Chapter 2: First Blood

For a moment, nobody moves.

Then Derek releases my throat, while stepping back quickly.

"Beta! We were just..?

"Just what?" Marcus's voice is deadly calm. “Just raping the new servant on her first night?"

"We weren't–it's not like that.." Tyler stammers.

"Get Out." the command in his voice makes them all flinch. "All of you. Now."

They scramble for the door like rats fleeing a sinking ship. Derek gives me one last resentful look, before following the others out.

The door closes behind them, but doesn't lock. Marcus remains, looking down at me with an expression I can't read.

"You got lucky tonight," he says flatly. "It won't happen again."

"The Alpha wants you worked to death, not fucked to death. At least not yet." He turns to leave, then pauses with his hand on the door. "Oh, and Roselyn? Tomorrow morning, you report to the pack kitchen at dawn. You're on waste disposal duty. Miss it, and I'll let Derek and his friends back in here. Understand?"

I manage a tiny nod.

"Good."

The door closes. The lock engage from the outside.

I stay frozen on the floor.

Finally, when I'm sure I'm alone, I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them. The sobs come then, shaking my entire body

This is my life now. This is what I am.

I manage to crawl to the mattress, pulling a thin, ratty blanket over my body even though it does nothing to stop the cold that's settled into my bones.

Outside, the celebration continues. I can hear music and laughter. They're all so happy I'm gone.

I close my eyes, wishing I could disappear completely.

But deep inside, in that dark quiet place where my wolf should be, I feel Cicilia stir.

Cicilia whispers to me in a voice like silk and shadow: "Soon, just a little more time, he will be here, he will soon be here."

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The forbidden river gleams silver under the moonlight.

I wade into the freezing water, my torn clothes discarded on the bank. The cold bites my skin, but I welcome it.

My hands still throb from this morning's whipping. Ten lashes across my palms for not scrubbing pots fast enough. The cuts sting as river water seeps into them, but I scrub my skin harder anyway, trying to erase the shame.

I'm so focused on washing that I don't notice him until he speaks.

"You know, there are easier ways to bathe."

I gasp and spin around, nearly losing my footing on the slippery rocks. A figure stands on the opposite bank, perfectly still in the shadows. My heart hammers against my ribs.

"Don't be afraid," he says, his voice smooth and warm like honey. "I won't hurt you."

He steps into the moonlight, and my breath catches. He's tall and impossibly beautiful, with pale skin that seems to glow and dark hair that falls across his forehead. His eyes are darker than the night sky, and when he smiles, I catch glimpse of sharp fangs.

Vampire.

"What are you doing here?" My voice comes out barely above a whisper.

"I could ask you the same thing." He moves closer to the water's edge, graceful as a predator. "A young wolf, alone at the forbidden river, covered in bruises. That's quite the story."

Heat floods my cheeks, and I cross my arms over my chest self-consciously. I'm only wearing my undergarments, and his gaze lingers.

"I'm just washing," I say, unable to meet his eyes.

"In vampire territory?" He tilts his head, studying me with open curiosity. "That's either very brave or very foolish. I haven't decided which yet."

"I didn't cross into your territory," I protest weakly. "I'm on my side of the river."

"Technically true." His smile widens. "But you're standing at the boundary. That's almost the same thing, don't you think?"

I don't know what to say. My mind screams at me to leave, but my feet won't move. There's something about him that holds me captive.

"What's your name?" he asks.

Every instinct warns me against it. But I hear myself answer anyway. "Roselyn."

"Roselyn." He says it slowly, like he's savoring the sound. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. I'm Stark."

My face burns hotter. "I should go."

"Should you?" He crouches at the water's edge, bringing himself closer to my eye level. "Or do you want to stay and talk to the dangerous vampire who might eat you?"

"You said you wouldn't hurt me," I whisper.

"I did say that, didn't I?" His expression softens slightly. "And I meant it. Though you look like someone's already done plenty of hurting."

Instinctively, I hide my hands behind my back. "It's nothing."

"Nothing." His voice drops lower, "Those marks on your skin look like something to me. Your own pack did this, didn't they?"

I don't answer.

"Tell me, Roselyn," Stark continues, his tone lighter now, almost playful. "Do you always follow the rules? Even when the rules hurt you?"

"I have to," I say quietly. "I don't have a choice."

"Everyone has a choice." He stands, and even from across the river, his presence is overwhelming. "Some choices are just more dangerous than others."

"Like talking to vampires at forbidden rivers?"

"Exactly like that." His grin is wicked. "Yet here you are. Which makes me think you're not as obedient as you pretend to be."

"I should really go. If anyone finds me here—"

"They'll punish you more than they already have?" Stark's expression turns serious. "What could they possibly do that's worse than what I see on your skin?"

Kill me, I think. But I don't say it aloud.

"Come back," Stark says suddenly. "Next full moon. Same time. I'll be here."

"Why?" The question escapes before I can stop it.

"Because talking to you is the most interesting thing that's happened to me in decades." He starts backing into the shadows. "And because I think you need someone who doesn't hurt you. Even if that someone is supposed to be your mortal enemy."

"This is forbidden," I whisper.

"The best things usually are." His voice comes from the darkness now, disembodied. "Next month, Roselyn. I'll be waiting."

Then he's gone, melted into the night like he was never there. My wolf Cicilia stirs inside me for the first time, reacting to something he does when he disappear.

Now I'm curious what is it about him that make my inactive wolf react.