Chapter 1 It Begins

• PROLOGUE
• The Aveik were no ordinary enemy.
• They were shapeshifters who walked the earth in dual bodies; that of human and wolf, shifting between both in less time than it took to snap a finger.
• Tales of their exploits were used to scare little children into being well-behaved.
• For years, we paid tribute to them: in grain, gold, and blood. But it was never enough.
• They kept coming for more until we had nothing left to give.
• The elders reached a difficult but deadly decision.
• There will be no more tributes.
• We thought we’d reclaim our freedom.
• We didn't know…
• We had just declared war.
• HUMAN LAND: VALESFIELD
• Present Day.
• Rhaeven Lockwood had no business being outdoors.
• If her father knew she’d managed to slip out, he’d double the guards at the gates and have her placed under his mistress, Leonera’s hawk eyes until the wedding. And that was punishment, even the worst of her enemies didn’t deserve.
• But she needed to see Kalil, he’d stayed away far too long that his silence had become deafening.
• Her father was unwilling to disclose information unless it suited him.
• The silence had gotten to her, twisting into her chest until she’d begun to imagine that the worst had happened.
• She wore boy clothes, big cotton trousers, and a rough woolen shirt over her tightly bandaged chest.
• Her hair was twisted back into a knot, like the boys in her clan did, representing their freedom, readiness for war, and sense of self.
• Rhaeven gritted her teeth against the deadly cold as she hurried through the icy path. Her boots grew heavy with each step but she forced herself to walk faster.
• She couldn't stop, not until she got answers.
• The house came into view, a small structure that sat at the far end of the village. She’d heard her father tell Leonera that Kalil was here.
• She climbed the wooden stairs and reached for the handle.
• A shadow she hadn't noticed before moved then, coming into view.
• It was his guard.
• “You cannot go in. My lord gave strict orders,” he said as he stepped in front of the door, blocking her path with his rather large body, his hands rested on the handle of his sword as he stared casually at her like she was nothing.
• Rhaeven froze, her chest tightening as she struggled to remain calm, to make sense of it all.
• He knew who she was.
• Surely, the order couldn’t include her.
• She stared directly into his eyes, pleading with her voice not to betray her.
• “That is absurd,” She said in a surprisingly calm tone, contrary to what she felt. “He is to be my husband. You have no right whatsoever to stop me.”
• Her words were to the point. If her father were present, he’d nod his approval because it was the kind of thing he admired.
• But the guard didn’t move, his face changed like he was thinking about what she’d said, and for a moment, she thought he was going to step aside, but when his eyes dropped to the floor, she knew he’d already made his decision.
• “I’m sorry, my Lady, but my hands are tied,” he shrugged.
• Her stomach felt tight, and her heart warned her to walk away quietly.
• To ignore the voice in her head that whispered of something unpleasant that awaited her behind that door.
• She nodded in agreement.
• “Very well,” she said, sighing as she turned to walk away. But every step was slower than the last, like she was leaving behind something important.
• She felt the tension in the guard’s position ease behind her as he exhaled quietly, like he’d just discharged a silly child.
• And that’s when she turned.
• She whirled on her heel fast and made for the door, giving him no time to react. His sword fell to the floor when he tried to grab her, but she was faster.
• Grabbing the door handle, she twisted it and shoved it open with all her strength.
• “You!” He growled as she slammed the door in his face, knowing it would take him a while to open the faulty door. She knew because she often visited with Kalil.
• “Kalil?” She called as she made her way to the bedroom.
• No answer.
• The door was thrown wide open, and she stepped in.
• Rhaeven froze, her face full of shock and disbelief at what she saw.
• Two bodies, that of Kalil, her supposed future and her father’s ultimate choice for her, stood stark naked with his back to her.
• Sweat dripped from his body as he plowed into someone who knelt in front of him, someone she couldn’t see, not at first.
• She took a step backward, and for a moment, time stood still. All she could hear was the fragile beat of her heart, beating too fast and breaking with every second.
• Their bodies moved in unison, rhythmic and hard. Like no world existed for them aside from this one.
• A soft gasp escaped her lips.
• Kalil’s partner turned her head as if she had all the time in the world, to see who had dared to interrupt them.
• The fire caught her face, and she froze.
• It wasn't a woman beneath Kalil.
• It was his best friend.
• Sigrid.
• Her competition was a man!
• Kalil turned to look at her lazily, and shrugged like it was nothing, as if she’d just interrupted his favorite hunting game. He remained inside Sigrid, going super slow now.
• Rhaeven stood, stuck and unmoving. But inside, she was crumbling, unable to speak.
• She couldn't breathe, couldn't think.
• Her heart felt like it had just been torn to pieces and left for the dogs in Azkaban.
• She blinked. Maybe this was a dream, and she needed to wake up, fast.
• “Rhaeven, do not tell me you came all the way here, dressed like a boy, again?” he asked calmly, then continued with Sigrid. He didn't stop in shame or make any attempt to cover himself.
• Rhaeven ignored his question.
• “How long?” She asked, forcing herself to speak, it took him a while to turn, to stare at her.
• He’d once looked at her with those eyes like she was the most important thing in his world and now? He could barely spare her but a few glances.
• Kalil laughed mockingly.
• “How long should it take a man? Long enough.” he spat, throwing his hands as if she was some daft child, a distraction he couldn’t wait to get rid of.
