Riya's POV: "Run, Riya!" The voice echoed through the chaos, spurring me onward as I sprinted through the darkness. And although my lungs burned, and my legs ached, I couldn't stop. Not until that piercing scream sliced through the air, halting me in my tracks as I whipped around only to realize I was standing right in the middle of the road leading to the Packhouse. "Run, Riya!" The call came weakly, and my gaze snapped downward, landing on Ophelia's immobile figure sprawled on the ground, her clothes torn and bloodied. "What are you doing here?" I asked slowly, my voice trembling as I knelt beside her. "You're supposed to be dead!" "Run! He's coming for you!" She cried out, her eyes wide with urgency, though her body remained limp. My gaze shifted from hers to the man charging toward me with full force, his boots thundering against the shaking ground. I wanted to run, gods, I needed to, but I couldn't because my body has betrayed me. "Riya!" Ophelia screamed this time, her hand reaching weakly for my arm, fingers brushing my skin but it was too late. The soldier was already closing in, his sword glinting ominously in the fires surrounding us. With a deadly roar that chilled my blood, he lifted the weapon high. "Die!" With lost hope, I closed my eyes and braced for the impact, every muscle tensing for the pain that was sure to come. But when the sword descended, I felt nothing, only the rush of air and then... silence. "Riyaaaaa!" I jolted awake, clutching my chest as I gasped for air, my body drenched in sweat. The room spun for a moment, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like smoke. 'What kind of dream was that?' I asked myself. Suddenly, Ophelia's words echoed in my head, clear as if she were whispering them now. "Dreams are a revelation of the future." Revelations of the future? She never got to explain that to me, and she never will because those were her very last words. I could remember holding her cold, immobile body in this same room, on this same sunny day when I was ten. "Riyaaa!" The yell came again, pulling me sharply from my thoughts and I blinked, shaking off the haze. "Riyaaa..." This time, it was a sing-song voice that filled the room, dripping with false sweetness. I stiffened, turning around to see my stepsister Lyra dressed in a shimmering lilac gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her golden hair bounced with each step as she made her way toward me. "Oh dear sister." She purred, stopping right in front of me with a smirk that made my skin crawl but I forced myself to meet her gaze. "What do you want, Lyra?" "Have you heard?" She asked, her voice laced with excitement. "Father received a letter from Alpha Killian." "I've been busy." I muttered, avoiding her gaze to hide the flicker of unease in my eyes. "Of course you have been busy serving the Goddess, sweeping floors, and lighting candles." Her eyes glittered with malicious joy, like she was savoring every word. "Well, while you're doing all that, I am about to be claimed by my betrothed." I shot her a glare, but Lyra ignored it, waving a hand dismissively. "Alpha Killian is on his way to BloodHall Pack to claim me as his future Luna." She went on, her tone triumphant but I kept my expression still, though my chest tightened. I had known this day would come, the betrothal had been arranged weeks ago, but I had never expected it to sting like this. "He'll be here very soon." Lyra leaned closer, her perfume overwhelming and cloying. "I just thought you should know, so you don't embarrass yourself wandering near the Packhouse when the celebrations begin." She stepped back, her head tilted as she admired her own reflection in the mirror. "It must be so painful having to watch everyone else start their lives, while you..." She gestured vaguely around the room. "Are bound to this to serve the people and die mateless. The Moon Goddess really did choose the right daughter to waste, don't you think?" For a split second, my breath trembled but I forced myself to sound unbothered. "You may leave, Lyra. It's still too early for all of these." She laughed, a tinkling sound that echoed off the walls. "Enjoy your solitude, sister." And with that, she finally stepped out of the room, her gown swishing behind her like a taunt. As soon as she was out of sight, Selene, my personal maid, rushed into the room, her face filled with concern as she touched my arm gently. "Milady, don't let her get to you. She's just..." "I'm fine, Selene." I interrupted, though my voice was steadier than I felt. Truth be told, I was more concerned about the dream than Lyra's barbs so without hesitation, I turned to her. "Draw me a bath, please." Selene nodded, but as I rushed toward the door, she called after me. "Milady, where are you going?" "Just do as I said." I replied over my shoulder, not stopping as I rushed out into the corridors of the Packhouse. I needed to find my father, Alpha Donovan, and warn him about my dream that felt like a vision of impending doom that I couldn't ignore. So, I hurried through the halls, my white robes fluttering, until I reached his study. But the guards at the door informed me he was in a meeting with the elders. Undeterred, I rushed