Prologue
1443 Words
Thetis dipped her head under the water, holding her breath for a moment and soaking in the quiet. It was her wedding day. She should’ve been getting ready, but she just couldn’t bring herself to care.
Marriage is way more important than the wedding itself, she thought.
She was about to marry the love of her life—her best friend, the father of her unborn baby. The thought brought a soft smile to her lips as she gently rested a hand on her bare belly. It’d still be months before her pregnancy started to show, but she could hardly wait to meet her little girl. Because it had to be a girl. She just knew.
A white eagle soared across the bright blue sky, its majestic wings glinting in the sunlight, before it landed gracefully on a stone at the riverbank. Thetis felt its sharp gaze fixed on her, almost like it was judging her.
"I know, I know, I’m going," she said aloud, pretending the eagle was some nosy old friend. Not that she had any real ones. Most of the girls her age were catty and shallow. Ever since her mom died, she’d felt utterly alone. Her father was always working and had barely time to spend with her.
But not anymore. Everything was about to change. She was marrying Peleus, her best friend, her anchor, her safe haven.
Reluctantly, she stepped out of the river Styx and started walking back toward the packhouse, her cotton dress dripping on the floor. If it were up to her, she’d spend the whole day by the water, but that wasn’t an option. As the Alpha’s daughter, her wedding wasn’t just personal—it was a big deal for the pack. Their numbers were dwindling, and as lycans, keeping the bloodline alive wasn’t just important—it was crucial.
As she passed the gardens, Thetis saw the big tent raised especially for the celebration. The place was beautifully decorated, with pink rose arrangements, candles, and dried leaves scattered down the aisle. She kept to the shadows, making sure the early guests didn’t spot her. She slipped behind some bushes, out of sight, but her sensitive ears still picked up bits of conversation from a group of she-wolves nearby. The musicians were already playing, but Thetis hearing was pretty sharp, even above the lycans.
"I still don’t get why the Alpha’s letting his daughter marry a vampire! Isn’t he worried about mixing their blood? There are only a few lycans left."
Thetis recognized the woman. It was Hera, the baker, who made the cake. The phony woman was all smiles when Thetis was at her shop in the nearby pack. Now her tongue was dripping in venom.
"Right? Our Alpha would never. Mixing blood is a disaster." Said Athena, Hera’s sister. Thetis had met her once, too.
"Maybe this Alpha needs a real woman by his side to make him stronger. Have you seen how hot he is?" The third one added. She was taller, curvier, and prettier than the other two. Thetis had never seen her before.
"The man’s a god! But since his Luna died, he’s only taking another one if she’s his second chance mate." She sighed. "I’d do anything for him to choose me."
Thetis didn’t want to stick around to hear more. It was always the same gossip, the same judgmental nonsense. She was so over it.
But just as she was about to leave, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Hello, girls," Eris appeared as a shadow, her sweet, syrupy tone cut through the chatter. What was she doing here? Thetis was sure her father hadn’t invited the witch. Eris thrived on chaos.
"Eris! You look a-ma-zing!" Hera squealed, practically falling over herself.
"Oh my gosh, your dress is gorgeous!" Athena chimed in, her eyes scanning Eris from head to toe. "The bride doesn’t stand a chance next to you."
"Aw, thanks," Eris said, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I couldn’t help overhearing your chat about mating the Alpha. Thought I might have a solution."
"What kind of solution? Are you going to convince him that mates don’t matter?" Hera asked, her voice practically begging.
"Nope, I’ve got something better." Eris leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Ever heard of the golden cider?"
"The forbidden mating potion? The one that fakes the mate bond?" Athena’s eyes widened like she’d just been let in on a massive secret.
"That’s the one. I can make it for you—but it comes with a catch. Just tell me where I can find the sacred chalice, and it’s all yours."
"Oh, come on, Eris. Everyone knows that chalice is just a myth," the prettier one scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Too bad." Eris clicked her tongue, feigning disappointment. "Guess I’ll keep the potion and mate the Lycan Alpha myself..."
She turned as if to leave, but Athena jumped in. "Wait! A friend of mine was f.ucking the groom. According to her, he has it stashed away somewhere. He stole it from the vampire king himself."
Thetis froze. What?! Peleus was an honored man. He would never cheat on her. And this chalice… he had never said anything about this, and it wasn’t the kind of thing you’d just casually forget. That was probably a hunch of lies.
"Really?" Eris dragged the word, her voice dripped with malice. "Do you know where?"
"That’s all I know, honestly," Athena admitted sheepishly. "So, can I have the potion now?"
Eris stepped back, setting the potion down. "Here you go, ladies. May the fairest among you win the golden cider," she said with a sly grin before strutting off and vanishing into the shadows.
The atmosphere felt charged, like the calm before a storm. A chill ran down Thetis's spine, warning her that trouble was brewing.
The three women paused for a moment, their eyes fixed on the potion like predators circling their prey. Then, suddenly, they lunged for it. The scene turned into a frenzy—hair pulled, nails clawed, dresses ripped—nothing was off-limits in their battle for the flask.
The commotion drew glances from the guests, who whispered nervously among themselves, shifting in their seats with unease.
On the ground, the women wrestled and screamed, their voices cutting through the music. The potion switched hands over and over as each declared she was the most deserving of its power.
Then chaos struck—a single candle tipped over. Its flame found the lace decorating the chairs and raced along the dried leaves lining the aisle. In an instant, the fire roared to life.
People panicked, overturning chairs and scrambling in every direction, desperate to escape the growing inferno.
Thetis didn’t hesitate. She rushed out. Her only thought was to find Peleus and her father.
Eris watched from the sidelines, a cruel smile playing on her lips. Her expression radiated satisfaction as the terrified guests tried to flee, only to find their path blocked by an army waiting for them.
"Take the lycan women alive. Kill the rest," Eris commanded, her voice calm yet merciless.
With the smoke thick and blinding, the guests didn’t stand a chance. Even if the glycans were stronger than the werewolves, their numbers were significantly lower. The warriors took them down quickly. The lycan women were shackled in heavy silver chains and loaded onto trucks. Their loved ones lay dead in heaps, lifeless and forgotten.
Thetis scanned the destruction. Her father’s body caught her eye, crumpled in a corner. He’d taken down a handful of warriors before they got him, but it hadn’t been enough. He was gone. Her heart sank—her pack was destroyed.
Among the chaos, Peleus was nowhere in sight. Then Eris’s furious scream shattered the moment. "That sly vampire! He escaped—and took the chalice!"
Through the smoke and wreckage, Thetis spotted something. Hidden in the shadows, Peleus stood still, his face calm but unreadable. Their eyes met briefly, and with the tiniest shake of his head, he gave her a silent signal.
How could he leave her like this? She had thought he was her anchor, but in the end, he drifted away and left her drowning.
"Pack everything up. We need to bring these people to the lab. They need more breeders." Eris shouted to her warriors before they started to move the trucks.
Through her wet lashes, Thetis took one last look at Peleus before he slipped away like a fleeting dream. The last thing she saw was the golden glint of the chalice in his hand.
- Writer
