Chapter 1 EUDORA

Emily

My wrists were bound tightly behind my back, the rough rope cutting into my skin as I stood before a silent crowd. I looked down at myself and barely recognized the woman I was. Rough-spun clothes hung loosely over my body, completely foreign against my skin. I lifted my eyes and searched through the crowd until I found him.

He stood several feet away, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair falling around a sharply defined face. He wore dark leather and heavy furs, but it was his eyes that held me captive. Iron-gray eyes. Cold, controlled, and unreadable.

A murmur passed through the crowd as he stepped toward me.

“Luna Eudora.”

The sound of that name sent a strange pain through me.

Eudora.

He stopped in front of me, his gray eyes never leaving mine.

“You have betrayed this pack, and the sentence is death.”

A metallic sound came from behind me, steel leaving leather. I barely had time to turn before something sharp drove through my chest. Fire exploded inside me, stealing my breath as pain tore through every part of my body. The world tilted beneath my feet, stone and sky blurring together as I fell.

The last thing I saw was his face, then everything went black.

I woke with a sharp pain across my back. For several seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. Then my bedroom slowly came into focus, the familiar walls replacing the strange stone courtyard from my nightmare.

I was home, safe. I pressed a trembling hand against my chest and listened to the steady beat of my heart. The nightmare had returned, again. It had been like this for two years, since I turned eighteen. I had dreamed of the my persecution over and over again.

A sudden burning sensation spread across my back. I winced and reached beneath my cotton nightclothes. My fingers found the dragon-shaped birthmark I had carried since childhood. It was burning hot.

I sucked in a breath and pulled my hand away.

“What the hell?”

A knock sounded on my bedroom door.

“Emily?”

Before I could answer, the door opened and my mum stepped inside with a mug of tea in each hand. Her eyes immediately settled on me.

“Are you all right?” Her face was etched with worry.

I quickly wiped the sweat from my forehead. “I'm fine.”

Her gaze moved over my face, then to my trembling hands.

“Are you still having those nightmares?”

I swallowed.

“No. I haven't had them since I started seeing the therapist.”

Mom studied me for a moment. She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push me either.

“Then you need to get ready. You're already late.”

My eyes moved toward the clock.

My stomach dropped.

It was past seven.

“Oh, God.”

I threw the duvet aside and scrambled out of bed. Today was my first day at Davenport Tech, and being late was the last thing I needed.

Mom handed me one of the mugs.

“Drink your tea while you get dressed.”

“Thanks.”

“And don't forget your doctor's appointment this evening.”

I nodded as I hurried toward the bathroom.

“I won't.”

She gave me one last worried look before leaving.

By the time I was dressed, I was rushing downstairs with my bag over my shoulder. Dad was already at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee beside him and a case file spread open in front of him.

I glanced over his shoulder.

“Isn't it a little early to start looking at dead bodies, Detective?”

Dad chuckled, “Good morning to you too, kiddo.”

I picked up one of the photographs before he could stop me.

My smile disappeared. For a moment, I thought of one of Lily's mythology books. The man's teeth were unnaturally long and sharp, and dark hair covered parts of his face and arms.

“What happened to him?”

Dad gently took the photograph from my hand and placed it back on the table.

“That's what we're trying to find out.”

“Is it the same case you've been working on?”

His jaw tightened.

“Yeah.”

“Unusual.” I frowned at the photograph. “Lily would say they're werewolves, vampires, or whatever supernatural creature she's reading about this week.”

Dad paused, just for a moment.

“Your friend has quite an imagination,” he said carefully.

There was something strange in his voice, but before I could ask about it, he closed the file.

“Don't you have somewhere to be?”

I laughed, “I'm leaving.”

He smiled, “The new job will be good for you.”

I leaned down and kissed his cheek before turning toward Mom, “I love you both.”

“Love you too,” Mom called after me.

I grabbed my bag and hurried out. I was already running late.

Our apartment building stood on an ordinary street lined with neat rows of modern apartments, small shops, parked cars, and the occasional café opening for the morning rush. It was a comfortable neighborhood, nothing extravagant, but far from run-down. People were already moving along the sidewalks, heading to work or school. A woman walked past with a golden retriever tugging happily at its leash, and she smiled when our eyes met.

“Morning,” I called, returning her smile as I hurried past.

I kept checking the time on my phone as I hurried toward the underground station, already imagining my first meeting with my new boss. By the time I reached the station, I could see the train pulling away from the platform. I rushed down the stairs, but I was too late. The train disappeared into the tunnel before I could reach it.

I checked the time again. There was no way I could wait for the next one.

I hurried back onto the street and began searching for a cab, my mind already on my new job and the impression I would make on my first day. I was so focused on getting to Davenport Tech that I didn't notice the traffic light had turned red.

I stepped onto the road just as a loud horn blasted through the air, followed by the violent screech of tires against the pavement. I turned and saw a car coming straight toward me.

My heart lurched as I realized there was no time to move. Instinctively, I threw my hands over my head and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the impact.