The shifting ceremony
1893 Words
Ravenna’s breath quickened as she strained to make sense of her surroundings. Cold stone beneath her and the metallic bite on her wrists were all she could feel, the damp air pressing heavily around her. Her body ached, and the familiar weight of what she passed through before passing out pulled her down. She tried to scream, but no sound came.
“How did I get here?” She thought as she tried to free herself but there was no room for such. The only thing she could hear was the chain rattlings, some squeaky sounds while she remained where she was.
"Mom… Dad..." The words barely slipped from her lips, and their loss hit her like a wave. They were gone, and there was no fixing the broken ties between them now.
Tears welled up, and she fought to push them back. Crying wouldn’t help her escape this dungeon. Damien’s face flashed in her mind—his cold, disgusted eyes as he saw his sister’s bloodied body in her arms. “I need to get out here,” she thought, determination flooding back. But the chains reminded her that she was powerless. For now. It reminded her that she would have to wait for fate to play its part.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the dungeon. She shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Can you believe he married her best friend?" a voice muttered from outside.
Ravenna’s eyes flew open. Married who? Her best friend? She strained to listen, but the voices faded away. Panic bubbled up. "Damien wouldn’t… he can’t marry her!" She tried to break free again, but the chains held firm.
And then she heard his voice—Damien's voice—angry and cold. “Where is she? Where’s that murderer?"
Fear prickled her skin as his heavy footsteps drew closer. She had hoped to talk to him, to somehow fix things, but his tone sent a chill down her spine. Damien didn’t sound like the man she once loved.
When he stopped in front of her cell, she froze, pretending to sleep again.
"How dare you sleep when my sister's dead because of you!" His voice was a low growl. "Wake her up.”
A guard stepped into the cell, and before she could react, something warm and disgusting splashed over her face. She recoiled as the urine hit her eyes and mouth. The guard laughed cruelly, enjoying the torment.
Damien’s laughter echoed around the dungeon as the events unfolded, drawing tears from her eyes and sending a shiver through her.
"Ravenna," he spat, his tone dripping with hatred. "As long as my sister isn’t alive, I will make sure you wish to join her.”
Tears blurred her vision as she tried to plead. "I didn’t kill Ava. It was Kelvin and his rogues! I swear!" She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her stinging eyes.
Damien sneered. "Kelvin said something about your body, right? If you had given it to him, Ava would still be alive and so will your parents.
Her heart stopped as her eyes bore into his. This wasn’t Damien. It couldn’t be.
“Damien?” Her voice trembled, disbelief in every syllable.
“What?” He answered coldly.
"You said even a mate wouldn’t come between us. That’s what you promised!" She choked on her words, hoping the man she once knew was still in there.
But he just turned to the guards. "Take her out. She needs to get ready for the ceremony. My wife wants her to attend." He sneered before walking out, leaving her shattered.
As they dragged her to a familiar room, her heart twisted with rage. How dare he marry her best friend! No. She wasn’t going down without a fight. Even if Diana was her best friend, she still made up her mind to give her the two options, either accept her as second Luna or one of them dies.
Inside the room, Diana stood by the window, pretending to look concerned.
"Did you know about this?" Ravenna demanded, glaring at her. "You… you married him behind my back?!"
“Did you ever trust me?”
“Did I ever trust you? Seriously?! Is that the question you are asking me now? You stole my man, Diana and you are here asking me if ever trusted you.” She raged but hated herself immediately she saw the tears in Diana's eyes.
I didn't know.” She said, sniffing. “ If I had known, I wouldn't have come, you know how much I love you and how much I hate him. He even forced me to marry him, I didn't want to do anything. Please, believe me, Ravenna.” she continued, breaking into tears.
Ravenna paused, the sincerity in Diana's voice confusing her. Maybe she had jumped to conclusions. Maybe Diana hadn’t known. She reached out, pulling her friend into a hug.
Diana smirked from behind. She wasn't ready to reveal that it was all a plan to bring her down so for the meantime she still had to play her part as a best friend.
What a dumbass,” she thought as she tightened her arms around Ravenna who returned the favor.
"I’m sorry, Dee. I shouldn’t have doubted you," Ravenna whispered, guilt creeping into her chest. "But you have to help me. Something’s happening. Before they locked me up, something... something terrible happened. Do you know what it is?"
Diana stifled a laugh, pretending to be concerned. "I wish I could’ve helped you, Ravenna. I really do."
