Chapter 0002

Lois's POV:

Shame clung to me like a second skin.

Even as Vera yelled after me, defending me with the last bit of fire she could muster, Samuel's words echoed louder in my mind. "I reject you, cursed one. I want nothing to do with a girl like you."

The crowd had stared—some in stunned silence, others with smug satisfaction, like my humiliation was the festival’s main event.

I ran.

I didn’t stop to look at Vera’s face or meet the villagers' eyes as I dashed through the village, my bare feet pounding against the dirt.

I didn’t want to see pity in their gaze. Or worse—confirmation that I deserved it.

By the time I burst into our cottage in the woods, my chest burned and my throat was tight with unshed screams. Michelle tried to reach for me, but I ducked past her and slammed the door to my room shut, locking it.

The moment I collapsed on my bed, the tears came.

Why did the Moon Goddess do this to me?

All I’d ever wanted was to belong—to feel like I was something more than a cursed girl picked off a doorstep.

But I wasn’t like the others. I never was. And earlier, in front of the entire village, Samuel made sure I would never forget that.

When morning arrived, I didn’t rise with the sun. I stayed curled under my blanket until Michelle’s knock broke the silence. "Lois? Can we come in, sweetheart?"

I didn’t answer.

A second later, the door creaked open anyway, and Michelle and Rochelle entered. Rochelle held a tray of warm bread and goat cheese, while Michelle’s hands trembled as she tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"You didn’t deserve that," Michelle whispered.

Rochelle sighed, his lips a thin line. "If I had my way, I’d find that Samuel boy and knock sense into him."

"The news of my rejection must have spread throughout the entire village by now." I thought to myself.

"He was my Mate." I rasped. My voice was hoarse from crying. "He felt the bond... and still rejected me."

Michelle’s eyes shimmered. "Then he didn’t deserve you."

Rochelle sat on the edge of my bed. "We can leave.” He said. “And start somewhere fresh. We’ve never cared what this village thinks, and we still don’t."

I shook my head slowly. "This... This is the only home I’ve known. If I run now, they win. I don’t want to be their story of the cursed girl who disappeared."

Michelle leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Just be yourself and the world will adjust.”

I tried. For the next few days, I tried to piece myself back together.

The air still buzzed with gossip when I went into town for herbs or wool, but I kept my chin high. I stopped reacting to the whispers. I smiled at the children and greeted the old woman who always spat at my feet. I told myself I was strong.

Even when Vera didn’t come.

We hadn’t spoken since the Ceremony. I told myself it was fine. Her Mate probably didn’t want her associating with ‘the cursed girl’.

And it made sense. She had a future now, a family to build. I couldn’t hold her back.

So when my 18th birthday arrived, and she didn’t show up, I didn’t cry.

I baked my honey cake. Rochelle and Michelle strung wildflowers across our cottage. They tried to make it feel special.

And it was, in a way.

Then the screaming began.

It started from the eastern side of the village.

Rochelle’s knife froze halfway through a loaf of bread.

Michelle rose first. "Stay here."

I stood immediately. "No. We will check it out together."

The wind shifted. I caught it before Michelle did—the scent of blood. Smoke.

"Rogues,” Rochelle whispered.

We didn’t argue again. Rochelle grabbed his bow. Michelle took my hand, and we ran.

Chaos had already spread by the time we reached the main path. Houses were burning. People screamed, scattering in every direction. Wolves—ones I didn’t recognize—tore through the village like demons set free.

One of them lunged at us, but Rochelle shot it straight between the eyes. He didn’t even flinch.

We made it to the forest. Our home was close to the edge, so we had a head start. But others weren’t as lucky.

The air reeked of iron and smoke as we tore through the forest, branches whipping against my skin, the cries of the dying still echoing behind us. My mother clutched my hand tightly, pulling me forward, her breath ragged. I kept glancing back, half-expecting the rogues to lunge from the shadows.

“Don’t stop!” Rochelle cried behind us, his voice as fierce as ever. He had insisted on staying close, flanking us on the left as we fled. For once, I was grateful for his stubbornness.

Suddenly we noticed the bodies that littered the dirt. Both friends, Neighbors, and strangers.

One corpse sprawled by a fallen tree—the boy who called me a "witch-born freak" just nights ago. His throat was gone.

And then—I saw them.

Vera.

Her Mate.

And Samuel.

All dead.

Vera’s hand still clutched her Mate's, and her eyes were open.

I stopped breathing.

Michelle tried to pull me away. Rochelle turned, his voice breaking. "Lois, we have to go!"

But I stood there, numb. My only friend was gone?

Suddenly, a growl sounded behind us. A rogue burst through the trees.

Rochelle screamed. "Run!"

But my feet were stuck to the ground.

A sharp growl sliced through the night air. I turned, eyes wide, and saw one of the rogues dart from the trees, leaping with teeth bared.

“No!” Rochelle roared, as he hurled himself into the air without hesitation, slamming into the rogue mid-leap. The force sent them both crashing into a tree.

I heard the sickening crack of bones and my heart stopped.

“Rochelle!” I screamed.

He rose slowly, swaying. Blood gushed from a deep tear across his side, but he turned back to us, baring his teeth at the others that began to circle.

“Keep going!” He barked. “I’ll hold them off!”

“No, please!” My mother begged, stepping toward him.

Rochelle’s eyes locked with hers. “Take Lois and run, Michelle.” He said through gritted teeth. “Don’t let them take her!”

Another rogue lunged from the side, but Rochelle spun, clawed out, and slashed him down in a blink.

“Rochelle—” I sobbed, torn between running and staying.

“Go!” He screamed.

My mother pulled me again, and I stumbled forward, barely able to see through the tears. As we ran, I heard Rochelle’s war cry behind us... and then silence. A silence that screamed louder than anything else.

I turned once more just in time to see a rogue sink his jaws into his neck. Rochelle’s eyes locked with mine across the distance—and then closed.

I will never forget that look. Not of fear. Not of regret. But of peace. As if, in the end, he was glad it was him.

And then he was gone.

“No!” I screamed as tears streamed down my face.

I was about to run back, but Michelle kept on pulling me forward.

Suddenly, I felt a hard shove behind me. This sent both Michelle and I tumbling backward—and at that moment, another explosion rocked the earth.

We lost our footing.

My body crashed through a tangle of roots, and Michelle’s arms wrapped around me as we rolled down a hill.

Then—pain.

My head struck something hard. A stone?

Darkness crept in as I heard my mother cry out. And soon I felt blood running down my temple.

My heartbeat slowed.

Is this it?

Is this how my story will end? Alone, and broken in the dirt?

My thoughts turned to the Moon Goddess.

Please...

If you’re listening...

Don’t let this be my end. Not like this. I never asked for power. Never asked to be different. But I want a second chance. I want to prove I’m not cursed. I want to live.

Please...

Don’t let me die here.

And then—everything went black.