The angelic music played in the speakers around the pack. The torches were lit along the streets and the moon shone brightly in the center of the sky.
A shadow was cast over the edge as the blood moon began to form and once it was fully merged it would be time, and later on when the the blood moon begun to pull from its form the horn would blow- indicating that the Hunt had begun.
“Are you nervous?” My little sister, Mathilda, asked me.
“Hazel isn’t nervous, sweetheart, this is an honor. One that you too might experience in a few years if you’re lucky.”
I shifted on the bed and suppressed the growing anger towards my mother.
I looked into Mathildas hopeful eyes and cupped her tiny chin.
“I hope you never do,” I said and cast a fierce glare at my mother when I turn my head.
If a female didn't have her mate by the time she turned eighteen, she was to be a volunteer for the Hunt. It wasn't her choice but somehow, through the centuries that this tradition had been alive, young girls had been brain washed to see this as an honor.
If we were unmated our names were automatically placed into the Chalice of Choice that the ring leader would later pull from. The name had always boggled me, Chalice of Choice, it was ironic because we had none.
You would never see a parent more proud than when their daughters names were read.
The blinding joy in their eyes when they saw their girls being taken away, thrown into the truck and driven out of the pack. It was rare that they were ever seen again but their absence was taken as a good sign.
“You’re all finished, dear,” my mother stroked her hands gently over my shoulders.
She walked over and grabbed the white under dress. It was barely a dress, it looked like a nightgown but thinner and more exposing.
The thin straps were pressing into my shoulders, my skin turned red when my chest was to big for the size my mother had gotten. We also weren't allowed to wear bras, our legs had to show and no shoes or socks were allowed.
We had to be as bare as possible, shamed and belittled to our core before we arrived at the house.
I had witnessed the Chalice ritual more than once in my life and each time there were factors that never deviated; The girls were lined up next to each other, their hands clasped behind them to give a good overview of their bodies, their hair fell in braids-either one or two- down their back but could never cover their chest or their face. When a girls name was called she was to step forward without speaking- not a single word or sound except for the subtle breath exhaled between her scrubbed lips. They were evaluated by the Lady Hale who then ranked the girls from 1 to 10.
It was rare for a girl to ever get below 3.
You see, in order to get below 3 you would have to be a weak-as-hell omega without any redeeming qualities and to be thought of as nothing more than a waste of space. Or you had to be wolf-less; my stomach churned becuase one of the girls tonight didn't have her wolf yet and that hadn't happened in over a century. Those who were given anything three and under were forbidden from participating in the Hunt, they were cast aside and many times shunned by their packs and their families as a result of the shame.
When I tell you that those are the lucky ones…
The others, those who get rated 4s and up, are blindfolded, their hands are bound and they are led to the truck that will later drive them away.
The scary part for me wasn't the ceremony, I knew what happened at the ceremony, what frightened me was what happened after when the truck drove away and the girls were unloaded at the house. How it was to meet the Alpha’s that were meant to hunt them, when they got that first sniff and everything else that they had known their entire lives became obsolete. All for the pleasure of the Alphas. Nobody knew what happened there because you’re never allowed to hear about it, the girls that leave don't come back.
“Let’s go,” my mother reached out her hand. I took one last look in the mirror, my hands slightly trembling at my sides and my toes pressing into the cold floor.
“Sure,” I ignored her hand and walked out of the house.
I stoped on the staircase leading up from the garden and watch the lines of girls marching toward the cliff. The amount of white dresses and bared bodies was almost scary...they looked like gosts haunting the streets but they were happy. I was terrified. I knew it wasn't sunshine and roses that awaited us. It wasn't a fairytale ending with an all powerful alpha; it was hell, where the men ruled and we followed. If you, as the chosen mate, didn't obey...there were no rules for the alphas and their prey after the hunt was over.
I took a step, about to descend the three step staircase and join the girls when I was stoped by a small hand grabbing my arm. I turned around and looked into the doe eyes of my sister. I hunched down in front of her and fixed her floral cardigan before pulling her in.
“I don’t want you to go,” she whispered so only I could hear. It would be seen as disrespect if anyone heard her, she should be happy for me but luckily my sister had listened to me more than my parents in her years.
“I know, baby, but I have too. I promise I will be fine,”
The first tear fell from her eye.
“Will you come back to me?”
