Chapter 2

I took several harmonious breaths as I watched Leslie stride away, embarrassment swirling through me from what I knew she had just seen. I turn around and narrow my angry gaze at Dakota and Evan.

“Better get dressed,” I spat at them before following Leslie down out of the hall toward the pack house.

Uncertainty dwells inside me as I speculate why the lycan beta has come to our pack. Our pack, while having devoted and brutally disciplined warriors, is relatively small. Our pack has been around for generations, and my father, along with the former pack alphas, never let rogue wolves join. The sole way to join the Silvermoon pack is to either be born into it or bond to a mate that belongs to it.

The Lycans only come here for important business on behalf of the lycan king. Werewolves are known to be strong, deadly creatures, but against lycans, we are inferior. Lower in rank, smaller in size, and well underneath the lycans level of strength.

Year's ago, I'm talking hundreds of years ago, and lycans didn't rule over wolves like they do today.

That was until the mad lycan king decided he needed and wanted more power. He ordered his best warriors to attack the alpha wolf king. Many perished in that horrible battle.

As I made my way into the pack house, I heard low hushed whispers. The pack members are worried. I can see it on their faces. They are scared. The last time the lycans visited a pack, the beta was there to deliver a message to all the wolves against the rebellion.

The beta followed the lycan alphas command and killed the alpha of the Bloodstar pack.

Rumors had spread far and wide that if anyone else was considering attacking the lycan king, they would meet the same disturbed fate.

“Father?” I asked him as soon as I stepped foot into the room, concerned and worried about the fellow members of our pack. “What is happening?”

“I do not know, my child,” he whispered softly and grabbed my arm, pulling me beside him, a worried frown forming on his face.

If my father is worried, I should be too.

“I ordered your father to bring you both down here,” the man that I can only assume to be the beta to the Bloodmoon pack said.

Dakota and Evan walked in right behind the other, and I had to force myself to stay calm. My wolf had finally curled up to take a nap, and I don't need her pushing her power out in front of the lycan beta. He could see it as a challenge, and while I'm a pretty decent known fighter in our pack, I'm no match for him.

“I have come here by order of Alpha Adien, king of the Lycans. I am Jace, the beta to the Bloodmoon pack. I mean, you no harm today,” the beta growled while roaming his golden eyes around the room.

“Of course. Anything you require. The Silvermoon pack is always happy to assist the Lycan Alpha with whatever he demands,” my father said, bowed his head submitting to the stronger male in the room, and I felt my heart squeeze at the scene before me.

My father has always been a strong man. A deadly alpha when protecting someone that belonged to his pack. To see him submitting before the lycan beta caused my wolf to shuffle around inside my head on high alert. Ready for what maybe to come.

“The Lycan king will be in forcing selection ritual,” the beta announced, and soft worried murmurs filled the small room. “Silence,” the beta roared, his lycan power being forced on us all, making us bow our heads.

I have only heard from past rumors about the selection ritual. Every few years, the lycans would travel around the country visiting different wolves clans and select girls with exceptional qualities to be presented.

It wasn't a proper thing to be taken for and even though they demanded that you view it as an honor for your pack to be chosen, you were going to become a sex slave to the lycans. You are being chosen to join the harem to help relieve warriors.

The harem ended years ago and was stopped by the current lycan king's father. It was never supposed to happen again. Everyone believed and thought it to be abolished.

The way they selected through the females was repulsive. They would find the healthiest ones from each pack, and I'm not talking about their health. I'm speaking about their female parts. They looked for women who had luscious breasts and plump butts.

They were, after all, elected to become sex workers, so of course they would want the sexiest ones they could find. It didn't matter if the female or females that were picked wanted to join the harem or not, if they gave trouble, if they declined to follow the lycan kings order, she would bring terrible turmoil to her pack.

“Our daughter Willow would be the best candidate for you to check out first,” my stepmother's sudden words broke me out of my thoughts as I stared at her.

I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing, but then again, it was Brita speaking, so I could absolutely believe it.

“She is an intelligent young lady. She passed her schooling with honors. She is well-trained in fighting. Not only that, but she is one of our most impressive warriors,” Brita continued to ramble on.

I closed my eyes, rolled them, snorted, and covered my mouth with my hands before anyone could disprove of my actions.

I know what she is doing. She is trying to get rid of me like she always dreamed, too. That, and to save her precious daughter from becoming a whore to the lycans. Sure, make me a sex slave, but leave her just as evil daughter behind safely here with her. That's what I imagined she was screaming inside her head.

I forced my eyes off that hateful woman. My father was standing proud, thinking my stepmother was doing right by me, and it was almost impossible for me to keep my mouth shut. He is so blinded by their bond that he doesn't see what she is truly trying to do.

Trade me for her daughter if she needs to.

Hearing my stepmother say those words only causes me to feel uncomfortable and funny because I know she is only saying those qualities to get me out of the pack. She has never stood up for me, had a kind word to speak about me. That was true, and she never once has acted like a real stepmother should.

I moved my eyes from my love struck father onto my half sister, and I watched as a snarl formed on her lips at her mother's words. Even while her mother is trying to keep her safe and make me be considered the best suitable female here, Dakota still can't stand hearing someone say decent things about me.

This is the only time my stepmother has ever praised me, and I know it's because she wants me gone, along with Dakota. They have both been causing problems between me and my father for years. Our relationship is hanging on by a thread now, all because of those two.

They have always tried their hardest to prove how much better Dakota was than me. I am thrilled to say Dakota failed at every attempt, but that never slowed down her vile doings.

Everybody knows the selection is nothing to feel honored about. It's not something that will bring the pack great glory. They forced the packs to hand over up their women to be used as sex objects. The lycan also scared everyone who considered standing against it.

They've been telling everyone that this is an honor and but everyone just doesn't dare to say the opposite. Maybe to girls from smaller packs, it's a dream come true for them to live a better life, but Willow knows however it pretends to make it sound noble they are going to be sex workers

The pack that the females belong to will be put under lycan protection and given a large sum of money for the compensation for their daughters getting picked, depending on how many are taken away.

“And what about your other daughter, Brita?” The beta asked her and looked over towards Dakota, eyes roaming down her body. “She is a great candidate as well and should be presented.”

“Um sir, I have found my mate,” Dakota whimpered and pointed towards Evan.

Mate?

She hasn't said a word about finding her mate, she would be quick to rub it into my face, and now all of a sudden my boyfriend is her mate.

"What the hell, Dakota?" I frowned.

Hissing erupted around the room at her because everyone here knows that Evan and I have been together for years.

I turned my head just in time to see Evan becoming uncomfortable as everyone turned their disappointed eyes on him. Satisfaction soared through me when I noticed he was growing nervous.

Then I took a second to look at my father and Brita, and I'm not surprised when I saw Britas' content smile about the news. She knew the entire time. Then, when I looked at my father, my heart squeezed painfully. He wasn't defending me. He stood there, not showing one emotion about what Dakota just said, and he knew how much Evan meant to me.

The beta took a step closer to Dakota. I watched as the fear flashed while he jerked her shirt collar to the side.

“I see no bond marks. He has not claimed you. If he is your mate, and you are both past the age, why have you not mated?”

Dakota's mouth hung open, speechless. And for all the evil, nasty, and rude things she has ever said or done to me, I'm going to enjoy this. I will take great pleasure in exposing her for whom she is.

An adulterous slut who can't keep her hands off another woman's man, just like her mother.

“Because beta, Evan has been too busy being in a relationship with me for the past several years.”