The Night of The Ball

“HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT ME!!” Roared Selena’s older brother as he threw her against the wall, creating cracks that grazed the ceiling.

He quickly shifted and bit onto her shoulder as she struggled to stand up, violently thrashing his head around. Selena let out a blood-curdling scream as his teeth slowly found their way to her shoulder socket. With a loud click he dislocated it, shifting back before grabbing her forehead and slamming it into his knee.

The throbbing ballooned in Selena’s head and her vision blurred as she struggled to look up, swallowing hard as tears welled in her eyes. “I… It wasn’t me though…” She croaked. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her mother, a large grin on her face as she whispered something into her brother's ear.

His aggressives breaths grew more rapid as he quickly approached her, lifting her off the ground by her hair, sending mass, pin-like, sharp pain through her body. He lifted her until she was eye level before grabbing her other arm and violently yanking it forwards. 

Too exhausted and overwhelmed, the streaming tears on Selena’s face evolved into a torrential waterfall as she silently screamed. 

“Don’t forget the fingers…” Selena overheard her mother whisper.

Shallow breaths filled Selena’s lungs, afraid of the sharp pain that would follow any deep inhale. She lay as motionless as she could on the ground, having been through this before. Each sob she held down, the rare few that escaped forebode soul-reaping agony stemming from her shoulders. 

“It’s a good thing werewolves heal fast.” Her brother grinned.

He crouched over her. Slowly reaching down for her right arm, as he saw Selena shaking in fear and pain. “No… no more…” She begged, all out of tears to cry with.

“You might be an Alpha out there, but in this home you’re nothing but a rat Dad brought home.” He licked his lips.

With a painful yank, he pulled the arm forwards before grabbing her thumb. With his entire might he slowly curled it backwards until it turned purple.

“GAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!!” Selena shrieked.

Unfazed, he continued to the next finger, and the next until he had completely bent all fingers in her right hand. He then moved to her left. By the time he had finished, Selena was nothing more than a living corpse.

“That should be enough.” Selena’s mother turned around and left the basement.

With a spit to her face, her brother followed, feeling powerful and satisfied after what he had just done.

The room began to darken for Selena, like it always did. The blurriness started settling as the pain grew more and more. It had become the routine that best allowed her to rest after the beatings. Slowly, everything faded as she drifted into a deep unconsciousness.

One Month Later…

A purple hue was painted across the sky as Selena and her friend sat together on the hood of a shining, white, convertible sports car. It was parked on the side of a hill, overlooking the bright and sprawling city of San Francisco. 

As the sun slowly dipped behind the buildings the young woman stretched her arms upwards, arching her back as the pleasure increased before loosening up. She was wearing a white shirt with its sleeves rolled up, meticulously tucked into tight jeans with brown shoes. Her flowy brown hair flew in the wind letting her bright green eyes shine.

“Have you ever wondered…” She started, gazing at the city, “What your mate will be like?”

Selena sat with her legs crossed, leaning backwards onto her right hand. She wore a black dress that accentuated her slender waist and chest and stretched down past her knees with a white blazer that fell to her waist. Her flowy, long, white hair danced in the wind every few seconds before falling back down onto her chest. She had piercing blue eyes and a small nose, giving her a sharp yet protectible charm.

“No… but what is a mate?” Selena responded, staring at the skyline in front.

“Not this again…” She looked upwards with a deep sigh, “Someone who you’re destined to be with.” She gave a vague answer.

“But then what about your boyfriend?” Selena asked.

“You hope for your boyfriend to be your mate, if not then you dump him for the other guy.“ She responded annoyingly, knowing Selena knew all this but unsure of what she was trying to explain.

“What if that wasn’t destiny?” Selena asked no one in particular.

The young women decided to change the direction of the conversation. “To answer your question with a question, how far would you go for love?” She asked, hoping to get away from the other topic.

Selena took a breath to speak, being stopped by an ear-piercing ringtone. She quickly pushed herself off the hood and ran to pick her phone up.

“Selena?” A deep voice spoke from the phone.

“Yes Papa.” Selena responded quickly.

“Today’s the ball…” He paused, “Where are you?”

The words froze her veins as she swallowed hard, feeling the saliva painfully fall down her dry throat. “On-On my way home!” She lied.

“That’s good,” He responded, “We won’t be able to wait for you so just come whenever you get ready and don’t be late.” He whispered the last few words.

“Right!” Selena quickly said, signaling to the young man to get in the car.

As she went to hang up her father stopped her, “Oh and one more thing, you don’t have to lie, next time just say you forgot.” He said with a smile before hanging up, sending a wave of anger through her body.

Quickly, the friends rushed into the car and in a matter of moments were speeding through the city, narrowly avoiding reds while breaking through others until they reached a suburb full of nothing but mansions. The young woman suddenly stopped in front of the large, bright white one. It had towering, textured pillars and giant clear windows decorating the front making it seem taller than the three stories that it was and giving it a modern look. 

