Chapter 40: Rites and Sacrifice

A soft knock roused Alyssa awake the next morning. She groaned, groggy from sleep, and threw a hand over her eyes to block out the world.

The previous day had been exhausting. She had spent the entire afternoon changing from one wedding gown into another, searching endlessly for the right one.

Pandora and Giselle had been incredibly helpful, setting out shoes and accessories to match every look, but as dusk began to fall, Alyssa thought she wouldn’t find the perfect gown–until she saw it.

It was the very last one on the rack, hidden far behind the others. The gown was a soft, elegant rose-gold, dainty and breathtaking. The moment her eyes landed on it, she knew it was the one.

The knock came again, forcing her heavy eyes open. It was daylight already, but the curtains were drawn to keep the room dark. Dorian always did that whenever he woke up before her.

She reached out to the other side of the bed, searching for his familiar warmth, but his side of the mattress was empty and cold, like he had been up for hours.

Sitting up, she looked around the room groggily, her hair wild and untamed around her face. A quick glance at the clock revealed it was past 11:00 AM. She had never overslept like this before.

Then, Pandora’s voice drifted through the door from the hallway. "Is she still asleep?"

"I think so, Miss Pandora. She didn’t give me a response," a softer voice replied.

A second later, the door swung open and Pandora stepped in. She smiled in instant amusement, taking in Alyssa’s disheveled, sleepy state.

​"Rise and shine, princess," she sing-songed, marching toward the windows to pull the curtains open.

Bright sunlight flooded the bedroom, blinding Alyssa. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes until they adjusted to the sudden glare.

"How are you so full of energy?" she muttered, leaning back against the pillows. "Weren’t you stressed yesterday too?"

Pandora waltzed toward the bed, climbing right onto the mattress to playfully tidy Alyssa’s wild hair.

"Stressed? That’s not a word in my dictionary. I’m usually running on pure adrenaline the moment I wake up."

Alyssa shut her eyes and heaved a deep sigh. "Mhm, I wish I was like you," she chuckled. "Where’s Dorian?"

"He had to go settle a little dispute at the Western pack," Pandora reported. "But he’ll be back soon. In the meantime, we have to get you completely ready for tonight."

Alyssa’s eyes flew open. "The wedding is at night?"

Pandora nodded, pulling her up by her hands. "It’s one of the customs of the Northern pack. All our ceremonies are conducted at night because it’s when the Moon Goddess is closest to us."

"Oh," Alyssa murmured, the reality of it setting in. "Then why do I have to prepare so early?"

"Because there are sacred rites you need to perform before the wedding. Marrying Dorian automatically makes you the Luna Queen of the North. You need to appease the ancestors and offer a sacrifice."

She laughed at the stunned, wide-eyed look on Alyssa’s face. "I know it all sounds strange, but don’t worry. Dorian left you in my capable hands, so I’ll walk you through every step. Once you start to learn the history and laws of the North, you’ll get familiar with all of it."

Alyssa’s head was swimming. There were so many things happening all at once, sparking a dangerous mixture of thrills and chills deep in her chest.

"Okay," she said finally, excitement bubbling past her nerves. "When do we begin?"

Pandora beamed happily. "Right now."

She turned toward the open door and called out, "Agatha, Sophie, you can come in now."

Two maids stepped into the room, curtseying low with their hands clasped and eyes lowered.

"Good morning, Lady Alyssa," they murmured in unison.

"Good morning," Alyssa responded with a soft smile.

"So for today, Aggy and Sophie will help you prepare," Pandora explained. "They’re not your personal maids yet. Dorian will be the one to choose exactly who he wants for that role later. They’re just going to attend to you today."

Alyssa nodded. "Okay."

​"Prepare a warm bath for her," Pandora instructed the girls. "Use the bath oils that Nina brought this morning."

​"Yes, Miss Pandora," Sophie nodded, hurrying into the bathroom with Agatha right behind her.

An hour later, after soaking in the tub and savoring the sweet, calming scent of jasmine and lavender, Alyssa stood in front of the full-length mirror while Pandora brushed out her hair.

