Chapter 2

The truck rattled as we pulled into the village square, where the stone temple loomed over the cluster of small houses. The temple was an imposing structure, built from dark stone and topped with a spire that reached toward the sky. The symbol of the Fates—a triangle with a three eyes crow with it's wings spread at its center—was carved above the entrance, a constant reminder of who ruled our lives.

Elora parked the truck, and we climbed out, joining the throng of villagers making their way to the temple. I could feel their eyes on us, could hear their whispers as we passed. They knew we were different, and it made them uneasy. But no one said anything outright. Not yet.

Inside the temple, the air was thick with incense and the murmur of prayers. The Priests, dressed in their dark robes, were already at the altar, preparing for the Rite. Priest Achille stood at the front, his cold eyes scanning the crowd. When his gaze landed on Elora and me, his lips curled into a sneer.

We found our usual place near the back, where we could avoid as much attention as possible. The other villagers gave us a wide berth, and I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken accusation that hung over us like a storm cloud.

The Rite began, the Priests chanting in the ancient tongue, calling upon the Fates to guide and protect the pack. They spoke of Abraxas, the bringer of life, and Ryuu, the weaver of destiny. But when they spoke of Kaius, the Fate of Death, the room grew colder, and the villagers shifted uneasily. Kaius was feared, not worshipped. His name was rarely spoken aloud, for to do so was to invite death.

I barely heard the words. My mind was elsewhere, back in the basement with the scroll, back with the runes that had melted away under the splash of water. I had drawn the symbols for summoning Ryuu, the Fate of Destiny. He was the only one who could alter what was to come, who could change my fate and save me from the death that awaited me.

But summoning a Fate was dangerous, and there was no guarantee that Ryuu would answer my call—or that he would help me if he did. The Fates were known to be capricious, their motives beyond human understanding. But I had no other choice.

The chanting grew louder, the Priests' voices rising as they called upon the Fates to bless the pack. Priest Achille's voice cut through the air like a knife, harsh and commanding. I shivered, feeling his eyes on me once more, and I knew he was waiting—waiting for the moment when I would shift, when he could point to me and say, "There! There is the demon!"

The Rite ended, and the villagers began to file out of the temple, murmuring among themselves. Elora and I lingered at the back, waiting for the crowd to thin before we made our exit. As we moved toward the door, I caught sight of Priest Achille, his cold eyes following us.

I was backing out of the temple, my eyes darting nervously behind me, when I collided with a solid, immovable force. The impact sent me stumbling back, and I barely managed to catch my balance. 

My breath hitched as I looked up, meeting the icy blue eyes of Rivian, the Alpha's son.

His smirk was the kind that made my skin crawl, a twisted reflection of the amusement he found in my fear. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, a visceral reaction that he clearly enjoyed. Rivian's gaze flicked over to my sister, Elora, who was standing a few paces behind me. His expression hardened, and his voice cut through the air with an authoritative edge.

"Leave us," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Elora hesitated, her eyes flashing with defiance, but the weight of an Alpha's command—even if he was just the son—was too great. With a frustrated growl, she turned and walked away, her shoulders tense.

The moment she was gone, Rivian's full attention was on me. His gaze cold. I stiffened, unwilling to meet his eyes. I knew what was coming, and I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation.

Rivian's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Look at me."

I stubbornly kept my eyes averted, but he wasn't having any of it. His hand shot out, gripping my chin with a painful force and forcing my eyes to him. My breath escaped in a sharp gasp. His face was inches from mine, his eyes piercing through me with a cold intensity.

"There you are," he murmured, his voice dripping with a dark satisfaction. His eyes seemed to search mine for something, some sign of weakness or fear. There was none.

"Get your slimy hands off me," I gritted out. "before I rip it off and stick it up your ass."

He laughed. The dick bloody laughed. "You runts. You never seem to learn." 

Rivian crowded me into the walls of the temple, but I didn't make a sound as his full weight pressed into me. I could see the villagers averting their eyes from over his shoulder. Nobody ever intervened when he hurt me. No one.

Leaning down, he ran his nose across my neck, scenting me. He'd never fucking done that before, and I wondered if this was the moment my mother's sins finally caught up to me and my throat got ripped out.

"I must admit, things were just starting to get boring. You nearly had me on the edge of my seat, " He laughed, mockingly. His tone sent shivers up my spine.  "I half expected you to burst into flame the moment you entered the Rite." 

I scoffed. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."

His grin widened, dark and menacing. "We'll see about that. It's only a matter of time, Rae-Rae. Everyone will soon know the truth."

"And what truth is that," I bated him. I wanted him to say the words. He always alluded to it, like everyone else did, he never had the balls to say it.

"That your mom is a lowlife whore who sold herself for a few seconds of ecstasy with some demon scum."

Anger battled with my wits and I sank my nails into the pads of my hands to force them from lashing out. Oh, how I wanted to hurt him, for every pain he caused me for all those years.

"She could've had everything she wanted if she'd only done what she was told."

"They wanted her to be a slave to Beta Tomson. She never wanted that," I argued.

"Now she has nothing. Because she's dead," he sneered. "And soon, we'll send you to meet her." Rivian's expression grew colder, his eyes narrowing. "You don't belong here, Raelyn. You never did. Count your days, I surely am."

With that, he released his grip on me, leaving me with a throbbing pain and a surge of anger. Rivian turned on his heel and walked away, his footsteps crunching against the gravel.

I stood there, feeling a mix of emotions that was hard to sort out. Anger and sadness warred within me, a storm of frustration over my life's circumstances. Rivian's cruel words echoed in my mind, a grim reminder of the precarious situation I was in. The Red Moon was only days away, and the thought of my first shift filled me with dread. If I was a Shade, as Rivian believed, my life was in imminent danger.