Chapter 1 Chapter 1 RUNI ry damn time . the same way every My fathers voice shouting behind us as the last rogue slit his throat , Run , Taryn Just run ! Im running away with my brother , his hands squeezing mine , so hard I can barely feel my fingers . Behind us , the sounds no , growls are closing in . My lungs burned . I wanted to stop . But I couldnt . The forest blurred around us , trees rushing past in streaks of dark and light , the sound of paws thudding against the earth growing louder , closer . Keep going ! My brothers voice was frantic , but his grip was slipping . I turned , just in time to see the flash of fur and teeth before it lunged at me No ! I wake up gasping , my heart hammering in my chest , Shit , its that stupid dream again . My jerked , my hands slamming onto the scattered papers all over Kallias desk . The dream fades into the gray lit office , papers littered with Riverstone Pack Quarterly Summaries stamped in his neat handwriting . All mine , technically . My muscles ache from sleeping in that awkward position , and I let out a groan , half from pain , half because I was dumb enough to fall asleep here . Three hours of sleep . Not bad , considering the nightmare marathon Ive been running lately . Of course , theres no Kallias to do his own assignments . That would be too much work for the soon to be great Alpha of the Riverstone Pack , God forbid . I rub my eyes , trying to shake it off . Its been years , but the memory of that night never seems to go away. Every time I close my eyes , its like Im back there , running through the forest with no way out . Before I can even stretch , the office door bangs open , and Seraphina storms in Taryn , you ready ? Tonights the big night ! Her voice is all excitement , but Im not feeling it . Not even a little . She throws a wrinkled dress at me like its something worth more than the dust itll gather . I stare at it , frowning . What is this ? Oh , come on , Seraphina rolls her eyes , Kallias bought it for you . Thought youd be excited , seeing as its for the Lunar Eclipse tonight . Her words are as sweet as poison , and as soon as shes done talking , she drops her gaze to her own haul a pile of bags in her arms , all bulging with clothes . Fancy clothes . New clothes . Way more clothes than shell ever wear . My stomach turns , but I grit my teeth . Just the one dress for me , huh ? She shrugs , Youre not mad , are you ? Its all for tonight . This is your big chance . She pouts , practically dripping with feigned innocence . I mean , who know , maybe youll get a pack warrior as a mate or something ? And dont worry about Kallias being all distracted tonight ; Ill take care of him . Sure , I mutter , tugging the dress up like its a dead rat . Ill try not to be too touched . Seraphina barely hears me , too busy admiring her reflection in Kallias full length mirror , spinning in one of her own damn dresses . Shes got the bags , the attention , the affection even the best friend . Its twisted , watching her act all dainty while 1/6 11:38 Sat , 15 Mar Fi Chapter 1 Kallias treats me like well , like his secretary . A placeholder . Im his fucking girlfriend for Petes sake . The door opens again , and there he is , Kallias himself , with that classic , cocky Alpha smile on his face . He was always the most gorgeous man of his age in the entire pack He scans the room , attention zeroing in on Seraphina as though I dont even exist in the space . My heart clenches as he turns to me with a bored expression . Its fine . Its fine . Taryn , you done with those documents ? . Yeah , I say , trying to sound bored . I mean , its not like Im losing hours of sleep to his damn work , right ? Good girl , he says , giving me a pat . Crimson immediately crawls up my cheeks . He barely glances at me as he walks past , his attention zeroing in on Ser , who is now preening under his gaze . Taryn sure did help . Im sorry I wasnt able to help yu even with that late night studying we did . Seraphinas eyes turned gloomy with helpless ness as she looks up at Kallias . Kallis pullas her in for a hug . Dont worry , youre all the help that I would need . He replies . My heart pounds hard as I clench the dress he bought . Theyre close friends . Theyre close friends . Theyre close friends . Are you ready ? he mutters , more to Ser than me , though , but Im sure theyre just close like that . I nod as Kallias steps closer towards me , his hand brushing my hair back from my face . Youll be fine , he says softly , almost like he cares . But theres always this distance between us , a wall I cant quite figure out how to break down . Yet he can easily do that with Ser . Maybe I dont even want to . Get dressed , he adds , glancing at the time . The ceremony starts in an hour . Dont keep everyone waiting . I try not to watch the way he lingers , how his hand brushes her arm just a little too long . My stomach twists , the suspicion Ive tried so hard to ignore bubbling up again . I can feel it , that gnawing jealousy clawing at me , but I swallow it down . Now isnt the time . Seraphina , could you give us a moment ? What ? Why ? She asks , brows popping up in annoyance . I just have something to talk to with my boyfriend . I emphasize the last word , although Im not even sure why I did . Seraphina would never do that , right ? Taryn , what the fuck are you doing ? Kallias grits his teeth to look at me . She wants to help you right now and youre shoving her out of the room ? 