Chapter 2

Ayla’s POV

“Who are you?“ I ask again as the shadow rushes forward, revealing a masked man. Suddenly, a blinding light gleams from my necklace. It is so powerful that the assassin groans in pain before bolting away through the balcony.

My chest heaves in absolute terror as I remain pinned against the wall. What the hell just happened? Someone tried to kill me. Why are there no guards around? I have to report this, but who do I report to?

With a heavy heart, I drag myself off the wall and take shaky steps back to my room. Stepping into my space, I slam the door shut. My hand reaches up and touches the golden-chained pendant around my neck.

This is the only thing I have left of my mother, I never knew it possesses such power.

I sit on my bed, my mind fills up with thoughts. Who could have sent the assassin? Who in the pack wants me dead?

Was my father’s death just a coincidence? Or is there something else playing behind the scenes?

********************

The noise outside the mansion snap me awake. Throwing off the covers, I step down from my bed and peer out the window. The warriors of the pack are setting the pyre ground.

It is our tradition that the bodies of our deceased are burnt to ashes. They say it allows their soul return to the moon goddess.

I close the blinds and walk into the bathroom, staying in the shower for a long time. I step out and open my closet, and immediately, my eyes falls on the gown I had worn during my mother’s returning.

Now, in just six months I am about to wear it again. I grab hold of the white, silk gown embedded with dazzling crystal stones and put it on. I wrap my long dark, raven hair in a bun, fixing a white ribbon to it. Then, I waited.

The pyre ground gradually fills up with pack members as I stare from the window. I am supposed to go out now, I am to set the fire to my father’s body. But how can I?

My hands trembles slightly, but my face remains stern and expressionless. The door cracks open and Elena walks in, draped in a white dress. Everyone is to wear white — as per tradition.

“Ayla, we await you.” She says, her voice sending a wave of warmth to my troubled heart.

I turn around and look at her. “Lena, I was attacked last night. I was almost killed,” I murmur. She rushes forward, and grabs my arm, shock evident on her face.

“What? How? Are you okay?” She asks, practically turning me around and checking for injuries.

I scoff, staring out my window. “I’m fine. I mean, does it matter if I’m not?” I asked, her expression shifts to a stern one but is quickly replaced with a smile.

“I know it’s hard but you have to be strong. Remember, you will become Alpha someday. Let’s get through with the returning, then we will find who tried to kill you,” she says. I nod slightly and walk out of the room with her trailing behind me.

The crowd bow their heads the moment I step out. Hypocrites. They pretend to respect me in public, but whisper curses on me behind close doors. Elder Vagner is already in front of the pyre ground waiting. I walk closer, taking the vacant spot beside him.

He began saying the words, to send my father off.

“From the earth we rose, by the flame we are cleansed and to the wind we return.”

“Fire takes what is mortal; The sky claims what is eternal.”

“Let the smoke carry your name to the stars. May the goddess recognize your spirit in the rising flame.”

“We give your flesh to the fire, that your soul may run free.”

After saying the words, he turns to me, his voice low but steady. “Send him home, Lady Ayla,” he says, picking up the torch and handing it over to me.

Taking the torch from him, I look back at the crowd and the expression on their faces are a totally different story.

I lead the torch to the fireplace and let the flame engulf it, then I take slow, shaky steps to the pyre.

Staring down at my father, he is now as pale as a ghost. A tear streak down my face, but I wipe it off immediately.

I close my eyes, sighing deeply, then toss the torch into the pyre, red and blue flames engulfs it, blurring my sight because it is the only thing I can see at the moment.

I stand there for what feels like an eternity, watching as the flames consumes what is left of my family. Tears blur my vision, running uncontrollably down my face — until a low, predatory growl shatters the silence behind me.

“Mine!”