I squeezed her shoulders and swallowed the burning lump in my throat. How do I tell her that it isn't up to me anymore?
“Do you remember when I promised that I would never lie to you?” She nodded her little head and wiped her red nose so I continued, “I don't know if I can come back to you but I promise to always think about you and to do everything I can to come and visit. Is that good enough?”
I saw her trying to smile through the tears and it broke my heart that I couldn't take her inside and close the door, to promise her that I would never leave.
Never in my life had I wished for a mate or a man but right now I kind of wished that I had met my mate here, because then I wouldn't have to go.
“Yes,” she whimpered out.
"let's go," Trixy said as she stood in the front of my mind.
***
The spot where the ritual happens had always been the same. It’s the edge of a mountain surrounded by the forest overlooking the pack. The stabbing stones under our feet were said to draw out any impurities before we reached the top of the mountain.
I always used to rolling my eyes when the girls bled on the stones as they walked this path- they would smile and look enticed at the blood trail behind them. However, walking the trials myself, I felt every sharp cut stone under my feet and pressed my nails into the palms of my hands to keep from growling.
We walked in the circular pathway, our feet were covered in blood and the more you bled the more sins you had committed that needed to be washed out. Apparently I had managed many sins in this lifetime. I grunted and tried not to think about the pain.
The moss covered rocks around us were damp from last nights rain and the cool breezes sweeping in were piercing my skin like razors. I’m a werewolf and we don't freeze easy but I hadn’t eaten for two days so both my wolf and I were weak and not at all our best selves. They say the two days of fasting is so we look as lean and perky as possible but I say it is to keep us weak, tired and meek for the Alphas.
“Can you believe it’s our turn?” Iliana sang and pulled her braid through her fingers.
“No, i really can’t,” I answered.
I dug my nails into the palms of my hands to redirect the pain that swept through my body. Nobody here could see me shiver or be cold, that too would be seen as a weakness and anything you do to bring shame upon yourself will also be reflected on your family. I couldn't do that to them- especially my sister who would be the one suffering the most from everyone turning their backs on her. All of her friends would be forbidden from ever talking to her again, or even playing with her. No boy would look her way when she became of age and our family would be marred forever.
“There now! Gather around. Accompanied families you make take your positions around the cliff but please do not interfere once Lady Hale begins her evaluation of the girls.” Our family members, the ones meant to protect us and love us, skiped in joy to stand behind the white marker painted in a circle on the ground.“Line up!” said captain Tala.We moved into formation, each girl from tallest to shortest stood in a half-moon inside the circle.I stood next to Iliana, our height measured the same but she was thin and tight where as I was curvy with a big chest and a round ass. I inherited my curves from my mother, she said it was a gift and would frequently explain to my sister and I ’how boring it would be if every female looked the same with their long legs and symmetric proportions’.Boring indeed to look like a walking model with the strength and stamina of a werewolf.I bit back a chuckle looked around the circle.“I’m so nervous,” Olive said and fixed her bust, she lifted her br
One by one they were ranked and rated and now Lady Hale stood in front of me. I look down at my feet, refusing to disobey even though it’s taking every one of restraint I have not to raise my head and meet her contending gaze. I hear the faint sound of a chuckle and even then I still don't look up.“They will most certainly have fun with you,” she said. The cold of the metal abasing my skin made me shiver as she slid the cane up my leg, lifting the dress as she went. The beak would occasionally made slits on my leg and my hip, drops of blood made a cooling path down my leg.“Spin.” she ordered and the change in her voice was instant. The gruff change and demanding tone had me sucking my teeth and focusing on the pain to stay obedient.I turned on the spot, the dress rode up further and she watched every angle of my body. I felt the hairs rise on my thighs as the wind blew in and brushed against my bare skin.“Very nice. Eight” she cooed. Capitan Tala came up behind me and my hands w
When I was ten my mother sat me down, looked into my innocently naive eyes and proudly said, ’Hazel, in a few years you will be apart of our worlds most grandest tradition and be chosen by an Alpha.’ My response was always ’no thanks, mama’. I was happy gliding through life in school, with my friends, chasing and hunting in the woods.My only dream was gaining my wolf and going on real hunts and maybe one day, if I were lucky, join the Shadow Guard and work for the council.That all chipped away slowly as I grew up and before I knew it I was eighteen with no mate being told it was time I partake in the Hunt. Not as a hunter, no, girls couldn't be hunters. Us girls were the prey, hunted like a deer in the woods until caught by an Alpha and becoming his claim. I shiver as I stand thinking about this tradition, the one I had been told was an honor and that I now was part of. There wasn't much time to ponder on the past when the Lycan King suddenly moved toward us. He had been watching