over to the council chamber, but the guards refused to let me in. No matter how I insisted, claiming the urgency of impending doom, they wouldn't let me in. Frustration boiled inside me, but I had no choice. I turned away and went back to my room. The bath Selene had drawn was steaming, scented with lavender to soothe the nerves, but it did little to ease my worry. I soaked briefly, but my mind raced with images from the dream. When Selene offered food, I refused to eat. Instead, I went to the temple, the sacred space where I felt closest to the Goddess. I approached the drum of Alkali and beat it rhythmically. "Moon Goddess, protect us." I whispered fervently, my voice echoing in the empty chamber. "Shield your pack from the flames and the swords. Guide us through whatever storm is coming." Afterward, I tried to speak to my father again, catching him in the grand hall where he was supervising the preparations for Killian's welcoming ball so barely glanced at me, because his attention was on a servant adjusting a banner as he dismissed me with a wave, and I retreated, biting back my frustration. But I remained patient, pacing my room as the day dragged on into evening and finally, Selene burst in, her eyes wide. "Milady, Alpha Killian has arrived! He's been welcomed by Alpha Donovan into the Pack. But the official celebration will be held later tonight to celebrate the Alpha's arrival to claim his mate." I didn't want to attend, the thought of watching Lyra parade her triumph made my skin crawl, but seeing that this could be my chance to inform Father about the dream; he'd been too busy all day, but amid the festivities, perhaps he'd listen. "Help me dress, Selene." I said. She nodded and selected my finest white gown, the only color I was allowed to wear as the priestess. Then, she pinned my hair up with pearl clips, and I slipped on simple white slippers. As she fastened the last button, she murmured. "You look beautiful, Milady. Like the Goddess herself." "Thank you." I replied softly, though my mind was elsewhere. On arrival at the grand hall, the air buzzed with excitement as guests mingled in their finery, laughter and music filling the space. Father was attending to them, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, waiting for Killian to arrive after getting dressed so I approached him again. "Father, please, just a moment." "Riya, enough!" He snapped under his breath, his eyes darting to the guests. "This is not the time. Go enjoy the evening." Hissing under my breath, I turned in anger, making my way toward the door. The rejection stung, but just then, the heavy oak doors were pushed open and Alpha Killian entered, his presence commanding the room. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with brown hair and piercing green eyes that scanned the hall. His gaze landed on me for a split second before he walked past. But just as he was about to fully walk away, something stirred deep within me. My wolf, usually quiet and subdued by my priestess vows, surged forward with a recognition that shook me to my core. 'MATE!' The word echoed in my mind, as my gaze snapped to him and from the way his shoulders tensed up, he must have felt the bond as well. 'Could the Moon Goddess be playing games with me?' I thought to myself, because there's no possible way that Lyra's soon-to-be husband was my fated mate.

Riya's POV: The Moon Goddess always had a reason for everything, but no matter what, I would never understand her reason for bounding me to my stepsister's man who was the Alpha of the neighboring pack. He supposed to seal an alliance through marriage to her, not awaken my dormant wolf with a single glance. 'This can't be happening to me, the priestess sworn to a life of solitude and service.' I muttered under my breath, and before Killian could utter a word to me, before his lips could form the questions I saw brewing in his intense green eyes, I spun on my heel, aiming for the door, but he rushed forward, his strong hand closing around my wrist. The contact sent sparks racing up my arm, igniting the bond further, and I froze as the entire hall erupted in gasps, the sound rippling through the crowd like a wave. Guests turned to stare, and their conversations halted mid-sentence. My father stepped forward first, while Lyra followed close behind, and then came Vivienne, my stepmother, her emerald dress rustling with each step. "Alpha Killian." Father said, his voice booming with alpha authority. "What is the meaning of this? What has Riya done?" Vivienne crossed her arms, her lips curling into a sneer. "Yes, what mischief has the priestess stirred now?" Lyra's eyes flashed with jealousy, her hands clenched at her sides. "Killian, let her go. She's just... she's just trying to ruin everything!" To my greatest surprise, and horror, Killian didn't release me. Instead, he straightened to his full height, his jaw set in determination. His voice rang out, clear and commanding, echoing off the high ceilings. "Riya is my mate. The Moon Goddess has bound us. Because of this, I can no longer marry Lyra." Gasps erupted anew, louder this time, a cacophony of shock that made my ears ring. Whispers turned to murmurs: "The priestess? But