The great doors of the royal hall parted with a loud groan, and silence fell. In just a few hours, Kambi was going to be presented as the Osimiri of the Pack after six long years of exile. Before the official ceremony, there was one last ritual. She had to present herself before her family and the members of the court and perform a prayer for them.
A hush fell over the chamber.
From the golden archway, Princess Kambi stepped forward. She was tall, composed, flanked by her veiled maids. Her gown shimmered like moonlight, the ceremonial silks trailing in gently behind her. The scent of myrrh followed her in, enveloping the court in a spiritual air. For the first time in six years, the daughter of the Alpha stood before the royal court.
Heads bowed as she entered. Eyes followed her every step. She could feel the stares of her father's Ekazaris. Some stared with reverence, some with envy, but most with quiet hatred. She showed no fear, her face steady and strong. But inside her, her thoughts trembled. She was afraid. She feared for herself, her future, her love. But most of all, she feared for the child.
Is the child safe?
Has Cheta returned?
Her heart clenched. He should be here.
A Royal being without her Obadari, especially in times like this, could rouse suspicions among the members of the court. She could do nothing but hope for the best, masking her feelings as best as she could. Dalhatu's seat was empty too.
Her pulse quickened, but her face gave nothing away.
As she walked past the throne dais, her father's gaze met hers. As usual, he was cold, measuring, unreadable. The Alpha of the Great Pack sat in his carved stone chair, one hand resting on the armrest, the other drumming idly as though even her presence bored him.
Her mother, seated a step below the Alpha's feet, looked up, and for a fleeting instant, warmth broke through the solemn air. The Luna's eyes glimmered with pride. She smiled meekly at her daughter, careful to show too much excitement so as not to upset Amusu. Kambi's eyes lit up as their gaze met, and she nodded slightly. But there was something else behind her mother's smile. She did well to hide it, but she could see it clearly - the faint tremor in her fingers, the strain in her smile. Her color had drained, and she had lost a lot of weight. She looked ill, too pale even for the morning light.
Kambi's throat tightened. Something is wrong… how did I not notice before?
She had seen her mother a few times during her exile, but the visits were always under her father's watch, but she had not paid too much attention. She asked her about her health once before, but she shrugged it off, claiming it was only because she missed her so much.
She gulped, and worry creased her brows. Her legs felt like weights had been attached to them.
When she reached the center of the hall, she stopped. The light from the high windows poured down over her, turning the edges of her white veil to gold. Slowly, deliberately, she bowed to her father and mother.
"Your daughter returns to the court," she said, her voice steady though her heart thundered.
Kambi straightened slowly from her bow, her veil shifting like mist as she lifted her head. The silence still pressed around her. Every breath in the hall seemed to wait for her next move.
Her eyes found her father's. "My lord, my Alpha," she began, her voice steady but soft, carrying smoothly across the chamber. "Six years have passed since I last stood before you and the court of this Pack. The moons have turned, the wars have ended, and the gods have called me back. Six years have passed since you got a leading from the gods to make me an Osimiri of this great pack, a rare honor of which I am most grateful."
She turned then, her gaze softening with worry as it fell to her mother. "To you, my Queen, I owe my blood and my breath. You carried me into this world and showed me the power of being shielded by the prayers of one's mother. I have come back to serve, more than just a daughter but a light the Pack can look to for direction in dark times."
The Queen's trembling hands pressed together, her lips forming a faint, proud smile.
"My child." She muttered softly as a loose tear streamed down her face.
Kambi faced the court next. "To the Elders, the Ekazaris, and all who have kept faith in the throne and in me, I return not as the 'exiled' daughter, but as a chosen vessel." Her voice deepened, stronger now, carrying through the golden pillars and carved wolves lining the hall. "The gods have spoken. The Osimiri ceremony nears its end. Only one ritual remains before I can finally finish my transformation." A murmur rippled through the court, and whispers began to grow.
"SILENCE!" Amusu growled.
A grave hush fell over the hall immediately.
"Thank you, father… As I had mentioned earlier, I would be performing the last and final ritual today, and I hope for your full cooperation."
There were no reactions this time. Kambi could feel the eyes staring at her, sharper than daggers.
Kambi's lips curved faintly, though her hands trembled inside her sleeves. "It is said that the Osimiri's prayer binds the fate of her people to the will of the goddess."
Her gaze flicked briefly to her father again, unreadable. "And I pray that the goddess still finds us worthy."
The words hung in the air. The Luna lowered her eyes. The Alpha's fingers stopped drumming on the armrest. A heavy silence fell over the court.
"You have spoken well Kambi."
Amusu said, breaking the silence.
Kambi almost flinched.
"We will proceed with the ceremony as planned, so get ready for it."
