Chapter 0004

Nex’s POV

“Come on, people! Everything has to be perfect!”

“Where should I put these flowers?”

“Since when have we cared about appearance?! Just set up a bunch of food and a clear area for the choosing!”

“Just to be sure, it’s all the female werewolves now?”

“So we were told.”

It was quite the racket downstairs, as I sat on my bed, chained from my wrists and ankles to it. After I was told to attend the Choosing Night in Casey’s place, Dominic ordered some guards to force me back to my room, and put me under house arrest. I couldn’t believe how low my own father was. To have his own daughter under house arrest, over a petty and selfish reason!

As if that was not twisted enough, apparently late last night, Dominic caught word of there being some change of plans for the Choosing Night. That being that every female werewolf was to attend this time. And yet, despite being told that, the people here still decided to hold me hostage and make me take Casey’s place, as though hoping the Lycan King would still take me out of every other werewolf here! The thought disgusted me greatly. Not that I was forced to be ‘wedded off’ to another male, but more with how people want me gone in this manner. Out of their lives not as a free wolf, but more as a ‘slave’.

Well, not that I was going to stay for long, as I felt one cuff on my wrist get unlocked at last. For a while now, I had been picking the lock of these chains using a small bone I saved from last night’s dinner. Being isolated for so long, I had to teach myself some tricks in case if Casey or anyone else does anything funny to me. Particularly locking me up somewhere.

I hastily undid the other locks on me, completely freeing myself from imprisonment. As soon as I was freed, I grabbed my stuff at the corner of my room and opened my window. With the Choosing Night approaching, everyone’s attention is more on preparations for the event, and making the Lycan King feel welcomed. The only time they would have any focus on me is when they have to dress me up for the event.

Once I saw no one outside, I quickly leapt out the window and landed on the ground.

“And just where do you think you are going?”

I flinched upon hearing Casey’s voice, and turned to see my ‘stepsister’ smugly looking at me, with two guards by her side.

“You want some air that badly? Sure. You can go for a little walk,” Casey kindly said. To the guards, she then ordered, “Take her to the dungeon.”

“Right away, Lady Casey,” one of them answered, as they both went and grabbed me.

“You can’t make me replace you, Casey!” I exclaimed, struggling to get out of their grips. “You really think the Lycan King is stupid enough to not see an act of treason?! It’s not too late to take your rightful place!”

Casey only scoffed at me as she approached. “I believe that is where you are wrong. My rightful place is here at home, where I will be Chase’s beloved wife and Luna. And you? You’ve been strong enough to deal with the people’s hate and disgust towards you all your life. You can handle being a slave or a sex toy for our king.”

I became more and more enraged at her ridiculous claims. How low could this werewolf go?! Someone as selfish as her is supposed to be the next Luna of this pack?

“How pathetic…” I growled.

Casey narrowed her eyes, overhearing what I muttered. “Care to repeat that?”

“I said it’s pathetic! Someone like you is supposed to be a next Luna?!” I repeated loudly. “What do you think it means to be a Luna? That you can do whatever you want?! That you can just torment others and use them to do your dirty work?! That’s not what a Luna does! Someone like you is nothing more than a spoiled brat!”

Casey became enraged by that last claim, as she slapped me in the face. More than slapped me, for she even left a scratch mark on my face, in which I bit back a pained hiss. “You watch that tongue. A weak little outcast like you has no right to speak to your superiors in that manner. If anything, you should be happy to be taking my place. You get to live in a luxurious castle, doing nothing but some ‘cleaning’. Besides, the king requested that we gift him our ‘strongest’ werewolf. Though you are far from physically strong, you seem to have developed quite the backbone under all that patheticness of yours. Be happy; you’re seen as a strong wolf somewhere. And with that little scratch on your face, you definitely pass as one of the strong ones here.”

I said nothing to her retort; only glared at her. So she truly thought that little of me, did she? 

“Take her away. And remember to send an Omega down to her cell. We still need to make her presentable to the king,” Casey ordered the guards.

“Yes, ma’am.” At their response, the two guards dragged me away from the scene.

As I was getting dragged away, I thought back to what Casey said. Those people are all so sure about the Lycan King taking me away, when he ordered for all females to be present. And since he knows that Dominic has at least one daughter living under his roof, I began to wonder what will happen if he shows up without one.

