Chapter 3

Riya's POV:

“Pregnant? Me, the High Priestess of BloodHall Pack, sworn to virginity and eternal service to the Moon Goddess?” I thought aloud, my hands trembling as I clutched the edge of the temple altar, the stone grounding me against the wave of nausea, not just from the exhaustion that had felled me, but from the sheer impossibility of it all.

"Milady." Selene whispered, touching my arm gently. "This... this is a blessing, surely. The Goddess's will."

But it didn't feel like a blessing. It felt like a curse, layered atop the mate bond I'd tried so desperately to sever. How would everyone react? Father would disown me outright, Vivienne and Lyra would crow in triumph, labeling me the ultimate whore who'd defiled the temple.

And Killian... Would he be furious that I'd pushed him away only to carry his child? Or would he see it as a sign to fight for us? The thought twisted my heart and I decided right then to keep it to myself until I figured out what to do. “Thank you, Elara." I managed, my voice steady despite the storm inside. "Please, keep this between us."

She bowed her head. "As you wish, Priestess."

The next two days blurred into a haze of feigned normalcy. I tended the temple, lightning candles and sweeping floors that seemed to mock my unsteady steps. My body betrayed me with subtle signs, from tiredness, to a faint queasiness at mealtimes.

Aria, my wolf, stirred protectively, a warm presence that whispered of the life growing within and knowing that I couldn't hold it anymore, I decided to tell Killian because he deserved to know, and perhaps together we could navigate this chaos.

With that decided, I rose up from the bed and made my way to the door but before I could reach for the knob, Selene stormed in, her face flushed from haste. "Milady! I was just coming to find you."

"Selene?” I said, my heart skipping. "Let's talk later, I need to speak with Killian urgently."

She hesitated, biting her lip. "He... he left early this morning, Milady. But he claimed he would be back in no time." Stunned, I stared at her, the words sinking in like lead. "Left? Why? Did he say where he was going?"

Selene nodded, her voice soft. "He claimed there was an emergency in his Pack. So he had to return to sort out the problem, but he assured Alpha Donovan he would be back soon.”

Hearing this, I felt like whenever I was trying to do one thing, the Moon Goddess would push back, telling me it wasn't yet the time. So what was her plan? Bind me to a mate I couldn't have, gift me a child I couldn't claim, and now whisk him away just as I gathered the courage to confess?

I didn't understand what the Moon Goddess had in store for me, but everything was just super frustrating, a tangled web that pulled tighter with each twist. My hand instinctively went to my abdomen, a protective gesture I quickly dropped.

"Milady?" Selene prompted gently. "Are you alright? He won't leave you, I promise. Alpha Killian... he's smitten. Once he comes back, you can tell him everything. If you want, you could write a letter to him. I could help send it discreetly."

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping. Writing a letter wasn't actually an option. Before any missive left the Packhouse, it would get checked by Vivienne.

"No, Selene. I just have to hope he comes back." My voice cracked slightly, but I forced out a smile and went to the temple, instead to pray to the Moon Goddess that Killian comes back eventually so that I can tell him the truth about my pregnancy.

The path to the temple wound through the gardens, the afternoon sun filtering through leaves. When I arrived, I knelt before the altar, my knees pressing into the woven mat, and whispered my pleas.

"Moon Goddess, hear me. Bring Killian back safely. Let him return so I may share this burden with him. And when I do tell him, I hope he will be happy about it, and together we will fight for our child's future."

But as I rose to beat the Drum of Alkali, horror struck me. The ancient drum, carved from sacred oak and stretched with hide blessed under full moons, was in ruins. Shattered pieces scattered across the pedestal, and a chill raced down my spine.

The Drum of Alkali was our pack's lifeline, the only reason why the BloodHall Pack had been prosperous and safe from any evil plots from neighboring packs was because of it.

Whenever I beat the drum and spoke to the Goddess, a vision would be revealed, from guidance on how to deal with impending danger, to decisions to ensure prosperity. Battles have been won, famines averted, and alliances forged, all thanks to its power. But now, with the drum gone, what was our pack's fate?

