Chapter 8: Sena - Fated to the Night King

"Chin up, girl. You know how much he hates weakness." Cass kept his gaze straight ahead, leading me through the hall to the wing reserved for the one we all owed our allegiance to. Cassian wasn't one to show much feeling. His father had made sure to discipline that out of us all.

Hiding emotions was easier to bear than the pain inflicted by an Alpha who believed he was a blessed conduit.

I still bore the scars of that training.

And Hugh loved to trace each one. A reminder that I was flawed.

Always would be.

"Cass, please tell me, what does he want?" He'd never Called for me before and the idea made me sick with dread. I'd weathered each encounter with Hugh, feeling like pieces of myself were ripped away, but I left him behind with my head held high every single time.

But the Alpha?

He wouldn't let it be that simple.

"He wouldn't tell me, Sena. Only that you were to be Called to his chambers, and that I should wait outside." His jaw flexed, and I felt his fingers go tight around my bicep. "He also sent a message for the Guard. They're to assemble as well."

My blood went cold and I stumbled. Cass paused, stopping our progress through the Citadel, steadying me until I could regain my feet.

"Don't let him see this." He whispered the words, scanning the shadows of the distant corners as if he was searching for any who might listen in. "If he thinks you're afraid, he'll use that against you. He'll punish you with it. Don't allow him that power."

I nodded, setting my chin, and pushing away the terror that threatened to take over. The urge to run, to hide, to cower in the darkness.

That was the instinct of prey.

I might be Stricken. But I was not prey.

"Good?" When I squeezed his hand in silent affirmation, he pushed me into motion once more and we continued our progress through the stone corridor. Doors flashed by, tapestries I recognized, some depicting scenes of the Alpha in his worship of the Goddess, receiving her blessings. Others I knew had been scavenged, rescued from the villages of packs that had been wiped out by a plague none could stop.

When we reached the Alpha's door, the bright blue of the paint seemed to gleam in the light. Cassian's words played in my mind.

No fear.

He rapped on the thick wood, and I couldn't help but hope that maybe there would be no answer.

I'd tolerate Hugh's attentions if it might mean avoiding this.

Cassian's gaze darted to my face, and he opened his mouth to speak.

To tell me something.

But it wasn't his voice that broke the silence.

It was the Alpha's. Low, vibrating through wood and stone.

A single word that brought up the urge to run once more.

And the realization I had nowhere to run to.

"Come."