Chapter 8 (The Ritual 2)

Kaelenya's pov

The chief priest turned towards Alpha Roman, bowing deeply before extending a palm frond with both hands. Roman stood up, his towering frame commanding silence, and he accepted palm fond from the priest without a word.

He slowly moved to the center of the open space where a stone altar was arranged. It draped in white and silver. Immediately he stood in front of it, the crowd fell to their knees as the priest resumed his chant. The air was filled with bows and murmurs.

Then suddenly, Roman stopped. He froze mid-step, with his head tilting slightly as if catching a distant sound. His blue eyes were narrowed, fixed on something no one else could see.

My heart skipped, and I followed his gaze, but there was nothing...just the shadow of trees.

You?Roman screamed, pointing at the empty space with shaky hands, and without warning, the palm frond slipped from his grasp and dropped to the ground.

The whole crowd screamed in fear and gasps followed immediately. According to the law of the ritual, the palm frond must never touch the ground.

What are you doing here?Romans voice thundered into the empty space, sharp enough to interrupt the prayers.

Every head snapped toward the empty space where he stared. They all stared back at each other, wondering who he was talking to.

How dare you,he roared, his voice carrying the force of a storm. He dipped his hand in his pocket and drew a blade that gleamed like a shard of moonlight.

At the sight of the blade, the gasps deepened, people shifted back in fear.

Oh he laughed historically. You think you can make a fool of me here?His eyes widened. Get out of here now!His voice cracked as he yelled.

He surged forward, moving toward the unseen presence. But as he moved, his trouser leg snagged on the altars cloth,and with a single violent pull, the entire covering ripped free. Bowls of sacred herbs, silver vessels, and glowing moonstones crashed to the ground.

The sound echoed like a warning bell, and

the crowd recoiled, some screaming, others falling to their knees.

Never...never...in the history of the ritual had the altar been defiled.

He didn't stop, he didn't even look back, all his attention was on the invincible image he was seeing.

My fingers gripped the handle of the chair really tight, as I stared at him. What exactly is he seeing... what could be happening to him...has he gone mad? I pondered to myself.

The elders didn't look surprised, nor did the guards. That means, this wasn't the first time something like this was happening.

I could feel my heart beating so fast, I didn't even know how I felt, it was a mixture of fear and worry.

His head guard Joshua screamed, "Protect the Alpha,"and all the guards ran towards him, trying to hold him and take the blade away from his hand.

After much trying, they succeeded in pining him down. As they carried him back to his room, he kept screaming, "Leave me alone Zach… let me be."

Who the hell is Zack? I shot up from my chair immediately, and followed them. I really don't know why I followed them, because I knew I wasn't useful, but I still followed anyway.

"You can't come in Luna,"Joshua said, blocking the way to the door. "Don't worry, he will be fine."And with that he walked inside and they shut the day.

I tried stretching my neck to peep inside, to see what was going on, but I didn't see a thing.

"Let's go Luna,"Janet said calmly, startling me from behind. They will take care of him, by morning, everything will be okay.

I stood still for a little while, my eyes moved between Janet and Romans room. I took a deep breath, and walked into my quarters, with her behind me.

When I got in, I couldn't sit still, I kept pacing the room, my eyes moving from the corners of my room to Janet standing in front of me.

Janet didn't look shaken at all, she just stood there, with her hands crossed in front staring at me.

"You don't look surprised?"I asked her, sitting on the stool close to the bed. She shook her head, "No I don't, it isn't something new, it happens regularly."

"What?"my face twisted in disbelief.

"Yes, sometimes he even injures people when it happens."

My eyes rolled in deep thoughts. Yes rumor has it that he was a drunkard and did horrible things, but he isn't a drunkard at all, yes he liked drinking, but what I saw today was something deeper... like someone being tormented.

"Who…who is Zack?I turned my face to her. Because he kept screaming Zack leave me alone. So I'm sure that's who he was seeing."

She took a deep breath, and removed her hands from her side. "Zack is his elder brother, our former Alpha."

My eyes widened. Oh now I understand, he is the one people say he murdered just to take the title from. I always thought that wasn't true, that it was just mere rumors, but seeing what just happened, I am convinced it is true.

I turned again to Janet, "But it's been almost a month since I arrived here, and I haven't seen anything like this, so why today."

She moved closer to me, and whispered. "He always drinks, that is the only way, he doesn't see anything. But today, he couldn't drink because of the ritual, so his eyes are clear, that's why."

Oh, now I get the drinking part. He drinks to hide away from his sins. What a shame. I rubbed my palms together, my heart thudding. But how can he kill his own brother just for a title.

"He is evil and wicked,"Janet whispered, leaning closer, her eyes shifting nervously around the room.

Shuuu.My eyes widened, and my hand flying to my chest, "Why would you say that, don't let anyone hear you."I hushed her, lowering my head as if the walls could listen.

"But it's the truth,"she continued, her voice trembling as she gripped the hem of her dress. "Do you know, he isn't even supposed to be the next in line."

"What?"I asked curiously, leaning forward, my brows knitting in confusion.

"Yes, it's meant to be his brother Stephen. But somehow before he killed Zach, he made him write a transfer of the title to him."

My eyes rolled in confusion my fingers slowly rubbing against each other, "But is that even possible?"

"Yes, somehow it is, and Alpha Roman made it happen. He is very powerful, everyone, including his brother Stephen fears him."

She moved closer again, her eyes darting around as if checking for hidden ears, her voice dropping lower. "Why do you think he married outside the pack, because all the elders were scared to give their daughters to him."

My eyes swept over her, "How did you even know all these things Janet?"

"We maids, we hear and see things others don't."

I just stared at her, with my mind lost in thoughts. So I was the scapegoat to a tormented Alpha.