Kambi bowed her head once more, every movement graceful, measured, but her thoughts remained unstable.
Cheta, Dalhatu... the child… let them be safe before dawn comes.
Amusu rose slightly from his throne. "Before we go any further… where is Ejira? This is a very crucial meeting for this Pack; how could he defile my orders of compulsory attendance?"
"Aja…" He called the Beta.
Aja rose swiftly from his seat and bowed to the Alpha. "Ojomi… step forward and give your reports to the Alpha." The Beta's voice carried across the court.
A White-eyed warrior stepped forward, bowing low. "Alpha, he went to the slave quarters this morning to address the matter of an unbranded."
"Did he now… that is a serious case. How dare slaves try to build an uprising against the throne?" His voice rose with each word.
A hush followed. Fear gripped Kambi tightly, and her leg buckled beneath her, but she managed to catch herself just in time. Her mother shot her a curious glare, but she shrugged it off. She could hear her heart pumping… beating inside her, and with the way the members of the court were staring at her, she was sure they could hear them too.
Then, the great doors swung open with a crash.
Ejira entered in a rush, dust clinging to his armor, his face tight with fury. He knelt quickly before Amusu, voice echoing loud and clear.
"My Alpha, I apologize for the intrusion and my lateness to this important meeting. I deserve death, but I plead that you temper justice with mercy as I have a grave matter to report."
Amusu growled. The drama was becoming irritating. "Tell me, Ejira… what have you discovered?"
"Alpha, as you are aware, there have been rumors of plans for an uprising…
"Yes, I am… these rumors have been circulating and I thought they were just baseless falacies, cooked up by wanna-be rebels who want to test their bad luck?"
"No, Alpha… they are true." Ejira's voice grew more confident as he spoke. He was basically a useless addition to the court and never served any true purpose other than formalities. He was glad to be getting recognition like this, especially in front of everyone who mattered in the Pack.
"Linked to those rumors are rumors of an unbranded. I had secretly been tracking these rumors, and it led me to a place one would least expect… the slave quarters."
"Slave quarters?" Amusu scoffed in pure amusement.
"Yes, Alpha"
"Slave quarters?"
"Yes, Alpha."
The Alpha's countenance had now changed from amusement to something darker and deadlier.
"So tell me…" He all but growled. "What were your findings?"
No answer.
"Do not keep me waiting, Ejira… what were your findings?"
"I am sorry, Alpha, I could not make any tangible findings because somebody in this court stopped my search."
There was a collective gasp in the court. The ground trembled beneath Kambi. She wished it could open and swallow her.
"Are you saying that someone stopped you from performing your duties and finding the unbranded slave?"
"Yes, Alpha."
"WHO DARED TO DEFILE THE ORDERS OF THE THRONE?"
The courtiers and all members of the court trembled. Kambi was on the verge of passing out. Ejira turned slowly to glare at Kambi.
"I was stopped… by Cheta, the Obadari to the Princess!"
Gasps burst from the assembly.
Ejira's voice rose, trembling with restrained anger. "And he claimed to act under the direct orders of the Princess herself!"
A cold wave swept the room. Eyes turned sharply toward Kambi.
Amusu's stare hardened. "Is this true, Kambi?"
Her throat felt dry as dust. The words stumbled from her mouth. "I… I did send Cheta, yes. But only because I needed the slaves to fetch water for the ceremony." She tried to force a small, nervous smile. "It was urgent. The preparations had to be done quickly, Father."
The silence that followed was heavier than stone.
Amusu's voice dropped low. "You interfered with the Alpha's command… to fetch water?"
Kambi's fingers trembled slightly at her sides. "The ceremony is sacred. Every detail must be…"
"The unbranded slave is not your concern!" he snapped, his voice echoing across the hall.
Fear flickered in her eyes, but she straightened her shoulders. "With all due respect, Father, the unbranded slave is nothing but a mere story. No one would dare start an uprising against you, Father. We should not waste time chasing after shadows!"
Amusu stepped down from his throne, half blinded by rage. "And who do you think you are to take such delicate matters into your hands… do you think that you have become something just because you are soon to be Osimiri?"
"No, father… you… You misunderstand me. I… I…"
"You have not even been back for a full day, and you have already started causing problems."
"Please Father, I beg you… You do not have to escalate things further! I have finally come back from my exile, and it is a joyous occasion." Kambi's voice rose, half pleading, half defiant.
"Must we let this blatant lie and superstition chain us while the gods offer new power through my becoming? Father, the…"
"Enough!"
The word hit like a hammer.
Kambi's breath caught. Amusu's aura filled the room now with a heavy, suffocating blanket of dread.
