Cast out

CHAPTER 2 - CAST OUT

Father!” I shouted, rushing from searching my room. My whole body was in chaos. My hands would not stop quivering. My voice not sounding the way they used to got loud, it bounced off the walls.

He was already standing by the table, where the candle burned really low. He kept a hard face, darker than the shadows around him. His eyes were keen, like he didn’t even know me. His arms folded tight.

“Lena,” he said. Just my name. Cold.

His eyes narrowed more. “Where were you last night?”

I froze. I opened my mouth, stayed silent. Then I whispered, “At Emori’s. I stayed there.”

His jaw set hard. His voice turned sharp. “You shouldn’t have. Don’t go running to others. Leave me alone, Lena.”

As if the whole was was turning against me with the words I keep hearing from the people I love. I held onto his arm like I would fall apart without it. “Why is this happening to me?”

Tell me! That fire—what was it? I didn’t mean to do any of what I did yesterday night.I don’t even know what I did!”

He pulled his arm away fast, like my touch hurt. His jaw more firm. He looked past me, not at me.

“Answer me!” I cried. My voice broke. “They all looked at me like I was something wrong back at the hall. I’m not a monster, am I? Please tell me I’m not.”

Silence.My breathing was shaking 

Then he opened his hand. A chain dangled down. A silver chain with a dark stone. Cold, black, shining in the candlelight.

“Wear this,” he said.

I stared at it. “What is it?”

“It will keep you safe.”

Safe. That word stabbed me. My lip trembled. “Safe from what?”

His eyes narrowed. “Just wear it, Lena.”

I carried it. My fingers shook as I slipped the chain over my neck. The stone dropped heavy against my chest. Cold. Too cold.

I looked at him, waiting. Waiting for him to hug me. To say I’d be okay. But he stepped back.

My stomach sank. “Father?”

His lips lifted slightly into something like anger. His voice cut sharp. “Get out.”

My breath stopped. “What?”

“Leave,” he said. His tone was like steel. “For good. Do not come back.”

I shook my head fast. “No… no, you don’t mean that. You raised me. I only have you. You can’t—”

“I said leave!” His voice boomed. The walls shook. “Before worse comes.”

Tears burned hot in my eyes. I stumbled closer. “Please, don’t do this. Don’t throw me away. Don’t make me nothing.”

He turned. His back to me. His shoulders stiff. His voice cold. “Go.”

My legs gave out. I dropped to the floor. The pendant clinked against the stone. My hands shook as I held it. My sobs filled the room.

“Father!” I screamed. My voice echoed and broke. But he didn’t move. He didn’t turn.

The door slammed. I was left alone.

That night I couldn’t breathe. My bed was cold. Too big. Too empty. I curled into myself, clutching the pendant. It burned into my skin. My tears soaked the sheets.

I shut my eyes.

Darkness pulled me under.

I was standing in black water. My feet sank deep, the mud pulling me down. The air was ice. Silver light burned across the sky, brighter than any moon I had ever seen.

Voices whispered all around me.

“Fire. Fire. Fire.”

The word echoed over and over, chilling and hot at the same time. My skin prickled. The black water rippled, then began to glow. The ripples turned silver. Flames rose up, silver flames, curling around my legs.

Moonfire.

It should have hurt. But it didn’t. It hummed against my skin, warm and alive, like it was breathing with me.

“Father?” I whispered. My voice was small, shaking. “Why did you leave me? I didn’t mean it. I don’t want to be alone.”

The flames roared higher. A shadow moved inside them. Massive. A wolf. Its fur shimmered like liquid silver. Its eyes glowed white. Its teeth flashed sharp.

“You are mine,” it growled, the sound rolling like thunder.

I stepped back, water splashing around me. My chest heaved. “Mine?”

Its voice wrapped around me, deeper than the whispers, stronger than my father’s rejection.

“They rejected and cast you out. But I claim you. You carry my fire. Moonfire. You are not alone.”

I gasped. My hands glowed silver. The flames spread higher, wrapping me, pulling me closer to the great wolf.

My heart pounded. “What am I?” I screamed into the fire. “What did you make me?”

The wolf’s eyes narrowed, endless and bright.

“You are the flame they fear. You are the fire they cannot kill.”

Its howl split the sky. The fire expanded., covering me whole.

I woke up gasping, drenched in sweat. The pendant on my chest glowed faint, like it had carried the dream back with me.

The moonlight from the window lit the edge of my bed. My heart was hammered. My father’s voice still echoed in my head—leave me alone. But under it, another voice lingered, louder.

You are mine

Morning came. I packed a bag. I went to the gates. My feet touched the path out.

But I froze. My legs wouldn’t move. My heart squeezed.

I turned back. The houses. The trees. The pack. My people.

I whispered, “I can’t leave them.” My throat hurt. “I can’t leave him.”

My steps turned back.

And then I saw them.

By the training yard. Damien. Tall. Strong. His hand brushing Selene’s arm.

Her pale hands pressed against his chest. Their faces close. Too close.

My breath caught. “No…”

Selene’s laugh rang out. Sweet. Fake.

Damien lowered his head. His lips touched hers.

The kiss.

My stomach dropped. My fists clenched.

They didn’t see me.

My eyes blurred. My heart cracked open.

Selene smiled against his mouth. “She’s nothing, Damien. Nothing but a stain. You chose right.”

Damien’s jaw tightened. His hands balled at his sides. But he didn’t stop her. He didn’t say no.

I stumbled back. My chest shook. My teeth bit my lip till it bled.

“No one wants me,” I whispered.

Heat rose inside me. Hotter. 

My wolf growled deep in my head.

“Burn,” she said.

I shook my head hard. “No. Not here. Not now.”

But the rage grew. My whole body shook.

I turned. I ran. My steps pounded the ground. My heart screamed. The pendant burned against my skin.

Behind me, Selene’s laughter floated like a cloud.

I ran faster.

The gates blurred. The

houses vanished. The pack fell behind.

The forest loomed ahead, black and endless.

I didn’t stop.

I ran into the trees and let the darkness swallow me.