Chapter 1

Ava's pov)

The morning of my eighteenth birthday arrived far too quickly than I would have liked. The early morning sun filtered into my room from my window as I stared up at the cracked ceiling above my bed.

The selection was today. Right on my birthday. Every year the werewolves go to the few remaining human settlements scattered around the continent to take humans who have just turned 18 to work as their servants until they are 50 or if you are lucky enough to have a good ‘master’ — as they love to refer to themselves, who would let you start a family in a settlement close to the pack but you'd still come to their houses every day to work.

Centuries ago, humans and werewolves lived together in peaceful harmony but that was until we became greedy, power-hungry. We wanted to have supreme reign over the werewolves. A war broke out and the werewolves in their great strength and numbers defeated us, the majority of the human population was lost. To stop the werewolves from completely annihilating us a treaty was made, humans from the ages of 18 would be collected every year to serve the werewolves.

They needed an ultimate ruler, the first alpha king was made. He was able to possess strength far greater than other werewolves, he was bigger and faster. He was said to have been specially blessed by the moon goddess herself — a supreme being who was said to have created the werewolves.

He passed down this blessing to his descendants and they have continued his legacy by honoring the centuries old treaty.

“Hi honey,” the sound of my mom's voice breaks my train of thought. I spotted her standing by my doorway.

She walked into my room and sat on my bed.”I know today is…hard” her voice cracks.

“I can't bear to lose you Avey, not after losing your brother.”

Avey…a childhood nickname my brother had given me, he said Ava was too long. I guess he didn't understand the concept of nicknames back then. The name has stuck ever since.

I miss him, he went missing shortly after getting selected seven years ago.

“Mom…” I said sitting up and moving closer to her at the edge of my tiny bed. “You aren't going to lie to me, I promise. I will escape no matter what, I will never bow down to those monsters.” I said fiercely, determination burning in my heart.

My mom choked on a sob as she pulled me into a tight hug.

“Please don't do anything reckless, listen to them. Hopefully you'll get a nice master, please Avey.” She whispered in my ear as she hugged me.

“Alright, let's go to the kitchen and get you something to eat before they arrive.” She said pulling away.

Standing up, I picked up a big fur coat and put it on. We live close to silver claw pack, it always snows here so we always have to bundle up to fight the cold. Silver claw sock is one of the 10 packs in lycara — the werewolf continent. Members of the pack are well known for their high enforcement and elite tracking skills.

I caught sight of a reflection of myself on the broken mirror I hung on the wall by my doorway. My silver hair was pin straight as usual, icy blue eyes as striking as ever. I had always wondered why I looked different from my parents and brother, my mom said it's due to a harmful substance she knowingly ingested while pregnant with me.

In the kitchen, a warm breakfast had already been placed on our little dining table. My dad was whispering something to my mom, he pulled away as soon as he spotted me. My usual funny and goofy father was quiet today.

“Happy birthday Avey, my little girl is all grown up.” He said trying to muster up a smile but failing. He was teary eyed but tried not to let the tears fall.

“I have a little gift for you.” He said, handing a little wooden box to me as I settled into one of the dining chairs.

Taking the box from his outstretched hand I opened it and gasped at the sight before me. It was a little silver necklace and a single pearl pendant.

“I…I can't take this dad,” I said. “This must have cost you a fortune, I don't want you and mom to suffer because of the money you spent on this. Please take it back and return it.” handing the box back to him.

“Don't worry about us Ava, we will be fine. Please take it, we want you to have something to remember us with. A little gift for you to hold on to whenever you miss home. Please take it.” He pleaded.

Hesitantly, I withdraw my outstretched hand and remove the necklace from the box.

“Can you put it on me?” I asked him.

He came around the table, took the necklace from me and secured it around my neck. Planting a kiss on my head he said, “My little girl.”

“Alright, enough of the sentiment, I'm not dying. Dig in! Don't let the food get cold.” I said, trying to lighten up the mood.

We laughed as they both began to eat, talking and making jokes like we usually do, trying to ignore what's going to happen today.

After breakfast, I helped my mom clean up the table.

I heard them before I saw them. My mom turned ghostly pale as she could also hear them, they howled upon their arrival.

The warriors were here to collect us.

My parents and I exchanged glances before they hurried me out of the door, they didn't want to delay so as not to upset the warriors.

Everyone was already waiting outside, some shaking in fear, some emotionless as they had already accepted their fate and few looked determined like me.

Some warriors were in human form standing by a carriage while the other warriors shifted back to their human form.

One stepped forward, he must be a captain I assumed, cleared his throat then began with a booming voice.

“As you all know today is the selection,” a pause to let it sink in. “all humans from the age of 18 should step forward. Do not run or try to hide or else there would be consequences. We will begin to call your names, you should all have packed your things as we would not be wasting any time here today. You will come with us with or without your luggage if you try to waste time, whether you like it or not.”

A cold hand clasped unto mine, I turned and saw my best friend, Silvia Graves, we grew up together. I could feel her shaking so I sqeezed her hand and offered her a little smile to reassure her.

The air was thick with tension and filled with an eerie silence, not even the birds dared to make a sound. The only sound that could be heard was the nervous breathing around me and the sound of crushed snow underneath our boots.

“We will begin,” the captain announced, his voice cold and sharp. “Mara Primrose.”

She stepped out, her face was pale and she was visibly shaking.

“Darren wood….” I block out his voice turning to take one last look at my home. This was my life.

Soon, Silvia's hand leaves mine as she was called.

I felt an urgent tap on my hand as I was pulled out of my thoughts, my father had tapped me. He had gone pale, eyes wide and was shaking.

Everyone was looking at me with the same fearful expression on their faces.

What's going on?... I thought to myself