Ejira tried to speak, his voice cutting through the growing storm. He was unaware that the matter had grown far bigger than him. "My Alpha, please… if I may explain…"
"Silence, Ejira!" Amusu roared, and the Gamma fell back, stunned.
The hall erupted into chaos. Elders whispered among themselves. The Ekazaris exchanged scornful glances, excited about the growing scuffle. The guards shifted uncertainly.
"Give me one good reason why I should not kill you where you stand?"
"Father?" Kambi was bewildered. Fear had slowly washed out of her. Now, she was just amazed.
"Could you really kill your own child… do you hate me that much to murder me on baseless accusations?"
"Baseless… baseless… how dare you speak to me that way, you ungrateful female?"
His eyes had shifted to fiery red, and his claws had already begun to tear out. The entire court was smothered in grave silence, all watching wide-eyed, careful not to make any sudden moves and become involved in the chaos.
Something in Kambi broke. Resentment rose like bile in her throat.
"You?" she said, her voice trembling, soft at first. "I have never known a day under you that was not ruled by fear."
Gasps rippled through the court.
Amusu's eyes darkened - if that were possible. "Watch your tongue, girl."
"No," Kambi said, her voice rising. "Not this time." She took a step forward. "You call yourself my father, but I have only felt hate and anger from and towards you. You! You made me go to the front lines of battle at only ten moons old. YOU! I have watched how evil you are, and I swear to the gods that I could fill the moon with the hate I have for you, and it would overflow and flood the earth! You taught me obedience, control - made me watch while you killed thousands of innocent people in cold blood. You abuse me, abuse my mother! You made me earn the right to breathe beneath your roof."
The hall erupted in uneasy murmurs. Her mother watched in horror as the scene unfolded before her eyes, fearing for both their lives. The Ekazaris stared in shock, unable to look away.
Kambi's words came faster now, her voice cracking between rage and grief. "All my life, you hid behind your laws, your power, your rage, but have you ever looked out of yourself and towards other people? Do you see other people… do you see mother… do you see me?"
"Enough!" Amusu roared, but Kambi didn't stop.
"You exiled your own daughter! You sent me away, forced me to become an Osimiri. Do you even know what I want to be? I hate you!" The words tore out of her like a scream. "I hate what you made me! I hate that every time I speak, I hear your voice echoing in mine! I hate that when I look in the mirror, I can see your face!"
For a heartbeat, no one breathed. The air itself seemed to be still.
Then Amusu moved.
His body twisted, the sound of bones cracking echoing through the chamber. His eyes flared, fiery red, and his fangs bared. The Alpha's aura rolled over the court like a storm.
"Ungrateful child," he snarled, voice now layered with a growl. His half-shifted claws glinted under the ray of sunlight, flooding the hall. "I have pampered you so much that you forget your place."
Kambi stumbled back as he approached, her breath coming in sharp bursts.
"Father…"
Before she could finish, his claws closed around her throat.
The crowd gasped.
Amusu lifted her easily, one-handed, her feet dangling above the marble floor. Kambi's fingers clawed at his wrist, her lips parting soundlessly as she fought for air.
"Do you defy your Alpha now?" he growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
"ALPHA, PLEASE HAVE MERCY!"
The voice came from the far end of the hall. Cheta had just entered, his chest heaving, eyes wide in disbelief. He bowed to the ground, tears streaming from his eyes.
"ALPHA, PLEASE HAVE MERCY!"
All the members present in the court had bowed, begging for mercy.
Once again, the court grew still and silent. The only sound was Kambi's strangled gasp as her father's grip tightened.
Her vision blurred. She could see the light.
"Father…Alpha… please…" she choked out.
Amusu's claws trembled against her throat , but the fury in his face only deepened.
And then…
"Amusu, stop!"
A frail voice cut through the chaos.
The Luna, pale and shaky, with tears streaming down her face, stumbled forward from where she bowed. Her hands shook violently, but she pushed through, her sobs echoing off the walls.
"Please," she cried, reaching for him. "You will kill her!"
Her trembling fingers brushed his arm.
"Do not touch me, Jamira!"
Amusu turned sharply, his body still half-shifted.
She ignored and reached out again.
"I said… do not touch me!"
His arm swung back in blind rage.
The Luna's body reeled from the blow. She staggered, her eyes wide in shock, then fell backward. Her head struck the wall with a sickening crack.
The sound silenced the hall.
The entire court froze in horror.
Amusu stood motionless, still holding Kambi in the air, his hand loosening slowly as realization dawned in his eyes.
Kambi's feet touched the ground, her knees buckling as she looked toward her mother's still form.
"Mother…" she whispered, voice breaking.
Cheta took an involuntary step forward, but the air in the hall was so heavy, so thick with dread, that even he stopped short.
No one spoke.
No one breathed.
Only silence remained. It was dense and suffocating.