CHAPTER 4

When I walked in, the ritual dancing was still going on. These women are incredible. Mel and I jumped right in. When people noticed I was already dressed in the white traditional dress, they began clapping again until Gamma, our clan's oldest woman, called me to the center. 

When I got to the middle, they were all singing and touching my head and feet, and I tried hard to pretend I knew those songs as well. 

Mel tried to teach me, but no matter how hard we tried, I couldn't get it. Just like when Isaac also tries to teach me how to fight I still fail and most times I go home with a deep cut. 

Why am I unable to learn anything? Though Isaac is a bully and uses his position as a coach to bully me, I'm not sure why he doesn't like me, but no one loves me. 

As I was deep in thought, I felt water splash on my face, Gamma put more water in her mouth, and before I knew what was going on, she spat the water from her mouth back into my face. I had never attended this ritual before, so I was unprepared. I tried hard not to show my displeasure as she spit water on various parts of my body. They used chalk to make marks on various parts of my body.

Everyone was watching the ritual while cheering and clapping. I felt so special, but on the other hand, I reminded myself that nobody loves me here. 

As the ritual came to an end, I was told to transform into my wolf form and flee the room, where I might run into my mate. Then I should change my clothes and return by Gamma, but my father cuts her as if he knows this is the perfect time for me to flee.

" He waved his hand just as I was about to shift and run away from here and everyone else.” 

"Come sit next to me," my father said. 

"I have an important announcement to make! 

 Gamma attempted to intervene, stating that "the ritual always ends with the female transforming into a wolf and fleeing the room, where she usually meets her mate." 

"Without that part of the ceremony, I might not see my mate again, and incomplete ceremonies bring bad luck to the clan." 

But he abruptly cuts her off in a harsh tone.

“Gamma is the third in command in our pack, she is the oldest woman and everyone respects her decision.” This is the first time I’ve seen anyone disrespect her. I could hear people murmuring and it wasn’t good. 

“I had already met my mate though, '' I said to myself smiling.”

I turned to face the crowd, hoping to spot him among the crowd. When I noticed him in the crowd, I smiled and turned to Mel to show her my Mate.

Then I looked up again, and he was gone, as if he had never been there. Was I hallucinating? 

I looked down at my feet disappointed. I knew it.  Something must happen. My father never fails to make me feel unwanted and unloved; everyone will tease me after today because my ritual was incomplete, which means that I am not fully a woman. 

Gamma and the other women performing the ritual began to walk out of the room, a worried expression on their faces. While I returned to my father's side.

He got to his feet and cleared his throat. 

Lydia, my daughter, has matured into a woman today. 

“I'm not even sure if I'm a woman yet because you cut off my ceremony to sell me off to Peter” I said deeply, my eyes filled with hatred for him! 

I've decided to marry her off to any nobleman worthy of her hand in marriage from the smaller pack. 

The crowd went wild, and everyone began murmuring and clapping. 

The applause was deafening as hundreds of people stood up and clapped, bright smiles on their faces; my stomach churned sickly. 

My father, the speaker, turned around and extended his hands to me, giving me a stern look. 

"You have no choice but to take my hands," I can't believe I'm about to be sold in traditional clothing with markings on my body. Right now, I look like a clown. 

I approached him, took his hands, and he squeezed them tightly, as if, if he let go a little, I'd flee. 

"Without the assistance of Silverback, Redmoon, and the Midnight pack, the Werewolf Empire and the Whitewolf pack would not exist today." As a thank you, we plan to put an end to the small packs and merge everyone into one. 

Everyone grasp, and started cheering him on. 

As you are all aware, I do not have a son to whom I will pass the throne, so any man who marries her becomes my son in law and the next in line to the throne. 

"I intend to open up all of our borders to everyone; there will be no more big packs and small packs; we are all ONE." 

The screams were too loud, they were hugging and cheering each other on, and some were throwing each other up. 

If only they knew he was deceiving them all. This was just one of his many games, and they were his puppets. He was going to get rid of all of them the same way they joined forces with him to get rid of the Blackwolf pack. I signed; how far is he willing to go just to sit on that throne indefinitely? 

