Vyra

There is an old saying that things couldn't possibly get worse when they were already bad.

Whoever came up with false hope could shove it right back up their proverbial ass.

According to how my life has been since birth and recent events, the only way going forward was supposed to be up. It would but not be in the way I had wished for.

"Get up."

The voice grated my ears as it boomed around the small space. My eyes were still closed as I scrambled on the hard pieces of hay wrapped in twine that made up my bed. Throwing myself forward from my lying position, I looked around for Petir and Sonya.

They were nowhere to be found.

The little hut was empty except for my companion's beds, myself, and the hulking figure above me.

"What? What's going on?" I asked, my heart lodged in my throat and slurring my words. I leaned back, quickly covering my chest with my torn blanket. My sleeping gown was thin.

Waiting with fear, I heard the man curse lightly. If he was going to kill me, he was doing a slow job of it. A boot scuffed forward, and I heard the crisp strike of a match. Within seconds, lantern light lit the room, revealing who trespassed.

It was a tall man dressed in black leather. His dark brown hair was tied back in a bun, his face severe as he peered down at me with gray eyes. His strong jaw carried an evening shadow, and the rest of his body was massive. The lantern burned like a firefly in his palm.

I recognized the uniform and the person to which the voice belonged. Titus was the Alpha's friend, a member of his guard, and also the man who announced his arrival the night of the ritual.

"I forgot you cannot see as well." It was not an apology for not accommodating me sooner. He was just acknowledging my shortcomings as a half-human. "You're moving from the Outcast shack. The Alpha demands it."

"Does he?" It was a strange request, one that left too many uncertainties. Would he force me to sleep in the snow? Would he make me leave the protection of the pack? "Where will I go?"

Titus grinned cruelly, leaning down to my shivering frame. Every reaction of my body is a mere reflection of all my weaknesses. His eyes caught all of them.

"Where your royal highness commands you to go. Now get your Outcast ass out of this bed before you are forced to."

"You can't touch me. I am his mate, it's forbidden."

The refusal puffed out of my lips pathetically. I barely could grasp the concept of the words myself, but it felt good to have some sort of shield in my defense. I knew little of the rules of mated pairs, but I knew that much. A small burst of victory filled me when the guard stopped his movements to grab me, standing up straighter and narrowing his eyes at me.

We stared at each other for a few awkward minutes. All of my denial was swept away like smoke in the breeze, as the intimidating man continued to wear me down. I lifted my chin and puffed my chest, hoping to look somewhat capable of fighting him.

The guard let out a snort and crossed his arms. I deflated when he smiled, finding my attempt humorous.

"I said you would be forced. I didn't say by whom."

My stomach dropped thinking of how the guard would get around my little act of defiance. He would get the Alpha to come collect me himself. I thought of Seren's dark, magnetizing presence in the little hut I resided in and immediately shoved the thought away.

"Fine." I lifted myself from my bed, wrapping the blanket around my shoulders. My legs still felt every bit of the brutal winter chill. "But only because I didn't want the Alpha anywhere near me."

Report that back to Seren.

Titus bit back a smile this time, holding the lantern up at eye level. "That's unfortunate." The strange expression faded when I stepped near the flaxen door of the hut. "Grab your belongings."

"This is it." I shrugged my shoulders, hoping that my blanket would not fall. All of our burlap clothes were scraps from the other pack members. We were supposed to get our new pair tomorrow morning. Now I would have to worry about clothing on top of training.

The Lycan guard crinkled his nose in disgust but said nothing more. "Stick close to me, or else."

***

It was when we were walking past the village center that I knew something was wrong.

My mouth was sewn shut, unaccustomed to even speaking when not spoken to. It seemed like I already used up all of my luck as an Outcast when I woke up from a deep sleep.

So I did not question it. I thought we would turn left and leave through one of the gates on the side wall. There my new home would be, amongst the snow and the woods.

My feet stopped right at the line separating the town center from that of Clan Umbra territory, "I can't go in there."

Titus already crossed the threshold, turning with exasperation.

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't"

He knew it too. If any Outcast stepped into Clan territory, their life would be forfeit. This had to be a trick.

"Try." The guard said, that animal-like smile making its way into his face again. His arms were held tight by thick leather as he crossed them. "Are you afraid?"

Yes. Always. I was sure Cyrus was around, waiting for the chance to strike. Mena would not stop him, nor any other member of the Umbra Clan.

I was getting so cold that I could barely feel my toes and fingers, and wished for the burst of energy I felt after turning into a wolf.