If a shattered soul had a face to it with eyes and a mouth and looked like us, it would be what I was looking at. Iliana walked out different from when she walked in. Her dress strap hung on her shoulder and she sniffled and wiped her red nose as she walked back to the line. I gulped and tried not to stare but it was hard, her face was bright red and her eyes watery after the twenty minutes that had passed. I wanted to say ’I'm sorry’ but I doubted it’d make a difference or be close to enough for what she endured.My stomach turned and I had been on the verge of throwing up since the door closed with Illiana the king alone in that room. The other girls were staring down at their feet, nobody had even a glimpse of joy on their faces anymore.“Hazel, is it not?” Darian asked as he walked out from the room. Whilst he’d walking over my eyes immidietly go to the black leather belt wrapped tightly around his large hand, covering knuckles and folding as he closed his fingers. He rolled down
We were all instructed to move through the door and the girls who were kneeling slowly stood up on Talas orders.We were given no further instructions other than the subtle gesture to move into the adjoining room. I felt the warmth of being watch instantly, a pair of yellow eyes followed me from the corner in the room, making me stand back and hold up the line- not something you want to do in a room full of teatestorne-filled male wolves. They were like starving animals who saw meat hanging on a stick in a tree, if you got in their way you could be their next meal. Clenched jaws and grunts had me speed up and I saw one of the alphas glaring at Liv while she made eyes at the Alpha behind him. He fixed himself on the sofa, the leather scrunched under the wright of an alpha who joined them on the couch. The trembles from my wolf indicated the massive power of dominance we had been plucked down in. This was was the honorable tradition- the many years we spent being groomed to partake in
The lust in their eyes was deeper than the depths of the Atlantic and they made no attempt to hide it. Dark eyes swirling with blackened strings portraying love when in actuality they all wanted the flesh and not the feelings.His hand came down hard on her ass and the yelp that left her lips had my jaw clenching tighter. “You have to meet them,” Iliana rasped out. Her hoarse voice was shaking and she took careful steps out into the large room; she was limping as though each step hurt her.I had to meet the alphas. I shouldn't be staring- I knew that was what she meant. But I couldn't stop looking at Liv and wondering if I should intervene.“And do what? You alone up against a room full of alphas?” Trixy spat.“They’re gonna- they’re using her,”“Look around, Hazel. You’re all being used! it’s the fait of the game, you’re nothin more than puppets to them and us wolves your faithful servants who in the minds of these alphas are no match to their power,”The alphas looked at Iliana and
The warning from alpha Emanuel was loud and mixing with the sound of her ass slapping down on the Alpha’s lap and her moans which fell into mewing when he twisted her nipple between his fingers.The other Alphas line up and get ready for the turn with her, relishing in the fact that she had broken a rule and they now get to reap the consequents.I moved away from Emanuel and chugged what is left in the glass. Iliana was rubbing up against another Alpha, she seemed to be doing much better or maybe she’s faking it like I am. Emmanuel brings the bottle, his face void of emotion as he filled my glass and took a gulp from the bottle before quelling into his hand.The smell of sex filled the air and I could tell it set all of the Alphas on edge. I looked around for the those yellow eyes that watched me when I came in but they were gone. I saw them in that corner under the old clock. It was the only corner where the light from the fire and the lamp didn't reach. If I touched my face I could
I ran- I ran as fast and as far as I could without shifting and letting Trixy take over. I was still faster than a human but slower than an Alpha and by my counting I only had three minutes of running before they were unleashed and sent after us. All of the girls scattered, running in different directions and exploring various edges of the forest. I tried to see what was in front of me or hear anything that would take me to the nearest road but I couldn't- I couldn't even hear the other girls so I just ran. My bare feet were cut on rocks and sticks poked into my heel but the worst was the thorns from the veining branches that stabbed into the soles of my feet and wraped around my ankles; I hissed as part of my skin was cut off and left behind. Branches on trees and wild grown bushes slapped me in the face when I ran through them.The moon was my only source of light but covered by the red shadow it did little to help show me a path through the forest. With every drop of blood that st