Chapter 1

Riya's POV:

"Run, Riya!" The voice echoed through the chaos, spurring me onward as I sprinted through the darkness. And although my lungs burned, and my legs ached, I couldn't stop. Not until that piercing scream sliced through the air, halting me in my tracks as I whipped around only to realize I was standing right in the middle of the road leading to the Packhouse.

"Run, Riya!" The call came weakly, and my gaze snapped downward, landing on Ophelia's immobile figure sprawled on the ground, her clothes torn and bloodied.

"What are you doing here?" I asked slowly, my voice trembling as I knelt beside her. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Run! He's coming for you!" She cried out, her eyes wide with urgency, though her body remained limp.

My gaze shifted from hers to the man charging toward me with full force, his boots thundering against the shaking ground. I wanted to run, gods, I needed to, but I couldn't because my body has betrayed me.

"Riya!" Ophelia screamed this time, her hand reaching weakly for my arm, fingers brushing my skin but it was too late. The soldier was already closing in, his sword glinting ominously in the fires surrounding us. With a deadly roar that chilled my blood, he lifted the weapon high. "Die!"

With lost hope, I closed my eyes and braced for the impact, every muscle tensing for the pain that was sure to come. But when the sword descended, I felt nothing, only the rush of air and then... silence.

"Riyaaaaa!" I jolted awake, clutching my chest as I gasped for air, my body drenched in sweat. The room spun for a moment, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like smoke.

‘What kind of dream was that?’ I asked myself.

Suddenly, Ophelia's words echoed in my head, clear as if she were whispering them now. "Dreams are a revelation of the future."

Revelations of the future? She never got to explain that to me, and she never will because those were her very last words. I could remember holding her cold, immobile body in this same room, on this same sunny day when I was ten.

"Riyaaa!" The yell came again, pulling me sharply from my thoughts and I blinked, shaking off the haze. "Riyaaa…" This time, it was a sing-song voice that filled the room, dripping with false sweetness.

I stiffened, turning around to see my stepsister Lyra dressed in a shimmering lilac gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her golden hair bounced with each step as she made her way toward me.

"Oh dear sister." She purred, stopping right in front of me with a smirk that made my skin crawl but I forced myself to meet her gaze. "What do you want, Lyra?"

"Have you heard?" She asked, her voice laced with excitement. "Father received a letter from Alpha Killian."

"I've been busy." I muttered, avoiding her gaze to hide the flicker of unease in my eyes. “Of course you have been busy serving the Goddess, sweeping floors, and lighting candles." Her eyes glittered with malicious joy, like she was savoring every word. "Well, while you're doing all that, I am about to be claimed by my betrothed."

I shot her a glare, but Lyra ignored it, waving a hand dismissively. "Alpha Killian is on his way to BloodHall Pack to claim me as his future Luna.” She went on, her tone triumphant but I kept my expression still, though my chest tightened.

I had known this day would come, the betrothal had been arranged weeks ago, but I had never expected it to sting like this. "He'll be here very soon.” Lyra leaned closer, her perfume overwhelming and cloying. "I just thought you should know, so you don't embarrass yourself wandering near the Packhouse when the celebrations begin."

She stepped back, her head tilted as she admired her own reflection in the mirror. "It must be so painful having to watch everyone else start their lives, while you…" She gestured vaguely around the room. "Are bound to this to serve the people and die mateless. The Moon Goddess really did choose the right daughter to waste, don't you think?"

For a split second, my breath trembled but I forced myself to sound unbothered. "You may leave, Lyra. It's still too early for all of these."

She laughed, a tinkling sound that echoed off the walls. "Enjoy your solitude, sister." And with that, she finally stepped out of the room, her gown swishing behind her like a taunt.

As soon as she was out of sight, Selene, my personal maid, rushed into the room, her face filled with concern as she touched my arm gently. "Milady, don't let her get to you. She's just…"

"I'm fine, Selene." I interrupted, though my voice was steadier than I felt. Truth be told, I was more concerned about the dream than Lyra's barbs so without hesitation, I turned to her. "Draw me a bath, please."

Selene nodded, but as I rushed toward the door, she called after me. "Milady, where are you going?"

"Just do as I said." I replied over my shoulder, not stopping as I rushed out into the corridors of the Packhouse. I needed to find my father, Alpha Donovan, and warn him about my dream that felt like a vision of impending doom that I couldn't ignore.

So, I hurried through the halls, my white robes fluttering, until I reached his study. But the guards at the door informed me he was in a meeting with the elders. Undeterred, I rushed over to the council chamber, but the guards refused to let me in.

No matter how I insisted, claiming the urgency of impending doom, they wouldn't let me in. Frustration boiled inside me, but I had no choice. I turned away and went back to my room.

The bath Selene had drawn was steaming, scented with lavender to soothe the nerves, but it did little to ease my worry. I soaked briefly, but my mind raced with images from the dream. When Selene offered food, I refused to eat. Instead, I went to the temple, the sacred space where I felt closest to the Goddess.

I approached the drum of Alkali and beat it rhythmically. "Moon Goddess, protect us.” I whispered fervently, my voice echoing in the empty chamber. “Shield your pack from the flames and the swords. Guide us through whatever storm is coming."

Afterward, I tried to speak to my father again, catching him in the grand hall where he was supervising the preparations for Killian's welcoming ball so barely glanced at me, because his attention was on a servant adjusting a banner as he dismissed me with a wave, and I retreated, biting back my frustration.

But I remained patient, pacing my room as the day dragged on into evening and finally, Selene burst in, her eyes wide. "Milady, Alpha Killian has arrived! He's been welcomed by Alpha Donovan into the Pack. But the official celebration will be held later tonight to celebrate the Alpha's arrival to claim his mate."

I didn't want to attend, the thought of watching Lyra parade her triumph made my skin crawl, but seeing that this could be my chance to inform Father about the dream; he'd been too busy all day, but amid the festivities, perhaps he'd listen.

"Help me dress, Selene." I said. She nodded and selected my finest white gown, the only color I was allowed to wear as the priestess. Then, she pinned my hair up with pearl clips, and I slipped on simple white slippers. As she fastened the last button, she murmured. "You look beautiful, Milady. Like the Goddess herself."

"Thank you." I replied softly, though my mind was elsewhere.

On arrival at the grand hall, the air buzzed with excitement as guests mingled in their finery, laughter and music filling the space. Father was attending to them, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, waiting for Killian to arrive after getting dressed so I approached him again.

“Father, please, just a moment."

"Riya, enough!” He snapped under his breath, his eyes darting to the guests. "This is not the time. Go enjoy the evening."

Hissing under my breath, I turned in anger, making my way toward the door. The rejection stung, but just then, the heavy oak doors were pushed open and Alpha Killian entered, his presence commanding the room.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, with brown hair and piercing green eyes that scanned the hall. His gaze landed on me for a split second before he walked past.

But just as he was about to fully walk away, something stirred deep within me. My wolf, usually quiet and subdued by my priestess vows, surged forward with a recognition that shook me to my core. ‘MATE!’ The word echoed in my mind, as my gaze snapped to him and from the way his shoulders tensed up, he must have felt the bond as well.

‘Could the Moon Goddess be playing games with me?’ I thought to myself, because there's no possible way that Lyra's soon-to-be husband was my fated mate.