CHAPTER ONE: MANGLED BODIES

Blood.

The metallic tang of blood on my tongue jolted me awake. I blinked against the harsh morning light streaking through the windows. 

My vision was blurry and unfocused, but as I tried to move my hands, the sticky liquid that coated them anchored me to reality. The haze I’d woken up with was now gone.

The blood that streaked across my fingers and the flesh under my nails were unmistakable.

Confused and panicky, I scrambled backwards, my heart hammering in my chest as I tok in the scene before me. My parents’ lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor, eyes wide open, their bodies badly wounded that iot seemed pieces of flesh were torn out, and blood pulled beneath them.

I gagged, bile rising in my throat as I stared at the bloody mess in front of me. What the hell was happening?

Then it hit me, hard and unpleasant. Today was my wedding day, the day I’d be bonded to the Alpha of the Silverfang pack. Today was the day I was supposed to bind his pack and mine together.

The panic had given way to fear now, and my hands began to tremble. The universal rule of all packs was a single order. “There will be no killing among the pack, for we are family.”

“No, no, no,” I whispered, shaking my head violently, from side to side. This couldn’t be happening. I’d broken the number rule. I knew it was me, the flesh on my fingertips and the blood was enough evidence.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to wake up from this nightmare, but the coppery scent of blood was too strong, and my pulse pounded louder, more frantic in my eyes. I tried to call out to my wolf, but even she was silent.

I was all alone. Alone, and I couldn’t remember anything.

“Mom,Dad?” My voice cracked, barely more than a strangled whisper. “Please….Please wake up.” I pleaded, going to kneel beside them. I forced myself to keep my gaze trained to their faces which were still intact, and not to their flesh hanging out of their bodies.

But there was no response, only the deafening silence of death. Mky breaths turned shallow, and tears blurred my vision as I reached out to touch my mother's hand. Her skin was cold, and unfamiliar.

“What have I done?” I whimpered, asking the empty room. A sob caught in my throat. I couldn’t remember what had happened, and each time I tried to, my head throbbed painfully, and I saw pieces of memories slipping through my grasp like smoke.

Last night was hazy, but I felt something—something powerful–raging inside me last night. The air had cracked with energy, and I’d felt something snap. But after that…nothing.

I caught my reflection in the mirror, just as a knock shattered the silence. I didn’t go to answer the door, and I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the woman I saw in the mirror. My eyes, usually bright green, had black circles under them, my lips were chapped, and my pale skin appeared even paler.

My auburn hair, which I’d worn in an updo the night before, was now in a mess, tangled with blood, and sticking to the sides of my face. In short words, I looked horrible. The knock came again, insistent.

I froze, eventually dragging my eyes from the mirror, as my heart lurched into my throat.

“Selene? Are you ready?” Rafe’s deep voice called from the other side of the door. “The packs are here, and the ceremony is about to begin.”

I stumbled to my feet, panic flooding every inch of my body. Rafe could not see this. If he saw me like this, and my parents like that, there was no telling what he’d do.

“Selene?” Rafe knocked again when he heard no answer. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“Just—just a minute!” I shouted back, my voice trembling as I tried to wipe the b'ood from my hands, while wondering if the attraction between Rafe and I could stand this unfortunate incident. He was my mate, and I knew it from the second our eyes met.

He’d known it too.

But the blood was everywhere, smeared across my palms, dried up, staining the hem of my dress. The more I tried to clean it, the messier it got.

“No, no no…” I whispered frantically, my breaths coming out in rapid gasps. My heart thundered against my chest so hard that I feared it would fall out. I tried to call out to my wolf again, but she did not respond.

“Selene!!” Rafe’s voice was sharper now, and I could hear his footsteps coming closer to the door, I heard the door handle turn.

I lurched forward without thinking, slamming my body against the door to keep it closed. “I said just a minute!” I snapped at him, my voice a pitch higher than I intended. “I…I am not ready yet!”

“What is going on Selene?” His tone shifted from concern to suspicion. “Why are you backed against the door? And where are the Beta and Luna?”

“I just need a moment!” I continued, swallowing hard and praying that he would not push it any further. “Please Rafe, just give me a second, and I’ll be out.” I breathed out. I needed time to process things.

He said nothing for a while, and I picked up on his breathing with my wolf hearing, while I held my breath. Waiting.

“Fine,” He finally muttered, though I could see his irritation, “But hurry up. Everyone’s waiting.”

I waited until his footsteps faded down the hallway before letting out the breath that I’d been holding. My chest ached, and everytime I inhaled, it was a struggle.

“What do I do?” I murmured to myself, fingers trembling as I glanced back at my parents lifeless forms. “What the hell do I do?” 

A small memory flashed before my eyes–my hands were glowing with a searing golden light, and my wolf was howling. My parents’ faces twisted in fear as they reached for me, shouting something that I couldn't make out.

As a kid, my wolf powers have always been erratic, but my parents loved me regardless. They were never scared of me, even though I was scared of myself and my powers.

“No,” I whispered, pressing my hands to my temples, “No, that can’t be real. I didn't…I didn’t do this. I would not have.” But even as I said those words to myself, I trembled with the fear that it was my doing.

Maybe my powers had finally gotten out of control, and I'd killed them.

Another knock jolted me from my height, this one softer. The door creaked open, and before I could turn around, Rafe stepped inside.