Iron oath

Lira's POV

I stood in a forest that wasn't a forest. I could feel the earth humming deep beneath my feet. Bushes surrounded me, yet I felt like I could see through them. I didn't remember walking to this place. A low growl came from behind as I turned around to find my way out.

When her gaze met mine, I felt like I was staring into a reflection that had been alive far longer than I had.

“Who are you?” I whispered.

Her answer came to my mind. “ You already know.”

Realization hit me. It was Syvira.

She reached forward, leaning her head towards mine. As we collided, so did our thoughts. The memories burned into me like a brand.

“Take her away now. He must not know,” Salcan said, signalling a young woman by the door.

Damien lay at the corner. He seemed to be under a spell. My father took out a vial containing a silver liquid.

“From today onwards, you are no longer Moonblessed. You will roam the lands believing you are exiled. You don't have a family. You are alone.”

With those words, Salcan forced the liquid into his mouth and he convulsed violently.

“ And lastly, every memory of Neveah is wiped clean from your mind,” Salcan said, stepping away from him.

“Who's Neveah?” I asked impulsively.

Salcan turned around, staring straight at me.

“She is the key.”

Before I could take another step, the ground cracked open beneath me. And my wolf lunged, not at me but into me. The world scattered into light.

I woke up with a gasp.

The pieces of cloth I had on were drenched in sweat. The cold stone made my palms numb.

I blinked, disoriented, until I realised Damien was there, lying beside me. His bare chest rose. His brows were furrowed like he was trapped in the same dream I just escaped.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The mark on my neck throbbed faintly, matching the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Then he looked at me. “Is it morning?” He asked, confusion smudged across his face.

I never imagined an alpha could be this clueless.

Outside the Den, I could hear boots crunching and marching. Marcus's voice barked commands outside.

I swallowed hard. “What happened?”

He sat up, running his hand through his dark hair. “ We fell asleep… or something.”

I had no other memory of what happened after the mark last night. With his reaction, I doubt he had a clue.

The mark between us flared once. I caught him staring at me like he wanted more of what we felt last night.

Before I could say another word, he stood.

“ It's the bond. Last night was a full moon. It's probably what made us pass out.”

With those words, he stood abruptly, grabbing his fur. “ I have duties to attend to. The feast begins tonight. You will be prepared.”

He didn't look at me again. He probably didn't trust himself enough to. I wanted to speak to him, to tell him about the dream I had. But he seemed so eager to get away from me.

The heavy door of the den slammed shut. It was so quiet, I could hear echoes of my heartbeat.

And then…

“He's afraid.”

I froze. The voice was soft, whispering in the back of my mind. And then it hit me, my wolf.

I pressed a hand to my chest. “You're real?” I whispered.

A faint laugh echoed in my mind. “Very real.”

Before I could answer, the den curtains rustled. A girl stepped forward. I hadn't noticed that she'd been back there. She probably thought I was a lunatic for talking to myself alone.

Her hair was pale brown and her eyes were filled with reverence. She was so young and already a servant.

“ Alpha Damien says I am to tend to you,” she said, setting down a bucket of water.

“My lady,” she said, bowing quickly.

The title startled me. My lady.

“I… I can do it myself,” I said.

But she shook her head. “I'm the only servant girl assigned to you and no one touches the alpha's marked without permission.”

Oh, now I understand. That's why I'm getting all this special treatment. His mark. Without it, I would probably be dead.

I let her help me wash. Her hands were quick but gentle.

“ What's your name?” I inquired.

“My name is Seav, My lady.”

When she finished, she dressed me in dark fur. This type of fur was only worn by alphas or high-ranking betas.

I followed her out to the courtyard. The air outside was cold. The scent of iron filled the air. That was the scent of the Blackthornes. Banners of black and silver swayed from stone arches. Warriors trained in tight formation, their breath visible in the fogged air.

This place was nothing like the moonblessed lands. It was alive with power.

“This is called the Iron Oath Courtyard. It's where oaths are made and broken,” Seav said, pointing to the far end.

