Page 8 of Rituals & Runes

“Well, I don’t.”

A woman to his right wrote on a pad of paper and then glared at me. “Is it true that you’re half-human?”

My body went rigid. A heavy lump, like a clump of sand, formed in my throat. Oh, my dear. Of course, she knew the answer. Every single wolf in this room could smell it on me, so no use in lying.

But by speaking the truth, I was sending myself to the grave.

As if I had a choice...

I swallowed around the scratchy sensation. “That I am, half-human, half-wolf...and that’s why I’m alone.”

The last words came out shakier than I intended. I wasn’t used to putting my entire life on display, wasn’t used to talking about the things that had wounded me the most

Murmurs, mumbles, and grumbles rolled through the crowd like a crashing wave. Some whispered things that bordered on insults but with Kaden’s earlier eruption, they curbed themselves.

Still, a low warning snarl tore from Kaden. He didn’t bother looking around. His alpha intensity shot over the room chilling my blood as everyone silenced themselves.

And again, an odd warmth filled my sternum. He’d protected me then, and that protection reverberated out as an alert to the pack. For once, I wouldn’t have to listen to the harsh words that would have echoed those that my pack had degraded me with.

Dan raised a hand in the air. “Enough. And what pack are you from?”

My gaze fell to the floor like heavy stones. I sighed heavily and folded my lips into my mouth.

Kaden nudged me. “Aila, you must answer.”

I opened my mouth, not for Dan, not for the shifters in this room, nor for anyone else, but for Kaden. Unsure why, a foreign impulse came over me to obey and aid him, though I still didn’t know his cause.

“Firebrand Pack.”

Multiple people gasped. I’d confirmed my enemy status.

Kaden didn’t respond remaining resolute and impassive in his expression. For some reason, not knowing what he felt about it made my insides bristle with anxiety.

Dan raised a hand in the air again. “Do you know why Alpha Kaden brought you here?”

I shook my head.

“You’re to be sacrificed on the Full Moon Winter Solstice. Our Alpha brought you to your death.”

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