Forbidden

Chapter 39

39

 

I bounded toward the Sacred Line, horrified to find no wolves there waiting for me.

That was until I saw the black smoke that billowed above the trees.

What were they doing?

Shaking my head, I vaulted across the Sacred Line, racing toward the ceremonial clearing. Obviously when I didn't run after Tegan last night they would be worried, but as I neared the clearing, I realized just how foolish I was indeed, running into the eyes of the snake who would kill me, hoping to reason with it. I pushed aside that thought as I burst into the clearing...

And had the fright of my life.

The entire Pack, men, women, children, even the elders were seated on the concrete courtyard, watching my father and his men who stood in the middle. They kept a cacophony of noise, but all fell silent when their eyes fell upon me.

My father spun around to find the cause of the Pack's silence.

And his eyes widened as he took me in.

But in a few moments, it was all gone.

He snarled loudly, and pointed at me.

"Seize her."

At that moment I had never felt so disowned in my life. But I kept a high head, controlling my temper and refusing to let the tears that wanted to drip from my eyes slide down my cheeks. But I kept my chin up, the hard expression on my face refusing to stray. I would survive this.

I let the two men—my uncles, who held such passive expressions on their faces that I could hardly look them in the eye—grab me by the tops of my arms and drag me into the middle of the courtyard. The smell of ashes and smoke was thick in the air, almost suffocating me. But it was coming from the Sacred Pillars upon entrance to the ceremonial clearing, and they had not been lit for at least a thousand years.

Only to be lit now.

"You've betrayed us." my father said in a cold, almost disbelieving voice.

The Pack broke into a roar of agreement. Never had I seen them so full of anger and disdain. Their jeers unsettled me. Where were the peaceful people I'd grown to know and love? The people I'd turned away from Liam for? Was this how my people chose to treat me? Upon hearsay and not the truth?

"Have you nothing to say?" my father asked when the noise died down. The cackle of the embers in the Pillars were the perfect musical accompaniment to his cold voice. "After you betrayed us to a Shadow Wolf?"

"I prefer not to call it a betrayal." I said boldy, and heard the gasps of the Pack around me. "He is my Mate, and I love him, just as you love my mother." I lowered my voice so only my father would hear. "Do you remember when we spoke about this at the celebration? I was never meant for Randel. My heart lies with a Shadow."