Bound to the Ruthless Alpha Cassian

Chapter 2

Riya's POV:

The Moon Goddess always had a reason for everything, but no matter what, I would never understand her reason for bounding me to my stepsister's man who was the Alpha of the neighboring pack. He supposed to seal an alliance through marriage to her, not awaken my dormant wolf with a single glance.

‘This can't be happening to me, the priestess sworn to a life of solitude and service.’ I muttered under my breath, and before Killian could utter a word to me, before his lips could form the questions I saw brewing in his intense green eyes, I spun on my heel, aiming for the door, but he rushed forward, his strong hand closing around my wrist.

The contact sent sparks racing up my arm, igniting the bond further, and I froze as the entire hall erupted in gasps, the sound rippling through the crowd like a wave. Guests turned to stare, and their conversations halted mid-sentence.

My father stepped forward first, while Lyra followed close behind, and then came Vivienne, my stepmother, her emerald dress rustling with each step. "Alpha Killian." Father said, his voice booming with alpha authority. "What is the meaning of this? What has Riya done?"

Vivienne crossed her arms, her lips curling into a sneer. "Yes, what mischief has the priestess stirred now?" Lyra's eyes flashed with jealousy, her hands clenched at her sides. "Killian, let her go. She's just... she's just trying to ruin everything!"

To my greatest surprise, and horror, Killian didn't release me. Instead, he straightened to his full height, his jaw set in determination. His voice rang out, clear and commanding, echoing off the high ceilings. "Riya is my mate. The Moon Goddess has bound us. Because of this, I can no longer marry Lyra."

Gasps erupted anew, louder this time, a cacophony of shock that made my ears ring. Whispers turned to murmurs: "The priestess? But she's vowed to the Goddess!" "What about the alliance?" "This is scandalous!" I felt the weight of every stare, like pins pricking my skin.

Father's face paled, Vivienne's turned red with fury, and Lyra staggered back, with her hand flying to her mouth. I couldn't bear the judgmental stares, so I yanked my wrist from Killian's grasp, the bond protesting with an ache in my chest.

Without another word, I bolted from the hall, pushing past servants and guests, my vision blurring with unshed tears. The cold night air hit me as I burst through a side door into the gardens, the scent of blooming night jasmine doing little to soothe the chaos inside me so I ran until my lungs burned, collapsing onto a stone bench hidden among the hedges.

It wasn't long before footsteps crunched on the gravel path and I looked up to see Lyra, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and accusing. She was heartbroken, that much was clear, but her grief twisted into rage as she stormed toward me.

"You thief!" She spat, her voice breaking. "How could you? You stole my mate! All these years, you've been lurking in that temple, pretending to be holy, and now this? You seduced him with your... your priestess tricks!"

I stood, my own heartache mirroring hers, but I shunned her words, turning away to gaze at the moon hanging full in the sky. "Leave me, Lyra. This isn't my doing."

But she grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "Admit it! You wanted this. You've always been jealous of me!"

“Jealous? Of what? Your betrothal to a man who was never yours by fate? Go back to the hall, sister. This bond isn't something I asked for." I snapped and she sobbed, collapsing to her knees. "You'll pay for this, Riya. You'll see." With that, she fled, her cries fading into the night.

Alone again, I sank to the ground, tilting my head back as I whispered to the heavens. "Moon Goddess, why? Why bind me to him? I'm Your servant, vowed to purity and isolation. Why torment me with a mate I can't have?"

Frustrated, I sat there for what felt like hours until I finally decided to let things happen at the Moon Goddess's will. But what I never expected was that Killian would start going after me, persistently, promising to set me free from a life of isolation and although his words painted a picture of a life I'd never dared dream of, I still declined, telling him to go back to Lyra.

Yet, Killian never gave up and slowly, I found myself doubting my vows as my heart softened toward him. Each day passing, I felt more drawn to him because I'd been hated my whole life, called an outcast since Ophelia's death. But Killian accepted me, and made me feel loved with simple gestures.

Still, I knew that I had a responsibility to carry on for my pack, even though they'd treated me as an outcast. So, one fateful night, I decided to end everything. I slipped through the shadowed halls to Killian's chamber, and pushed the door open only to see him standing at the edge of his bed with his shirt unbuttoned, revealing the muscles beneath.

Shoving down the tension in my chest, I rejected the bond, demanding that he accepted my rejection and his eyes darkened with desire as he closed the distance. “What…” My words were cut off when his lips crashed onto mine and I melted into him.

Clothes fell away in a frenzy, our bodies entwining on the sheets but as dawn broke, shame flooded me. As the High Priestess, I was meant to be a virgin till my death and now this one act had shattered my purity.

“Leave with Lyra.” I said to him, as I dressed hastily. "Marry her as planned, and never look for me again."

"Riya, wait!" He pleaded, reaching for me but I stormed out of the room. And ever since then, anytime Killian came to look for me after that, I had Selene inform him that I wasn't interested in becoming his mate but I could not deny my feelings for him.

At some point, I contemplated accepting him until I was called by my father to his study, and Vivienne was there, perched like a vulture, her eyes filled with malice. "You little whore.” She snarled as soon as I entered. "Seductress! You've ruined everything by stealing your sister's mate. How dare you, you temple rat?"

I flinched, but held my ground. "I didn't…"

Alpha Donovan joined in, his face thunderous. "You've brought shame on this pack, Riya. Parading your so-called bond like some common she-wolf. We raised you better than this."

"Raised me?" I echoed, heartbreak cracking my voice. "You've treated me like an outsider since Mother died. But fine, I promise I'll never cross paths with Killian again."

I returned to the temple, throwing myself into my duties, from sweeping the floors until my hands blistered, to chanting prayers until my throat ached, all to drown the pain. Selene pleaded with me to take a break, but I only shoved her aside and continued until the room spun, and I fainted, collapsing onto the cold stone.

Through blurry eyes, I saw as Selene rushed out of the temple, then she returned with the physician, an elderly wolf named Elara, who bustled in with her satchel of herbs. After examining me, by pressing on my abdomen, and listening to my heartbeat, Elara announced. "Priestess Riya, you're pregnant."