Chapter 3: A Siren Song

I am not sure how I got to the lake as my body seemed to be in auto pilot. I look out at the lake before me with water covering my ankles. I welcome the coldness of the water as it numbs my feet. The mountains in the distance are covered with fog making the peaks impossible to see. Birds dive into the lake to catch their next meal. The environment around me seems to ignore my existence and continues to live their lives. Just like it is in my regular life.

My heart and soul felt void from Haiden’s rejection. I looked out over the water. The dark depths of the lake are calling to my soul, ready to drown my sorrows away.

As tears stream down my face, I take another step further into the water. A siren song seemingly pulling me further. My skin is itching from glue and fur. The water does nothing to absolve the itch and pain I feel. A few more steps and I will be able to drown my sorrows and my pitiful self into the watery abyss that awaits.

I take a moment to reflect on how I got here at the lake and why I feel the way I do.

I looked down at my body that was covered in hardening glue and fur. I feel so numb that even the smell of the fur no longer is affecting me.

I knelt down on the crushed stone beach of the lake and bowed my head in defeat. What did I ever do to receive such cruelty? How did I offend the Moon Goddess so much that she would let me live in this torment.

I’m torn from my thoughts as I feel the glue on my skin hardening pulling my skin so much, I fear that my skin will tear. I start cupping water onto my skin, trying desperately to get the glue mixture off. I tear off my dress, not caring how I look to any vultures that may be snooping. My efforts are mute in getting the grime off of me.

I stand up and slowly make my way to the center of the lake. The murky depths continue their siren song to my cold heart. The icy water makes the glue harden even more causing me to cry out in pain.

As the water hits the tops of my knees I begin to tremble from the cold. I welcome the numbing sensation as I walk deeper into the cold depths.

No matter how far I go it does nothing to absolve the pain and agony I feel.

As the water reaches my chest, I begin to feel my body go into shock. The freezing temperatures cause a choking sensation in my chest. I can’t feel my body from the neck down now, however all I can focus on is the memory of Haiden rejecting our bond.

My father hated me, my sister loathed me, and now the one person who was supposed to love me unconditionally rejected me.

I allow myself to put my head under water. Ready for everything to fade away. Just as my oxygen begins to leave my lungs and darkness edges my vision, I am yanked up out of the water by a strong arm.

I suck in a breath and cry out at the sting of the fingers that are wrapped around my arm. As my eyes came to focus, I was met with the dark brown eyes that belong to those of my father.

My father's eyes are filled with disgust and loathing as he yanks me into his black Rolls-Royce.

He opens the car door with enough force, I fear he will tear it off the hinges, and slams me hard into the back of the car. The sound of the door being slammed shut sounds like a gun being shot at me.

My body feels like thousands of needles are pressing on my skin when I am met with the heat of the car. My teeth chatter uncontrollably as I try to rub my arms to get warm. I feel the intensity of my father’s alpha aura from the passenger seat up front. His driver doesn’t spare me a glance as he pulls out of the spot he parked in.

Shame washes over me of my stupidity. The bite of the icy depths seemed to shake me out of my cold thoughts.

I bit the inside of my cheek to muster the courage to say something to my father. It isn’t until I feel the metallic copper taste of my blood before I speak. "Thanks dad." I gulp and pause a moment, before clarifying, “For saving my life...”

He turns in his seat to face me. The black eyes of his wolf stare back at me and I know that I have really fucked up. "The irony of the Alpha’s daughter killing herself after the Mate Spring Party. Can you guess what the others will think of me?! Have you even considered my reputation?" His voice is colder than the lake’s water.

As we pull into the driveway, my father barely waits for the vehicle to come to a stop before he gets out.

"Remember to clean the car later." He pins his glare on me.

I choked back a sob and nodded.

"I can’t hear you!" He roars.

"Yes, Father." I cry out, trying to hold back another sob. He's been extremely hard on me since I was a kid.

He squinted his eyes at me before slamming the door and stomping into the packhouse.

I give myself a minute to compose myself and walk into the packhouse, trying to ignore the stares from the staff at my half naked form.

I go straight to the bathroom attached to my bedroom. I feel a sense of relief being in my safe space. The moment is short lived when I hear my dad and sister arguing.

