Blood of the Forgotten Alpha

en's

e Blood Ceremony wa

'd feel was the

d me that my blo

glow seeped through the trees, turning the forest into a hush

art thrumming like a trapped bird. All around the Blood Alta

Seeress called. "Step forward. L

t but certain. My mother used to say the land remembers our names. To

the ceremonial blade. The hilt vib

sita

hen I

led across

d a flick

altar explo

ders cried out. Some fell to their knees. A pulse tore th

o longer Elow

eins. My body arched, shaking w

lammed th

ith burn

nsuming

or tha

d distant-whisperin

ever meant to

, si

to, the mo

ring in terror. "The altar sho

s cur

she's m

arefully. Her hands hove

not Ashclaw blood. This is

"they were born here. I-I

rt of

at moment, I

nd pre

me-but awaken

-

hing the rites. No welcome chant. No

loody from the broken roots beneath me. I d

t, trying to wash away whatever I'd become. But my reflection

en I h

ot supposed

rough, more sh

ped-and fell. But an arm cau

e'd done it before. Like

hair falling in loose waves across a scarred brow. His scent hi

ispered. "W

dn't

e like he was trying to rem

aid finally. "It called a

rt stu

cursed

leaned closer,

aid. Everything abou

I felt w

avity had

l like I know

ruths aren't remembered by the mind

tant-and brushed a stran

touched my skin, the

Ti

un

ery f

it... s

is, not by decision-but by insti

beat, I wanted

he world and l

pped back.

hed. "It's sta

at

e b

"That's not possible. Th

aren't forged by rituals. They were writt

it too," I

n't de

hy pull

is sides. "Because if I

ward. "Maybe I do

-equal parts long

u don't know what you carry. And if we follo

," I co

tered and furi

he turned tow

s your name

pau

Kae

e was

his touch still bu

piece I'd never known was

-

iver, the wind carried a

belong here... because you

n my mind long af

a

oosen. My skin still tingled where he touched me-whe

arely working. Somewhere deep inside, something had stir

e blood-mark still pulsing faintly beneath m

trees, and for a split second, I

his voice.

he same weight.

lt it in

still

n body, but

egun to thread i

eremony. More than Lucien's rejection

't just a strange

He had come. He had known m

ll... I had le

hi

hat near-kiss. Of the way his breath had stuttere

happened if he h

still be

ed into him, like a sp

ent. Its light shimmered across the water, casti

i

d

e was

k. Of what the elders would say. Of

myself whisperi

el.

in answer, but n

the

fire in

ulled to my chest, heart aching

it f

cu

ist

oment his eyes locked with mine. The moment the whole world fell

ones forged before the Moon gave rules. Th

bonds always

... I wanted to