Reborn in shadow

Chapter 1: Back From Dead "You were never meant to survive." In the darkness between my eyelids, the words reverberated like a cold, sharp blade twisting. A ragged intake of air broke through the room's quiet as my breath caught. I sat straight upright, my heart thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird, as my eyes sprang open. Make it through? I pondered as I scanned the well-known yet somehow unfamiliar area. My former sleeping quarters. Everything was just as it had been five years earlier, including the cracked wooden dresser, the fading floral wallpaper, and the moonlight peeking through the lace curtains. No. That isn't possible. Inscribed in the golden eyes of the man I had loved were the cold steel, the burning agony, and the treachery. Darius. My friend. Or he should have been. Fingers stroking the soft flesh, my hand shot to my neck. No scar. No indication of rejection. Nothing. How? With my bare feet striking the chilly hardwood floor, I clambered out of bed. A face I hadn't seen in years was mirrored in the dresser's mirror. youthful. Untarnished by sorrow, unaffected by the specters of my history. My long, wavy dark brown hair hung down beyond my shoulders. My normally pain-shadowed green eyes were wide and incredulous. I drew nearer, my every action reflected back. Trembling, I raised my hand and felt the thin mark on my neck. A faint hint of a mate mark was all that was there, the start of a connection that ought to have been formed and then broken. This isn't feasible. I felt sick to my stomach, a dizzying mixture of incredulity and bewilderment. I recalled every aspect of my demise. The abrupt, vicious assault, the whispered accusations, the pack assembling. Darius's face twisted in a way I never imagined he could: frigid. He had replied, "You were always too trusting, Aria," in a low, poisonous hiss. "Too weak." My soul was saved by the recollection, which was like a scorching brand. I had put my confidence in him. I cherished him. I had sacrificed everything for him. And he had given me death as p*****t. With my hands balled into fists, I thought, He'll pay for this. I'll hold him accountable. I pushed back the drapes and staggered to the window. The pack grounds were covered with long, unsettling shadows from the full moon, which hung heavily in the sky. My nose was filled with the familiar smell of pine and moist dirt, but underneath that I could smell a slight, metallic tang—the ghost of blood. The prospect of five years struck me like a punch to the body. Five years have been granted to me. Five years to make all the difference. I have five years to change my destiny. Darius Blackthorn will be held accountable for his actions for five years. I looked at the little wooden box on my dresser as I moved away from the window. The silver blade my mother had given me, a family treasure handed down through the generations of strong women, was within, I knew. I traced the cool metal of the dagger with my fingers, thinking, It's time to be strong. It's time to demonstrate weakness to him. The weight of the dagger grounded me as I grasped it. I had to concentrate and make plans. I could not afford to be taken by surprise once again. I paced the room, thinking, I must first find out why. He betrayed me, but why? He killed me, but why? I recalled the murmurs, the rumors that had spread before my death. Whispers of a power struggle inside the pack, of a cursed artifact, of a prophecy that prophesied the doom of the Golden Claw Pack. With a chilly fear seeping into my heart, I reasoned that maybe it wasn't only about me. It might have been about something more significant. I wanted answers. And I knew just where to start. The group of pack members. Tonight was the date. The event where Darius had gathered… My throat tightened each breath. I couldn't let him see me. Not yet. Not until I had a plan. I needed to blend in, to observe, to gather information. In my own life, I had to be a ghost. I crept out of my room and down the corridor without a word. The only sound coming from the home was the gentle creak of the floors underfoot. I stopped to listen when I got to the rear door. Nothing. The crisp night air sent a chill down my spine as I slid outdoors. With the sounds of discussion and laughing resonating through the woods, the pack grounds were bustling with activity. The party was in full force. I moved from tree to tree in the darkness, keeping an eye out for Darius. His towering, commanding form was silhouetted against the flames when I saw him close to the place. His golden eyes, which are always so attentive and piercing, were far away, and his jet-black hair, which was always well combed, was a little unkempt. I thought, "He looks different," a glimmer of what could have been sympathy igniting within me. He seems to be haunted. However, I immediately ignored the emotion. He had murdered me. He had deceived me. A luxury I couldn't afford was sympathy. I kept an eye on him, analyzing every action, looking for any indication of regret or shame. However, he did not reveal anything. He strolled among the pack members, his posture calm, his visage serious. I narrowed my eyes and thought, He's concealing something. I sense it. Abruptly, a voice broke through the clamor of the crowd. "Aria?" My heart thumping in my chest, I froze. I gently turned, looking into my younger sister Selena's worried eyes. "Selena," I whispered in a voice that was almost audible. With a worried brow, she questioned, "What are you doing here?" "You ought to be sleeping. You've not been feeling well. I discovered that she is unaware. She can't recall. I forced a grin and responded, "I'm fine," "I just needed some fresh air." She replied, "You look pale," as she looked into my eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?" I said, "I'm fine," again, but with more firmness. Indeed. I just had to see everyone. "Okay," she answered, continuing to look for me. "But if you start to feel unwell, you need to go back inside." "I will," I said, smiling repeatedly at her. "Enjoy the party. I'll be OK. After a little pause, she nodded and turned away. Guilt swept over me as I watched her go. I couldn't risk giving her the truth, even though I detested lying to her. Not quite yet. I looked around the throng as I turned back to the gathering. I had to figure out how to get nearer to Darius, listen in on his talks, and find out his secrets. Abruptly, someone emerged from the darkness, obstructing my way. "Aria," a deep voice murmured, chilling me to the bone. I raised my head and saw the cold blue eyes of the Moonshine Pack's leader, Killian Draven. What is it that he desires? With my heart racing, I thought. He's here, but why? "Killian," I replied in a calm, collected tone. He continued, "We need to talk," while maintaining eye contact with me. With a hard yet painless grasp, he took hold of my arm and dragged me further into the darkness. "What do you want?" With mistrust in my voice, I inquired. "I know about you and Darius," he continued in a menacingly low voice. My throat tightened each breath. How? Then he said, "I know about your bond," his eyes glistening in the moonlight. "I am aware of your passing. And I know about your... return." My eyes became big. Everything is known to him. "How?" My voice was almost heard as I whispered. He grinned, a savage, predatory grin that made my skin crawl. His voice was full of hate. "Let's just say I have my sources," he continued. "And I have a proposition for you." His breath was warm on my ear as he drew in closer. He said, "Pretend to be my mate," in a low, sultry purr. "And I'll keep Darius away from you. as well as from whatever else is coming.