I could feel the wolves gazing at me. Why wouldn't they? A prisoner for atonement is wearing royal fur. I was trying to take in the rest of the sight before me, when a loud growl came from the gates.

“ Alpha has returned. Lift the gates.” It was Damien. He marched in with a few soldiers. Dragged behind were three Omegas. I could smell them. They were rogues.

They were dragged by Marcus to the centre and forced to kneel.

“ These rogues were found trying to trespass on the ridges. One carried a blade made of silver.”

A low growl rippled through the courtyard.

Damien didn't respond immediately. He stood there for a moment, his gaze lingering on each prisoner. The first one caught my attention. She was about my age.

“Kill them,” a voice spoke out from the corner. The hunger for bloodshed by the Blackthornes made something twist deep within me.

Damien didn't respond. Instead, he stepped closer, looking down at them.

“You trespassed into Blackthorne land. You drew steel against my patrol. By the law, that earns you death.”

The woman amongst them raised her chin. “Then do it.”

I expected him to strike her or kill her for talking to him like that. But instead, he smirked, wiping blood off his cloak.

“Bravery,” he said softly, “a rare thing in rogues. Your lives are not mine to take. That would make it easy. Let them plead their worth tonight at the feast. Maybe that sharp tongue of yours can earn you freedom,” he said, facing the woman.

He turned around to face me now. The mark on my neck glowed faintly.

“Why spare them?” I asked, trying to bow as low as I could. His eyes lingered for a moment.

“Because mercy weighs more heavily than death and I want them to feel the weight of it before they beg for it to end,” he said, walking away from me.

It seemed like he was avoiding me. But I knew better than to say anything about it. I was still trying to wrap my head around what my fate truly would be.

“My lady, you will dine alone today. The alpha is attending to duties,” Seav said, leading me to his den.

Time passed by so fast. Before I knew it, it was nighttime.

Seav’s hands trembled as she worked. Her fingers brushed the silk fabric that clung to my skin like the moonlight itself. It was the softest thing I had ever touched. Yet, it felt wrong. Everything felt like a lie.

“ You must look your best for the feast,” she said, tucking a loose strand of my silver hair behind my ear.

“Alpha Damien hasn't marked anyone before, not since he became alpha of Blackthorne,” she said.

“Then why me?” I said curiously.

“Because the moon chose you, My lady.”

Her words gave me a sense of relief. I had this hint of fear that all this was too good to be true. It seemed like this was my new reality. No more pain and torture. I loved every bit of it.

She opened the doors to the den. Some guards were waiting outside for me. They led me through a narrow tunnel that opened into the Iron Oath courtyard.

It was alive with movement and fire. Wolves lined the edges and the drums were banged loudly from every corner. Yet, the sound wasn't celebratory, it sounded more like a ritual chant.

Damien stood at the centre, his presence commanding authority. I was led to stand next to him.

With a flick of his hand, everywhere went silent.

“Tonight,” he said, deep and low. “ We honour victory. But the moon hides from us, so we will call to her with blood.

He encircled the prisoners like a predator. “ You will each speak. If the moon finds truth in your words, she may spare you.”

Damien turned to Marcus. “Bring the final one.”

The crowd shifted uneasily, like none of them knew what was happening.

The guards dragged someone from the shadows. His golden hair was dulled by the torchlight.

Ronin.

I knew it. All of this was just to prepare me to die along with him. If not, why else would he be dragged out here?

“Damien stepped closer. “Others may plead their case. But for this one. His fate is already sealed.”

My throat immediately went dry. “What do you mean?”

“He will die for the blood that was shed on the Moonblessed lands. But his death is special because you…” He stepped closer, grazing my cheek, “ will be the one to deliver the justice owed.”

The mark on my neck began to pulse. “ You want me to kill him?”

Damien's gaze locked on mine. “Not want, little wolf… I, Alpha of Blackthorne pack, command you to kill Ronin of Tarlock, as atonement for every drop of my pack's blood that was shed on Moonblessed lands and rite of passage into Blackthorne pack.”

The courtyard fell deathly still.