Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Kinslee POV

“I actually don’t mind leaving this place to go to the academy. It’s on a gorgeous, mystical island,” Reya said.

“An island that belongs to the Lycan King. He’s a beast. Any creature cursed by the moon goddess is destined to descend into madness.”

She laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re scared.”

“Worried. Not scared. I can defend myself against any wolf. Who knows what that beast has in store for hundreds of Alpha heirs training in his territory?”

“Well, he’s not just any wolf, is he? He’s a Lycan and part warlock. A deadly combination. I kind of like it.”

“Of course you do, Reya!” I groaned. “You’ve always had a taste for bad boys.”

She laughed. “The Lycan King isn’t a boy. He’s a man. I’m just saying it’ll be nice to be away from here.”

“We’ve never left home,” I replied.

She stopped and smiled at me. “We’ve never left each other either. Yet, you’re getting married.”

“You do know this whole prophecy thing could be nonsense. There are always loopholes.”

“Hmm, you think so?”

“Isn’t that what Leilani always said?”

“Yeah, the old bat always said that. I can’t help but feel they’re hiding more.”

She continued walking.

“What do you mean?”

“If I really am going to bring disaster, should I just believe they’re going to let me live?”

“You’re the Alpha's daughter. No one would hurt you.”

“You underestimate our father. Stop thinking the world is rainbows and fairy dust, Kinslee. You need to change now before we leave for the academy, or else you’ll be eaten alive on your first day.”

She rounded the corner and marched into her bedroom. My sister and I were night and day, but as identical as sand. I had to understand her, though. She’s been hard done by our family and the council. She was always the outspoken one, the better trainer and fierce.

That’s if the prophecy marks aren’t switched, and I’m the one with the bad mark. That could effectively end my engagement with Alpha Raiden.

Speaking of Raiden, he walked out of father’s study. He stopped when he saw us.

“You really are identical, but I know who my woman is,” Raiden said.

He took my face in his hands and leaned in for a kiss.

“Raiden!” I hissed. “We can’t do that.”

“If you don’t, someone else will, Kinslee,” Reya said.

I gasped at her bluntness.

“See, Reya won’t tell anyone.”

Heat scattered across my nose. Raiden closed his lips on mine before I could think. He forced my teeth apart and darted his tongue into my mouth. I felt like I was drowning, but tried to keep my composure.

His hand moved from my face to my ass. He squeezed, and my eyes popped wide open.

He broke the kiss, and I was finally allowed to breathe.

“That’s just a taste, my Luna. I can’t wait to have you. We won’t be confined by your pack’s silly ancient rules when we make it to Aldercrest Academy.”

“But, but---”

“I have to go. The bonfire’s waiting for me. Goodnight, mate.”

“Right,” I cleared my throat. “Goodnight.”

Raiden marked off. I could still feel his body pressed against mine and his tongue tasting the corners of my mouth. No one had ever kissed me that way. Yet the spark I’d always heard about between wolves was missing.

“You’re pathetic,” Reya mumbled.

“I didn’t plan that,” I said softly.

“Of course not. You’re too timid. You know Alphas always take bedmates.”

“Reya!” I snapped.

She smirked. “If you don’t show that type of anger, then your mate will be fucking an omega in the same bed you’re in and you won’t have a say.”

I calmed my breathing. “We’re on a mission, remember? The prophecy marks are our priority right now.”

Reya nodded. “You’re right.”

“Let’s not go to your room. “Let’s go to the tower. It was our favourite place when we were kids, remember?”

“How could I forget? Mom was always mad at us for disappearing.”

We’d done everything together. I didn’t want the prophecy or Raiden to come between us. We climbed the many devastating stairs to get to the tower.

“This place is filthy,” I said.

We’d been coming up here to hide from the house help for years. However, we stopped somewhere along the line. Reya immediately opened the window to let out the dust bunnies. The furniture had been covered with white sheets.

I wandered to the window and watched the crescent moon hanging above us. The bonfire was happening on the other side of the castle. The tower overlooked Mother’s favourite gardens and the duck pond to the west. In a few days, the first hunt of the month would take place, and then my sister and I would leave to get training to become the best leaders we can be.

When we return, Father will pick who he wants to succeed him. Reya and I are a few seconds apart. Actually, no one knows who was born first. Mother had a home birth, and the midwife got confused about which child came out first.

I think Reya’s the oldest because she’s so bossy.

“I wonder…” my sister started.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Who is the powerful Alpha the prophecy talks about? Is it Raiden?”

“So many grey areas. The truth is, we don’t know.”

“It’s fifteen minutes to midnight. The council’s going to be looking for us.”

“We’ll tell them after the marks appear, Reya. If they appear.”

I was a little sceptical about this. My sister and I had lived sheltered lives up until this point. We weren’t allowed to travel to other packs when our parents travelled for pack meetings and treaty hearings. However, we knew all our father’s enemies.

He subconsciously trained us to be ready to take his position.

The werewolf world could be an unstable place. However, Alpha Dillion had managed to destroy anyone who came to our doorstep uninvited.

“We have five minutes until the marks appear,” Reya said, her breathing got heavier.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Whatever happens, it doesn’t change anything between us.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Easy for you to say.”

Reya buckled forward and cried out. She clutched her arm. “It’s happening.”

She stumbled to the tower door and locked it. We were plunged into darkness with only the moonlight filling the tower.

“What are you doing—”

A burning sensation formed on my arm. It was like a hot pen drew something on my flesh.

I clawed at my shirt to remove it.

“It burns!” I cried.

“Just a little longer,” Reya said.

I ripped my sleeve off just as the blue circle tattoo finished drawing itself. A blue moon with the eyes of a wolf inside it.

“The mark of Mayari,” my wolf said. “You’re the bringer of life!”

Which means my sister is the bringer of death!

Reya pulled herself up. “Just like the old bat foretold. I am the bringer of death!”

“We can have the marks removed. There are always loopholes,” I said, almost pleading.

“I know,” Reya said. She panted and wiped sweat off her forehead.

She pulled out a violet stone from her pocket and aimed it at me.

“Danger,” my wolf warned.

“I found a loophole, Kinslee.”