Five—The Brazen Alphas

Chapter Five—The Brazen Alphas

“Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth.” Atlas grunted, “Let’s end her here and—

“Let him speak.” Lucien butted in.

The red eyed alpha grunted, his eyes cruel when they beamed at me. Nik, the gentlest of them all let out a brief sigh when he raked a hand through his hair.

“I suggest a trial.”

“A trial?” The other two chorused.

A trial?? I couldn’t also help but be confused by his words.

He nodded, “Yes. A trial. I suggest three trials to prove her legitimacy. We’ll test for her strength, loyalty and connection to the moon goddess.”

“Hmmmm.” Lucien couldn’t help but smirk, “How do you suggest we do that?”

The gentle alpha shrugged, “It’s up to us to figure that out. If she passes all the trials, then she can be accepted as the chosen one.”

There was silence in the room. I dreaded it. I didn’t want this position, I never asked to be chosen by the red moon. All I wanted to do was return to my little home, weed out my garden and plant fresh new herbs to sell to the people who loathed me.

“I think it’s a stupid idea. I’m up for killing her.” Atlas muttered.

He harbored so much disdain, much different than the dissonance I was used to from the people of the oasis. He not only just hated me, he wanted me gone and I wasn’t sure why. I gulped hard, not able to withstand the ferociousness his eyes carried.

“Nik is right.” Lucien muttered, “It’s simple. We each set a trial for the Luna to pass, and if she completes all three she’ll be crowned the chosen one.”

“If she fails—-

“We kill her and feed her corpse to the vultures.”

“It’s settled then.” Nik claspers his hands together, “Ivy Amire. You’ll stay with each of us, working for us, whilst handling the matters of your trial. You have to prove yourself worthy. Is that correct?”

I moped in response. I was just a mere healer with barely any connection to the moon goddess herself, now I was to be under the tutelage but more like a slave to the Alphas.

“Have fun with your prized pig.” Alpha Atlas grunted as he stormed off, “I want no parts in this.”

*********

I was taken into a dark room, more of a cellar than an actual room. It was cramped with offerings to the moon goddess. I was so hungry, couldn’t care less when I scampered towards to ground to grab a turkey leg from the steel tray.

It was stale, probably on its last leg of being safe before it went rotten. I ate with vigor, losing all my strength from standing in front of the Alphas. I heard the room door crank open and quickly hid the turkey behind my back, wiping off the fleshy crumbs from the corner of my mouth.

“I see you’ve been accepted.” The high priestess said as she walked into the room.

“No.” My voice was hoarse, “They wanted to kill me.”

“Impudent bastards” She sneered, “What have they done to you, child?”

“A trial.” I gulped hard, “I’m to pass three trials.”

Something in her eyes changed at the mention of the last word. She remained silent for a moment before she let out a deep breath, for the first time the high priestess actually seemed like she pitied me. She placed a hand on my shoulder;

“You have to pass the trials.”

“But I—

“There’s no buts. The people of the oasis have been under attack of those packs for years. We’re counting on you, Ivy Amire.”

I couldn’t help but frown for a dying minute. They were counting on me, the same people who wouldn’t hesitate to spit at me if need be.

I just couldn’t do it.

My life was at stake, for a cause I was doomed to start with. He was going to kill me; not the other two but the red eyed alpha himself. I saw the way he stared at me, like I was a piece of muck under his shoe. It terrified me greatly.

The priestess left and I scrambled to my feet immediately, looking for a way to plot my escape. I just couldn’t be the chosen one, not after what I’d just saw in the hidden chamber. I propped myself upwards to the little window in my cellar room, behind the temple was a pathway into the woods.

It was exactly as I’d wanted.

Bingo.

I placed both hands on the metal bars they acted as window panes. They were made of soft steel, it felt like the goddess was on my side tonight, so I spat on both my hands before prying the bars. They gave way easily, creating a tight crevice which was enough to aid my escape.

Skin and bones, they said.

I couldn’t help but smile and cry at the same time. There was no going back now. With enough force, I managed to squeeze my body through the pathway I’d just made, a piece of the steel snagged onto a part of my skin which made me wince loudly in pain.

I wanted to scream, my blood gushing out but not in a fatal manner as I finally wriggled myself out of my captivity. It didn’t dare glance around my surroundings before I broke into a full run.

********

The pretty dress had been caught onto a lot of bushes, stained with my blood and exhaustion. I glanced backwards, the town was nowhere in sight, panting heavily as I made my way to tree stump to rest.

I wasn’t sure where I was, but I knew I was free.

A couple of flies hovered over me, probably enticed by my bleeding. I grunted as I tore off a piece of my dress, wrapping it around my belly which was probably useless but effective enough to prevent my scent from going on.

I was tired, thirsty and hungry, and yet all I could do was just fall asleep. It didn’t take an hour or so before I felt a presence over me—not flies, not an animal, but a person.

I quickly opened my eyes to him standing right over me,

“Hello there chosen one.”