Chapter 2 - Grace
The sky is just beginning to darken as Rex begins to read out the names of everyone designated to join the new pack. I knew this was coming—Alisha told me about some of it—but now that it’s actually happening, anxiety rises in my chest, making my muscles tense.
A cool breeze blows in from the desert, and a rush of chills races across my skin. I can hear all the plants around me whispering and singing, even the grass under my knees. There is some kind of magic in the air tonight, and it feels like more than just the birth of a new pack.
As if that isn’t enough. The first families of Eccles have never made anything easy for anyone. Why should they start now?
My eyes flick over to the Eccles council and Bernadette standing behind them. I don’t have a kind word for any of them, even Gen.
What I told Alisha was such a tiny portion of the truth. My life here has been a living hell, and every single one of the council and first families is responsible.
When I look back at our leaders, Alisha catches my eye and smiles. I smile back, warmth growing in my chest.
My whole life, I wished for change, and then it finally came. Alisha is the best friend I’ve ever had.
I have to look away and swallow a lump in my throat. Alisha is my best friend, and I trust her with my life—but not all my secrets.
Rex continues to read out names, and murmurs drift through the crowd. A lot of people volunteered to go, and some, obviously, would refuse. The remainder chosen by lottery is just to even out the size and skills within the new pack in relation to the others.
I’m looking down at the ground, combing the grass with my fingers, when the sound of my own name rings through me like a bell.
“Grace Fenton!” Rex calls.
I jump a little, looking up at him with wide eyes. I see Alisha’s look of dismay, but neither of us can say or do anything, and Rex goes on to the next name.
Alisha holds my gaze, and I can see tears in her eyes. A sharp ache of loss lances through my chest as I think about leaving—but at the same time, it almost feels like liberation.
I love my little house and the big garden. I love being close to Alisha every day. But I can’t say I’m unhappy to leave Eccles behind me!
Even though the initial shock of hearing my name and the thought of what I’ll leave behind stings a little, I find my heart brightening as I think of the new pack.
Everyone’s truly on even ground. Misfits from every town. We can build something new there—without the interference of the guilds or the Eccles first families!
Alisha is still watching me, and I smile warmly, putting one hand over my heart. She smiles back, realizing that I’m not too upset about going.
We’ll still be close. We can visit each other any time we want. It’s really important that the alphas stay above our personal wants in this and don’t show any preferential treatment.
I lean back a little, watching the stars come out one by one. The low whispers of the crowd rush around me as people discuss the results of the lottery, and I know that the plan has worked, at least for now.
Everyone will be so caught up in this, there won’t be time for petty squabbles, and hopefully, the troublemakers are all being broken up so they can’t do any more damage.
My gaze drifts back to Scarlett and the Eccles elders. Again, the idea of being free of this place sends a little thrill through me that is more excitement than fear.
Scarlett was an outcast, but she was still connected to the alpha. That protected her somewhat. I had nothing to protect me.
I look away quickly, not wanting to dwell on the past. I’m starting to feel edgy, and I just want the meeting to be over so I can decide what to pack.
And say goodbye to all my plants. I’ll have to find someone to water them for me…
Rex announces the alpha as Dan, one of his black ops pals. The information means very little to me, and I’m barely listening when he goes on to choose the luna randomly out of those already chosen to go.
The entire clearing seems to pause as he looks at the piece of paper. My heart skips a beat, and sweat breaks out across my ribs.
“Grace Fenton,” he says.
Every single set of eyes in the clearing suddenly seems to swivel and stare right at me, and it feels like a massive spotlight has switched on right above my head.
Shock floods through me, and I can’t move. I can barely breathe. Alisha beckons to me, and I get up slowly, feeling completely disconnected from my body. I manage to walk up the front with short, steady steps, hearing my heart hammering against my ribs so hard, my blood roars in my ears.
Alisha wraps her arms around me, squeezing me too tight. I gasp a little, and she loosens her grip.
“I’m sorry!” she chokes out. “I’m just a bit emotional. I can’t believe you’re actually going.”
“Neither can I,” I answer, my voice surprisingly steady.
Over Alisha’s shoulder, I look over at Dan, and he stares back at me, his expression unreadable and his dark blue eyes completely blank.
Fear sparks in my chest for the first time. I know all the black ops guys are good men, and I’ve even advocated for them more than once—but there is a sense of raw violence about them that scares me.
Like clouds on the horizon that could bring the soothing rain the desert needs to heal itself…or a storm of such terrible power, it rips the ground open and leaves only destruction in its wake.
Alisha pulls back a little and sees the direction of my gaze. Dan has turned away now, but I can’t stop looking at him, and I know by the chill seeping through me that I’ve probably gone as pale as a ghost.
“Oh, Gracie,” Alisha says, rubbing my arm. “It’s okay. Dan’s a great guy. Brad talks about him a lot. He’s very dependable, and he’ll take care of you.”
“Okay,” I whisper, nodding. I try to smile for my friend, but it gets stuck on my face as a grimace instead.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Alisha wraps her arms around me again. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
I lean my head on Alisha’s shoulder, wanting her comfort but also feeling like an absolute traitor.
There’s so much you don’t know, sweet girl. So much I’ve kept hidden. And now, I’ll never get the chance to tell you.
I don’t say a word as the meeting wraps up. Dan makes no attempt to talk to me, and I’m grateful for it—I couldn’t stand an awkward exchange of emotionless platitudes right now. Inside of me, my blood is racing, pushed by the ever-increasing throb of my panicked heart.
I have to get out of here.
I let the others give me a ride home, even though it would have been easier to stay at the garden. Standing in my front yard, I smile and wave, waiting for the car to disappear around the bend before I drop my hand and my fake grin.
