Chapter 002

“Alright girls, file out.” Madam Claudia called from the hallway.

“Astrid, sit. Let me brush your hair, you look like a tangled mess.” Aria said to me.

Aria was the oldest she-wolf in the house of the lost. She has been here for eight years and house of the lost has alone stood for nine. She was brought here as a girl, got her first blood here, and turned to her wolf form here. She was more like a daughter to madam Claudia, we all know that madam Claudia loved her like family, but no one has ever spoken about it. She just turned 22 and has never been picked. I didn’t understand why, because she was very beautiful, her red hair glistened under the morning sun.

I sat in front of the mirror in the room, she came up behind me holding her brush.

“Hopefully someone picks you today, or rather pick Renee. I can’t deal with her dirty character anymore.” She said,

“Why haven’t you been picked all this years?” I asked, looking at our reflection in the mirror. Pain flashed in her eyes but it quickly vanished. Then She put on a smile, “Not everyone wants to be owned by someone.”

“But……madam Claudia, practically owns us.”

“We still have certain freedom here than we’ll ever have in the hands of a ruthless Alpha or his Beta.”

“I really hope you get picked by a good one. You deserve better.” I whispered.

And a small smile was what I got in response.

The small bell in the hallway rang again, signaling us to walk out and stand in front of our cells for Madam Claudia’s inspection.

The house of the lost was founded and funded by the Alphas who were not satisfied with their marriage, under the guise of “helping lone wolves to have a home once more”. All the money given to madam Claudia was taken into her personal purse, so even if we ate little or close to nothing, we had to appear present on the day of selection.

“Today is an important day for me, as you all know already. I expect you to be on your best behavior, never look them in the eye, keep your heads bent and eyes rooted to the floor. Nobody wants a smart mouth.” She said, pausing in front of me.

“ if you are lucky, you’ll get picked, and maybe become a Luna or a slave. If you are not lucky……..well that will be another year for you here. So be quite, don’t speak unless spoken to, don’t try to draw attention to yourself and most importantly of all, don’t take your blindfolds off.”

“Yes madam!” We chorused.

We stood up, picking the piece of clothing handed to us by one of her guard dogs. This was my first selection since I got here, I didn’t know what to expect so I stuck with Aria, with Ruby at my other side.

Renee had walked to the other end of the hallway, joining her group of friends, I really can’t remember their names but they were all like her. Heartless.

“Hey, just do like she said, you’ll be fine.” Aria said to me.

I nodded, tying the piece of clothe on my eye. The material was light, so I could faintly make out figures and colors in front of me, but without looking up I’d never see the face of the person in standing front of me.

We were led to our dining room, all the tables and chairs were moved to the side giving the room a more spacious look. Ruby bounced happily, she was excited, I could tell. Aria was silent. As I walked I prayed to the moon goddess for her to be picked and also for Ruby to be picked. This place wasn’t meant for them, because just like Ruby, Aria was once bubbly and excited on selection days.

We got to the center of the room and was asked to kneel.

It was two long rows of young she wolves and madam Claudia stood behind the back of the first girl in my row.

We bent out heads waiting. I don’t know what we’re were waiting for but soon door burst open, the air smelled of grass, dust and earth. I could hear the loud voices of men as Madam Claudia walked up to greet them.

“They are here!” Ruby squealed.

“Shhh…..you’re gonna get us kicked out.” The girl closed to her hushed.

I raised my head a bit, looking to the side, all I could see were boots and pants, I couldn’t make out the faces of the men in the room, they were to far away. I could feel Aria stiffening, she stopped breathing. Like that would help her going unnoticed.

If I were an Alpha, she’d be the first person that catches my eye when I walk into the room and not because she’s my friend or anything but because she was beautiful and had amazing hair.

I sighed. I didn’t know if I wanted to be picked, living here was already hell. I was always put on dish duties or toilet duties, because of my small stature I was often bullied.

The night of the full moon was the only time, Madam Claudia allows us to run the forest, if you try to escape you’ll be found, brought back and tortured.

Well that wasn’t a problem for me as I was still yet to change into my wolf form. That alone caused another wave of hatred, and mockery with Renee being the mastermind.

I cried almost every night. It didn’t change anything, but sometimes when I woke up at night and seat on the window, I felt peace. Like the moon goddess was blessing me and I didn’t know. But the next day just shows me how much the moon goddess hates me.

I sighed, if I get picked today nothing changes, I’ll still be a slave there as much as I am here, but at least here I still get to keep my virginity because everyone thinks I’m still a child.

One time when Madam Claudia caught one of her guards dogs trying to rape me, she slashed his throat. I thought she cared, or had a little bit of human sympathy, but I later got to find out that my price will be doubled if I was a virgin being bought by an alpha.