And I will make perfectly sure he shows up at that event without me present.

******

Beowulf’s POV

I don’t like this at all. I don’t like the smell radiating from this pack of mutts, nor do I like the disgusting dog grinning at me.

It was night time by the time I arrived to the Downfall Pack with my warriors. As soon as we have arrived, we were- or rather, I was-  being greeted by Rush, Alpha of the Downfall Pack, with his son and Beta by his side, while his many civilians were all standing by the sidelines, making a path for me and my guys.

“My~ I truly did not expect to see the great Lycan King in my pack so soon. Had you sent word earlier, I would have made the place extra welcoming in your presence~” Rush fawned as he rubbed his hands together.

“I know I had sent word to this pack beforehand. Are you trying to initiate something?” I questioned.

That one question alone was enough to make the guy flinch. “Who me? To our king? I would never dare to!” he claimed. “Now, now. I am sure it’s been a long travel for you. Why don’t we talk at my house-”

“No need. It is night time, and nearly time for the ceremony to begin. The sooner we get it done, the better it is for the both of us. Don’t you think?” I questioned with a glare.

It would seem that the guy is as smart as rumors claim, at least, for he flinched and distanced himself away from me.

“Y-Yes! Of course, my king! The sooner, the better!” he agreed while bowing to me. “Right this way. We will have the girls gathered there in a jiffy.”

“Good. They better all be there,” I warned, emphasizing on the ‘all’.

Given how crafty this mutt is said to be, for all I know, he could try to hide one or two girls in this pack. Whether it be because the girl is his daughter, or because she is his son’s girlfriend/fiancé. Regardless of the reason, since my mate is said to reside in this pack, if none of the girls present is my mate… To be honest, I will look forward to what I will do to them for keeping my fated mate away from me.

It did not take long for us to arrive at the center of the pack, where a group of young female werewolves gathered. Some were dressed up quite beautifully, other pretty-looking. There were also a few cute ones amongst them. As appealing as they were, however, I am only interested in one. I did not care how pretty she seems, so long as she is the one.

“Here are all the females in our pack, my king,” Rush introduced. “Now, now. Do take your pick. Who is it you will be taking away~?”

I noticed that despite his claim, the Alpha was saying it through gritted teeth. Almost as though he was nervous about something, as well as angry with it? For what reason, I wonder. Was his daughter amongst the group, after all? Not that it matters.

For I am feeling nothing from them.

How can it be? Am I not close enough to my mate? Has she yet to come of age? I was not sure what the reason was, as I walked around the group of ladies, and gave each one a proper sniff. Even if she has yet to come of age, I have been living for many years now. My sense of smell is far sharper than any other werewolf. I should at least sniff my mate out, even if she was wearing perfume. And yet, I can’t seem to find her.

‘Kora. What is the meaning of this?’ I questioned my Beta via mind link. ‘You said I will be meeting my mate in this pack this Choosing Night. Yet, I am here, sniffing around. And I don’t smell her anywhere.’

‘That is because she is not amongst them,’ Kora explained, unfazed by the tone I was using. ‘There is no other explanation for her absence. They are hiding her from you. Daughter of that pack’s Beta.’

I was honestly afraid that was the reason, as well as enraged by it. I cannot believe I actually gave that damn mutt the benefit of doubt.

“What is the meaning of this?” I questioned aloud, not bothering to turn to Rush.

I could sense the man panic from my question, especially as he stuttered. “W-W-Whatever do you mean, my king? What is the meaning of… what, exactly?”

“You said all the girls are here. Is that true?”

“Yes! Yes, of course it is!”

I grew more irked by the response, and shot towards Dominic, grabbing him by the throat, choking him. “Then explain to me where this man’s daughter is.”

I did not need to look to notice the surprise expressions on the people’s faces around me, nor did I care what they were surprised about.

“D-Daughter?! W-Well, that’s…”

“I know he has a daughter who is not present,” I interrupted Rush. “Where is she?”

“You can’t have Casey!” came his son’s voice, catching my attention as I glanced at him. “Casey is my mate first! She can’t be yours!”

“Do I look like I am asking, boy?” I questioned, tightening my grip on Dominic’s neck, as the Beta tries to pry my hand away. “His daughter is somewhere here, isn’t she? Bring her here, or you will find yourself a new Beta.”