CHAPTER 1

There was silence in our living room as we sat thinking of what the morrow would bring.

The time for the annual tribute had come. Every year, fifteen halfbreeds from the South, East and West were sent to the capital in the North. This was done to show loyalty to the King of the Alphas.

Alpha King Alcius Thane.

Unbeatable in strength and Wisdom, he was basically a god. A direct descendant of the moon goddess. A Lycan.

Over a millennia ago, a while after he became Alpha, he annihilated the system of packs.

The packs at that time were over a thousand in number. Some of them were remote and their alpha's were tyrants.

The pack system caused oppression and poverty. So all packs were destroyed and the territory system came in.

Each territory was headed by a sub-alpha while betas were in charge of the sections.

Each territory had fifteen sections in total and a capital.

The sub-alpha, his family and advisors lived in the capital.

The betas oversaw the welfare of each section and reported to the sub-alpha who in turn reported to the king.

This system also applied to the north but they had no sub-alpha.

The betas of the north reported to the royal beta and then he reports to the king.

Every year, after the delivery of half-breeds, there was a ball for the sub-alphas and betas in the north.

          Alpha Alcius absolutely despised us.

He once declared that we should be killed but, werewolves and lycans began to find mates in half breeds. Killing them would take away potential mates and so the decree was reversed. We were to be used as slaves.

All halfbreeds at twenty and above were either sent to the territory capital or sent to the north. Of course a better faith awaited those who went to the territory capital even though we were maltreated there.

We were told at the central capital, we will be treated as scum by both werewolves and Lycans.

                                   ***

"Esme... You remember all you have been taught right?" I nodded

"You must ensure you follow all the rules and most importantly stay away from the alpha"

"I've heard you ma. Don't worry your head. I'll be absolutely good." I said dusting my skirts as I headed for the door.

I was from section 3. Our sub-alpha had selected from each section and as usual I was unlucky enough to be selected.

I was set to head out for the East capital along with my parents and the other girls from the other sections will also go there. We were to leave for the central capital in two days.

I trailed the familiar path to the stream. My comfort zone. Growing up I never had much friends. I was shy and Isolated myself most of the times. I fell ill quickly, took a special brew for my poor eyesight. I also bruised quickly and healed slower than a normal halfbreed. I was weak. Every time I was bullied by werewolves or halfbreeds, I came here to hide and cry. I wonder how I'm going to survive the north.

************************************************

          We left our borders by midday. The roads leading out of the east were bumpy and rough.

We were to reach the north in three days. I kept to myself most of the time and replied the girl beside me. Her name was Lily and she was from section 7.

  She  looked worse than I did......hair covering her face as she kept her head bowed at all times.

We made few bathroom stops and food was shared in the van but the drivers drove during the night. The other girls didn't talk much either. We all sat in silence like sacrificial lambs going to be slaughtered.....Of course.... we were lambs and the north was our place of sacrifice....

We reached the main borders of the north at dusk two days later. We were ushered into a small house.

We were given clothes to change into after taking a bath. There was one bathroom so we had to go in one at a time starting from the girl in section 1 till the girl in section 15.

There was an open space with beds were we lay down. That night I heard a few crying, I couldn't even cry. I felt numb. I prayed to the moon goddess that whatever may come, my parents would not loose another child. I was going to go home and see my parents again.

                                     ***

 In the morning after our bath, we were given a white dress. It was the official slave dress. We walked out in a single file into a van. The other girls from other territories were present. We were sixty girls in total. This van was to take us to the central capital where the king lived. The drive to the palace was smoother and the roads were levelled.

When we arrived at the palace, some people were waiting outside.

We were given dresses as we alighted. My dress was red and red was for cleaning. We were assigned to our bunks and given toiletries. There was a row call and we were given food. The matron instructed us to go to bed as soon as we were done because from the next day, sleeping would be a guilty pleasure. Tomorrow our duties will begin formally.

As I lay on my bed and turned, I kept thinking of my fate here. I prayed to the moon goddess to keep me safe and protect me from the wrath of the werewolves and Lycans alike.

I knew I could be clumsy and I wanted to go unnoticed as much as possible. I wanted to survive as long as I needed to and hopefully return to the East and be with my parents.

Maybe settle down with a man I love and have children. Live a simple life and work for my section. To do all this, I needed to survive first. And I was going to make sure I did.