I’m running towards the edge of town before I can even think. Not for the first time, I wish for the speed and strength of a wolf so I could cruise over the miles with little effort, but wishing for that won’t get me to my destination any faster.
I’m fit enough that I can run most of the way, and I don’t have to really slow down until I reach the first ridge to the north east of town.
The second I enter the cluster of hills, my hair stands up all over my skin, and even my long blond tresses frizz and float around me.
I reach out to touch a nearby tree, and a static shock sparks between us.
These rocks have always been charged, but this is more concentrated than I’ve ever seen it. It must be the snake.
I know that I have walked right into the area the snake is reported to hide—and I haven’t done it by accident.
I walk slowly up to the nearest cave opening and put my palm flat on the stone. With the barest thought, a pulse of my magic echoes into the rock, and I sit down to wait. It isn’t long before three women appear in the passage.
“Grace,” the oldest woman smiles and opens her arms to me.
“Gretchen,” I cry, running to her. I throw my arms around her slender waist and hold her as tightly as I dare, tears streaming down my face.
I can feel the others hugging me, too, and their love sweeps through me.
I’ve come home. Finally, I’m coming home, and this time, I’m going to stay.
“My dear,” Gretchen says, pulling back to wipe the tears from my cheeks. “Whatever is the matter?”
“I’ve come to stay with you,” I almost gasp, forcing the words through my trembling lips. “It’s time, isn’t it? I can stay with you, finally? Please say I can.”
Gretchen frowns, and my heart shatters in my chest. I grab her thin hands, feeling her bones as delicate as glass in my grip.
How old is she, really? I’ve never asked.
Gretchen tilts her head and smiles. “I’m the first of the order, Grace. I’m as old as these hills we’re standing under. I thought you understood that?”
I shake my head, feeling fresh tears spilling down my cheeks. “Please, Gretchen, you don’t understand,” I say, beginning to babble. “This isn’t like those other times I asked to stay, I swear! It’s different. They are making me move to another pack, and—”
“Let’s sit down,” Gretchen says, tugging on my hands and leading me into the passage.
She sits down on the soft earth, and I sit in front of her, taking her hands again.
Beatrix, one of the other witches, and Kyra, the youngest but most powerful, sit on either side of me.
Both of them wrap an arm around me, and I feel comforted, but far from safe.
The secret coven of witches made themselves known to me when I was only nine years old. I was running in the hills on a full moon, trying to force my body to shift. The witches found me and told me that I never would, and that my destiny was to be a great witch instead.
I begged them to let me stay then, but they said I was too young. A few years later, when my parents died, I asked again, and they still denied me.
In the years that followed, as the abuse worsened, I asked many more times, and they always said no. After Alisha arrived, I realized they had probably wanted me to wait for her and be able to teach her before I revealed the coven to her.
Surely now, I’m ready. I’m about to have my purity stolen by a man I don’t even know. My sisters can’t let this happen!
“Tell me, Grace,” Gretchen says.
I take a shuddering breath and begin to let the story out. “They are appointing a new pack. Members from all three will make up the numbers. It will be called Riverside, and it’s near Caliente. The alphas believe it will stop the infighting and bring stability and peace.”
“And it is a good plan,” Gretchen says. “Do you object to it?”
“No,” I answer, shaking my head. “I was chosen to go, and I don’t mind that at all. But—they have named me luna, dear sister, and I’ll have to marry a man I don’t even know!”
Gretchen’s hands tighten on mine, and the three witches share looks. A cold feeling settles into my stomach as I feel a silent conversation sweep right over my head.
“Grace,” Gretchen says, very gently. I shake my head violently and try to pull my hands away.
“No!” I cry. “Don’t say it, please don’t say it! Don’t tell me no—”
“I have to,” Gretchen says, holding my hands even tighter. “This is not your place.”
“Please,” I murmur, my head dropping against my chest as my shoulders fall, all the strength going out of my body. “Please let me stay.”
“Gracie,” Gretchen says, tightening her grip on my hands. “Look at me.”
I do, focusing on her incredibly pale, gray eyes that are a lot like my own. Even with the distance between us, she has been mother, sister, aunt—everything to me, and I thought she treated me as her own daughter.
“I’m sorry for your pain, Grace,” Gretchen says. “I really am. But you must marry this man.”
“What?” I choke out, staring at her in disbelief. “You can’t ask this of me.”
“It’s a great honor,” Kyra says, rubbing my shoulder. “You’ve been chosen.”
“You marry him, then,” I snap.
To my surprise, Kyra giggles. “I’ve seen him in the looking glass. Don’t tempt me, Gracie.”
“Me either,” Beatrix says. “If I were fifteen years younger, I’d throw myself in his lap just to see what happened! The cosmic forces aren’t always kind, Grace, but they always have purpose.”
“I can’t believe this,” I mutter, sniffing as I try to hold back tears. “I really can’t believe you’re sending me away.”
“Grace,” Gretchen says. “We have seen him in the looking glass, and he is the last piece of the puzzle—or he will be, once he’s joined to you.”
“What does that mean?” I whisper.
Gretchen smiles. “It means it’s finally time, Grace. After generations of preparation and endless waiting, it is finally time to put Sakesh back where he belongs.”
Sorrow sweeps through me, a selfish wave of petulant resistance. I know I can’t avoid this, no matter how much I hate it.
“I never thought I’d have such an important role to play,” I say softly.
“Neither did I, my dear girl,” Gretchen replies, brushing hair back from my cheek. “But here we are. We are the sacred order of Sakesh—the witches held to the task of containing the great snake, and his time has finally come.”