a moment. "Ready or not, fate doesn’t wait. He has a part to play in what’s coming. You can’t change that."

Before Aiden could process what was happening, the sky lit up with another bolt of lightning, striking the ground just feet away from the house. He stumbled backward, his senses overwhelmed by the sound and light. The storm wasn’t natural—he could feel it in his bones.

Selene raised a hand, and the winds seemed to obey her command, swirling around them. "Aiden," she said, her voice carrying over the storm, "the blood of the gods runs in your veins. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The flicker of power, the strange things happening around you. The lightning you saw today—it wasn’t a coincidence."

Aiden’s heart skipped a beat. The lightning… He had seen it, even when Mia hadn’t. And now, this woman was talking about gods and power like it was something he was supposed to understand.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice shaking. "What power? What gods?"

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Amara stepped in front of him, shielding him from Selene’s gaze. "No!" she shouted. "You can’t drag him into this world. He deserves a normal life, Selene!"

Selene’s face remained impassive. "There is no normal life for him, Amara. You know that better than anyone. His destiny has already been set in motion."

The ground trembled beneath them, and Aiden felt the pull again—like something deep inside him was waking up. It was subtle, like the buzz of electricity under his skin, but it was there, undeniable. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the impossible things being thrown at him.

"Mom, what is she talking about?" Aiden asked, panic rising in his chest. "What destiny?"

Amara looked at him, her eyes full of sadness. "I’m sorry, Aiden," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I wanted to protect you from this, but I can’t anymore."

"What do you mean?" Aiden demanded, fear turning into frustration. "You can’t just throw all this at me without explaining!"

His mother opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, another bolt of lightning struck, this time closer, splitting a nearby tree in half with a deafening crack. The air was thick with the smell of burning wood, and the storm intensified. The winds howled, and the sky roared with thunder.

Selene raised both arms, and the storm seemed to bow to her will. "Aiden Blackwood," she called, her voice louder than the thunder, "you are the descendant of gods. Your bloodline is ancient, and the time has come for you to embrace your legacy. There is a war coming, and you must be ready."

Aiden’s legs gave out, and he stumbled, falling to his knees in the doorway. Descendant of gods? Legacy? War? It was too much. He looked up at his mother, desperately searching her face for answers. "Is this true?" he whispered. "Am I really…?"

Amara knelt beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. "I never wanted this for you," she said softly. "But yes, it’s true. You come from a long line of powerful beings—gods and heroes. Your father…" She hesitated, her voice breaking. "Your father was one of them."

Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. He had never known his father—his mother had always been vague when he asked about him. But now…now everything was crashing down around him. He wasn’t just a normal kid. His life wasn’t normal at all.

"But I don’t understand," he said, his voice hoarse. "What am I supposed to do?"

Selene stepped forward, her eyes glowing with an ethereal light. "You have a choice," she said. "You can come with me, and I will help you unlock the power within you, prepare you for the battles ahead. Or you can turn your back on your fate. But know this: the world will not wait for you to decide. Forces are already in motion, and soon, you will have no choice but to fight."

Aiden stared at the ground, his mind spinning. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want to be part of some ancient war. But the way Selene spoke…the way the storm seemed to rage around her…he knew she wasn’t lying.

He looked up at his mother, then back at Selene. His whole life had just been turned upside down, and yet, somehow, deep down, he knew there was no escaping what was coming.

Taking a deep breath, Aiden stood, his legs shaky but his resolve firm. "I’ll go with you," he said, his voice steadier than he expected. "I want to know the truth."

Selene nodded, a hint of approval in her eyes. "Then your journey begins now."

As the storm swirled around them, Aiden felt the weight of his decision settle over him. Whatever came next, there was no turning back.