Selena quickly ran inside and directly to her room, stripping right as she entered and quickly finding a simple yet luxurious black dress to put on. It had sparkles near her waist and a small v cut, hiding her chest yet giving her a rich look. She ran to the bathroom and slipped on an expensive gold necklace along with a few diamond studded rings and watch before curling her hair and running downstairs to call her driver who was already waiting in the car.

In a few seconds, she was again, speeding through the streets of San Francisco towards an open roof party in the middle of downtown. 

“Sir, could you please drive a little faster?” Selena asked.

“Lady Alpha, I’m going as fast as I can.” He said, struggling to weave through the gentle traffic at the speed of 90 miles per hour.

Before the car stopped at the building Selena, pushed the door open and lept out, rushing inside and to the highest floor. Once in the elevator she took a deep breath to calm herself before walking out as it opened to a room full of various Alphas and their families.

The room was decorated with gold and white drapes with an open roof. There was a large, cleared out space in the middle of it where many Alphas flirted, spoke and avoided each other, except this time they were all huddled together, surrounding a large, covered box. Along the sides were several round tables decorated with the same gold and white drapes where more werewolves could be seen sitting and chatting. At the far end of the room was the host of the event, a rich Alpha who went by the nickname of Lio that ran his pack like a business.

From the entrance Selena found her father, a battle worn man with straight black hair combed to the side and warm, hazel eyes, standing next to Lio and the box. She slowly waded through the large crowd of Alphas, greeting the ones she knew as she moved by until she reached him. He was wearing a black tuxedo on his large, muscular frame that hid his many scars. 

“Selena!” He said happily as he embraced her, “Welcome!”

“It’s a pleasure to have you, Lady Alpha of the Golden Gate Alliance.” Lio bowed as he took her hand.

“The pleasure is mine Sir Lio.” Selena did a little bow in return.

“It’s about time the unwanted one shows, took you long enough didn’t it?” the bitter voice of an aged woman cracked in their ears like a whip.

Lio and Selena turned to see a woman a bit younger than Selena’s father walking towards them. She had hair just like her husbands that was pulled back into a ponytail and looked fit for her age. She was wearing a dress similar to Selena’s but instead of black it sparkled gold and blue, matching her lipstick and large earrings.

“Mother.” A fearful chill ran through Selena as she did a little bow only to be met with a scoff.

“What's… happening here?” Selena asked, trying to clear the air.

“Actually, we were waiting for you… so that we could introduce him.” Lio said as he cleared his throat.

“Him?” Selena looked puzzled.

“Alphas and Lunas! May I have your attention!” Lio announced loudly. Still the crowd continued to chatter.

“SHUT UP!!!” He snapped and roared, turning heads and silencing the crowd.

“While discovering the location of the Lacquer Clan village, a few of our scouts spotted something peculiar,” He started, “The Alpha who’s mercilessly slaughtered children, mass-murdered our patrols, nearly destroyed half our territory, Lycan, training by himself.”

“Looking at his fatigued form and unstable footing, they captured him and now!” Lio moved towards the cage, grabbing the large cloth covering it and violently pulling it back.

“He sits before you, pathetic and weak!” Lio shouted.

As the cloth pulled away, it revealed a young man, who looked a bit older than Selena with chains bolted to the bottom of the cage, attaching to each of his limbs and torso. His mouth was covered in a muzzle as three large chains attached to the giant cuff around his neck. There was a violent and dangerous look in his red eyes, despite him being in a torn gray t-shirt and torn jeans. 

Samson’s heart fluttered as he looked at Selena in person. The strange feeling from before returned as the butterflies started going wild in his stomach. He silently continued to stare at her, admiring her beauty.

This is the woman that I need to make fall in love with me… He thought to himself, stiffening up at the thought.

NO! I need to stay in character, LYCAN! Be Lycan! He interrupted his thought, suddenly twitching in the cage and shaking all the chains.

“But I thought Lycan was supposed to be as tall as a mountain!” A werewolf protested.

“Didn’t he just destroy the White Moon Pack in Vermont!” Another shouted, “How’s he captured then?”

“Despite what he looks like, we should kill him to be safe.” Another, older werewolf grumbled.

The large crowd grew silent, before turning their bloodthirsty eyes towards Samson. “Kill!” One shouted, followed by another, and another as they took up the chant together.

“SIILEENCE!!!!” Lio roared as the crowd slowly quieted down.

“That decision isn’t yours to make, it’s hers!” He moved to the side, letting Selena walk forwards.

What do you think Penny? Selena asked her wolf.

Lycan… Going off the rumors this man definitely isn’t him… but I can smell death and blood radiating off him, Penny advised.

Selena stared at his glowing red eyes as she crouched down to meet him. Uncertainty filled the air as the eager werewolves awaited the order. “I’m taking him with me.” She ordered.