Chapter 12: This Feels Like Punishment - Callista's POV

The walk home felt as if I were going to my own execution. Every step toward the central part of the territory made my stomach churn. I clutched my bag against my chest, hyper-aware of the crescent marks on my shoulder, which were throbbing beneath my shirt. The familiar path home, which usually brought me comfort, now felt like a countdown to disaster.

My phone kept vibrating in my pocket. There were texts from my sister, from Kalley, and probably from other members of the pack at school. I ignored them all, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

The trees thinned around me as I approached home. Our house, the Alpha’s residence, sat at the heart. It was a large one-story house that normally felt warm and inviting. Today, it felt like it was looming and ominous.

My mother was waiting for me on the front porch, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression neutral.

As soon as my foot was on the first step, my mom glanced down at me. “Inside now.”

I followed her into the house, my feet dragging as if I were walking in quicksand. We went straight to my father’s office, which was the same room where he typically conducted pack business, handled disputes, and made decisions that affected everyone’s lives.

My father was already there, sitting in his deep brown leather chair behind his desk with his phone in his hand. He was probably going over all the videos and pictures. The disappointment in his eyes made me want to sink into the floor and disappear.

Today, I was the pack’s business.

Dad set his phone face down on the desk. “Sit.”

I sat in the chair in front of his desk, feeling like a small child who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Mom stood at the back of the office, near the door. It clicked shut, and I knew I was in for it.

“Would you like to tell us what is going on, or should we just go by what half the pack is talking about?” Mom said from behind me.

“Well, what are they saying?” I asked quietly, though I already knew.

“Some have said that you might be mated to Riven Nightshade,” Dad said, his voice flat. “Someone apparently overheard that the bond manifested this morning, so he kissed you in front of the entire academy to stake his claim. Is any of that true?”

My mouth went dry. Well, they had to know sometime, though this wasn’t how I imagined it.

“Yes,” I said, my head dropping and my gaze locking onto the floor. “It’s true. I’m Moon Marked.”

“Not possible. You are sixteen and I know feelings can develop quickly, but you can’t be mated or marked,” Dad said, his calm facade cracking. “Mate bonds don’t manifest until eighteen, Callista. Every wolf knows that. So either you’re lying to us, or something unusual is happening.”

“It’s real,” I said, my voice sounding hollow. I glanced up to meet his gaze as I reached for my shirt collar. I moved it along with my hair, revealing the mark. “The bond is real and I’m Moon Marked as I told you. He has them too. It snapped into place this morning.”

I omitted that I met him at the border, so they wouldn’t ask why. As far as they knew, Riven and I had only seen each other once, and that was at the border a week ago. They didn’t need to know about our visit at dawn.

“He’s just some alpha’s son,” Mom snapped.

“Well, that alpha’s son is going to be your son-in-law,” I said, my voice soft, though the words sounded harsh.

Dad shook his head. “He is the heir of the Nightshade Pack, a pack we have cordial relations with. But this does change things…”

“Change what?” I asked, glancing up at him again.

“Stonecrest had asked about arranging a marriage, but if you are marked, then—”

“You were going to arrange my marriage?” I asked, my voice hesitant as I finally looked up and didn’t avert my gaze. “That isn’t something our pack does.”

“No, but I have your safety in mind. You are an alpha’s daughter with seerer abilities. That makes you special and you have to be protected at all costs,” he said, his voice firm yet softer. “The Alpha King has been mentioning arranging things so that you are taken care of when the time comes and picking a pack—”

“But I could have found my fated mate at eighteen,” I said, my brow furrowing. “There was no need to even start thinking about arranging a mate for me.”

“The Alpha King suggested it would be wise to have options lined up,” Dad said carefully, leaning back in his chair and rocking once. “Not every wolf finds their mate, Callista. And with your abilities, your position, and everything considered, we needed to ensure that you’d have a good mate. I don’t want you to be used as a political tool by anyone ever.”

“So, you were going to sell me off to the Stonecrests? Is that it?” The words came out sharper than I meant them to.

“We were going to give you choices,” Mom corrected, moving to stand beside Dad’s desk. “Several packs are in very good standings with us and have sons your age. Nothing would have been decided without your input, but you were going to meet a few of them at the ceremony.”

“Then what about the Nightshades? Aren’t you in good standings with them as well?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.

“Our two families were getting there,” Dad said, his eyes dropping back to the place where the marks were under my shirt. “But that doesn’t matter now, does it? You have been Moon Marked at sixteen and you’re claimed. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“Neither have I,” Mom admitted, her voice softer now. “The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, but I wonder why she wanted you marked so young and to Riven.”

Dad shook his head. “I just want to know how it happened. You only met once at the border a week ago. Did it start then?”

“No,” I said, looking toward the fall wall. Sure, I had felt a little tug, but I thought he was cute. That was it. “It happened today. I was assigned to help him since he and a few others transferred to our school. I felt it then.”

“Just like that?”

I nodded. “Though I don’t understand it either, I assume the Moon Goddess has a plan for me.”

“Are you sure Riven isn’t forcing you into this? Did he somehow jump-start the bond with you by making you kiss him or something? I need you to be honest with me,” Dad said, standing and moving around his desk until he kneeled before me. “Maybe he came into power early and pushed it.”

“It’s not fake or forced. These marks showed up of their own free will,” I said firmly, looking away. “I can feel it, Dad. It’s there in my chest, tugging and pulling, even now.”

“Maybe not,” he said slowly, studying my face. “But that doesn’t mean I trust him or his intentions.”