1 I just have something to ask , Kallias . You and Ser … is there something I should know ? Kallias face darkens , Youre being ridiculous . Theres nothing going on . Shes just a friend a long time one , before you even came , if you ask me . Maybe if you were the east bit like her , it would have been less tiring trying to keep you around .. I stare at him , feeling that familiar sting of rejection . Just a friend . It shouldnt hurt , but it does . I nod , keeping my steady . Oh , okay . I Im sorry for asking His jaw tightens , and for a moment , I think he might say something else , but he turns on his heel . Finish up here , he barks . and stop overthinking Kallias storms out of the office , slamming the doonbehind him , leaving me standing there , frozen . I try not to think about 2/6 11:38 Sat , 15 Mar ti Chapter 1 the sting of his words , but they stick lingering in the air like a bad smell . Too jealous , hed said . Too sensitive My hands automatically move to the stack of documents on his ilesk . I start arranging them , forcing myself to focus Do the work . Get it done . Thats all that matters . Thats all Im good for anyway . The night falls thick and cold , the kind that senles in your bones . The whole pack is gathered outside , preparing for the Lunar Eclipse . I can see them all gathered around the clearing , dressed in every damn shade of elegance , every fabric soft and gleaming under the moonlight . My fingers twist the fabric of the dress , the one Kallias gifted me . Shabby , even compared to the basics Seraphina tosses on when shes bored . But hey , its better than nothing , I tell myself . And who am I trying to impress , anyway ? Kallias bought it for you . Embrace it . It wasnt like Seraphinas gown hers sparkled under the moonlight , dripping with luxury and the fact that Kallias bought these for the two of us and the differences are simply … A sigh leaves my lips as I tugged at the hem of my dress . Its okay . Its not like a dress would change lots of things between us , Why is she even here ? I guess shes still hoping to be blessed with a wolf , huh ? Well , for someone like her whos been trying to for the last decade , I think its just pitiful at this point . I dont have time to bite back ; the ceremonys starting . One by one , the wolves around us start to shift , bodies twisting , muscles tightening as fur bursts through skin , like theyve -done it a thousand times . I should have shifted years ago , and yet for some reason I never did , until I became an adult . Every year I participate in these ceremonies hoping I finally get my wolf out . The Gamma was kind enough to register me in here as an Omega when I first arrived without so much as a family I was an orphan with no background . Argh ! The kids roared as they fall to the ground in pain . 1 stand there , my heart pounding in my throat . Maybe I shouldnt have attended this year . Its always going to be the same thing . Id stand here as they all shift into their wolves and 1- Time slows , and then , like a switch flipped , I feel the change surge through me . Ah ! The world tilts as I drop to all fours , bones rearranging , a prickling pain crawling through my limbs . It hurts . It hurts ! I can feel every single one of my bones snapping in place as I screamed until I couldnt anymore . Shit! I did it ! After all those years , I finally shifted ! As my four paws hit the cold dirt , I look up , and my eyes land on Kallias . Hes already shifted though just for formalities , his massive brown wolf towering above the others , and hes looking straight 3/6 11:38 Sat , 15 Mar Ei Chapter 1 Right at me . Mate ! BU The shock ripples through the crowd like a silent tidal wave . I hear gasps , 1 feel their stares , but all I can focus on is Kallias . I shift back to my human form instantly , heart hammering so loud it drowns out every other sound . Clinging to whatever dignity I have left . I pull the dress back up around my shoulders and stagger forward , heart slamming with equal parts joy and terror . Kallias ! I call out , stepping forward . But he backs away , hackles raised , teeth bared even in his human form . This cant be , 1 froze .. What what do you mean ? Im his girlfriend , arent I ? Shouldnt he be happy were destined ? He sneers , An Omega mate ? This this cant be happening . Thats a joke . Theres no way Im accepting g this . Seraphina steps forward , her voice soft , too soft , like Im some wounded animal . Kal , dont be too harsh , she says , reaching toward me like Im going to break . She didnt choose this .. She steps toward me , her nails biting into my arm as she helping me up . It wasnt gentle though ; it was rough , almost possessive , like she was staking her claim . I winced , pain flashing through my arm , and without thinking , I yanked it back . The movement was pure reflex . Seraphines eyes widened as she stumbled back on the ground . Ah ! 