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I wake up. Ilook around and recognize the room of the inn. My mother is sat at the vanity, brushing her golden hair and coiling it neatly atop her head. She puts her earrings, rings and bracelets on slowly and methodically, an everyday routine. “Good Morning.” She says blandly, looking at me through the mirror. “What happened? How did we get back here?” I ask, disoriented. Was last night a dream? I examine my body for evidence of being struck by lightning. “You won’t find any marks on you.” She says in a bored tone. She turns from the mirror and faces me. “You’ve been given, or perhaps even taken, considerable power last night.” Her expression fills with concern. “I only took what was given. The chalice was handed to me and I gulped it down.” I explain unapologetically. “Be as it may, you are certainly a witch. The Great Mother will connect with us in two days. We cannot raise any suspicions so we must keep moving. I know Captain Keegan reports all my movements to Osir
“The Priestess’ of Selene are skilled at detecting a witch. The most vulnerable moment is your 18th birthday ritual, because we have no wolf. Many of our sisters who live among us join after this ceremony for obvious reasons.” My mother begins to explain. I think back to the morning after my ceremony. The Reverend Mother was studying me intensely. She wanted to see me again before my moon ceremony. Had I been in danger and not even realized it? What was it that she sensed? “So thanks for the head’s up, I guess?” My words dripping with sarcasm. “I’m not sure you were aware, but my ceremony was over a week ago.” She sighs. “You made it through. I could sense your wolf awakening.” “No thanks to you.” I spit. “I’ve had a masking spell on you for 18 years. It’s plenty thanks to me.” She retorts. We sit in silence as I contemplate what she has said. “We should ready ourselves and leave.” She says after a long silence between us. “We need to be at the Kingdom of the Moon capital
We get into the carriage and set off for the Kingdom of the Moon capital where the slave market is located. Curiously, all the guards, footmen, and coachman seem to be in the same spirits as the day before. They seem completely oblivious to our activities last night. I wonder if it was a spell or if they are in cahoots with the Luna. Not that I would ask her to confirm, nor trust that she would be honest. “Theia?” I whisper in my mind, my exterior cool and placid. I have not heard from her since I fell asleep when she told me not to. “You were right, I was wrong.” I silently confess. “I’m sorry.” I want to cry with disappointment in myself. I should’ve never let my guard down near my mother. Her beauty and quiet moves hide the hideous realities of her truth. I have now seen even further behind the porcelain mask she wears, yet I know I have not yet seen her completely. I’m sure there are even more terrifying truths that lie behind her perfectly curated exterior.I feel a growl of
"Three hundred years ago, the people of the lands were engaged in a Great War. There was famine and violence. The people suffered greatly as the noble houses of the realm fought for overall leadership.” The firelight danced in my father’s eyes as he began to weave his story. On Saturday nights we would BBQ and sit around the fire pit and tell stories. “The people of the realm struggled to feed their children as the fields of the realm burned with the bodies of fallen men. The alphas of each house had become corrupt and only cared about their own selfish needs. After centuries of the packs governing as a panel to fulfill the needs of the people, it had warped into padding the wealth of the alpha at the expense of all others. This of course led to a gridlock on the panel. Absolutely nothing could be agreed upon.” He leaned in closer to the fire and the flames danced in the center of us. “It became common place to kill alphas and their children and install new alphas in the hopes of ga
It’s hard to remember a time without hunger and hardship. Working my fingers to the bone and eating scraps. “Ceres!” My mother bellowed. “Ceres, come here this instant!”My body ached as I rose from the floor. It was Tuesday, which meant scrubbing the kitchen floors. My life was a series of chores, an endless routine both mundane and exhausting. Repetitive. I dried my hands on my apron and ran towards my mother’s impatient calls. “Yes, ma’am?” I quietly said with my eyes averted. I didn’t dare look her in the eyes. “We will have guests tonight. Keep Dmitry out of sight.” She says his name like she is spitting a curse. “Dinner is to be ready promptly at 7, service for 7.” It’s almost as if saying his name causes her physical discomfort. “Dinner must follow the menu I left in the dining room. I also left a menu for the next morning’s breakfast. Maristela is in charge of the table settings and will aid you in service this evening. All the footman will be prepared to serve. All the ma
Five years ago, mother married Osiris. He took my father’s title as Alpha of the Harvest Moon Pack. Tradition dictates that any children of a deceased alpha are to be exiled upon the eldest child's 18th birthday moon ceremony. The eldest child may challenge the current alpha for the title instead of accepting exile. To challenge an alpha is to fight to the death. So tradition says I choose exile for myself and Dmitry, or I probably die fighting Osiris. I never imagined that this would be my life. I have accepted that in two months my moon ceremony will happen. The moon ceremony is the first full moon after your 18th birthday. This is when your mate is most visible to your wolf. A kingdom wide ball is held and each person who recently turned 18 is introduced to the entire kingdom of wolves that are of age and without mates. This is really the only time you are able to see all the packs of the realm. Many find their mates at the ball. If I find my mate I can take my place in society.
I scanned the menu. Most of the items were already in the pantry, but a few would require a trip to town. I had developed my skills as a cook over these last six years. It was part of my earning my keep. It was something I actually enjoyed. Taking the foods harvested from the garden and from the farm and turning them into delicious meals brought me so much joy. I reveled in creating new delights. These items must be the favorite of the crown prince and his family. Royal tastes are so pretentious. I much prefer a simple meal of bread and stew. These menus do allow me to practice my cooking skills so I appreciate them for that. “How late do you think we will be working tonight?” Groaned Maristela. Maristela was my best and only friend. She was an omega by birth and worked the kitchens along side me all these years. “Does work ever end?” I ask. “I heard the the Crown Prince was coming tonight. Alpha is hoping to pair Horus with his daughter. They are barely 6. It’s ridiculous.”
“These linens must be pressed! Everything must be perfectly crisp and clean!” The Luna was storming around the dining room. Her hair was in curlers and she was dressed in a dressing robe. “Y-yes ma’am!” Maristela stammered. Mari quickly pulled the linens from the table to steam and press them in the laundry. The Luna began to sort through the various flowers. Dahlias, hellebores, hydrangeas, snapdragons, foxgloves, English roses, peonies. Greenery like different varieties of eucalyptus and belles of Ireland. As a young girl I used to run through the gardens on the estate finding the most beautiful blooms for my mother. My father and I would take long walks around the vast estate feeding the chickens, fishing the ponds, and picking bouquets of flowers for my mother. “Not a single bloom is as beautiful as you, my love,” he would croon. My mothers face would light up like the sun was shining from within her. She gazed at my father like he hung the moon. She was so beautiful then.