she's vowed to the Goddess!" "What about the alliance?" "This is scandalous!" I felt the weight of every stare, like pins pricking my skin. Father's face paled, Vivienne's turned red with fury, and Lyra staggered back, with her hand flying to her mouth. I couldn't bear the judgmental stares, so I yanked my wrist from Killian's grasp, the bond protesting with an ache in my chest. Without another word, I bolted from the hall, pushing past servants and guests, my vision blurring with unshed tears. The cold night air hit me as I burst through a side door into the gardens, the scent of blooming night jasmine doing little to soothe the chaos inside me so I ran until my lungs burned, collapsing onto a stone bench hidden among the hedges. It wasn't long before footsteps crunched on the gravel path and I looked up to see Lyra, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and accusing. She was heartbroken, that much was clear, but her grief twisted into rage as she stormed toward me. "You thief!" She spat, her voice breaking. "How could you? You stole my mate! All these years, you've been lurking in that temple, pretending to be holy, and now this? You seduced him with your... your priestess tricks!" I stood, my own heartache mirroring hers, but I shunned her words, turning away to gaze at the moon hanging full in the sky. "Leave me, Lyra. This isn't my doing." But she grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Admit it! You wanted this. You've always been jealous of me!" "Jealous? Of what? Your betrothal to a man who was never yours by fate? Go back to the hall, sister. This bond isn't something I asked for." I snapped and she sobbed, collapsing to her knees. "You'll pay for this, Riya. You'll see." With that, she fled, her cries fading into the night. Alone again, I sank to the ground, tilting my head back as I whispered to the heavens. "Moon Goddess, why? Why bind me to him? I'm Your servant, vowed to purity and isolation. Why torment me with a mate I can't have?" Frustrated, I sat there for what felt like hours until I finally decided to let things happen at the Moon Goddess's will. But what I never expected was that Killian would start going after me, persistently, promising to set me free from a life of isolation and although his words painted a picture of a life I'd never dared dream of, I still declined, telling him to go back to Lyra. Yet, Killian never gave up and slowly, I found myself doubting my vows as my heart softened toward him. Each day passing, I felt more drawn to him because I'd been hated my whole life, called an outcast since Ophelia's death. But Killian accepted me, and made me feel loved with simple gestures. Still, I knew that I had a responsibility to carry on for my pack, even though they'd treated me as an outcast. So, one fateful night, I decided to end everything. I slipped through the shadowed halls to Killian's chamber, and pushed the door open only to see him standing at the edge of his bed with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing the muscles beneath. Shoving down the tension in my chest, I rejected the bond, demanding that he accepted my rejection and his eyes darkened with desire as he closed the distance. "What..." My words were cut off when his lips crashed onto mine and I melted into him. Clothes fell away in a frenzy, our bodies entwining on the sheets but as dawn broke, shame flooded me. As the High Priestess, I was meant to be a virgin till my death and now this one act had shattered my purity. "Leave with Lyra." I said to him, as I dressed hastily. "Marry her as planned, and never look for me again." "Riya, wait!" He pleaded, reaching for me but I stormed out of the room. And ever since then, anytime Killian came to look for me after that, I had Selene inform him that I wasn't interested in becoming his mate but I could not deny my feelings for him. At some point, I contemplated accepting him until I was called by my father to his study, and Vivienne was there, perched like a vulture, her eyes filled with malice. "You little whore." She snarled as soon as I entered. "Seductress! You've ruined everything by stealing your sister's mate. How dare you, you temple rat?" I flinched, but held my ground. "I didn't..." Alpha Donovan joined in, his face thunderous. "You've brought shame on this pack, Riya. Parading your so-called bond like some common she-wolf. We raised you better than this." "Raised me?" I echoed, heartbreak cracking my voice. "You've treated me like an outsider since Mother died. But fine, I promise I'll never cross paths with Killian again." I returned to the temple, throwing myself into my duties, from sweeping the floors until my hands blistered, to chanting prayers until my throat ached, all to drown the pain. Selene pleaded with me to take a break, but I only shoved her aside and continued until the room spun, and I fainted, collapsing onto the cold stone. Through blurry eyes, I saw as Selene rushed out of the temple, then she returned with the physician, an elderly wolf named Elara, who bustled in with her satchel of herbs. After examining me, by pressing on my abdomen, and listening to my heartbeat, Elara announced. "Priestess Riya, you're pregnant."