1 Im sorry, Taryn … I just wanted to help you ! Seraphinas eyes widened before it began tearing up . No , I didnt … Before I could blink , Kallias hand was on me You ! I staggered , the sting of the slap ringing in my ears , and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth . Did he just …. The world spun for a moment , my head snapping to the side from the impact , and the crowds whispers shifted from shock to something darker . I couldnt focus on their faces , just the throbbing heat in my cheek and the overwhelming humiliation that swirled around me . How dare you , you fucking Omega ! he spits before closing his eyes and turning to the blood moon hovering above us . 1 , Kallias Morrigan , son of the Alpha of the Riverstone Pack … My eyes widen in realization as to what hes doing No … No , dont . Please … I crawl over to his feet , tears collecting in my eyes . -reject you , Taryn Sinclair as my mate and future Luna . I stagger back , pain erupting through me , sharper than the slap, ripping through my insides like a knife . Is this what it feels like ti e rejected ? My vision swims , and the whispers grow louder , drowning me , until all I can hear is the rush of blood in my ears . Every breath is agony , every step a mistake . She deserves it , Did she think he actually loves her ? Well at least he got the As he wanted before rejecting her , right ? No … No ! 4/6 11:38 Sat , 15 Mar ti Chapter 1 Then I run . The wind whipped against my face as I tore through the trees , branches clawing at my skin . My feet pounded the dirt barefoot but I didnt stop . I barely notice when the ground turns uneven , roots grabbing at my ankles , branches clawing at my skin . I know exactly where Im going dont need to think twice . My brothers grave . The only place I can get away from the pack and breathe without feeling like Im being crushed . The dead are better company . 80 % By the time I reach the small clearing , the moons risen high above , casting a pale , eerie glow across the dirt mound thats still too fresh . I drop to my knees beside it , dirt sticking to the damp trails on my cheeks . The silence presses down on my ragged breaths . I barely hear the soft crunch of leaves behind me . When I turn , I find my pet deer , Silas , padding over , his eyes wide , curious . He presses his snout against my shoulder , soft and warm , grounding me in the way only he can . I stroke his head . You know , Silas , I whisper , voice rough , -maybe I shouldve listened to you . Animals have better instincts than people . You knew Kallias was bad news He nudges my hand , and I almost laugh . Almost But the moment didnt last . His head snaps up , ears twitching as he stares into the dark line of trees . Every hair on my neck rises , and my hand freezes mid stroke . I open my mouth to call him back , but hes already darting off . I bolt up , stumbling after him , calling his name in the dark. Silas ! Silas , come back ! A chill crawls down my spine , my senses suddenly aware of every rustle , every whisper of movement in the trees . My breath . fogs the air , heart pounding like a hammer in my chest . A deep , menacing growl echoed through the trees , vibrating through my bones . My breath hitched , and before I could even process what was happening , a massive black wolf exploded from the shadows , moving with deadly precision . My deer didnt even have time to react . The wolf lunged , its jaws closing around her throat with a brutal snap . Blood sprayed across the grass . Ah ! I choked on a scream , scrambling backward as fast as my legs would carry me . The wolf was … enormous . Bigger than any Id ever seen , with sleek black fur that shimmered under the moonlight , and eyes that glowed a violent red . It was the stuff of nightmares raw , untamed power , radiating danger with every step . And it had killed my deer like it was nothing . Before I could react , the wolf lunged . I barely had time to scream before it sank its teeth into my deer , blood spraying across . the ground . I stumbled back , falling to the dirt as the deers lifeless body hit the ground . Then its crimson eyes … turned to me . It stalked toward me , growling low in its throat . This was it . This was how I was going to die . Rejected by my mate and torn apart by a wild animal in the middle of nowhere . Its red eyes lock onto mine . 5/6 11:38 Sat , 15 Mar ti A Chapter 1 80 % I stumble backward , hands hitting the dirt as I try to scramble away . But my limbis feel useless , the ground spinning beneath me as the wolf prowls closer , eyes never leaving mine . I cant even scream , cant make a sound . Its close now , so close I can feel its breath , hot against my face . It should be growling , snapping , tearing me apart . But it doesnt . I slowly open my eyes to meet its crimson ones . Instead , it tilts its head , studying me , and then , with a low rumble that almost sounds like … a purr , it licks my cheek . The roughness of its tongue scrapes across my skin. What the fuck ? The wolfs tail wags , once , twice , almost as if its happy ? I blink , staring into those red eyes . Oh Goddess … what is happening ? 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