Chapter 2
Txälina
The mating ceremony with Beta Mätxin was filled with fear. The ceremony went as everyone had planned, and after that, I would be marked by Mätxin so that I wouldn't be drawn to another male, so that I would belong to him forever. The thought sent shivers down my spine.
It was an endless day of drinking, feasting, and fighting, as was the tradition of the Säli pack
I sat down next to Beta Mätxin, who watched the fight with excitement in his eyes. Kaluen sat not far from me, his mate beside him. She had bruises on her neck and face from being beaten every day by Kaluen. The females were treated horribly, and the males didn't care, even if they were carrying their offspring.
I forced myself to keep a smile on my face, scanning the hall for Mätlitu, but he was nowhere in sight.
What if he was dead?
What if he had been killed by other males at the training camp?
Tears stung my eyes at the thought, and I shook my head, not wanting to anger Kaluen. Mätxin barely glanced in my direction; he was more focused on the men fighting.
I sat there, watching as the women were treated horribly, and I whispered to myself, This isn't my fate. I will escape.
The first female fell after being forced to drink wolfsbane to the point where her body could no longer endure it. The warriors dragged her away, and another was brought in to entertain Mätxin. I looked away, frightened when I realized what was happening.
They were going to kill her too.
As the hours passed, I drowned myself in a goblet of wine. I was afraid of what would happen after the ceremony. I would have to mate with Mätxin, and he would put his seed inside me.
The thought of his hands on my skin made me feel disgusted, and I gulped more wine.
When night finally came, Mätxin stood from his chair, the crowd hailing him. He pulled me to his side.
It was time for the gifts.
Kaluen's breeding mate, Täneli, came forward and handed me a small dagger. I smiled at her. She leaned in, whispering something I couldn't hear. Then she pulled away and moved back to Kaluen's side. More people came offering their gifts to me.
Mätxin wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me up like a child.
The people cheered for him, raising their goblets.
I shivered, knowing what was about to happen.
He carried me out of the hall, far from the noise. I didn't know where he was taking me, it was very dark outside. When he finally set me down, I stared at a camp filled with different warriors. I looked around, trying to find my boy, but I wasn't given enough time before I was pulled into a building.
Mätxin led me down a hallway to his room. When we entered, I looked around. The room was large, with a king-sized bed, a fireplace to warm the room, a table, and a chair.
"Undress," he said.
My heart sank. I took a step back, my fingers clutching the hem of my dress.
"No," I shook my head. "Please, don't do this… I beg of you, give me some time."
Mätxin lifted his hand and wrapped it around my neck.
"Strip."
He touched my hair, and though I expected it to comfort me, I was repulsed.
"Please…"
My mind drifted to the life I could have had if things were different. I thought about Mätlitu and the life I had wished for us both.
This wasn't the kind of life I wanted. I didn't want to be a breeder. I didn't want to endure suffering every day. But I also knew that escaping the Säli pack was dangerous and could mean death. Still, I couldn't stop myself from wanting something more than this.
I looked at the man holding my neck, his patience wearing thin as I did nothing.
"Don't make me hurt you."
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
His grip tightened. "You better behave."
I reached out to pull his fingers from my neck, but he only dug them deeper into my skin. I winced.
"This ceremony is a lie. You bind me to make me your breeder. The goddess, Säli, see you for what you are."
"Don't test me, woman," he snarled, shoving me. I staggered backward, coughing and rubbing my neck.
"Take your clothes off. Now!"
"Are you going to hit me if I don't?"
"You think I won't?" he asked, his eyes darkening.
I coughed.
"I think all your bastards are capable of hitting your mates," the words slipped from my mouth but i didn't regret it even though i know the danger of what will happen.
His frown deepened, and he stormed toward me, yanking my hair. I screamed as he pulled tightly, my flowered wreath falling from my head. He struck me on the back, and I fell to the bed.
I coughed and turned onto my back. He climbed on top of me, kneeling on my thighs. I cried out in pain, then remembered the dagger Täneli had gifted me. It was digging into my thigh.
He pressed down on my neck with both hands, his knees pinning my legs. I struggled to breathe.
"Your kind is only good for breeding and dying, don't forget that," he hissed, tugging my dress up in quick, angry pulls.
He saw the dagger, and before i could reach for it, he pulled it from me, eyes darkening with anger.
Something filled me. A dark ancient power rushed through me, flooding my mind with visions of his death. I saw myself carrying a blade and slicing through his neck. The ancient power pulsed with pleasure at the thought. I imagined him gasping for air as i drained the life out of him.
Säli men would pay with their blood, a voice echoed inside me. They would pay with their blood. I want to feel his blood on my palm, watch him die.
Mätxin pressed the dagger against my cheek, the sharp blade digging into my flesh, drawing blood.
"You plan on using this weapon to kill the great wolf of Säli pack?" He mocked. "You can't even defend yourself."
His hand around my neck tightened.
"Stop!"
The voice that came out wasn't mine. It barked through the room, ancient, and vibrating with power.
Mätxin's body froze. The hand holding the dagger trembled and the dagger slipped from him. His eyes stared at me, wide and filled with confusion for a moment.
Then he shook his head, and deeply growled. His growl was deep and violent, and it shook me, making me purr. But the ancient was still inside me. I could feel it.
"What….. what did you do to me?" He stuttered. "Säli women aren't supposed to have access to the moon powers."
The voice laughed out of me.
"But we do. Your blood will be the first price Säli men pay."
Mätxin's eyes widened and he reached to grab my neck but the voice stopped him.
"Kneel."
His body dropped to his knees. He shook his head, eyes glowing yellow. He tried to summon his wolf. But nothing came. I couldn't believe Beta Mätxin of all people was on his knees in front of a woman.
My fingers curled around the dagger and i rose to my feet, closing the distance between us.
I felt warmer. I felt ancient. I felt alive.
"No wait...please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Too late," the voice that left my lips was cold.
I raised the dagger and sliced it through his neck. His warm blood splashed across my face. I stepped back with a broad smile.
Mätxin gurgled, clutching his neck, choking on his blood. His eyes locked with mine, wide, and pleading. Then at last, he crumpled to the floor.
I stared.
I smiled.
I have never felt this good in all my life. I had never felt this alive.
All of a sudden, the dagger slipped out of my hand and i stared at my blood soaked gown and hands. I gasped. The power vanished from inside me. I panicked, taking a step backward.
I had killed him. The Beta of Säli pack is dead.
I quickly made a run for the door, heart pounding heavily against my chest.