• She staggered backwards, stunned by his words. It felt like he was someone else, a total stranger and she wondered how she’d failed to see this side of him.
• She loved him, with all of her heart and he turned around and stabbed her in the back like it was nothing.
• “We should stop Kalil, she’s visibly shaken. Can't you see?” Sigrid said sheepishly as he lifted his head, the mockery in his voice undeniable. It was like he’d known that she would come.
• “And since when did my betrothed’s feelings become important to you Sigrid? You get to rise when I'm done and not before.” Kalil replied, with a smile.
• Gods! Was he enjoying this?
• “Are you certain? I could….” Sigrid said, grinning at her. He was enjoying whatever this was. Her breath seized, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
• “Ooh shut up and be still for fuck’s sake, at least we don’t have to hide this anymore.” He replied to Sigrid with a grin.
• Rhaeven gasped, finding no hint of regret in his voice, and her heart felt like it’d been shattered a thousand times over.
• “You should've told me,” She whispered shakily.
• “To what end? Society frowns at my kind. You should see the hate in my father’s eyes when he looks at me. The disappointment, the sheer agony that he’d birthed a monster. Your father? He knows.” He paused, sighing dejectedly as he eyed her with disgust.
• “But still, he forced you down my throat. Even now, you do not understand me. You disapprove, your eyes tell it all. So tell me, my sweet, how was I to let you know?”
• She could only stare at him because words failed her.
• How was she to stomach the fact that he’d been this way since birth, and somehow managed to keep it perfectly hidden from her?
• “ I…” She began, but he had cut her off with another wave of his hand.
• “The hell Rhaeven! I’m not done! This is all a result of your selfishness. Since the engagement, You hang unto me like I’m some sort of savior, I’ve had to live up to your expectations.”
• He ran a hand through his hair and continued.
• “I come here to get needed relief, and then you barge in like you own the place. What the hell were you expecting?”
• She staggered backwards as his every word slashed through her like a blade. Was this how he truly felt? That she was somehow caging him?
• Heavens, it had all been a lie!
• “The outpouring of affection, gifts, and promises. You didn’t have to do all of it. We've been friends since we were infants. You should’ve told me, I deserve to know!” She screamed.
• “Just so you could go running your mouth to your father who will order his to get us locked for days in the dungeon? The hell, you do! You were never enough Rhaeven, and you will never be.”
• Sigrid put in, his voice surprisingly cold and sharp.
• Rhaeven looked at Kalil but he made no move to defend her.
• Instead, he slid off of Sigrid and reached for the glass of wine on the counter, slurping it down, disgustingly.
• She gasped, wondering how she’d never seen this side of him. Another part of him that he’d kept hidden from her.
• “You should excuse us, Sigrid. As it stands, I need a word with my betrothed.” He said as he sat on the satin sheets, glass still in hand.
• It was Rhaeven’s turn to laugh. His audacity to still refer to her as that crushed her soul.
• “Betrothed?” She laughed bitterly. “It is over, Kalil.” She turned to Sigrid. “Don’t bother leaving, I’m on my way out.”
• “Suit yourself,” Kalil said as he turned, the tears she’d desperately tried to hold threatened to spill but she blinked them away. She needed to get out of here.
• “And Rhaeven?” Kalil said as she reached for the door handle.
• For a second, she foolishly hoped he’d come back to his senses, that he was only calling her to tell her that it had all been a terrible dream, and so she turned.
• But he sighed.
• “You should tell your father to stay out of Aveik matters. The raids have become outrageous. Next time he tries, I’m afraid I won't let it slide.
• Her throat refused to function and her lips remained close. She had nothing left to say to him.
• She opened the door to see the guard, right outside.
• “This mustn’t repeat itself Alric. Next time, cut her down if she insists on forcing her way through.” Kalil called out.
• She nodded, not surprised. This was what they were now. Enemies.
• “Yes, my Lord.” The guard stammered, bowing his head while shifting his sword to the side.
• Rhaeven moved past him and fled.
• She didn’t know how long she’d been running but she needed to be anywhere but there.
• Away from them.
• Needed to hurry home before her Father sent out someone, looking for her.
• She wiped a tear, blaming herself for how foolish she’d been, how dumb and pitiful she must have looked to both Kalil and her Father. To everyone who knew what Kalil was.
• They thought to hide all of this and play masters of her destiny.
• She fumbled with a button on her shirt, wondering what it was Kalil meant about her father raiding the Aveik.
• Their clan had always been against them.
• Was he in cohorts with them now? Was he plotting something against them?
• Rhaeven sighed dejectedly.
• The winds roared, but it didn’t matter, her heart was in pieces and her mind was far gone.
• She pictured the memories she and Kalil had shared, them dancing amidst the village fires, their future home by the seaside, stolen kisses, they’d decided on having four children, and a thousand promises of forever.
• All a lie.
• He somehow always seemed to have the perfect words to say.
• The man she loved, the only one she thought she could trust, had discarded her long before she came running here, to him.
• She’d given him all of her heart and he’d thrown it back in her face.
• Her fingers trembled with maddening rage.
• She paused on the lonely path, willing herself to breathe in, and out.
• And then, a sound filled the air.
• Low at first and then another after another. She’d recognize that sound anywhere.
• It was the one sound she’d grown up with a dislike for.
• The war drums.
• She lifted her head as the sound pulled her back into the worst kind of reality.
• She gasped.
• The drums could only mean one thing.
• The Aveik were here.