"Fine," I said. I quickly walked into Umbra territory, my heart thumping. I kept a frown on my face as I walked past the guard.

Nothing happened.

It was more unsettling than being attacked.

My entire life, I feared being burned at the stake for getting too close or making the wrong move at the wrong time. I stared at the cabins and how they hid slumbering Lycan inside, completely hidden from the elements. Observant as I took in every detail about how wolves that were considered worthy enough lived.

What had our parents truly done so wrong for us not to deserve comfort?

"You're only permitted here because of who you are to the Alpha." Titus reminded me, as we walked to the edge of the Clan settlement.

I am nothing to Seren. Being his mate is just a title that I was given by the spirits who wished to cause chaos.

I remained quiet, even when we made it to the edge of the Umbra settlement. I looked up, finally able to take in the sheer breadth of the Alpha's domain.

Its mountainous, misty outline was now as clear as a lake. It reached taller than the pines surrounding it, a vast fortress amongst the forces of nature.

The entrance itself was forged out of rough stone that was lined with sparkling, ebony gems around the outer arch of the gate. Vines and woodland creatures were etched into the large facade, decorating it in a harrowing pattern of both hunter and hunted. 

Behind it was the main wooden structure, a keep stuck out from the mountainside with a pointed arch. It blended into the original land, as the wood was stained such a deep color it only appeared black.

It was a fight between nature and the unnatural. Wooden towers, corridors. and bridges were erected and weaved through organic rock halls, meshing into a fearsome and well-protected dwelling. Every glass window was a beacon in the night, fitted with a golden glowing candle.

Once, I believed the Alpha's den to be terrifying.

I felt no fear as I gazed back at its face once more. Instead, a stranger feeling pushed through the cloud of dread.

Mine.

The possessive, dangerous, and untrue thought left my head as quickly as it came. The den hadn't been mine since my family betrayed the Clan and lost it fairly to the Umbra's.

"Why are we here?"

Seren must have wanted to speak to me before I changed my lodgings. But why? It was the dead of night.

Titus ignored me and instead stalked forward, lifting his hand to a section of the small stone. The door began to lift with a creak, revealing a long, dark passageway with no end in sight.

Titus placed the lantern on the ground, exchanging it for a torch that sat at the beginning of the passageway. He lit it with another match, his face shadowed and drawn in orange light. He fixed me with a hard stare.

"Like I said before, stay close. It is meant to be dark, and your eyes have not adjusted. If you turn the wrong way, you will get lost, and I am not keen and searching through tunnels all night to find you."

"There are tunnels?"

"Yes. This main path splits off into three, and then two, and so forth. It is meant to prevent an enemy from finding its way inside. Will it?"

The accusation in his tone was evident.

I kept to the strong guard's side, by the light of the torch.

"What does the Alpha want with me at this time of night?" I asked quietly, creating conversation to distract from the fact I was indeed memorizing every path we took.

Sending me a skeptical glance back, the guard lowered his voice. "I genuinely have no idea," and much lower, "I don't think he does either."

"What?" I asked, the last part of what he said trailing off and echoing around the cave walls.

He laughed and did not spare me an answer. I did not care.

We made it to the real entrance.

This one was much grander and was carved of the shiny ebony rock. The cycles of the moon were pressed into its face, catching and emanating soft silver energy even in the torchlight.

This door opened for us, revealing the inside of the fortress.

My mouth fell open, as I took in the lavish foyer. The stone walls were braced and warmed with wood beams. Parts of the ceiling were opened to the sky and covered with crystalline glass that illuminated the space with the moon. Amethyst, sapphire, and citrine were placed into the rock, like stars in the night sky.

Hundreds of candles lined the walls to bring back warmth to the space. The rest of the space was almost barren, except for a staircase that led from the room and up to the second floor.

I was more interested in what was right before me. From the back wall hung the Umbra banner, a black wolf reaching its claws for a silver moon. It would have taken me more than a year to weave something that intricate.

"This is beautiful." I let my intrigue get the better of me. Stepping forward and away from the guard, I lifted my hand to the fabric. Shades of gray, silver, and blue made up the background in a pattern the eyes could barely see. The moon was dotted with real lines of silver, and parts of the wolf's fur were stitched to create light and shadow.

Titus coughed, "I would like to go to bed at some point tonight Outcast."

Though I wasn't sorry, my cheeks heated out of embarrassment. I turned around, wrapping my arms around my midsection when I caught the man staring. "Right. My apologies." 