"She's your sister no matter what! Why are you going so overboard?" My father scolds.

"Oh, do you think I believe you really care about her? It's your reputation you care about, not her! Don’t act like you aren’t busy counting how many votes my incompetent sister cost you tonight? Tell me I’m wrong!" Talia’s sneer is sharp.

"How dare you?!" My father roars. “You have no right to speak to your Alpha like this young lady!”

"Don't hold on to the illusion of making her disappear as soon as possible, because even your beta's son dared to REJECT her tonight. You won't be able to get rid of this shame in your lifetime, congratulations to you, my dear father!"

"Shut up!" I hear Talia’s scream, the sound of glass breaking, then a series of curses from her, and the slamming of the door.

**

I tossed and turned all night, unable to shut my racing thoughts off. As I was making my bed， Amber, one of the maid staff popped into my room. Normally one of the staff would be making my bed, however my father saw to it that I would be the only family member to not have a maid.

She clears her throat before saying, "Miss, please change into decent clothes and come downstairs as soon as possible." Amber's wording is polite, but her tone suggests anything but.

"May I ask what the matter is?"

"How should I know, miss? I'm just a lowly servant."

The servants of the house were very good at taking out their anger from my sister and father's side on me. She leaves my room without another word. Quickly I get into one of my favorite royal blue gowns. As I push my way through the hall, I am shocked when I see I am the last to arrive.

I look around to see all my family in their best attire. And even though I was already wearing my best dress on me, I still looked out of place with them.

Everyone's eyes shot towards me.

Apparently, I was right that I was the last to arrive.

A gentleman wearing a white wig and a velvet metal button up dress takes one look at me. Then he arrogantly clears his throat, "It seems inviting every member of the family to attend is not an easy task for your family, Alpha. You are wasting my precious time, and keeping me waiting shows disrespect to our Lycan King!"

It doesn’t go unnoticed how the man grits his teeth when he says "every".

"I'm truly sorry my lord, this was indeed an oversight on my daughter's part. I offer you my deepest apologies for her presumption." He shoots daggers at me with his eyes. I instantly want to hide.

"That's enough," the lord says, gently raising his hand to stop my father's nonsense.

Once again my father’s intention of hiding my existence is evident. But now I am the one who looks like a fool even though no one told me about this event.

It’s clear the only reason I am here is because the lord instructed all members of the family to attend.

"Please kneel, ladies and gentlemen, I will now announce Lycan King’s holy decree."

From the frightened look in my father's eyes, I know he knew nothing about this either. I try to calm my racing heart and follow the lead of everyone in the room and kneel.

"Lycan King Xavier has suffered the loss of Luna for a long time, and in order to prolong his heir, he is organizing a cotillion at the end of next month, to which every unmarried, fertile noblewoman is cordially invited. Invitations will be sent down to every woman, so please be sure to attend on time if you receive one."

"In addition to that, each family should choose a representative as a Luna candidate among the ladies that receive an invitation. The candidates will be chosen by your own family. Please make sure you choose the most perfect female member amongst you. King Xavier only likes the best and expects the best."

With that said he rolled up the scroll and signaled the guards at his side to hand my father three invitations.

"Each one." The messenger skimmed my father again before walking away.

After he left, my father froze in place.

"What Lycan King?" Talia asks, frowning.

“Well, he's hailed as the mightiest Lycan King of our land. He was the one who managed to put an end to that age-old tiff between the North and the South just a couple of years back, giving everyone a bit of a breather from a century's worth of brawling.” Dad said without expression.

"Oh, and also the same one who abuses several of his female companions to death every year." Auntie Leeanne, who also received the invitation, says with dark eyes.

"No way? Don’t make me go dad! “Talia began to panic.

"That's just a rumor." Father says lightly, however avoiding our inquiring eyes.

"Then why is it that nobody ever discovers the women who were offered as tribute by the major packs anymore? Not even their bodies," Auntie presses glaring at my father.

Father doesn’t speak as he hands me an invitation.

For such a thin piece of paper it felt incredibly heavy.

I slowly ran my fingers over the stamped floral font on it, which elegantly reads my name: Annette Lockhart.