Trust the process

All you could hear was chatter in this ballroom. Everyone was mingling including my mama, but all I wanted was the ground to open up and swallow me whole. 

We had already had dinner and heard the welcoming speech from the beautiful Luna that looked nothing like her age. The woman still looked young like she was still in her twenties even though she was two years older than my mother. They actually attended the choosing together and was her classmate, two chairs behind her in biology.

My mama had an impeccable memory, the story never changed even after so many years. She talked about it like it happened yesterday. 

"Do you have any sons, because I have two beautiful daughters, Evelina here, and Amelia who is twenty and still not mated. She is beautiful, and caring and let's not forget tall. She is going to make beautiful babies." My mother rumbled on trying to sell us off to the higher-ups, lucky for me the woman didn't mind.

"Really? I have a son who is twenty two and still not mated. If she looks anything like you or your daughter here, then I think they will make a good couple" I decided to ignore the grown-ups who were pimping us out and actually check out the room. 

All the girls were standing near their escort "their mothers" while looking around the ballroom bored out of their minds but my eyes only caught one she-wolf in particular.

A brunette wearing the same dress as I am but a different colour. I was wearing a black off shoulder split thigh dress with see through pump stilettos, my hair curly and loose while she was wearing a red off shoulder high slit dress on both sides and black belted heels. Her hair was also loose reaching just below her shoulders. 

I must say the dress suited her tan skin better than my dress that hardly complicated my almost pale skin. She gave me a knowing smile which I returned. She seemed cool. I don't think I would like anyone in this party but even without words, I liked the stranger. 

She pointed to the whole room, and made a silent yawning sign making me giggle, which caught my mother's attention for a few seconds as she glared at me. Telling me to shut the hell up. 

Before I could answer, the Alpha and Luna came back to the stage with an older woman with fiery red hair, and stern gold eyes following them and the room quieted down. 

"You may all be seated. I know it took longer than expected for the girls to be chosen and I know you may all be anxious but the wait is over now. 

For those girls who will not be chosen today, don't fret, the party will still go on, and who knows? you might find your mate today. I know how dreadful this day is. I was once walking in your shoes twenty one years ago, and I still get goosebumps thinking about it. `` Luna smiled looking at the crowd and Alpha Jameson came closer and held her hand. 

Even after all these years, they were still actually in love. I don't know what I was expecting but I didn't expect that. The choosing seems dreadful and cruel. How do you love someone who you saw or heard. I don't know what exactly happens there but she still knows he slept with four other girls? 

How is that going to work?

"As you all know, the five chosen girls will immediately be led out of the ballroom escorted by the pack guards to their new home for the next week. Parents, I know all this is going to be hard but please refrain from following the guard or trying to come to the location to see your daughter's. 

I promise they will be taken care of, and again for those who are not chosen, this is not the end of the world. Your fate might be tied somewhere else. Trust the goddess, and know the Seers' selection is final, and there will be no appeal.

Thank you all for coming, and please enjoy your night. Hope to see you all at my son's swear in ceremony" She bowed respectfully, giving the mic to the stoic looking Seer beside her. 

The room suddenly got even quieter, you could hear a pin drop, and I could hear my thumping heart. I didn't even know, I was nervous until now. I knew I wasn't going to be chosen. I shouldn't be nervous, I knew my fate but no matter how hard I tried to convince myself I couldn't calm my feverishly beating heart. 

"Firstly I would like to say that this is not my decision, and I will not appreciate it, rather I don't appreciate those who tried to sway my decision. Once the list is out, please refrain from coming to my shrine and trying to convince me otherwise. '' She sighed tiredly " your goddess chose the five girls, I am only but a messenger, I repeat, I am only but a messenger of the goddess. I can't be going through the same shit every twenty years'' She cussed and I almost laughed while everyone gasped in shock. 

No wonder this woman was late, she hated being  here more than I did, and I can't believe wolves actually went to her shrine to bribe her so that their daughter could be chosen. She didn't say bribe but I know that's what she meant. That's the only way to sway anyone's decision. 

"Pardon my language, I will now begin with the first name" She closed her eyes, and everyone on the stage who was closer to her shifted giving her space to work. The warm wind softly blew around her, her white dress clinging to her skin, and her red hair flowing in all directions before it actually turned into flames. 

She looked majestic, like a Phoenix and I couldn't peel my eyes off of her. The warm wind circled around the room from one table to the other, before it reached the last table going back to surround her, and she finally opened her eyes. 

They were glowing, the gold particles swirling in her fiery gaze. 

It was like a dream I didn't want to wake up from. For a minute I forgot the reason I was here, I was so hypnotised by her. 

"Theresa Rebecca Williams, daughter of Beta Charles Williams and Sharlot William." People silently clapped as the warrior led Theresa to the private door at the back of the stage where the Alpha and Luna used to exist. 

Hearing her name was not a surprise for any of us, we all knew she would be chosen. She has been screaming it all out lives. Used it as a free pass to be rude and act like she was above us all.

"Jasmine Sharon Byrne, daughter of Delta Jason Byrne and Carmen Byrne" again the pack silently clapped as the warrior cane to fetch the beautiful girl who wore the same confidence Theresa wore. 

"Lydia Carmen Smith, daughter of Warrior Daniel Smith and Wesley Smith." She stood up slowly looking around nervously, and her fathers gave her an approving nod, and she silently followed the warrior to the back door.

"Roseline Shantel Godwin, daughter of Rashid Godwin and Taylor Godwin" people hardly clapped. There was only one name left and the atmosphere in the room changed drastically, even Roseline, who I remembered as the girl wearing the same dress as I, only hers got two slits and looked better on her and could feel it as she left the room. 

Everyone was on their toes, fifty girls came here today to be chosen, but forty-five were going to go back home empty-handed and disappointed. It was cruel, but at the end of the day we all knew this. It was not a surprise someone had to go back home, and I was glad I was among those going back to sleep in their own beds tonight. 

"Lastly, Euphoria Evelina Marcus Richy, daughter of Marcus Richy and Melissa Richy". Time slowed down when I heard the name. At first I thought she had made a mistake, but no one knew that name except my family. 

My mother hugged me tight and squealed in my ear but I was frozen on the spot. I knew I should move. I saw four girls doing it already, so why wasn't I moving?

"Move!" My mother said with gritted teeth, pushing me forward to the warrior, and finally my feet moved but my body was on autopilot mode. I turned to look at my mother for help but she gave me her proud smile, blowing me a kiss as the warrior led me to the private door.

This was a big mistake. I wasn't supposed to be chosen. The Seer was wrong, the goddess was wrong. This must be some kind of sick joke. By the time I finally came to, I saw all the girls were sitting and waiting in the private room which seemed like a waiting area. 

"Are you okay?" The girl I now know as Roseline asked, worried, but before I could answer I saw the woman who had answers to my questions and I left running after the woman. 

"Is this some kind of sick joke to you? Are you really the goddess messenger?" I shouted at her making her stop. She looked tired and drained but I didn't care at that moment. 

"No, it's not a joke and yes, I am the messenger for the goddess!" She deadpanned. Even when I was being rude to her, she didn't seem fazed or angry at my outburst. 

"Then why am I here? Why am I chosen when we both know I shouldn't be here?" I wanted to calm down but my anger took over me. Not only was I angry but I was hurt. I felt like this Seer was making a mockery out of me. 

"The goddess chose you for a reason, Euphoria. She said you must trust the process." She concluded, then turned and left before I could ask anymore questions. 

What did she mean I must trust the process? What kind of vague ass answer is that? 

I was not good at solving puzzles, nor was I good at parables. 

How could I trust in the process when I knew the truth?