Before I could figure out what to do, Selene rushed in, her face pale, eyes darting. "Milady! You must come quick. A group of people has arrived at the Packhouse, demanding your presence."

My heart pounded. "Why? What do they want?"

Selene wrung her hands. "They're claiming the Drum of Alkali has been destroyed.” Stunned, I responded.” It has actually been destroyed, but I'm wondering how they already knew when I just found out myself."

Selene's eyes immediately landed on the wreckage, widening in fear. She gasped, stepping back. "Goddess preserve us..."

"Calm down, Selene." I said, though my own pulse raced. Then I rushed out to the compound to see a bunch of pack members had gathered, their faces filled with anger and fear. Murmurs rose like a brewing storm as they demanded answers from Father, Vivienne, and Lyra, who stood on the raised platform of the Packhouse steps. Father looked stern in his alpha robes, Vivienne smug in her emerald gown, and Lyra in a floral dress.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way through the throng, whispers parting like waves: "The priestess... she's here..." The crowd surged forward, voices overlapping. "Alpha Donovan! Is it true? Has the Drum of Alkali been destroyed?" One burly warrior shouted.

An elderly woman pointed accusingly. "We demand the truth! Without the drum, we're vulnerable!"

Father raised his hands for silence. "It's a lie! Such a thing hasn't happened. It's rumors, nothing more so go back to your homes." He lied, but I couldn't let the deception stand so I stepped forward, and climbed the steps. "No, Father. It's true. I just found out that the Drum of Alkali was broken into several pieces."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, faces paling. Father's eyes flashed with fury as he turned to me. "Riya! How did this happen?”

"I don't know.” I admitted, my hands clasped to hide their tremble. "I entered the temple moments ago and found it shattered." And that's when Lyra stepped forward, her golden hair gleaming, eyes glittering with malice. "Stop lying, Riya! You did this! You tore the drum because you don't want to be the High Priestess anymore. You wanted to be with Killian, so you destroyed it to sever your bond with the Moon Goddess!"

The accusation caused the crowd to erupt in outrage. "Traitor!" Someone yelled. "She's betrayed us!" Vivienne nodded vigorously as the Pack murmurs turned to shouts because BloodHall Pack had always been an independent pack, we won wars and prospered without alliances because the Moon Goddess was on our side now, the people were terrified of their fate.

“What will become of us?" An old man wailed. "Truly, the prophecy made years ago is true! Riya has proven she's the cursed child that would bring chaos to the Pack!"

I was born the same day as Lyra, but my mother died giving birth to me, her life slipping away in a pool of blood as I drew my first breath. Shortly after, Alpha Donovan received a prophecy from High Priestess Ophelia, that one of his daughters would bring chaos to BloodHall Pack.

When Vivienne, his concubine and Lyra's mother, heard, she quickly told him I was the cursed child, after all, my birth had claimed a life. Father was caught in a dilemma, he had to kill one of his children to save the pack. So he insisted that they should wait for Ophelia to return.

But before Ophelia arrived, Vivienne stabbed me in the chest with her hairpin, leaving me to die in my crib. Ophelia arrived just in time, and chose to save me, healing the wound with her magic, and declared I would serve the Moon Goddess for life.

From then on, I grew up longing for love and affection, watching Lyra showered with Father's gifts, and praises while I was raised as the outcast. Lyra and Vivienne made my life miserable, forcing me into the ancient tradition, becoming a maiden for life, my only duty serving the Goddess.

After Ophelia's death, I became the Priestess, hearing the pack's pleas, praying for solutions. Meanwhile, Lyra lived as the spoiled princess, adored by all, betrothed to Alpha Killian. However, I was still respected by the pack, until now.

I was heartbroken by their insults, but more terrified of what they'd do if they found out I was pregnant. Would they stone me? Banish me? Kill the child as the ultimate curse?

Suddenly, the gate slid open with a groan, and a man I recognized as one of the pack's scouts, rushed in and bowed hastily before Father. "Alpha! Urgent news from the capital!"

"Speak!" Father commanded, the crowd falling silent as the scout gasped for breath. "Alpha Killian has declared war on us! It was approved by the Council of Kings. He'll be coming with his armies to attack the pack!"