Chapter 2

TASHA

I had cried the whole day, thinking of ways to make Tamren remember my voice, my face, my touch... anything at all. But something told me it was gone, forever. I could only stand there in front of the mirror, swallowing hard as I watched the disaster my life had become.

Prison had stripped everything from me, even my body. My cheeks were hollow, my collarbones were sharp and my arms were thin like they could snap. My eyes were red-rimmed from crying, and there were dark, sunken circles under them.

I touched the glass, staring at the broken woman in front of me. I felt weak, empty, tired, useless. And still, somehow... I had to keep going.

Just then I heard heavy footsteps approaching. Kirk was coming. It had to be him.

I grabbed the rumpled skirt he'd asked me to wear, wiped my tears and started heading towards the bathroom but that's when he pushed the door open without knocking. He wore a night-black, fitting suit that accentuated his muscular, greek-god physique.

"We leave in thirty minutes, I don't want to wait for you. The last thing you want to be doing is making this difficult for me, why aren't you done yet?"

I forced myself to nod. "Okay."

"We have the ritual first," he continued, "and then after-party with the council. You will be at my side. You will smile, you will act normal. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I said gently.

But did I really have to go to the after-party? Do they need me there? Can't someone else fill in? The thought slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Maybe..." I swallowed nervously. "Maybe Violet could go to the after-party with you instead. She... she's good with the council."

The room went silent.

He turned to look at me slowly, like he couldn't believe what he'd heard.

"What did you say?" He asked with a menacing look.

My stomach dropped as fear and panic engulfed me all at once. "I just meant-"

Before I could finish, he grabbed my arm and slammed me against the wall. My breath rushed out of me from the impact. His body was pressed against me now, hard and unforgiving as he pinned me into place and wrapped his hand around my jaw so tightly that my teeth hurt.

"Are you mocking me, Tasha?" His face was inches from mine and his breath was hot against my cheek.

"No," I whispered, trying to breathe. "I wasn't mocking you."

His grip tightened and then he pressed his body harder against mine, crushing my lungs. I couldn't breathe. I tried to suck in air but nothing came. The panic shot through my chest as a desperate plea slipped out of my throat.

"Kirk-please," I choked out. "Please... I can't... breathe."

He didn't ease up.

"Do you think I'm weak?" He growled. "Do you think I can't present my own Luna at an event? Is that what you are saying?"

"I swear I didn't mean it like that," I gasped, my vision getting blurry. "Please... please let go..."

His eyes seared into mine. He pressed himself harder against me, eliciting a choked gasp out of my throat. "You're going to behave tonight.." he whispered. "Or I will make sure you regret it. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," I croaked. "I understand... I understand..."

Finally, finally, he stepped back. The air rushed into my lungs so fast it burned. I slid down the wall, coughing, holding my chest.

"Thirty minutes," he growled again. Then he walked out.

When he left, I sat there on the floor for a long moment, trying to bring myself back to the moment, but I didn't get the chance to rest well because just then, another soft knock came.

"Come in," I gasped out.

A maid walked in. She was one of my mother's personal attendants. She looked young and had a glass of water and two small pills on a tray. "Luna Tasha, your medication."

I frowned. I'd had lots of that at the prison. "Medication?"

"Yes, ma'am. Ordered by your mother and the Alpha. They said you should take them before the ritual to help your nerves."

I looked at the pills. "Where is she? Why didn't she bring them herself?"

She hesitated. "She... she said she was running late. She asked me to come instead."

I took it, having no other option, and prepared for the ritual. When I finished, I headed out.

The ritual dome was in the center of the Crescent Moon Pack, a round structure made of concrete and glass with a medieval feel because of the dozens of sparsely spaced torches shining from the wall.

In the center of the room was the Pack priest who was standing near the altar.

He was old, with white hair that was tied back and deep lines of wrinkles carved into his face. He was putting on a dark grey robe that was decorated with silver threads that gave off shimmers under the torchlight.

"Luna Tasha," he said. "I'm glad you are here."

I nodded, glancing back at Kirk and Violet who were standing at the door. "I'm ready."

He stepped closer. "As you know, tonight we renew the bond between the Alpha's bloodline and the Moon Goddess. Only the Luna has the right to carry the blessing for another year."

I nodded again. I knew this by heart. I'd done it every year since I married Kirk.

He continued, "When the final incantation is spoken at midnight, the light will fall on you. It will be a sign of your acceptance. A reminder that you are the guardian of the Pack's spirit. Without a Luna, the bond grows weak. This ritual will keep our people safe."

Then he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You will be fine, child. Stay strong."

I forced a smile. "I will."

He took his hand off my shoulder then and said. "It's time."

For some reason, at that moment, my heart started to beat slower, heavier, like something was tightening around it. But I dismissed it, thinking it was just my nerves.

I stepped into the moonlit circle as the priest began chanting in that deep, strong voice that was now echoing through the dome. Kirk and the others continued to watch from the edges, silent and still.

I tried to focus on my breathing, prepared for the slight discomfort that came with this ritual.

In. Out. In. Out.

But halfway through the chant, a strange sensation washed over me.

It felt like heat was building and spreading under my skin.

Strange.

I never felt this way before, especially during this ceremony. Why then was I feeling this way?

It only got worse from there on, because soon my legs were wobbling and my head felt heavy.

My heart continued to hammer heavier, slower too.

And then I knew it wasn't the nerves, and it certainly wasn't because of the ritual.

I felt sick.

The first thing my mind went too were the pills.

Maybe the pills were too strong, I thought, already feeling the beads of perspiration building on my forehead.

Maybe I should've eaten something before taking them.

I tried to steady myself but my vision blurred for a second.

The priest lifted his voice. "As the moon meets this hour, let the blessing fall. Let the bond renew."

The torches planted on the walls flickered as the wind outside the dome howled. The moonlight shining through the small circle right above me grew brighter, but instead of the calming feeling that came right after the end of the ritual, my stomach gave a very sharp twist and my chest suddenly ceased before a sharp pain stabbed up my throat.

I grabbed my throat and coughed, half-expecting it to help but it only made it worse because I coughed again, harder. And then again, and that's when the warm liquid filled my mouth. I spat it out onto the floor and what I saw made the blood beat in my brain.

Blood.

More blood. It was dark, thick too.

My knees buckled, and soon the ground was rushing up to meet me.

"Tasha!"

"Tasha!" I heard Kirk yell my name, seeing him run towards me.

It soon dissolved into distant, blurred shouting.

The priest was yelling something and they were rushing towards me.

I crashed hard on the floor, gasping as the sick feeling enveloped me now.

The pain doubled, and soon my vision began to blur as my senses began to numb. I felt like I was dying.

Kirk was the last thing I saw before everything went black.