The Hunting Ceremony

Thalia’s POV:

“Selene, stop!” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t have to do this.”

She shoved the iron into the coals, as she yanked the glowing red iron from the fire, raised it high and made her way back to me.

She turned toward me. “Don’t I? You already stole him. Everyone sees it, even if you pretend not to. But I won’t let you win.”

The iron hissed violently in the coals, as she yanked the glowing red iron from the fire, raised it high, and made her way back to me.

I tried to back away, but she was faster. “Selene!” I screamed, clawing at the dirt. “Please!”

"This is what you deserve!" she shrieked.

I tried to crawl away, but it was too late.

A searing pain exploded across the left side of my face. I screamed loudly as the scent of burning flesh filled the air.

"Let’s see if they still call you beautiful after this," She whispered.

"Noooo!” I screamed, scrambling to get up. But I was too weak from the pain to even move my limbs.

Three hours earlier, I’d have sworn Selene loved me.

---

*Flashback: Earlier That Day*

“You’ll probably wear that silly smile all day,” Selene scoffed from behind me.

I could see her reflection in the mirror, as she crossed her arms over her chest. While standing in her red gown, with her hair braided with silver threads, trying so hard to look elegant.

I adjusted my veil slightly, letting it fall over my golden locks. “It’s a special day for the Pack, Selene. The hunting ceremony is important.”

“Special for you.” She hissed, walking toward me. “Everyone already calls you the Pack’s jewel. Do you think they don’t talk about it behind closed doors? About how every unmated wolf is drooling over you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Especially Nero.”

I turned to face her, trying to mask the discomfort her words stirred in me.

Nero — Orion’s son — had always shown me attention, though I never encouraged it. His bold, lingering glances were unsettling, but no one dared challenge the future Alpha.

Certainly not me.

“I don’t care about Nero,” I replied, firmly. “He is free to choose whoever he wants for the mating ceremony.”

She chuckled. “We’ll see about that.” She said, then stormed out.

Fastening the last pearl on the hem of my blue gown, I ran my fingers across the silk. The annual hunting ceremony was today, and although I had attended every year since I was a child, this year felt... different.

I looked at myself in the mirror once more, before joining Selene outside. And together we rode a carriage to the hunting grounds.

The Hunting Grounds was bursting with life when we arrived. Young men showed off their freshly sharpened arrows, boasting about their future catches, while the elders gathered beneath the towering oaks, smiling with pride.

As I stepped out of the carriage, all heads turned. I felt it instantly — the gaze of admiration from the crowd. And the whispers followed immediately.

“There she is.”

“Thalia, the most beautiful in the Pack.”

“She’ll make a perfect Luna.”

“By the Moon Goddess, she is more beautiful than last year.”

I held my breath, forcing myself to walk gracefully despite the knot forming in my stomach. My father, Elder Malakai, stood near the podium, exchanging greetings with other Elders.

His stern face never softened when he looked at me. But I didn't care, because I had long accepted that I was just another pawn in his political game.

Suddenly, Nero approached with the confidence only an Alpha’s son could carry.

His blond hair shimmered under the sun, and a wicked grin tugged at his lips. “Thalia,” He greeted, taking my hand without permission. "You are breathtaking, as always. The Moon Goddess surely created you for me."

I tugged my hand away gently. "Good day, Nero."

His brow twitched. "Playing hard to get, huh?" His voice dropped low. "I like that."

I forced a tight smile. I could already hear Selene’s sharp inhale behind me.

"Nero!" Selene called, walking up to us, eyes flashing with desperation. "You haven't even said hello to me."

Nero barely glanced at her. "Hello, Selene." Then his gaze returned to me. "Thalia, perhaps we can take a walk after the ceremony."

I opened my mouth to refuse politely, but Selene stepped in, linking her arm with his. "She'll be too busy helping me later. Won't you, sister?"

I clenched my jaw. "Of course.” I said, turning to leave. But his words stopped me. “I hope you’re ready for next week. I’m certain the Moon Goddess has fated us.”

I forced out a smile “Fate has yet to decide.”

He chuckled. “Oh, it has. You’ll see soon enough.”

I turned, seeking refuge among the other women, but even there, I found little peace. The envy in their eyes was as sharp as daggers, but none pierced deeper than Selene’s. She stood beside Nero, clinging to his arm like a desperate Pup.

By late evening, the crowd dispersed into the woods for the hunt. While I lingered near the riverbank, watching the moon on the water’s surface. The breeze cooled my skin, but something in me felt warm — too warm. I was being watched.

“Thalia.” Selene called sweetly, stepping from behind a tree. “Come, I want to show you something.”

I hesitated. My wolf stirred inside me, sensing unease, but I pushed it aside. I didn’t want to believe my own sister could mean harm.

We walked deeper into the woods until we reached a clearing. The moonlight revealed no one else around. “What is it, Selene?”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her hands were clenched at her sides, knuckles pale, and there was a tremble in her fingers that she tried to mask by adjusting the sleeves of her dress.

"I just wanted to talk. About Nero." She began. "You’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately."

My heart stuttered. "He’s a friend. That’s all."

She interjected smoothly. “You really think you’re better than me, don’t you?”

I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“You seduced Nero.” She spat, eyes blazing. “You stood there today, flaunting yourself like some harlot. He was supposed to be mine!”

My stomach dropped. “ I didn’t—I swear, I have no interest in him!”

Selene’s gaze darkened. "You think you're above me?!"

I backed away slowly. "Selene, please, calm down.”

Selene lunged before I could react, knocking me to the ground. She stood above me, pulling something from under her cloak.

“Selene, what are you—?”

Before I could finish, I saw it — a brick. I was about to scream out loud when she hit it hard in my head and I let out a gut wrenching scream as hot tears slipped out of my eyes and warm blood out the side of my head.

Suddenly, her gaze darted to the side—to the firepit near the stables where a branding iron leaned, cold and untouched.

She strode toward it, and lifted the iron with a cloth. But her movements were shaky, as if even her body rebelled against what she was about to do.

---

**Back to Now: The Clearing**

The burning metal touched my face.

I screamed.

The pain was worse than anything—like my skin was melting. The smell of cooked meat filled my nose. Everything went blurry.

Selene leaned close.

“Now you know,” she whispered. “How it feels to be nothing.”

She yanked the iron away.

I fell to the dirt, choking. The world spun.

People were shouting. Running toward us.

“*Thalia!*”

Was that Nero? Father? I couldn’t tell.

The last thing I saw before darkness was Selene’s face—