Page 16 of Bound to Four Alphas

Selena leaned forward, enthralled by every word the high priestess spoke.

“Out of the chaos, many shifters left seeking greener lands and new gods to worship. Those that remained are fractured, each blaming the other for the supposed death of their God. Over the years a tenuous truce has developed, but it cannot last. Especially as the humans look to our lands, hungry to conquer the remaining territory once governed by the Forest God.”

“But the alphas were bonded into a pack,” said Selena, confusion lacing her voice, “they can’t fight each other now. Can they?”

Rania gave her a small smile, “No, not at the moment. But four alphas together in a pack with no omegas to bring balance? They’ll tear each other apart before long, even with the ancient magic binding them.”

Selena sat back, pulling a thick woolen blanket over her lap. “Can’t others join the pack?”

The priestesses exchanged glances, and Selena shifted as uneasiness settled in her stomach.

“Not in the traditional sense,” Rania said carefully, with a warning glance to the other omegas, “but there is a way. One that would appease the magic of the Forest God.”

“The dead Forest God?” Selena replied, slightly more harshly than she’d intended, suddenly on edge.

“Well, that’s just the thing. The Forest God didn’t die all those centuries ago. Nobody knows what really happened to him. Some say he was uprooted. Others that he was indeed angered by the fighting of his subjects. Some simply believe herecognized that after a millennia, the era of his rule had reached its end.”

Rania leaned closer, lowering her voice almost conspiratorially, “It’s the belief of us priestesses that he has been roaming the forest, waning in power, until very recently. There was a disturbance some few years ago, like a ripple across a lake, too subtle for most to notice. But we noticed. His power moved on, as he did. It lives now in various objects of power. His throne. His scepter. His crown. It still lives, even if he no longer does.”

Selena’s eyes narrowed. “But why would it bond those four together? Surely, it can only end badly.”

She watched Rania, waiting for her response, as the high priestess stood and began pacing in front of the fire, her fingers twitching nervously. The other priestesses glanced between them, their faces a mix of curiosity and pity.

“As I said,” Rania came to a stop before Selena, taking her face in her hands, her skin cool, “there is a way.”

Selena’s stomach dropped, her mouth growing dry at the intensity of Rania’s bright green gaze. Surely not. Surely she couldn’t mean…

“No,” Selena said, her voice firm and unyielding despite the frisson of fear that ran down her spine, “no, I don’t want to be part of their pack. I want to go home. Or stay here and be a priestess. Can’t I claim sanctuary?”

Rania’s eyes were soft, her hands gentle as she swept a few strands of hair from Selena’s face. “That is your right,” she murmured, “but you have to be chosen. And I don’t believe that is the path the magic has for you.”

Selena’s eyes stung, “Can’t I at least try?”

“Selena,” Rania’s voice was warm and kind, “of course you can refuse this. It is too much to ask of anyone, especially one as young as you. But we have been waiting for the coming of the Omega of Prophecy for five centuries. You may be the key to unlocking the deep magic that will turn the tide in the war against those who would destroy us.”

“Omega of Prophecy, w-what’s that?” The panic was starting to claw at her throat, the tears well in her eyes, and she wanted nothing more than to bury herself in her bed and hide from it all.

“The last known promise of the Forest God before The Breaking. He proclaimed that amongst war and chaos, an Omega of Prophecy would rise and unite the strongest in the realm against an oncoming storm.”

“A-and, you think that’sme?”

Rania sat beside her again, taking her hand. “I think that everything happens for a reason. And if you decide to turn your back on this, we will understand and we will welcome you. But Selena, they will destroy each other. The realm will fall.”

The words struck Selena straight in her chest, heavy rocks that lodged themselves in her stomach. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run.

But unbidden, the memory of Ronan’s strong arms swam into her mind. The smoldering intensity of Kaelen’s stare. The slight curve to Elian’s smirk. The surprisingly soft scent of Malek that lingered in the air. She was scared of them, terrified even, but there was something else. Something deeper. Something that she didn’t have a name for.

They would destroy each other. Tear each other apart. And the realm would be left open for King Dorian and his soldiers. He would burn everything in his path to strengthen theSilverthorn Kingdom. Could Selena really live with the weight of such bloodshed on her hands?

She looked up at Rania, her throat thick. “What do I have to do?”

Chapter 8 - Kaelen

“A-and so you see,” the priestess, one of Rania’s minions, stammered out, “t-that’s what you have to do. During the ritual.”

Kaelen’s dragon shifted under his skin, burning fire desperate to be released.

“No,” he said, jaw tight.

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