I stared at my family, watching them process the news I had just dropped. Mom had buried her face in her hands. Dad wore a grim expression. Vira was staring at me like I had some kind of disease.
I had finally told them about the nightmare, the voice in the woods. And now I regretted it, but I had to. Things were getting out of hand. If Rohan was right about what the voice said, then they might be next.
It was a new day, and we still hadn't found Selene, despite everyone searching for her. I didn't want to say out loud what I was thinking—
That she might be dead.
Because if this thing—or these people—could take down a soldier, then Selene had no chance. Still, a part of me hoped she was alive. I didn't think I could handle it if she was found dead.
God, I shouldn't have left her alone.
So here I was, revealing it all to my family. If they were the next victims, they deserved to know.
It had been minutes, and none of them had said anything.
Finally, Dad spoke.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Selene, Rohan—" I paused, glancing at Vira, "and Aidrac."
She stared.
"You told them and not us?" Mom asked, sounding hurt. She had known I was hiding something all along, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her.
"I'm telling you now."
"Now?" Dad asked. "With the first person broken, the second dead, and the third missing?"
"I was afraid to tell any of you," I said.
"But you weren't afraid to tell Rohan," Vira said, narrowing her eyes, "or Aidrac."
I shrugged. "Maybe I trust them more than I trust you."
"I'm your sister!"
"Who's always caught up in her own world, so conceited, and never gives me her attention!" I snapped.
"Like Aidrac showed you any attention, but you didn't hesitate to reveal all your secrets to him!" she yelled.
"At least it's better than what he gives you," I said. "Couldn't help but notice he still hasn't marked you."
Vira stiffened. "It's only been a week," she said through gritted teeth.
"How much more time does he need to trust his mate? A year?"
"Enough, the both of you!" Mom said.
"This is critical. We have to see Aravelle immediately," Dad said.
The thought of seeing Aravelle, the priestess, wasn't exactly comforting, but I nodded.
By noon, I was climbing the spire with Dad. Mom and Vira had rejoined Selene's search party.
"She's always up here, she never comes down to the pack. Why?" I asked as we climbed.
"I don't know. Nobody knows exactly why. But she's quite old, it's understandable she can't make the trip up and down the spire all the time."
We reached the top a minute later.
Her little cabin hunched at the edge of the cliff. It looked like it had seen better days, the roof sagged and there were gaps in the log walls. The air around it smelled of damp earth and something faintly metallic, like old blood.
Dad knocked. A moment later, the door creaked open to reveal a short old lady—Aravelle.
She offered us a toothless grin.
"Ah, finally. I've been expecting you," she said, looking at me.
"Come in."
I hesitated, then stepped inside. Dad made a move to follow, but she stopped him.
"I'm afraid you can't join us, Beta. This visit is for Rhea alone."
I looked at my dad, silently begging him not to leave me alone with her, but he nodded.
"I'll be outside," he said.
Aravelle slammed the door shut.
Inside, the cabin was a little better than the exterior. There was barely any furniture. Only two chairs and a small table. The wood floor creaked under my feet, and cobwebs draped from the low rafters.
"Please, sit," she said, gesturing to one of the chairs.
I sat, watching as she lit the fireplace.
"Would you like something to eat? You look like you haven't eaten in days."
"No, but thank you," I said.
"You have to eat, child. How can you fight if you don't eat?" She shook her head. "At least let me make you some tea."
I didn't want tea either, but she was already filling a jagged old kettle with water.
I watched her with interest. She was older than when I last saw her, four years ago, but not as creepy as I remembered.
Here was Aravelle, the moon goddess's priestess, making me a cup of tea.
"You've grown so much," she said, chuckling.
I managed a small smile, remembering our last encounter. I had just turned thirteen, the age I was supposed to have my first shift into a werewolf. But weeks passed with no sign of change. My parents, panicking, had brought me here to meet her. I remembered her being angry with them. She told them nothing was wrong with me, that I was only a late bloomer. I didn't shift until I was fifteen.
"You've grown stronger too."
My smile dropped. If only.
"You won't believe it, but you really are stronger," she said.
The tea was ready. She carried two cups over and passed one to me.
Ginger tea.
"It's your favorite, isn't it?" she asked. I nodded, surprised she knew.
She sipped hers. I took a sip of mine, starting to relax but still aware of the reason I was here.
"Aravelle," I began, "a lot of things have been happening down at the pack."
"I know, child," she said, taking another sip. "I know everything."
"You do?"
"Yes."
"Even with me?"
She grinned. "Especially with you."
I frowned. "Why haven't you done anything then? Why hasn't the moon goddess done anything?"
"What makes you think she isn't doing anything?"
"We're dying, we're being attacked by unknown forces," I said.
A pause. She placed her cup on the table, her expression suddenly serious.
"She is doing something, Rhea. You're the something."
I stared at her.
"I can't help the pack, not anymore. But you can."
"How?"
"I can't tell you, fates revealed can be bent. But I can tell you that what's in store for you are betrayals, wars, and deaths."
I stared at her, terrified.
"Don't be afraid, child—" Aravelle began, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"It's time for you to leave," she said. "But come back as soon as you can. I have a lot more to tell you."
I nodded and opened the door to see Dad, this time with Vira.
"What is it?" I asked.
"We've found Selene," Vira said.
"Is she okay?"
"Yes."
A wave of relief washed over me. But then I noticed Dad and Vira weren't looking happy.
"Where is she? What's wrong?"
"She's in the Alpha's cabin, Rhea," Vira said. "She's saying you killed the soldier."