CHAPTER 2

LYDIA MARTIN

I need to sleep, I need to sleep.

I kept repeating the words again and again. Maybe if I chanted it long enough, it would come true. My eyes couldn’t shut shut. Instead, they were shining brightly. I kept blinking while staring into the darkness.

"I'll be 18 tomorrow, and my father is throwing a party to celebrate, and I'll finally meet my Mate." I'm curious about who he will be; have I met him before? Will he be from the White Wolf pack too?

I really don’t want anybody from my pack to be my mate. They all treated me badly, even though I was the princess. My father, the King, made it clear to everyone that he did not love and cherish me, which made me an easy prey.I want someone I haven’t met before to be my mate I said, talking to myself.

My mind spun as thoughts tumbled around half-formed as I pinched my eyes shut, thinking it would help me fall asleep. I tried to ignore those thoughts, but they persisted. I wish my mother could be here to witness my coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. I miss her so much because she was the only person who truly loved me. I bit my lower lip to keep me from crying.

Stop thinking. Stop thinking.

I took a deep breath, but the air in my room felt like it was choking me. I really needed to go outside. I got up from my bed, threw my red cloak over my head as the winter night seemed to have grown colder. I opened my door and shut it slowly with a smile on my face. I started walking around slowly so I wouldn’t wake anybody up.

As I approached my father's chamber, I noticed light coming from it and heard voices inside. My father was having a serious discussion with a few of the leaders. I decided to listen in;

"Our spy from the smaller packs, sent me a message informing me of the small packs' plans; they've seen how strong they can be when they come together.”

 "They plan to become one and attack our Empire after helping us destroy the strongest pack, the "Black wolf pack," the first voice

Another voice cuts in, We can’t allow them to form alliances; they will become stronger than us. Midnight packs have one of the fastest healing processes; they can heal more quickly than us. Redmoon has the only Alpha female remaining after we killed Katherine, "Black Wolf’s female Alpha," and you know what they can do!! "He said with anger."

"Their howl can control any wolf in the vicinity, but I heard she hasn't found her mate yet, so she isn't as powerful as Katherine," the first voice said once more.

What about Silverback? They are now the fastest and have three Alphas in their pack, the only reason they haven't attacked us is because they hate each other and it was because of our alliance with Blackwolf that they didn't attack us, but Blackwolf pack has been destroyed for three years now, if they put their hatred for each other aside and work together with other packs, they can conquer us.

One of them said, "I heard one of the Silverback Alphas, the strongest has his eyes on Lydia."

My eyes went wild. Oh please let it certainly not be Peter. The three times I have met him, he made sure he got me so mad. One time, he held my hands so tight till I almost bled out because I didn’t accept him as his mate in front of his friends. The people from the smaller packs only come here when there is an important ceremony or a ritual. And the three times he came here, he made sure I cried myself to bed. If he is my mate, I would rather use my claws to slit my throat than be with him.

“Peter is the strongest Alpha in the Werewolf Empire, but he is so untamed, we can’t allow him to become the next in line to the throne, especially since he is from the smaller pack”. We can’t let anyone from the smaller pack rule us. Another voice said

If we give Lydia out to someone else, Peter will turn around and raise war on us. We need to make a decision that will put an end to the alliance they are trying to form, not create more problems. No Alpha is stronger than Peter, so if he marries Lydia, we become stronger still, and the Silverback clan becomes our in-law, no one from the small packs can try to wage war on us.

They all cleared their throats, while my dad still hasn’t said anything. I know nobody loves me here, but I can’t imagine what I will suffer in the hands of Peter if I marry him. Just the thought makes me shiver with fear.

My dad cleared his throat, and everywhere went silent. 

I have decided to write tomorrow, after the ritual of Lydia’s coming of age. I will place a bounty on her. The nobles coming from the smaller packs all have their own qualities that make them stand out. Peter might be the strongest, but he is not the smartest, and he makes decisions without thinking, but we need Peter to be on our side. The silverback pack is the richest in the smaller pack. They can form their own empire if they come together with the other packs, but I won’t make it easy for him to have her.

We must make it seem like the other smaller packs are so close to getting her that we give her to Peter, so it will seem fair to them. And as for Peter, we will get rid of him when the time comes. He can not rule our Empire.

They all started laughing, and I felt sick to my stomach. I turned back slowly and left. I started running towards the woods, towards the tree I and my mum planted when she was alive. The full moon was high in the sky. The cold dried my eyes immediately they fell from my eyes.

I immediately came to a halt as I smelt an unusual smell in the distance. I changed my direction and started going towards the direction I smelt the intruder. I was alone but I kept walking. As I slowly approached the scent, I heard a sharp cry and it stopped immediately, like nothing happened. I hid behind a tree. I smelt blood and it was from my people.

I changed to my wolf form and came out from behind the tree. 

"State your name and purpose in my land, and I might let you live," I said.

"Your land?" a voice said before I could detect where the voice was coming from. An icy gasp of wind rushed past me and the intruder was gone.

I stood there shocked. The only pack that is this fast is the Silverback pack. Why did they kill one of our own? Has the war started already?

I followed the smell of the blood and when I got close I saw the bodies of three royal guards. Their bodies were shredded with most body parts thrown in different directions. It was like they didn’t even get the chance to fight back. The killer must be an alpha who is really strong to have killed all three without them sending a warning to us. The strongest Alpha in our tribe is...

"Peter"!! 

My eyes shone. The thought of him being out here alone with me scared me the most. I started walking back slowly. I was out here alone with the strongest Alpha fear began to creep in.  I turned in the direction of my house and I ran without looking back.

I didn’t stop till I got into my room. Hoping I didn’t wake anyone up, I locked my door and closed all my windows, and crept into my bed with my blanket over my head.

I will not marry Peter. I must escape after the ceremony tomorrow, away from everyone and here. Perhaps it was the fear and cold I was feeling, but my eyes became weak and I drifted asleep.