The first sign

Lira's POV

My father’s confession rang in my head as the guards loaded me onto the carriage.

For a moment I couldn't breathe. I wasn't wolf-less by nature. It was stolen from me by the person who was supposed to protect and love me. I had been betrayed.

My father was untied and forced to sign over half of his possessions. I wanted him to lose more than what Damien demanded. I wanted him to have a glimpse of how it felt to be me.

But I reminded myself that Damien was unpredictable. I didn't know his purpose for me yet. I could be killed and this whole act of sympathy was just one of his manipulative tricks.

The pack could only stare as we were hauled past them. Some looked away while others pitied me.

My father stood defeated. Anger filled his eyes, probably because his puppet, Ronin, was taken away from him.

I caged her wolf. Those words were etched in my mind permanently. I will never forgive him. Not Salcan. Not Ronin. Not anyone.

As we moved deeper into the woods, the light of the Moonblessed Land faded behind us.

“At least I've made a name for myself. I don't mind dying. But you… You're going to be killed here and no one will mourn you,” Ronin said, stumbling behind me.

His words carried weight but I couldn't cry anymore. I was either going to be free or die a prisoner. I wasn't scared of death anymore. All I could do was lower my head in silence.

The Blackthorne pack marched with discipline. Their armour glowed brightly in the night. My former pack was nothing like them. They were too sloppy to walk in such order.

And then there was him. Damien Blackthorne.

He didn't walk with the soldiers. Surprisingly, we walked behind and anytime I dared to glance at him, I felt it. That pull that I hated. My intrigue grew as I watched him.

When the woods covered the last of the courtyard, his voice cut through the march.

“Stop.”

The soldiers froze. I did too and Ronin stumbled against me.

“We'll camp here. Marcus, assign three guards to sweep the border. I want every shadow searched for traps and ambushes before we move ahead.” Damien said, walking to the front of the carriage.

Marcus nodded.

We sat together in the dark, huddling into groups. We rested there for the night. Everyone else was warm, even though we couldn't light any fires.

“Maybe if I had a coat like the rest of you, I wouldn't be freezing. But no wolf, no fur,” I whispered under my breath.

Damien stepped closer, his golden eyes studying me like a puzzle.

“You look at me like you didn't ask for this,” he said, sitting beside me.

“And yet, last night, you prayed for freedom. Which one is it, little wolf?”

“I… don't…” I tried to speak but the words weren't coming out.

“Don't?” His lips curved into a smile. “You'll have to learn to finish your sentences with me. Half-truths are boring.”

Ronin growled and tugged against his chains. “ Don't talk to her like…”

Damien didn't look at him. With just a flick of his hand, Marcus struck Ronin hard across the mouth, silencing him. The sound echoed through the trees.

“You had so much to say the other night,” he said, looking straight into my eyes.

“It's not normal for an omega to talk to an alpha like this. It's forbidden.” I said, with my head bowed.

“And who made that rule?” Damien said, placing a fur coat over my body.

I… don't know what to say,” I said, shivering from the cold.

He smiled faintly. “ I appreciate honesty more than obedience.”

I didn't know when the words slipped out of my mouth.

“You don't know me. All you've seen is a girl dragged through the dirt. You can't imagine what it's like to be human and still be invisible. The only thing anyone ever knew about me was what I lacked. And now I'm marching into enemy territory, to be killed.”

My throat burned after I said those words and I reminded myself who I was talking to.

We were interrupted by the sound of footsteps breaking through the bushes. The guards had returned.

“The survey is complete Alpha. The way ahead is clear,” one of the guards said.

Relief slipped into my chest, because I didn’t know what Damien might have done with the words I had just thrown at him.

“We continue the march,” Damien said, with a wave of his hand.

After giving the order, he pulled me up and leaned towards me.

“You’ve branded yourself with weakness from the moment I met you,” he murmured, stepping close, gripping my chin.“But your scent tells me otherwise. I don’t crave frailty, little wolf. I’ve never been drawn to anything that doesn’t hold power enough to break me.”

With those words, he stood and walked towards the carriage. It was then that I knew that Damien hadn't chosen me to be killed.

The march ended at dawn. The banners of Blackthorne were plastered onto the walls. The fences looked like they were reinforced with steel and magic.

“What did I just walk into?” I whispered to myself.

Prisoners choked as they were hurled into holding pits. The stench of blood almost choked me.

“Take Ronin,” Damien commanded the guards. “To the kennels. Let him get settled with the dogs.”

“No, please, I want to go into the holding pits, don't do this,” Ronin cried out.

His pleas were pitiful, but he was dragged away no matter how much he begged.

“And her,” Damien said, pointing at me. “Take her to my Den.”

The guards hesitated, exchanging glances. But a single look from him made them obey immediately.

It was dark and his scent filled every crevice. It was addictive. I expected cages or chains, but instead, relics and books were glimmering in the firelight.

And then I saw.

A part of the wall was covered in markings, names carved deep into wood. My eyes scanned the familiar title until one name stopped me cold.

Salcan.

My father's name was written beside another.

Damien.

Not Damien Blackthorne, who made all wolves tremble. Carved boldly was the name Damien Moonblessed. The blood in my veins went cold. My father's name and his were together side by side.

I staggered back in disbelief. That was when Damien stepped inside.

I turned around facing him.

“You… I said, pointing at the engraving.

“You're Moonblessed, or…” my throat went dry, “You were Moonblessed?”

As soon as I asked that question, his eyes began searching mine, trying to read my reaction.

For a moment, he said nothing, then he let out a harsh, bitter laugh. Damien turned slowly, dragging his shadow with him.

“Moonblessed,” he said, “yes, once.”

He stepped closer. I could feel the heat of his presence. His gold eyes pinned me where I stood. By the time he stood before me, my veins were pulsing from his heat.

“Your father,” he began, “took everything away from me. My rank. My future. My name. I was his brother in arms, his most loyal ally. But when he began to fear the power I carried, he cut me out of the pack.”

He turned away briefly, dragging his palm across the names carved on the wall.

“ We did everything together. I was by his side when he won his first victory. But everything changed suddenly. He said something to the pack leaders and got me exiled. I didn't realise what he had done until…”

He clenched his fists against the wall, trying to mask the pain he felt.

“I starved in the wild, while he fattened himself on the throne. When he turned back, his face was carved with fury.

“And now, Damien whispered, “I have you. And through you, I will make him suffer. I will take everything he holds dear.”

I wasn't surprised. I wanted him to punish my father because he had hurt me too.

Damien reached for me suddenly, his hands seizing my chin, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. His thumb traced the corner of my mouth and his touch sent shivers down my spine.

“You're still my prisoner,” he murmured. The heat of his breath fanned against my lips. “Do not mistake me for a saviour, you will serve my purpose, but I cannot ignore what I feel and neither can you.”

I froze where I stood. “What are you…”

My question died into a gasp. He lowered his head and in one swift motion, his teeth sank into the side of my neck.

It felt like fire was being poured into my veins, spreading to every bone in my body. I cried out, clawing at his arms, but he only held me tighter, locking me tightly against him.

I thought I was dying. I wanted to die. Anything to stop the burning. I couldn't breathe and my vision was slowly fading.

But then, I felt something else stir within me.

It was a low voice in my mind. At first, it was faint, but it became louder as his teeth dug deep into me.

And finally, the voice spoke out. It was unlike anything I ever felt.

“I am Syvira. I am your other half. I am your wolf.”