Chapter One

“Once again, we gather here to commemorate the festival of the beast. As we all know, this tradition is what preserves us a pack and these brave women who gave up everything for their people will forever be immortalised in our hearts…”

I was one in about a million wolves who had gathered here tonight for this bullshit.

The only reason I was at this cursed place was because Sam practically begged me to go. Everything about the ceremony irked me immensely, but my brother insisted that disobeying the government of the Village — the High Table— would only earn our family their heads. 

This was a festival in preparation for the Night of the Chosen. According to tradition, on the Night of the Chosen, all the members of the Wolf Village were ordered by the High Table and Council members to come together to pay respect to the beast and all the lives it had taken for the past thousands of years. It was ironic and pretty dumb to me how the entire village worshipped this imaginary evil creature they say has lived for thousands of years in the dark brooding forest. According to the tale, it came every five hundred years to take away with him six girls and legend had it that they were killed and left there to die at the entrance of the forest. 

The High Table and the Members of the four councils had made a pact with the beast years ago, and every five hundred years, the Night of the Chosen was held to pick six unfortunate girls to die in the hands of the Lycan Beast. They say most wolves never get to experience a night like this in their lifetime, having it was hundreds of years the event was held. Boy, was I unlucky.

I was not afraid. I was just tired of this made up fairy tale and how the Government has always used it to exploit the girls of the Village and take them away from their families forever. There was no Lycan Beast, just a corrupt and delusional government.

So, as I stood there in the crowd and watched those wicked members of the High Table and council in all their glory, anger brewed in me. King Theo, the most powerful Alpha in the village sat on a high seat while his brother, Alpha Romero addressed the multitude in the dark of the night.

“We have survived for so long only because of this, and will continue to do so. To our ancestors who so graciously accepted the loss of their daughters, we thank you, and to those who will soon follow suit, we—”

“Why don't you offer up some members of your family, or even your lovely brother, oh great Alpha Theo for the Sacrifice?”

My interruption silenced the crowd, my voice was loud like two microphones. Around me were gasps and shouts and the crowd was starting to dissipate, leaving me and my loyal brother who was panicking by my side, in the spotlight.

Undeterred, I looked Romero in the eyes and spoke my mind.

“Why does it have to be the women who have to be brave for the pack? Or is the ‘beast’ a picky eater?” I mocked his highness.

 I felt the surprised stares of everyone on me and Sam was frantically gesturing at me to keep quiet. I was done, this was exactly why i tried my best to stay away from the ceremony. I couldn't stay quiet. Some faces looked towards me in awe and mumbled in agreement.

“She’s kind of right…”

Damn right I was. Some others mumbled up in agreement, why did anyone have to give up their loved ones anyway, who had seen the beast before?

 “Yes! Why do we continue to do this, tell us!'' I yelled even louder, empowered by the crowd.

“Silence!” Alpha Theo growled, rising from his high seat in thunder  and the uproar died out immediately. The Alpha was not to be challenged.

“Have you no respect for the Alpha? How DARE  you interrupt my speech in this auspicious place?” Alpha theo thundered from the platform. “You dare challenge the tradition that preserves us, do you wish to invoke the wrath of the beast?” The rest of the council glowered at me whilst the crowd moved away from where I stood.

“I only challenge what I believe to be a lie and what harms people. How come no one has seen the beast that we are to appease?” I could feel the gaze of the alpha as he locked eyes with me. Somehow my wolf stood strong.

“How is she doing that? No one can stare down the alpha!” someone yelled from the crowd.

 When he realised the stare down wasn’t working, he snapped his eyes away, “let there not be a repeat of this, Nola, you are walking on thin ice. I pardon you for the last time, you are but a sharp tongued child who thinks she has seen enough. Don't push your luck. Well then, shall we continue?'' Alpha Theo smiled mechanically and gestured for his brother to continue addressing the pack.

“We shall gather here once more as you all know in a fortnight during the full moon to pick the women.” I let out a sigh and looked around, the moon had come out from behind the clouds, casting a silvery sheen on everyone around. There was nothing special about the circle, but for the stones placed to remember each girl sacrificed. There were many moonstones placed in an endless spiral—six stones each five hundred years for as long as anyone could remember. According to the legend, the moonstones helped to choose the next set of women to be sacrificed. 

“Why do you keep doing this, Nola? no one stands up to the alpha, are you trying to get yourself kicked out…or even killed? You just got lucky because this is the period of the festival—” Sam was quite angry with me, he trembled as he spoke, “you know it’s just the two of us, i don't want anything to happen to you, you're my little sister.” He said, looking away.

I took his hand in mine and squeezed it, “I know, Sam, I know.”

