Chapter Five—A Mating Ceremony

Chapter Five—A Mating Ceremony

-LYDIA-

Five days and they ignored my existence—both father and my berserk sister.

Five days of being ocked in my room—no food, no water, no sunlight.

I crouched to the floor, in dire need of a bath as my body reeked of tears and moss from the walls. The gnawing pain from my empty stomach I ignored, it all didn’t matter to me as I could persevere for a few more days until father relented.

Technically it wasn’t the first time I’ve been sent into exile. Father once had me in darkness for twelve days, all because I ate a piece of Cecile’s cake and had mud on her party dress. I was released only when he saw how frail and close to death I was.

There’s always a reason for my lockdown, all of it being my fault but this was different. Cecile wasn’t just angry, she wanted to gauge my eyes out which was a reaction I’d never gotten from her before. I was used to being ignored by her, she barely acknowledges my existence and when she does it’s this glare of disgust.

Father also looked disappointed in me. It certainly wasn’t the debacle at the market, and I also could’ve sworn I didn’t get egg bits on her lavender dress.

I let out a short sigh as I managed to rise to my feet, glancing out the window where I spotted my sister standing by a tree. She looked devastated, unhappy, like a prized possession had been stolen from her.

It didn’t take long before I noticed another presence—the Alpha. He wrapped my sister in a warm embrace, clasping both of her cheeks in his hands right after as he said words of affection. I couldn’t hear them but it looked like they were going through some sort of turmoil.

Cecile shook her head, bursting into tears whilst he stroke her head gently. I ignored the fuzzy feeling I felt inside of me, gulping hard when his eyes suddenly looked up in my direction. Something snagged inside of my mind and I jolted away from the window sill, plummeting to the ground and scraping my elbow.

I let out a wince, grabbing my blouse and letting out a deep breath. It was strange. I was usually terrified of Tanner, unable to look him in the eye even, but when he looked at me I almost felt…….

“Lydia!!”

I heard father called and scrambled to my feet almost immediately.

The door opened and he peered in, eyes still full of regret as he said; he should’ve dumped my childish body to the beasts that day.

“Father:”

He grunted, “What have you done child? Hasn’t this family been through enough?”

I blinked, confused.

“I begged your mother, pleaded, told her we could have another child but she couldn’t bear to let you go. She threw herself into death’s grasp, just to protect a child who brings to much pain.”

My mouth was bitter, I gulped hard with my head sunk.

He raked a hand through his hair, “Cecile is devastated. She can barely eat, or sleep, and it’s all your fault.”

I remained quiet, still confused as to what part I play in my sister’s misfortune.

“You should get ready.” He added and turned to leave, “They’re coming for you.”

They??

“Who’s coming?” I asked and he wouldn’t answer.

I tried moving towards the door which he slammed and locked all over again. A eerie sense of doom crawled up my spine as my eyes watered, my eyes couldn’t help but wonder if I was going to be killed.

“Who’s coming?!!” I yelled this time around and yet no response.

I was doomed.

I was doomed and I was for sure going to die.

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

My stomach gurgled even more, a sharp plea for food which I was in dire need of. I woke up from my slumber, my face still ridden with tears which I brushed off as I rose from the ground. It was already twilight, another day in my cage and no sign of being released anytime soon.

I spotted a roach, a disgusting creature and yet the most palatable thing in my eyes as I was in dire need of sustenance. I was prepared to pounce, ready to let go of the last dignity I had left when the door suddenly busted wide open.

I turned around sharply but before I could speak, a bag was woven onto my head. I let out a scream but it only came out muffled, I even tried to wrangle free but it was of no use. I could tell it was two men— betas, from their eyes which glowed in the night.

Their words were muffled over the fabric on my head so I could barely make sense of their words;

“Quick…it’s only a matter of time:”

“The Alpha is doomed.”

“May the goddess save this land.”

The Alpha?

Tanner?

What did he have to do with this??

They tightened the fabric around my throat and my heads tried reaching for the ends, I could barely breathe, pretty sure I would be dead before they carry out the actual plan to end my life. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I’d already succumbed to my fate.

I wasn’t carried out the house, I was dragged by my hair which made me cry out in pain. My body scratched the floors, driving splinters from the wooden boards into my already bruised skin.

I could hear Cecile. She was begging, pleading for them to not let me go but a part of me knew it wasn’t coming from a place of care. It sounded like she had something to lose.

“Please….” I whispered, even though I’d already succumbed to my fate, “Please let me go.”

There was no answer. I was dragged up my feet, my hands still bound as I was forced to walk down the hill. My legs were tired and I fell a couple of times, the men who accosted me also laughed at my plight. They roughly hoisted me back to my feet and pushed me around.

I couldn’t help but wonder what my death was going to be like; gallows, probably forced poisoning or getting beaten to death. The goddess hated me and my cursed self but I prayed for poison nonetheless.

They suddenly stopped, so did I. I closed my eyes as tightly as I could and waited for my death to come, only for the bag to be loosened from my neck and lifted from my head.

I gasped. The whole pack was here, and Tanner was right in front of me.

Tanner?!!

“Welcome.” I heard someone say from behind me, “To the bonding ceremony of our alpha and his soon to be mate.”

Mate?!!