Riya's POV: "Pregnant? Me, the High Priestess of BloodHall Pack, sworn to virginity and eternal service to the Moon Goddess?" I thought aloud, my hands trembling as I clutched the edge of the temple altar, the stone grounding me against the wave of nausea, not just from the exhaustion that had felled me, but from the sheer impossibility of it all. "Milady." Selene whispered, touching my arm gently. "This... this is a blessing, surely. The Goddess's will." But it didn't feel like a blessing. It felt like a curse, layered atop the mate bond I'd tried so desperately to sever. How would everyone react? Father would disown me outright, Vivienne and Lyra would crow in triumph, labeling me the ultimate whore who'd defiled the temple. And Killian... Would he be furious that I'd pushed him away only to carry his child? Or would he see it as a sign to fight for us? The thought twisted my heart and I decided right then to keep it to myself until I figured out what to do. "Thank you, Elara." I managed, my voice steady despite the storm inside. "Please, keep this between us." She bowed her head. "As you wish, Priestess." The next two days blurred into a haze of feigned normalcy. I tended the temple, lightning candles and sweeping floors that seemed to mock my unsteady steps. My body betrayed me with subtle signs, from tiredness, to a faint queasiness at mealtimes. Aria, my wolf, stirred protectively, a warm presence that whispered of the life growing within and knowing that I couldn't hold it anymore, I decided to tell Killian because he deserved to know, and perhaps together we could navigate this chaos. With that decided, I rose up from the bed and made my way to the door but before I could reach for the knob, Selene stormed in, her face flushed from haste. "Milady! I was just coming to find you." "Selene?" I said, my heart skipping. "Let's talk later, I need to speak with Killian urgently." She hesitated, biting her lip. "He... he left early this morning, Milady. But he claimed he would be back in no time." Stunned, I stared at her, the words sinking in like lead. "Left? Why? Did he say where he was going?" Selene nodded, her voice soft. "He claimed there was an emergency in his Pack. So he had to return to sort out the problem, but he assured Alpha Donovan he would be back soon." Hearing this, I felt like whenever I was trying to do one thing, the Moon Goddess would push back, telling me it wasn't yet the time. So what was her plan? Bind me to a mate I couldn't have, gift me a child I couldn't claim, and now whisk him away just as I gathered the courage to confess? I didn't understand what the Moon Goddess had in store for me, but everything was just super frustrating, a tangled web that pulled tighter with each twist. My hand instinctively went to my abdomen, a protective gesture I quickly dropped. "Milady?" Selene prompted gently. "Are you alright? He won't leave you, I promise. Alpha Killian... he's smitten. Once he comes back, you can tell him everything. If you want, you could write a letter to him. I could help send it discreetly." I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping. Writing a letter wasn't actually an option. Before any missive left the Packhouse, it would get checked by Vivienne. "No, Selene. I just have to hope he comes back." My voice cracked slightly, but I forced out a smile and went to the temple, instead to pray to the Moon Goddess that Killian comes back eventually so that I can tell him the truth about my pregnancy. The path to the temple wound through the gardens, the afternoon sun filtering through leaves. When I arrived, I knelt before the altar, my knees pressing into the woven mat, and whispered my pleas. "Moon Goddess, hear me. Bring Killian back safely. Let him return so I may share this burden with him. And when I do tell him, I hope he will be happy about it, and together we will fight for our child's future." But as I rose to beat the Drum of Alkali, horror struck me. The ancient drum, carved from sacred oak and stretched with hide blessed under full moons, was in ruins. Shattered pieces scattered across the pedestal, and a chill raced down my spine. The Drum of Alkali was our pack's lifeline, the only reason why the BloodHall Pack had been prosperous and safe from any evil plots from neighboring packs was because of it. Whenever I beat the drum and spoke to the Goddess, a vision would be revealed, from guidance on how to deal with impending danger, to decisions to ensure prosperity. Battles have been won, famines averted, and alliances forged, all thanks to its power. But now, with the drum gone, what was our pack's fate? Before