“But it’s not just me, other people agree, they're just too scared to speak up.” he shook his head and headed home without me.

I remember when I was younger and my mother used to tell us stories of the forest and what lurked within it. Stories meant to curb my curiosity, it was the only place out of bounds. I believed it was a story concocted to keep everyone in and from wandering out. I hated it so much, we were like prisoners, isolated from other packs and the real world. We barely knew what lay beyond because of the silly tradition perpetuated by the council. 

“One of these days if you're not careful Nola, you'll get eaten by the beast." Elder Madeline once told me, one of her ancestors had been sacrificed and she was always ready to talk about the beast and his significance. 

Soon enough, the Night of the Chosen came by; the village was abuzz with excitement and anxiety. children chattered excitedly and swapped tales, some claiming to have heard sounds unlike anything from near the forest.Women were trying to spend as much time as they could with their loved ones, who knew they could be next. Today was the day their fate would be decided. 

“How come no one finds this to be quite odd. They are literally sacrificing women to some made up creature!” yelled Kayla in exasperation. Kayla was my best and only friend, we basically grew up together and her family raised my brother and I when we lost our parents.  A few were quite vocal about their opinions on the festival but she was one of the few bold enough to speak up. “Tell me about it, there’s no such thing as a monster in the woods. That’s straight out of an old wife’s tale.” 

“Explain what happens to the girls then.” chipped in sam, i didn't know if he believed in the myth but he was always quick to defend it. We had all thought it was a sick joke until the alpha called a meeting during the beginning of the year to remind us that the sacrifice was due for renewal. We had been unfortunate enough to be born into this century.

“Don't they bind them with silver or something? Obviously they die of starvation or get taken by other packs, who knows?” said kayla, whilst rolling her eyes.

“I can't believe you support this sam, imagine if nola was picked.” we all let out a laugh, that was impossible. “The beast better choose the girls who get a kick out of this tradition. You know, the silly ones ready to give up their lives for honour and what not. Definitely not me. Im glad it only comes once in a lifetime, i can't listen to one more stupid speech from alpha theo abut bravery.” 

By nightfall we were to gather in the circle before the High Table and the council made up of the alpha, his beta and five of the oldest wolves in the village. Any woman of age to be chosen was to be present, and unlike the memorial, it was enforced with a strong hand. The beta and his men went from door to door to confirm everyone was out and a headcount was conducted. The women who were either too scared to come out got dragged out with force. Sometimes, they would shift and try fight in their wolf form it  was no match for being cornered by trained soldiers. I didn't bother resisting this time, just had to get over it and wait for the next year.

“Let me go! Please i don't want to go, please…'' I heard a female voice scream, she was being dragged to the circle. “Why don't you let her be!'' I growled at the man holding the girl by the wrist. “Mind your business, aren't you supposed to be headed to the circle?” he retorted. “And aren't you supposed to do your job properly, she’s not of age!” he looked at the girl and me once more before he let go of her and went to join the other men, cursing under his breath. 

“Thank you so much, I don't know what I'd have done without you…” the poor girl looked so scared and looked around until the men were out of sight and whispered to  me, “but I just turned 18 yesterday, they will come after me again.”

“Don't worry, you have nothing to be afraid of. They won't pick you.” i promised her. She gingerly agreed and we walked to the circle together. Kayla was already there, pacing about and when she saw me, she came over. “What took you so long?”

“Oh nothing much, just met up with a friend,” I said whilst smiling at the girl. 

Soon enough, the moonstones glowed as they were illuminated by the moon, it felt almost eerie like the ghosts of the girls were present, I shivered a bit. One of the council members began speaking, she was one of the oldest in the pack. 

“We gather here to pick the six women who will save us all and guarantee our safety from the beast, as our ancestors before us did. The women that will be called out have been chosen with the help of the moon goddess and shall be left at the beginning of the cursed forest for the beast to devour. In return, he shall let our pack be free for the next five hundred years. I know some of you are scared, but be strong, six is a price to pay for everyone and our upcoming young.” The council had never picked a child from the alpha’s family or theirs, I wonder if the moon goddess exempted them from the honor of saving the pack. 

“Sarah Oliver, please step forward…” and everywhere was silent, it had begun. 

“Dennis martin—quick! stop her before she runs off!'' There were those that went quietly in tears and those that tried to escape or fight. Kayla unconsciously grabbed my hand for comfort, I knew she was scared, “say Nola…wh-what if I get picked? Or even you…'' I looked at her and smiled, that’s impossible. She nodded and laughed, “of course, I'm just being silly.”

“Nola Reynolds.” Kayla's hand fell from mine, and she gasped. All eyes turned to me, there was no way this was happening. “Nola Reynolds, please step forward.” The woman said again, staring directly at me.