CHAPTER 4: PARABLES 

The morning was still early, as Alicia could tell from the echoing force of the wind from the mountains making its way into the rooms. This gave access to a surprising visitor to the Alpha's mansion.

She struggled to sit up, the aura of scents surrounding her slowly straining her dragged body by the chains, which were no longer new to her. She was surprised to see the same man from yesterday, standing alone.

Alicia's head was a bit calm from the sleeping medication Belair had given her. The thought of her parents haunted her every wake since she found herself in this godforsaken place.

She groaned quietly under her breath, almost condemning herself, maybe this was it for her. This man looked like he was going to rip her apart. She dragged her eyes one after the other through the faces of these men.

Her heart quaked, her body weakened. The next Luna of her pack, now reduced to a walkover and kept waiting for the judgment of one ghost Alpha who refused to make himself known. Her parents would pay any amount, anything to the Crescents for her freedom.

"Who are you?" Alicia asked, too timid, even more than scared of the man.

As he stood, looking into Alicia's eyes with his golden eyes, his neatly shaved white beard, more white hair on his head than the few dark ones, he posed firm, though an old man. He was cut out differently from everyone else she had met, with his white long sleeve, sea blue vest, trousers of the same color, his golden chains on his chest, and his golden ring, which had an inscription of the Crescents moon pack's logo.

"You look just like your mother, Chloe, Luna of Midnighter." His words sank Alicia where she sat. Her eyes widened at the revelation; he knew her mother, knew her very name.

How did he know that? She thought to herself.

"Who are you?" Alicia asked in a surprising tone, trying to lay a hold of this man’s arm, almost forgetting her hands were chained. "Please! Who are you?"

"Today is not the day for stories, little one. You must brace yourself," he responded in parables, without answering any of Alicia's questions directly.

"Belair, prep her for the Ellipses feast at the castle. He would be thrilled to meet her," the man added.

Alicia shut her eyes to the brightness of the sun. It was the first time in a long while she had seen daylight, walking behind Beliar in chains and a dozen of guards into a black SUV vehicle waiting for them outside the clinic. The surrounding walls to the clinic were devastating, with lots of cracks and holes found on these walls of several buildings as a result of the war. Alicia muttered silent prayers inside; if that man could tell who her mother was by looking at her, she was going to see her parents really soon.

As soon as they passed the walls into the main compound of the castle, it was the first time in days Alicia saw life. The mansion was a citadel, painted in cream grey, built in three peaks with a huge inner gate at the main front. The wild dahlia and tulip flowers with the green grasses made it a beauty to behold.

It was early twilight and the first full moon of the year, and everyone in the pack picked a keen interest in having their yearly Ellipse feast with Alpha Hayes, because that was the only time they had to see their alpha.

Jacksonville's tradition during an Ellipse feast marked it as a bachelor's eve for the Alpha to select his Luna, and after 14 days, on the night of a full moon, he would mark her finally. The people were eager to see their new Luna as their Alpha's mate.

Beta Degen already stood at the right hand of the throne, ‘The Throne of Trust’ named after Hayes's great-grandfather Alpha Emus. It was crafted in dark mantle stone and ocean gems.

To his right was his son Drake, the next beta of the pack after his father, while to his left, Deta Collins, his wife, Gwen, and his father Elder Kennedy, the oldest man in the Crescent Moon Pack.

Every other top official sat at both sides, facing each other from left to right, top generals, officials, and members of the pack.

Filled with life and a touch of nature, the hall was decorated with red and white ribbons, lining from the huge retroflex glass at the top center behind the throne to the very entrance. Everyone had beautiful clothes, from the young girls who were there to get swept away by their mates, to the women who already had mates, to the young boys ready to sniff any girl to see if they were their mate. To Alicia, with her pack, the Midnighters, the Ellipses night reminded her of the last year's feast. She hoped to get that fill of having a mate that night, but no one came for her. All her friends' age mates all had their mates that night.

She complained to her mom about it at the end of the night; she assured Alicia she was going to get hers this year's Ellipses feast. Alicia hoped her mom and dad were going to be there for her when she finds her mate.

Belair made changes into a black and white dotted ball gown, while Alicia was still left dressed in her hospital scrub gown. They walked into a room full of people; excitement shot through the air. The Midnighters were very rich; they had a more sophisticated Ellipses feast treatment than the one she was faced with now at the crescent pack.

Alicia noticed within the hall that there was no food on-site, nothing to show they were having a feast tonight. She thought to herself, not willing to ask Belair. She also noticed the man with the parables wasn't seated on the throne chair, and she also thought to herself if the man wasn't seated on the throne then there must be someone greater and more powerful to sit on this throne.

Alicia was made to stay with the guards while Beliar joined the top officials where they sat. Some unkempt individuals were present where she sat; these individuals were also chained like her but were dressed in sack clothing, like they were prisoners or slaves.

The hall became suddenly a bit calm as soon as everyone settled in their various seats, from the officials to the very men and women in chains.

In that silence, the man spoke.