I could figure out what to do, Selene rushed in, her face pale, eyes darting. "Milady! You must come quick. A group of people has arrived at the Packhouse, demanding your presence." My heart pounded. "Why? What do they want?" Selene wrung her hands. "They're claiming the Drum of Alkali has been destroyed." Stunned, I responded." It has actually been destroyed, but I'm wondering how they already knew when I just found out myself." Selene's eyes immediately landed on the wreckage, widening in fear. She gasped, stepping back. "Goddess preserve us..." "Calm down, Selene." I said, though my own pulse raced. Then I rushed out to the compound to see a bunch of pack members had gathered, their faces filled with anger and fear. Murmurs rose like a brewing storm as they demanded answers from Father, Vivienne, and Lyra, who stood on the raised platform of the Packhouse steps. Father looked stern in his alpha robes, Vivienne smug in her emerald gown, and Lyra in a floral dress. Taking a deep breath, I made my way through the throng, whispers parting like waves: "The priestess... she's here..." The crowd surged forward, voices overlapping. "Alpha Donovan! Is it true? Has the Drum of Alkali been destroyed?" One burly warrior shouted. An elderly woman pointed accusingly. "We demand the truth! Without the drum, we're vulnerable!" Father raised his hands for silence. "It's a lie! Such a thing hasn't happened. It's rumors, nothing more so go back to your homes." He lied, but I couldn't let the deception stand so I stepped forward, and climbed the steps. "No, Father. It's true. I just found out that the Drum of Alkali was broken into several pieces." Gasps rippled through the crowd, faces paling. Father's eyes flashed with fury as he turned to me. "Riya! How did this happen?" "I don't know." I admitted, my hands clasped to hide their tremble. "I entered the temple moments ago and found it shattered." And that's when Lyra stepped forward, her golden hair gleaming, eyes glittering with malice. "Stop lying, Riya! You did this! You tore the drum because you don't want to be the High Priestess anymore. You wanted to be with Killian, so you destroyed it to sever your bond with the Moon Goddess!" The accusation caused the crowd to erupt in outrage. "Traitor!" Someone yelled. "She's betrayed us!" Vivienne nodded vigorously as the Pack murmurs turned to shouts because BloodHall Pack had always been an independent pack, we won wars and prospered without alliances because the Moon Goddess was on our side now, the people were terrified of their fate. "What will become of us?" An old man wailed. "Truly, the prophecy made years ago is true! Riya has proven she's the cursed child that would bring chaos to the Pack!" I was born the same day as Lyra, but my mother died giving birth to me, her life slipping away in a pool of blood as I drew my first breath. Shortly after, Alpha Donovan received a prophecy from High Priestess Ophelia, that one of his daughters would bring chaos to BloodHall Pack. When Vivienne, his concubine and Lyra's mother, heard, she quickly told him I was the cursed child, after all, my birth had claimed a life. Father was caught in a dilemma, he had to kill one of his children to save the pack. So he insisted that they should wait for Ophelia to return. But before Ophelia arrived, Vivienne stabbed me in the chest with her hairpin, leaving me to die in my crib. Ophelia arrived just in time, and chose to save me, healing the wound with her magic, and declared I would serve the Moon Goddess for life. From then on, I grew up longing for love and affection, watching Lyra showered with Father's gifts, and praises while I was raised as the outcast. Lyra and Vivienne made my life miserable, forcing me into the ancient tradition, becoming a maiden for life, my only duty serving the Goddess. After Ophelia's death, I became the Priestess, hearing the pack's pleas, praying for solutions. Meanwhile, Lyra lived as the spoiled princess, adored by all, betrothed to Alpha Killian. However, I was still respected by the pack, until now. I was heartbroken by their insults, but more terrified of what they'd do if they found out I was pregnant. Would they stone me? Banish me? Kill the child as the ultimate curse? Suddenly, the gate slid open with a groan, and a man I recognized as one of the pack's scouts, rushed in and bowed hastily before Father. "Alpha! Urgent news from the capital!" "Speak!" Father commanded, the crowd falling silent as the scout gasped for breath. "Alpha Killian has declared war on us! It was approved by the Council of Kings. He'll be coming with his armies to attack the pack!"