He rolled his eyes, before gesturing to the stairs. "This is the grand foyer, and we are headed up the steps and into the main cabin. All of the floors connected and above it are living chambers." He mentioned it in passing. I wondered what put him in the mood to finally start giving a proper tour.

I consumed everything as I passed it. My heart spiked when I saw a familiar portrait of a man on the wall as we continued to climb the steps. I paused, and the guard noticed.

"Ah, miss the last Alpha?"

To say no would be heresy. I chose silence and continued to walk up the steps. A portrait of a woman with gorgeous dark hair and kind silver eyes was next to make eye contact with me.

"The current alpha's mother, Aurelia, did not die with her husband. Why? I thought when people were mated-" My words cut off as I flushed once more.

"You want to know?"

"Yes."

"Simple answer, they were not mated. Not every Alpha has a mate, as a match for their power is much more rare. He chose his wife from Clan Umbra."

I was so curious that I forgot I shouldn't be speaking.

"What happened to the Queen then?"

"You should ask your mate. It isn't my place to say."

"He won't answer me."

"That isn't my problem."

"Titus."

The guard huffed, stopping abruptly. I ran into his back and was quick to apologize when he turned and glared daggers at me. I didn't take the look to heart, instead creating more distance between us. Despite the glaring and name-calling, this had been my best encounter with a person who wasn't another Outcast.

He sent me one more withering scowl before opening a dark chestnut-colored door. "This will be your chamber from now on. You will come here instead of the Outcast hut."

"What?" I exclaimed, not budging from my spot. Of everything the man could have said, I would have never guessed it would be that. I didn't even look inside the open entrance, I did not want to see what would be ripped away from me in seconds after the guard got tired of playing tricks.

The man did not look amused, "Get in the fucking room Vyra, before I wake up your mate."

I forced my legs to move as my heart protested. I held my breath, shaking my head as I entered. I did not want to see or want to feel what I could never have.

When I felt a little push on my back, my feet stumbling underneath me caused me to open my eyes to catch my fall. I landed on an ottoman of deep, rich plum, my hands squeezed at the material. Next to it were chairs and blankets that had the same luxurious color.

It was a chamber all right, larger than the entire Outcast living space. The ceiling was domed and made of glass, hand-painted with rich blues, purples, and silver. It told a story of the seasons, waving in and out of the night sky and over oceans. The rest of the roughly rounded walls glittered with the same ebony stone that decorated the cave entry, but it was all cut open to reveal the gem underneath.

Bright, arching windows stretched from almost floor to ceiling. I could see down the entire mountainside, through the pine trees, up at the midnight sky, and the glittering snow.

Inside the room lay a bed that seemed to have been plucked from my wildest fantasies. It had a black, metal vine frame covered in a lilac, sheer canopy. The sheets were silver and satin and topped with a large white fur. The pillows were fluffed and I was sure if I fell atop them, I would instantly fall asleep.

Bookshelves carved from natural wood lined the side of the walls, filled with thousands of covers that I never read. Old and new, I wanted them all. The cold stone floors were lined with rugs all threaded with silver, and depicting various constellations. The fireplace was carved out of white stone, which shone pearlescent in the light. The fire itself burned a light blue, conjured from magic to never burn too harshly or to blow out.

There were two other doors in the room. On the western side of the room was carved out of the rock within the wall, and gold in color. I would find out where it led later. On the eastern wall, there was an exit leading out to a balcony and a bathing chamber. I had only heard stories of running water from the other Clans.

That is what finally made the emotion catch in my throat, and fall from my eyes.

"This will really be my room?" I asked, my voice breathless.

"Yes." I did not look at the guard, but I sensed something in him softened. I wiped my eyes, attempting to collect myself.

"I cannot believe this."

A part of me doesn't want to. I can see everything from the windows, even the area where I used to reside. I cannot imagine myself here, warm while the people I grew up with remained cold.

Maybe that was the Alpha's plan, to torture me through guilt and unfairness.

"It is truly yours, Outcast," Titus said once more, emphasizing the word.

I looked up at the ceiling, following the pattern of the moon, stars, and hunters once more. It seemed familiar, but I couldn't remember why.

A baritone voice ripped me from my reverie.

"Welcome home Vyra."

I stood in shock as the Alpha slid past me, and to the golden door in my chamber.

"I'll be off to bed. Enjoy your first night."

His tone intended that I didn't enjoy it at all.

I wouldn't, I thought to myself as the door slammed behind his retreat. The Alpha, the person who wanted me dead, would be sleeping only a room away from me.

Worse things have already arrived.