Her eyes flicked to the gown laid out on the bed—a short, skimpy blue dress.
"He said you should wear this for the ceremony. Apparently, you’ll be shifting tonight, so you don’t need anything fancy," Diana explained, turning to leave.
Ravenna stared at the dress in disbelief. This? This is what I’m supposed to wear to my own humiliation? Her stomach churned, but she had no choice. With a heavy heart, she put it on.
Meanwhile Diana got downstairs immediately and fell into Damien's arms. She's so disgusting.”
That reminds me, the rule about being the pack’s plaything, if wolfless, still applies, right?” She asked, grazing her hands on his chest.
Uhmm, not really. No one has brought it up for years now. Hold on… I thinks he hasn't seen her wolf yet”
Yeah, you are right. It would be good to use that on her.” Damien was still processing her plan, when she planted a kiss on his cheeks, stood up and left.
***
Gamma Lexi does not accept any form of disturbance when sleeping.” The Gamma's assistant said and Diana glared at him.
Tell him that the Luna of this pack is here to see him, and if he doesn't get his lousy ass here, I will make sure he gets replaced.” She said and the assistant sprinted off immediately, to deliver the message.
The door opened widely for Diana to enter, signaling that her threat worked.
I want you to do something small.” She started, searching the old man's eyes for reactions but they were stoic. “At the ceremony tonight, there is a huge possibility that Ravenna won't be able to shift, so I want you to tag her wolfless without saying anything like, there is something special about her and blah blah blah.” She said and could tell that the Gamma didn't expect it with the look of surprise etched on his face.
You are not in any position to decline, the order is from the Alpha.” She said and left without any more words.
Diana's chest tightened in anger as she saw Ravenna walking towards her in the dress looking as elegant as ever. With her large blonde curls, cascading down her back.
Let's go, the ceremony is about to start “ Diana said immediately she approached her and they both left. Despite how Ravenna tried to cheer herself up, the fear that tugged her deep down about not being able to shift lingered in her mind. It had been like that for ten years when she was supposed to shift and she had been enduring it. Going through the same torture despite knowing the outcome scared the s**t out of her and pulling her away from her thoughtsz one of Damien's men pulled her to him.
Downstairs, the ceremony buzzed with tension. As Ravenna made her way to the stage, her legs trembling, Damien’s guard stopped her and pulled her to Damien. His smirk made her skin crawl.
My legs are sore because I have been arranging this ceremony, so be my footstool for tonight.” He said with a smirk on his face enjoying his own torture.
Damien, you can't…
“I said on your f*****g knees and become my stool” He shouted, grabbing the attention of everyone at the ceremony. “ When it's time for you to shift, I will let you go.” he said, through clenched teeth.
The guards were already moving closer indicating that she had to act fast.
Fine!” he said, jolting her out of her reverie. “ Since she has refused to be my stool, pin her down and any horny bastard should step forward.” He said and Ravenna's eyes widened. He was going to let someone have their way with her in front of everyone.
No, no this can't happen.” She muttered as tears rolled down her eyes. Diana, sat watching. She wanted to pretend to stop Damien but for some sort of reason, she was enjoying the whole show.
One of the guards grabbed her and pinned her to her knees.
Leave me alone.” She screamed. “ I thought you loved me Damien, you said even a mate won't be able to separate us.”
I thought you were smart and full of yourself, you should have been able to tell it was nothing but a joke.” Ravenna was about to swallow his words when a heavy punch sent the guard holding spiraling on the floor beside Damien who was surprised at the turn of things.
Ravenna looked up in shock. Damon stood there, his fists clenched, his eyes glowing with fury.
"She’s my mate!" he signed, and the room fell silent.
Damien’s face twisted in disbelief. "Your what?"
"My mate. My Luna. You do not treat her like this." Damon signed again, his eyes never leaving Ravenna.
A tense silence stretched across the room. Everyone was frozen in place, including Diana, who was seething behind her mask of calm.
Rage burned inside him as he heard Ravenna's sobs. He had heard and seen what Damien always did to her but never bothered to do anything since they were both enemies to each other but now since that night, everything had changed. He was willing to fight and die for her.
Damien, snapping back to reality, glared at Damon.
Take your mute self away from here. I don't care if she is your mate, she remains my toy.” He said and rage burned Damon's resolve.
Ravenna stood, her heart pounding in her chest. "No," she said, stepping between the brothers. "I’m not your mate, Damon. I can never be. You’re mute, and I’ll never be with someone like you."
- Writer
