Chapter 1
DISCLAIMER: There is no INCEST in this book.
CHAPTER 1
AMY POV.
“You shall never be Alpha. You will pay for all the sins you have committed.” The Shaman's voice echoed in my mind, refusing to fade away no matter how hard I tried to push it aside.
A sense of dread gnawed at my soul, and unease crept into my thoughts.
Maybe she was right after all. Today is my 20th birthday.
But there will be no birthday cake, no singing, and no grand party for the daughter of the Alpha of the pack.
Instead, we are attending a funeral—my parents' funeral, to be exact.
“You must atone for your sins, or everyone you love shall die!” I winced as the Shaman's words replayed in my head time and time again.
Perhaps she was telling the truth. I swallowed hard, my eyes narrowing at the sight of my parents’ bodies laid out in front of the pack house, waiting for the moon to rise so they could be cremated.
The Shaman wasn’t lying; her prophecies were all coming to pass quicker than I expected.
All of my loved ones are gone.My nephew,my cousin and now My father and mother—the Alpha and Luna of the Nightshade pack—died peacefully in their sleep last night.
Alphas are strong— they don’t simply die in their sleep.
Rumors suggest that they only pass when the Moon Goddess takes them herself after they must have committed some unforgivable crimes.
Maybe the Moon Goddess took them last night to punish me for my sins, just as the Shaman foretold.
This is the price I pay for loving my brother.
Before my parents’ untimely deaths, the pack house was buzzing with preparations for my grand birthday celebration. While I’ve had big parties before, this one was special—it marked my coming of age. At 20, I am not just ready for a mate, but also to take on the Alpha title. My name is Amy, and I am the Alpha's daughter, next in line for the leadership of the pack.I am to become Alpha of the East,one of the four quarters of states under the rule of the Lycan king.
My brother doesn’t stand a chance at the title. In our pack, the firstborn son of the Alpha must send his son to the capital—Nightvale, to serve the Lycan king. This tradition enforces loyalty and keeps us in check, ensuring we don’t attempt to usurp the throne.
Since last night, I’ve been crying in my room. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, which is why I locked myself away and asked not to be disturbed. There’s only one person I want by my side right now—my brother. The whole pack is still waiting for him. In truth, he has no power to stop the funeral from proceeding, but he deserves to pay his last respects to our parents. I ordered them to pause the ceremony until he returns.
The funeral process for the Nightshade pack is unusually long and exhausting. I just want it to be over quickly. Crying won’t bring them back, but the heavy guilt in my chest weighs me down.
I am the reason for their death.
Rumors have been circulating since last night that my father must have angered the Moon Goddess for him to die so suddenly in his sleep. Many of the elders whisper that he must have committed an abomination. None of them know that I am the source of that abomination. I’ve been the one responsible for it all.
I glanced around my room at the beautiful decorations that were meant for my birthday.
Unfortunately, none of this will be used for celebration.
We are to mourn the Alpha and Luna of the pack for the next twenty-four hours, and then I will be crowned as the new Alpha.
Just then, the door to my room creaked open. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see him. My breath hitched at the sight of him—Asher.
There he is, the one who holds my heart, the one I’ve fallen in love with—my fraternal twin.
Asher and I are more than just siblings. We shared a womb, entered this world together, and we belong together.
His chiseled features and piercing dark eyes seemed to command every fiber of my being.
His blonde hair was perfectly tousled from the long journey back from the capital, framing his strong jawline and full lips. Asher looked like a god standing in the doorway, and I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my chest.
As he approached, his eyes locked onto mine, and I felt as if I were drowning in their depths. I couldn’t look away, even though I knew I should. The guilt and shame that had weighed me down since our parents' death seemed to melt away in his presence, replaced by a profound longing and desire.
Asher slammed the door behind him and rushed to me. I embraced him tightly, finding comfort in his warmth. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close as I buried my face in his chest. My heart shattered into pieces as I resumed sobbing, tears streaming down my face. Asher’s comforting scent of warm vanilla and raspberry enveloped me, providing a sense of security I had never found with anyone else.
It had been two years since he left for the North to fulfill his destiny at the Alpha Warriors Academy.
“I’m so sorry, Amy,” Asher whispered in my ear, his voice cracking with regret. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
“It’s happening, Ash. It’s happening before our eyes… the Shaman’s prophecy_” I raised my gaze to meet his, but his expression was stoic.
His brows furrowed in confusion. “What prophecy?” he asked. I scoffed, tearing away from his embrace to walk to the window.
Pathetic, isn’t it? I couldn’t even voice it. I felt too guilty to tell him our parents died because we chose to love each other.
“What prophecy?” Asher stepped closer, his tone hardening.he roared “Speak to me, Amy. What prophecy?”
I turned to him, a lump forming in my throat, tears welling in my eyes.
“The Shaman said every one of my loved ones will die because of my sins, and I shall never become Alpha.”
Asher frowned and pulled me back to him, forcing me to face him. My heels twirled around, and I helplessly fell against his chest.
“f**k the prophecy! f**k the Shaman! f**k everyone who isn’t us!” His face darkened as he growled.“We are the only ones in this world. You don’t need to care about what anyone thinks of us. Forget them all, Amy!”
I gasped silently at his words, a cold shiver running down my spine, but a wave of reassurance washed over me, knowing he was still here with me.
Our eyes locked, and his expression shifted, filled with a mix of determination and desire. He pulled me closer, his grip possessive and protective. Without another word, I leaned in, our lips meeting in a gentle, tender kiss. His lips were warm, soft, and inviting, but we had a funeral to attend.
“Amy, I would go to war with all of them if you asked me to. The Pack can write a tale about us,” he said, his sincerity evident. I knew he meant it.
With that, Asher moved to grab a drink—something strong to steady himself—while I removed all the jewelry from my neck. It was a funeral, and we had to be bare, free of any type of adornments.
If I’m being honest, something about my parents’ death still doesn’t sit right with me. I’ve urged the Conclave to investigate it thoroughly. Kings are falling like flies, and the next generation, like me—unready for leadership—are being pushed into power. A lot weighs on my mind as an Alpha, but most of the time, I choose to push it aside and just live.
For whatever reason, I can’t announce to the pack that I’m in love with Asher, my chosen mate. In the Nightshade pack, exceptions aren’t made for incest; it’s a path to death. I have to hide my feelings for as long as possible. Yet, I dread the thought of mating with my fated partner when the time comes. I fear how Asher will react. He might not let him live one night after our wedding.
He’s always been possessive. I still remember how he sliced through the Beta’s son’s hand like it was nothing after that i***t spanked my butt at the prom.
Sometimes, I wish I could let go and love someone else. They say it’s easier to move on, but I’ve come to realize that’s a lie. Even though we have been apart for two years now, I still crave him.
A few minutes later, I walked out hand in hand with Asher as the funeral began.
Howls, cries, and whimpers filled the air. I could have joined in, but as the female Alpha, I’m not allowed to show weakness.
I watched sadly as they said their prayers, asking the Moon Goddess to accept my parents' souls. Then Asher took the fire bulb and threw it in, igniting their remains.
While everyone else is buried in the cemetery, the Alpha and Luna are cremated, their ashes kept in the Great Hall to be remembered every year on the anniversary of their death.
It’s a cold July day for me and everyone in the pack. The dark sky and dizzy wind add to the somber atmosphere.
I can’t help but feel a sense of relief at how quickly the funeral was completed. Now we can return inside.
