Chapter 2

Riley 

The Custodians only appeared once a year. So, when they showed up at your doorstep, there was only one reason for it. It meant that your family had been chosen to provide a maiden for the King.

The King was the true ruler of our kingdom and the packs beyond it. But centuries ago, he had been betrayed by his own Beta. The betrayal led to a war that divided the kingdom into two, with the other half eventually falling under the control of his former Beta.

The King fought to reclaim what belonged to him, but the war came at a terrible cost. His mate died during the battle and after her death, a curse was placed on him, he could no longer see sunlight.

Since then, he had been confined to his palace, unable to rule the kingdom in person. Instead, Alphas had been appointed to govern the different territories on his behalf, but they still answered directly to him.

My father was one of those Alphas, the King remained in control, even from behind the walls of his palace.

But the curse had another effect, every year, the King's powers grew weaker. To keep him strong, a maiden had to be sent to the palace every year to refresh his powers. The Custodians were responsible for finding her. They worked with seers who could determine which maiden's energy was compatible with the King's.

And once a household was chosen, there was no refusing. Now, they were standing in front of our house, that meant the seer had marked our family.

My eyes immediately went to Sophia, she looked terrified. Only the first daughter of a family could be chosen.

“This can't be happening.” My stepmother said. “We have to decide who they are going to take away right now.” She said.

Before anyone could respond, a loud knock echoed through the house.

My father looked toward the door, his expression tense. “What are you saying?” Father whispered.

“Sophia is already mated, Riley has to go in her place.” She said.

I turned toward my stepmother immediately. For a moment, I couldn't believe what I had just heard, my stomach twisted, and fear spread through my entire body. She was trying to send me in Sophia's place.

“No, they only request for every first daughter and Sophia has to be the one to go.” Dad argued.

I stared at him in disbelief, my father had never defended me before. For as long as I could remember, Sophia had always been the daughter who mattered. But now, for the first time in my life, he was standing up for me. I didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified.

“What do you mean no?” My stepmother whisper-yelled. “Do you know what that beast would do to our precious daughter, Riley is going in her place.” She said.

Another loud knock came on my bedroom door. The Custodians were waiting outside, there was no more time.My father didn't hesitate this time. He walked toward the door and opened it.

I just stood there, staring at him as fear continued to build inside me.

My stepmother quickly turned to Sophia. “Go inside and hide, do not come out until I ask you to.”

Sophia didn't need to be told twice. She immediately ran downstairs toward the basement.

I watched her disappear, my stepmother turned back to me after Sophia disappeared. She gave me a sharp look, without a trace of guilt on her face.“At least for once you would be useful for the family, stay right there.” She said.

Three men dressed in dark cloaks walked into the house, with my father following closely behind them.

They looked completely out of place inside our home. Their faces were mostly hidden beneath their hoods, and the heavy cloaks around their bodies made it difficult to see much of them.

My father glanced around the room almost immediately. His eyes searched for Sophia, the moment he realized she was gone, his expression hardened. He slowly turned his head toward my stepmother and gave her a hard, disapproving look. She avoided his eyes.

“Alpha Bloodwyn.” One of the Custodians said. They didn't bother sitting down, even after my stepmother politely offered them seats.

“You know our tradition, you know what it means when we show up at your doorstep in a year. The seer had directed us here, and it is your turn to pay your tribute to the King.” He said.

There was no warmth in his voice. To him, this wasn't a family losing a daughter. It was simply tradition.

One of the Custodians turned his attention toward me. “Is that your eldest daughter?” He asked.

My heart began pounding, I opened my mouth, ready to tell them the truth. But my stepmother answered before my father could say anything.

“Yes.” She responded immediately. She hurried toward me and placed a hand on my back, her face suddenly changed. Fake tears began streaming down her cheeks, and she put on an expression of grief that almost made me sick.

“She is our eldest daughter.” She said. “I had always dreaded this day, but it is an honor to serve the King. He has done a lot to keep us safe.” She said.

I let out a loud cough, my mouth opened, ready to tell them that I wasn't the eldest daughter. I was about to correct her lie when her fingers dug painfully into my back.

Her nails pressed against my skin hard enough to hurt. “You will do no such thing.” She whispered. My eyes shifted toward her, and I could see the warning in her expression.

One of the Custodians stepped toward us, he stopped directly in front of me and studied me from head to toe.The way he looked at me made me feel less like a person and more like something that had been selected and was now being inspected.

He reached beneath his cloak and pulled out a small lamp. A blue flame burned brightly inside it, he raised the lamp toward my face.

For a moment, nothing happened, then the blue flame suddenly changed. It flickered violently before transforming into a bright red flame.

“This is the highest energy ever matched.” One of the Custodians behind him said. “She fits perfectly.” He said. 

The Custodian holding the lamp lowered it and returned it beneath his cloak. He turned toward my father. 

“She is exactly what the King needs. She is coming with us right now to spend the night with the King, she will be returned back to you tomorrow morning.” He said.