Rhea slammed the door of the pack house behind her, boots caked with mud from the border patrol.
Her muscles ached in that good way-proof she'd run down three rogue scouts before they could report back to the vampires. She tossed her knife onto the table, wiped sweat and dirt from her face with the back of her hand, and headed for the fire.
The room was full: her father at the head table, mother beside him, elders scattered around like they were waiting for something bad. She grabbed a mug of water, drank half, then noticed the silence. Everyone staring at her. "What?" she asked. Her father stood. "Sit down, Rhea."
She stayed standing. "I just got back. Tell me." He looked at her mother, then back. "The council met while you were out. We made a decision." Rhea set the mug down hard. "What decision?"
Her father took a breath. "The war's killing us. We've lost too many. Too many good fighters. Too many kids. We can't win it." She felt her stomach drop. "So what? We surrender?" "No." He met her eyes. "We marry you to Elias. The vampire prince." The words hit like a slap. Rhea blinked. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
She laughed-short, disbelieving. "You're trading me? To a vampire?"
"Not trading," her mother said quickly, voice cracking. "It's a marriage alliance.
A blood bond. It ends the fighting. The treaty says you go to the citadel tomorrow night. You say the vows. You live there. As his wife." Rhea stared at her mother.
"You agreed to this?" Her mother looked away. "We all did. For the pack."
Rhea turned to the elders. "And you? You all voted for this?" The oldest one nodded. "We did. The papers are signed.
No going back." She felt the air leave her lungs. She'd spent years on the front lines-tracking vampire patrols, dragging wounded packmates home, burying friends. She'd lost her brother to a vampire raid two winters ago. Watched him bleed out in the snow while she held his hand. And now they wanted her to marry one? "You're giving me to the people who killed Kael," she said. Voice low.
Her father flinched. "I know. But if we don't stop this, there won't be a pack left to remember him." Rhea's hands shook. She clenched them. "I'm your daughter.
Not a bargaining chip." "You're the strongest we have," her father said. "Elias is the heir. If anyone can make this stick, it's you two." She shook her head.
"You think I'll just... go? Live in that stone tomb? Let him touch me? Drink from me?" Her mother stepped forward. "It's not like that. The treaty protects you.
No biting without consent. No harm." Rhea laughed again-bitter. "And you believe them? Vampires lie. That's what they do." The room stayed silent. She looked around at faces she'd trusted her whole life.
The ones who'd taught her to shift, to fight, to lead patrols. Now they were handing her over. "You didn't even ask me," she said. Her father's voice was quiet. "We couldn't risk you saying no." She felt tears burn her eyes. Hated it. "So that's it? I'm gone tomorrow?" "Yes," he said. Rhea turned.Walked to the door. Stopped. Looked back. "I've bled for this pack. I've killed for this pack. I've buried for this pack." She swallowed.
"And this is what I get?" No one answered. She opened the door. Cold air rushed in. Her mother whispered, "Rhea-"
"Don't." She stepped out. Shut the door. Outside, the night was dark. She walked fast-past the houses, past the training grounds, up the ridge where she could see the valley. The citadel lights glowed far off, cold and steady. She sat on the rock.
Pulled her knees up. Tomorrow she would pack one bag. Walk through those gates. Stand in front of Elias-whatever he looked like-and say words she didn't mean. She thought of Kael. How he'd laughed when she beat him in sparring.
How he'd promised they'd grow old together, running the pack side by side. Now she was marrying the enemy. She pressed her forehead to her knees. "I hate you already," she whispered to the dark. To Elias.
To the citadel. To the whole damn world. But she would go. Because if she didn't, the pack died. And she couldn't let that happen. Not after everything.