A Maiden For The Lycan novel Chapter 2

The party was going to come to an end soon when the alpha took the stage, only to invite members of the council to speak.

I had thought those three elderly men were guests from neighboring packs. I could have never guessed they were from the council… although they did carry themselves with arrogance and had a rather solemn air about them.

Even though I was exhausted, and sure that whatever they were about to talk about had nothing to do with me, I could not go about my job since that would be blatantly disrespectful.

And I could definitely do without a punishment.

Nevertheless, I was too distracted to listen to a word the old geezer said, until my name was called upon, that was.

“Cora Fill, you have been chosen,” one of the old men said. “Congratulations.”

Chosen?

I did my best not to scrunch my eyebrows up in confusion. Chosen for what? It was weird enough that the councilman knew my name at all.

I couldn’t possibly ask as that would imply I had not been listening attentively, and thus I simply told him gracefully, “Thank you. It is my honor.”

Whispers and snickers followed. And I didn’t know what that was about.

My eyes found Aiden’s almost instinctively, and when I realized that, I averted mine quickly… but it was too late. I had seen the malicious smirk on his face. And I suddenly felt scared about whatever I had been chosen for.

Aiden never hurt me, and I believed he never would... But what was he smirking about?

The councilmen left the stage and I resumed attending the tables.

I took the tray I was holding to a nearby table and that was when I heard a girl whisper,  “She’s going to be Lucian Knight’s offering, and yet she took it so calmly. For being wolfless, she sure has guts.”

Lucian Knight.

The wolfless part disturbed me before I realized she was speaking about me. Yes, no doubt about it. I didn’t know of any wolfless pack member within the pack other than me.

But that didn’t matter anymore. My blood froze in my veins, and I had trouble breathing for a moment there as her words sank in.

Lucian Knight was famous, that is to say, notorious… for all the wrong reasons.

He was the only living pureblood lycan, rumored to be centuries old. He was so famous, and held so much power over the community, that he received offerings every blue moon – meaning, each ten years. And it would seem like I had been chosen to be one of the offerings this year.

As luck would have it, offerings – girls – needed to be of age and unmated. I was both. Moreover, I was wolfless, and thus, I was a little bit of a threat to the werewolf community. No human was supposed to know of the supernatural world. The only exception to the rule was when a human was mated to a supernatural.

I wasn’t a supernatural being, but I knew too much –

The girls sent never came back. Never. None of them.

Oh hell and damnation! I thought to myself in dejection as I sensed a headache on the way. Is there no other way? I can’t possibly become the next sacrificial piece in this game they were playing with the infamous lycan?

I didn’t remember much about the offering girl sacrificed ten years ago. I was too young at that time. But even till now, I couldn’t forget her families’ sorrowful squeaks and devastated cries on the day she was chosen. The councilmen comforted them. Everyone was either sobbing along or consoling the family and the girl.

But that was not the case for me.

The pack members clapped, shared drinks, celebrating the return of the prince. As for the prince himself, he didn’t spare me a glance after that smirk.

As if what was just announced was the dinner menu tonight.

I thought I’d gotten used to it, to all the disregard and bold indifference. I thought I was stronger than their contempt and apathy... But the shivering of my body betrayed me.

I had trouble appearing unaffected, and almost messed up a couple of times, but I managed somehow. I managed not to show my feelings, my turmoil, my sorrow, and abject horror.

The pack would just enjoy my misery. I could bet my life on it.

By the time the function came to an end, it was close to 11 pm. I had not had the chance to even take a sip of water during the past 5 hours, much less eat.

I was also exhausted, but not a peep slipped past my lips. I would not allow it. I could not bring attention to myself… I feared a punishment. The Luna had proven herself to be mean and vindictive enough to bestow me with punishments at each given occasion. I remembered once being put in the dungeons, where I was denied a very basic right – sunlight – for three whole days, not to mention food, all because I had said something presumably offending.

There was a little bit of a refreshing breeze as I left the venue at long last. We were only dismissed once the guests went to their rooms.

I walked slowly, my ankles hurting from attending to the guests all night long, thinking about my upcoming demise.

** ** ** ** ** ** **

I woke up the following day at 6 am, as per usual, ready to start the day, ready to make breakfast for everyone at the orphanage.