Chapter 4 Beneath the Grave

The moment Thorne left, Raya stared at the blood-stained necklace on the ground like it might bite her. It was impossible.

She remembered this necklace, worn by her mother every day of her short life. A crescent moon pendant etched with sunbursts, a symbol of divine balance. Her mother used to kiss it before praying, whispering words Raya hadn't understood then.

It had been buried with her. She was sure of it.

Raya had dug the grave herself, sobbing beside the body. She remembered the cold soil. The lifeless face. She'd placed the necklace in her mother's folded hands before the earth swallowed her whole.

So how the hell was it here? And why did it have fresh blood on it?

Her hands trembled as she reached for it, ignoring the burn of the silver collar around her throat. Her fingers brushed the pendant. It was warm.

She flinched.

And the moment her skin made full contact, visions erupted.

She found herself somewhere else.

Snow was falling in a forest clearing. Firelight danced on black stone. A woman stood at the center. She was tall, wrapped in silver furs, her face hidden underneath a hood.

The woman turned toward her.

Hey eyes bright like moons, her voice like thunder.

"You must remember what was taken."

Raya's knees buckled.

"Who are you?" she gasped.

"You know me." The woman raised a hand and the world shattered.

.....

Raya jolted upright in the cave, gasping for breath. Sweat poured down her face.

The necklace clung to her skin, pulsing. This wasn't a trinket.

It was a key.

And someone had probably dug up her mother's grave to retrieve it.

Her stomach twisted. Her thoughts spun. Who had it last? Who could have unearthed it-and why?

Why now?

Raya rose on weak legs. The collar weighed on her, but her mind was racing. Something was wrong. Something worse than even the Beast. Something hidden, she needed to find out.

She had to get out of here.

...

Three nights later, Thorne returned.

He stood in the threshold of her den with two other rogues. No chains this time. No taunts. Just a look that made her gut coil.

"You've survived," he said.

"Barely," she muttered.

"Good. Now it's time to see if you can do more than survive."

He turned and walked off. The two guards motioned for her to follow.

Raya hesitated, clutching the necklace in her palm. Her instincts were torn-half of her screamed to run, the other told her something important waited beyond the next step.

She followed.

They led her through a winding corridor that opened into a dark cavern chamber. Unlike the arena, this space was quiet and sacred. Candles flickered on stone altars carved with wolf runes.

In the center of the room was a stone table.

Bound to it was a boy.

No older than fifteen.

Half-shifted, sobbing, terrified.

"What is this?" Raya asked, voice sharp.

"Another rogue," Thorne said, stepping into the circle. "He lost control. Killed two of ours. We'd usually end him."

Raya stiffened. "So why bring me?"

Thorne tilted his head. "Because you're like him."

Her chest went cold.

"You mean broken."

"I mean gifted," he said. "Or cursed. Depending on what you do next."

He nodded at one of the guards.

They drew a curved silver dagger and placed it in Raya's palm.

"Put him down."

Her entire body recoiled. "What?"

"His death is mercy. That's what you said, wasn't it? About the berserker?" Thorne circled her slowly. "We want to see if your beast acts out of rage... or choice."

The boy whimpered on the table. His golden eyes, wide with fear, met hers.

"Please," he choked. "Don't."

Raya couldn't move.

Everything inside her screamed no.

But her hand tightened around the blade.

The beast stirred,not with hunger, but interest.

*"Do it."*

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, voice cracking.

Thorne stepped close, voice low. "Because you don't belong to them anymore. If you want a place among us... earn it."

Raya looked at the boy.

He wasn't a monster. He was 'her'. A younger version, rejected, lost and terrified.

In her mind she saw her mother's grave, saw the necklace.

Her entire life had been manipulated, she had no control over it. But this she had control over.

She dropped the blade.

"No."

Thorne's expression didn't change. "Wrong answer."

The guards lunged at her.

But Raya was ready.

The beast didn't fully emerge-but it didn't need to.

She moved fast, too fast.

She grabbed the dagger from the floor, slashed upward across the nearest guard's throat, and spun toward the second. Blood sprayed. The silver collar burned hotter, trying to contain her power, but rage burned hotter still.

She drove the dagger into the second guard's shoulder. He screamed. She kicked him into the altar.

Thorne didn't move.

"Fascinating," he murmured.

Raya turned to him, chest heaving, fury in every inch of her.

"You wanted to see who I am?" she hissed. "You just did."

He smiled. "Good."

She didn't expect that.

"You passed."

Her jaw clenched. "What?"

"You made a choice. Not the one we hoped for, but yours." Thorne nodded at the altar. "The boy lives. You resisted the beast. That's rare."

Raya stepped between Thorne and the boy, blade still in hand. "You're insane."

Thorne raised both hands slowly. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm the only one preparing for what's coming."

"What's coming?" she snapped.

His eyes glittered.

"The people who put that necklace around your mother's neck. The ones who erased your bloodline."

She froze.

"What are you talking about?"

Thorne stepped closer, slow and measured. "You think the Moon Goddess sealed a beast inside you by accident? That you're just some divine fluke?" He leaned down. "You're not the only Two-Souled child, Raya."

Her breath caught.

"Yes," he whispered. "There are others."

Then he opened his palm... revealing a torn strip of silk cloth.

Raya recognized it instantly.

It was from her mother's ceremonial robe, the one she was buried in.

But it was soaked in fresh blood. And it smelled like her mother.