Chapter 2

I knelt on the stone seat at the center of the altar. Cold silver chains wrapped tightly around my wrists and ankles, binding the very core of my wolf.

The sacred fire flickered before me, its glow casting solemn light across the faces of the surrounding elders.

Instinctive fear made my whole body tremble, but I forced myself to raise my head high as the Ritual Elder etched a glowing silver sigil onto the center of my forehead.

That sharp pain burned straight into my spirit.

Just as the sacred flames were about to touch my blood, Eric grabbed my wrist.

"Are you still not telling us where Tiffany is, even at this point?" he questioned, his eyes reminiscent of a frozen lake with rage boiling beneath the surface.

Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head. My throat was too tight to form a single word.

In his eyes, my surrender was defiance.

With a flick of his hand, he tore himself away from me. His voice cut colder than the chains around my wrists. "You've disappointed me for the last time, Seraphine. Elder, begin the offering."

The sacred fire pierced my veins in the next second. Agony exploded through me. The silverbane twisted with flame, tearing through my bones like they were made of paper.

Outside the altar, Mom, Dad, and Eric sat in the Sacred Viewing Chamber, eyes locked on the glowing veil of white flame.

That was the projection—the manifestation of my soul's deepest memories, exposed by the Memory Offering.

The elder's voice was low and ancient, reciting in the old tongue, "Based on the strength of her wolf, her mind can only withstand three offerings. Any more, and she'll be reduced to ash."

"Three is enough," Dad said coldly. "We only need to see what happened before Tiffany disappeared. She has to know!"

The elder frowned, cautioning, "Her memories are unstable. It's safer to start from the oldest ones. That way, she won't shatter too soon."

They nodded in agreement, patiently waiting for the sacred flames to tear open my mind.

"Let us see the first time she met Tiffany," Mom choked out. "That must've been a happy memory…"

Happy? I let out a bitter smile. To me, that was the start of my nightmare.

The vortex of memory pulled me under, and suddenly, I was back to that night three years ago.

I stood in front of a luxurious villa, the cold wind slicing through my worn-out clothes. My parents stood at the door, tears welling in their eyes.

"Seraphine, sweetie, you're finally back! You must've suffered so much out there…"

Tiffany slowly stepped forward and held my hand, her smile looking sweet and radiant. "Don't cry, Mom. Sera is home now. She won't have to live like a Rogue anymore."

She wore a delicate lace dress, looking like a princess straight out of a fairytale.

I lowered my head, cheeks burning with shame. Years of living with the Rogues had left me feeling worthless in front of her.

Just as I tried to get closer, Tiffany suddenly covered her nose and stepped back, exclaiming, "What's that horrible smell? It's like… beast droppings."

A strange, pungent scent spread through the air, stinging everyone's nostrils. My parents' faces froze, and gone was the joy they had just shown.

"Sera, even if life on the run was tough, you should still keep clean! Don't you know that the smell of animal droppings attracts predators? If those scents are picked up, wild beasts could track us down and hurt us!

"Wait… Are you… Doing this on purpose? To try and get us all attacked by beasts? But why? Is this your way of getting back at us because Mom and Dad adopted me?" Tiffany questioned.

She backed behind Mom, her voice soft but accusing.

"No…" I stammered, panic rising.

I had showered three times before reuniting with them and bought new clothes, spending all my savings. How could I possibly still smell?

I didn't know which scent would attract predators, and I never wanted to hurt anyone.

From beyond my memory barrier, I heard Eric's distant voice. "Elder, can we block out this part? It's too embarrassing."

My heart felt like claws were ripping it apart.

Mom's voice traveled over, icy and accusing.

"It was embarrassing. She grew up with the Rogues, but the first thing she did upon coming home was to blame us for taking too long. She purposely made herself stink to attract predators, just to get back at us!"

From the very first meeting, Tiffant had managed to make everyone dislike me.

The scene continued.

I was brought to the third-floor bedroom. The servants treated me like a stray beast, scrubbing me clean and dressing me in a brand-new dress.

Tiffany personally helped make my bed and softly comforted me, "None of us minds the smell on you, Sera, so don't worry about it. Get some rest. The servants have prepared a nice dinner for you.

"Still, you can just say it if you hate me. I'll leave. Just don't use such dangerous revenge tricks anymore. Mom and Dad will get hurt."

I fixed my stare at her, my voice shaking. "It was you, wasn't it? You sprayed that stench on me."