She had changed into a simple, pristine white dress, the garment she was required to wear to carry out the ancient rites and sacrifice.

After a quick breakfast, she, Pandora, and the two maids stepped outside into the crisp air. André was waiting beside the vehicle, which was a different car this time; a flashy, white luxury SUV.

"How many cars does Dorian actually have?" Alyssa whispered to Pandora as they slid into the back seats.

Laughing at the question, Pandora whispered back, "About a dozen."

Alyssa was awestruck. She knew Dorian was wealthy, but the sheer scale of his resources was mind-blowing.

André drove out of the driveway, taking the tarred road that stretched out for miles across the territory. Behind them, Agatha and Sophie followed closely in a second vehicle driven by another elite guard.

"Will anyone else be present during the rites?" Alyssa wondered, looking out at the passing trees.

"No. It’s going to be just us, Aggy, and Sophie. The Luna rites and sacrifice are strictly private, never to be seen by anyone, especially men. That’s why Dorian isn’t the one escorting you."

"Oh." Alyssa nodded in understanding.

Ten minutes later, André turned down a small, secluded lane at the side of the main road and brought the SUV to a halt. A massive white building stood at the very end of the lane, built like an enormous, ancient hall.

​"Come on," Pandora said softly, wrapping her fingers around Alyssa’s hand.

They walked down the quiet path toward the hall, Agatha and Sophie following silently behind while André kept watch by the car.

The moment Pandora pushed the double doors open, Alyssa froze.

Countless marble headstones filled the vast expanse of the hall, each engraved with the names of past Alphas and Lunas. The far side of the hall was empty, waiting for future names, and the trapped air inside the structure was bitingly cold.

Pandora noticed her stiffness and gently squeezed her hand. "Don’t worry, there are no bodies buried beneath us. These are just tombstones to commemorate the dead. When a lycan passes, the body is burned."

Feeling somewhat relieved, Alyssa followed her deeper into the hall. There had to be at least a hundred headstones lining the wall, with polished marble urns placed beside them, holding the ashes of the dead.

Pandora led her straight to the front of the hall, where a large ceramic basin sat waiting. She turned and beckoned to the maids.

Agatha rushed forward with an earthenware bowl filled with water, carefully pouring it into the basin before stepping back.

"Now, step in and wash your hands and feet, Alyssa," Pandora instructed, her tone turning respectful. "The water is drawn from the sacred moon pool at the bottom of the mansion. This rite means you are washing away your past life as an individual, stepping entirely into your new role as the Luna Queen of the North."

Alyssa nodded obediently and stepped into the cool water of the basin. As she began to wash her hands and feet, Pandora raised her voice, calling on the past ancestors to welcome Alyssa and guide her on the royal journey ahead.

When the washing was done, Alyssa stepped out onto the cold stone. Sophie moved forward, holding out a white dove and a gleaming silver dagger.

"Now, you shed the blood of the white dove onto the ancestral stone as your sacrifice. It means you are freeing the dove’s spirit to carry your marriage vows and prayers straight up to the heavens."

For someone who had never hurt a fly, Alyssa looked down at the innocent bird and hesitated. But she knew what was at stake. She couldn’t show weakness now.

Shutting her eyes tightly, she drove the dagger in.

The bird flailed and shuddered in her grasp as its life rapidly drained away. Alyssa winced at the sudden warmth of the blood spilling over her fingers and dripping onto the floor.

Pandora muttered a few final prayers, carefully taking the dead dove and the silver blade from Alyssa’s trembling hands. Then, her face broke into a warm smile.

"We’re done. You did so well, Alyssa."

Alyssa heaved a sigh of relief, stepping back as the tension left her shoulders.

But the moment they turned to leave the hall, a sudden, violent gust of wind howled through the open double doors. It swirled aggressively around them, carrying the heavy scent of pine and deep forest air.

It went as quickly as it came, leaving a dead silence in its wake.

Pandora smiled, assuming it was a blessing from the ancestors. But Alyssa had a strange feeling about it; a feeling that meant something terrible would happen soon.