We all need someone strong to lead everyone when I am not present and have gone to meet our ancestors. 

What is his name? Who will become the next king? He asked the audience! 

Peter, Stiles, and James!! Boyde!! 

Different packs were yelling the names of their strongest Alphas. But Peter appears to be winning, which made me unhappy. I wish I could flee right now. 

Then I heard "Derek," I quickly followed the voice and I saw two girls I hadn't seen before, laughing and screaming "Derek." 

They must know him because one of them resembles him. I felt relieved and smiled. 

I'm going to look for him once I get out of here. I was relieved that I wasn't the only one who knew him. 

I looked at the girls again, this time to study their faces so I could find them after I had escaped. They started leaving the room. 

“Peter”!! Just as he said Peter, various clans began to make offers. 

"'If your daughter chooses my son Stiles, we promise all our soldiers will be yours," one voice yelled. Every year, we will give the Whitewolf pack 50% of our harvest." 

That was a bad move, because the entire crowd went wild, making their own offers. This is what he desired: the Silverback pack's riches. 

The Silverback pack leader stood up, the noise reduced, and they began to murmur. 

As the leader of the Silverback pack and the Smaller pack. I'm making a claim here today, if the Whitewolf pack would take one of our own, Peter, who is our strongest member. We will distribute all of our funds to the Whitewolf pack. 

Because we will become One, our armies will become yours as well. 

Almost everyone appeared to be in support, and they all began cheering, while those who couldn't make another offer for their packs continued to murmur to themselves. 

"Peter." My dad called 

He stood up with a cocky grin on his face, as if he knew he'd win anyway. He began walking to the front. 

I wish something, anything could happen to prevent this moment from happening.

I was praying to the heavens at the same time. . 

The door burst open, A Blackwolf entered. 

"The Blackwolf pack?" I was told that the fire killed everyone in their pack. 

Everyone was stunned, and some began causing havoc in the back. 

The wolf howled loudly, and more Blackwolves began to arrive. 

We were definitely outnumbered. 

Peter quickly transformed into a wolf, and everyone, including myself, felt a little more at ease.

They both began walking towards each other, and none of us changed, as if we were completely reliant on Peter. 

While growling and snarling at each other, the Blackwolf waited for Peter to attack first. 

Peter hunched lower, searching for his opponent's weak point. I know it's because Isaac taught me that. 

"Kill that thing, my father said he seemed to have recovered from the shock," I said. 

He charged forward with an attack strike, but the other wolf dodged and dug his fingers into Peter's back. He growled deeply from the contact, and his front paw sprung, kicking the other wolf really hard, and they began snarling at each other again, trying to figure out their opponent's weakness. 

I guess the other wolf got tired of snarling. He leaped at Peter, grabbing his leg, flinging him to the ground, and sinking his teeth into his right leg. 

He flung him to the other side of the room, he growled and shifted back in defense. 

I could hear people gasping and began to murmur, "Is he stronger than Peter? Who is he?" Are we going to die? I decided to block it because the voices and fear were too much for me. 

Peter wasn't backing down, but I liked how I couldn't see his cocky expression anymore. He charged at the other werewolf, but was smacked back with his forelegs, his claws reaching for and ripping his thighs. 

My stomach turned as I felt bile down my throat. 

He dug his claws into his body and dragged him down. It took some effort to knock him down. I smell blood oozing from him, and I can't believe he didn't even strike him once. 

As Peter collapsed, the other wolf plunged his sharp claws into his neck, mercilessly tearing at his neck. 

Silverback pack, howled loudly they weren't going to watch one of their own die,. They all shifted, and the real battle began. 

Blackwolf packs began jumping on people and tearing them apart before they should shift. Body part were flying in different directions. 

When I turned to face my father, he appeared to be in shock, possibly from seeing the Blackwolf people.

Two wolves walked up to him, and before he could transform into a wolf, they pounced on him, tearing at everything their hands could touch. 

Do I fight for a man who despises me? or do I seize this opportunity to flee here and never look back? I was still thinking when I felt a blow on my back and fell down, my eyes closing instantly! 

"How can I be so frail?" 

Everything went completely black.