The Rite 2 Novels & Stories

“No one touches my mate or my heir.” My mother looked at Kael with pity. “Love cannot shield her from destiny.” I stepped forward, ignoring the way both Kael and Thorne reached for me. “What does the Rite demand?” I asked. My mother answered without hesitation. “Your blood… and Kael’s absence.” Kael snapped. “Over my dead body.” She looked at him. “That is exactly what the Crown intends.” Before Kael could strike, before I could speak, before anyone could breathe...

“Hold on! It’s only starting!” Samuel’s body convulsed. His bones snapped, muscles reformed, fur sprouted along his arms and back. He roared, a sound so primal it rattled the chamber. The twins’ presence in the ritual, sensed through the bond, pulled at him like a magnet. “Good! Let it flow! Let the Rite complete!” Nathan shouted, guiding the chant. But then, something went wrong. “No… no… it’s not right!” Samuel gasped, feeling the power twist in his veins. The fur that had sprouted burned away. His claws retracted painfully. The golden glow of his eyes flickered and died, replaced by silver streaks against black irises.

“Albus was in the middle of trying to restore it, remember? And it’s not as though you know how to reverse it. In the end, you all talk-” “Except he left us with a way to,” Raymond interrupted, holding up a book from his person. “It took quite a bit of reading, but there is a rite in here that can undo other rites. The best part is it does not require the participants to be completely willing to undergo them.” Maddie became shellshocked by this… A rite… That undoes other rites…? Why did Albus leave that in their hands?! It couldn’t be… Did that witch know there will come a time when the Wolf Swap Rite would be ordered to be reversed?!

“The Rite reminds us we are bound not just by rivalry, but by the Moon Goddess and by one another through alliances and friendship.” Applause followed. Others believed while some had practiced smiles. Yes, the Rite was about deepening friendships, but this was also an opportunity for others to gain the advantage on other packs. I stood with Solon and Della near the center of the hall. Solon’s posture was rigid as if he was overthinking an issue. He leaned toward me and said, “Talia, you should withdraw from the Rite.” I glared at him and said, “Father already approved.”

“They call it ‘the Severing.’ They want to finish what Raelor started, merge humans and wolves into one unified world.” “That would break everything,” I whisper. She nods grimly. “Exactly. Raelor wasn’t just powerful, he was dangerous. His vision would end both realms as we know them.” “Tonight, the first Rite is going to be prepared for, from the information I've gathered.” Athea proclaims. Thorne crosses his arms. “And what do you know about these rites?” “There are three,” Athea says. “Each one tied to a different phase of the moon. The first is during the Veil’s Weakening, three nights from now. If completed, it will release the first shard of Raelor’s spirit from the Rift.”

“Do you accept this trial?” The weight of the pack’s stares bore down on me, sharp as blades. I swallowed hard, trembling, but I nodded. “I accept.” “Then let the final trial begin.” Without hesitation, I stepped into the sacred circle, the cliff’s edge a mere breath away. The cold wind whipped around me, carrying with it the quiet murmurs of doubt from below. I closed my eyes for a moment, centering myself. I couldn’t let them see my fear. The Luna Rite was an ancient ritual, its movements as demanding as its meaning. Each arc of my arms symbolized unity, every leap spoke of sacrifice, and every spin demanded strength.

But the reluctant understanding that Rhea was not moving like a frightened girl clinging to an Alpha’s sleeve. She was moving as the woman Isolde had feared all along. Cassian inclined his head. “Then the rite will be prepared.” Maddox’s voice cut through the air. “Nothing proceeds without my approval of its terms.” “The terms are ancient.” “Then they can survive my reading.” Cassian did not like that, but he nodded. “You will receive the rite structure by dawn.” “The full structure,” Maddox said. “Every stage, every witness, every penalty, every ritual object. Anything omitted will void the proceeding.”

“They had candidates in mind. Alliances they wanted to make.” “Will it cause problems?” I asked. “For us?” “No,” he said simply. “They don’t get a vote on who I mate.” The priestess arrived and the ceremony proper began. The mating rite was older than the hall it was performed in. I could feel it in the words, the particular cadence of something that had been said in exactly this order for generations. My wolf came completely forward during it, alert and present and entirely certain, which was more than I could say for my conscious mind.

he joked. ‌ I couldn't help but chuckle. ‌ The gates creaked open, and we entered the rival pack's territory. The scent of unfamiliar wolves filled the air as we were escorted towards the negotiation site. The pack's Alpha, a formidable figure, awaited us, flanked by his Beta and a group of advisers. ‌ The Alpha acknowledged our presence with a nod. "Alpha Magnus, Beta Nathan, what brings you to our territory?" ‌ I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "We come in peace, seeking a resolution for the recent incident involving one of our pack members, Luna Tania. We wish to avoid any unnecessary conflict and find a mutually agreeable solution."

And it was then that the name of the ritual echoed in my skull like a curse. The Rite of Dominion. They were performing The Rite of Dominion.