The Rite 2 Novels & Stories

Kael sat with his back to the fire, looking into the growing light, his knife across his knees. Today was the day of the Rite. Once every generation, when old debts and broken laws threaten to divide us, the Rite is called. It’s more than a ceremony, it’s a judgment, a reckoning where three witnesses must stand and the truth must be told, no matter the cost. What’s at stake isn’t just my life, but the future balance between the Council, the Exiles, and everyone in between. This is the moment when the world could change forever, or go back to how it was.

Everyone starts to move here and there with things in their hands. I step aside and people start to slide some mats on the floor, some start making signs around the mattresses. A lady comes to me with a plate in her hand, she dips her fingers into the red liquid and glides it on my cheeks and then on my bare arms. What is happening? "This is ritual." She speaks maybe after seeing the confusion leapt on my face. Everyone is making the noises of chaos and power, everyone is bowing their heads and kissing the feet of the giant.

“The land accepted me. The bond sealed me. You don’t get to decide otherwise.” A second Councilor hissed. “You are an abomination of imbalance.” Raine felt that word ripple through her—and dissolve. “No,” she replied. “I am the correction.” Silence fell, thick and dangerous. The lead Councilor raised both hands now, sigils flaring brighter. “Then you leave us no choice. The Rite of Severance will be enacted.” The air screamed. Magic lashed out, a blinding arc of ancient force aimed straight at Raine’s chest.

My cheeks warmed again when she shot me a wink before dragging Nyx away from me. After all the adults had confirmed the mark, Ryan took the stage, his voice loud across the gathering. "It's time for the second rite of the ritual; the chase." I listened as he explained that I would give Grayson the chance to prove himself a strong and formidable mate by letting him chase me. "The rules are simple," He continued. "Keera will run, and Grayson will chase. The rest of the pack is free to join in, but only with the intention of challenging the union. If you're against the mating, now's your only chance to interfere."

Some of the paint adorning his body smeared across the fabric, but I didn’t care. “Let the Mating Rite begin!” Nicholas called out, his voice carrying across the clearing. The drums reached a fever pitch as the two groups surged toward each other. Bodies collided, twisted, moved around one another in a strangely organized frenzy. Nicholas and I remained standing together in the center, watching as the ritual unfolded around us. Within moments, the first pair gasped and cried out as they found each other. Soon, the air grew into a cacophony as more and more connected.

As a matter of practice, the Rite usually took place within an hour or two after it had been invoked. There would be no exceptions now, of course, but the fact that she didn’t even seem to be looking for an excuse filled me with a sick suspicion that she had a fail-safe in place. We were passing the building that housed Hector’s study when Marcia’s footsteps suddenly dragged to a halt. As one, our group stopped too, and when Hector arched a questioning brow at her, she didn’t flinch. “You and your… companions will have to part ways now,” she informed, pausing to look at Ella and Kane for a split second before resuming. “They are YOUR visitors, and until the outcome of the Rite has been deter

“To know if the stories are true. And to warn you.” My stomach sinks. “Warn us about what?” Her voice drops. “Kai has declared you traitors to the blood. He’s invoking the old Rite.” The words hit like ice water. “The Rite?” I repeat. Jackson goes rigid. “He can’t.” “He can,” she says grimly. “And he has.” I feel suddenly unmoored. “What is the Rite?” Jackson’s jaw tightens, every muscle in his body coiling. “It’s an ancient law. Used only when an Alpha claims a royal bloodline threatens the balance of all packs.”