Chapter Four

Lucian led her to the ballroom, where a fierce, ethereal beauty stood in front of the live band. With her greying black hair brushed into a bun, her haughty pose screamed Luna.

“We all know why we’re really here.” The guests murmured in confirmation as she stepped forward, smiling and gesturing to the room. “It’s time to hunt.”

Elyssa glanced sideways at Lucian before turning back to watch the woman with an uneasy frown. Hunt? What had the Callisto’s turned the Moon Ball into? What were they hunting? She searched the hall for Taylor and when she didn’t see her, tried to find her scent.

“A tradition so old and fine, where the wolves race through the goddess’ Labyrinth in search of their mates. We will send the most beautiful, unmated elite females into the Labyrinth, and if any one of them catches your eye, track them down and mark them by sunrise.” She gestured as she spoke. “Nevertheless, we’re not animals; there are rules; you can only mark a consenting female; do so against their wish, and you would have erred against the Callisto’s and the goddess, and you know how that goes.”

A mating ritual.

It was abolished by her family ages ago, why would they bring it back? Elyssa shifted uncomfortably, no longer at ease with the situation and now worried about Taylor’s whereabouts. She suspected now, that Taylor had changed into the white ceremonial robes of the ritual and was waiting to be paraded.

“Let’s meet this year’s eligible females, gentleman.” She motioned to the door on the left, and a line of female wolves waltzed in, led by a couple.

She counted twelve, and she was right; Taylor was readily apparent. The crowd murmured as the women stood in the centre of the room in sheer white robes that revealed too much skin.

She felt Lucian look towards her and turned to meet his gaze.

“Is this why you came, to find a mate?” he asked, folding both arms over his chest.

Elyssa scoffed. “Don't be ridiculous. This ritual barbaric, and I am repulsed by it.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Then why did you come? All unmated females must participate, and that is why they all come.”

Well, she didn’t know about the ritual. Before she could reply, the woman had climbed down from the podium and was now standing right in front of them.

“Lucian, who is your friend?” Her clear amber eyes fixed on Elyssa with stern assessment, making Elyssa’s throat run dry.

“Mother, allow me to introduce Elyssa.”

Elyssa’s eyes hardened as she held Victoria Callisto’s gaze. She was the Luna of the Callisto pack and Peskington.

“She is absolutely gorgeous, Lucian. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was an azure. She should be up there with unmated females.” Victoria stroked Elyssa’s hair as she examined her. “To which family do you belong, dear?”

“She stays with me, mother. She is not without a mate,” Lucian returned quietly.

Victoria smiled at Lucian after a quick glance between them both. “There are no exceptions, son. If you want her, you’ll have to hunt. Be prepared to fight off a good number of wolves for this one.”

“I’d like a word, mother,” Lucian said and stepped aside. Victoria paused to admire Elyssa for a moment before heading to him.

Elyssa wondered what the point of stepping way from her was; she could hear their argument clearly, and Lucian was losing. Victoria Callisto apparently did not believe in destined mates, Lucian and her had to participate in the ritual. Victoria made a vague comment about her azure heritage, implying that sending one into the labyrinth was a blessing. As Victoria made her way back to the podium, Lucian returned to her with a deep frown.

She whispered to him, “I’m not going out there,” when he reached her.

“I’m sorry, Elyssa, but you must,” Lucian replied through gritted teeth. “It doesn’t matter; I will find you.”

She didn’t care about that at all! Sure, she loathed the idea that he would have to publicly mark her as mate, but at least she would have some private time with him. For her, the first part of the ritual was the most terrifying; she had to go out into the Labyrinth and survive long enough for him to find her.

“Jeremy, Aaliyah, hurry and prepare Elyssa for the ritual.” Victoria’s voice echoed. “While we wait for the final female, gentlemen have a good look at these females and gorge up their scents. The goal of this hunt is simple; find your female, mark her and protect her from the creatures in the wilderness until sunrise. You cannot leave a moment before, your most important mission is finding them before they’re shredded to pieces. Females, your task is simple; survive!”

The couple that led the females out approached her and Lucian, bowing slightly to Lucian in acknowledgment, and turned to her.

“This way, Elyssa,” Aaliyah said to her with a big smile that warmed her.

Lucian squeezed her hand before watching as she followed behind Jeremy and Aaliyah. Elyssa went quietly because being aggressive here would only raise questions, and she was so ignorant that she didn’t even consider that the Callisto might have brought the ritual back. It made sense why they only allowed the elite families in the Moon Ball now. The alliance formed by marriage between the five families and the other elites was good business.

The two led her down a private hall and then into a room where Jeremy stood guard outside and Aaliyah took her into a clannish, regal closet. As she stood there now, Lucian or his family didn’t inspire hatred in her, for once she hoped that the wicked Lucian would find her in time. Her heart thumped as Aaliyah held out the white robe to her, and she set her clutch down on the golden bench by her feet.

“Do you need assistance taking off that gorgeous dress?” she asked.

“Please, it took two small villages to get it on,” Elyssa returned, and Aaliyah laughed, walking to her back to help unzip it.

Her teeth clenched in apprehension of entering the wilderness. She was terrified of the creatures in that accursed place, but the ritual required her to remain until sunrise before attempting to leave. Her two-year stay in the Labyrinth following the death of her family had been torturous; it was a constant battle to keep ahead of the beasts until Zuker’s pack took her in.

After slipping out of her black dress, Elyssa whispered, “Why do they still do these suicidal rituals?”

Aaliyah hung her dress up on the rack and said, “It’s tradition. I know it’s scary, but it is fun. It truly helps you connect with your wolf and builds you as a warrior for your pack. I met Jeremy through this ritual.”

“He’s your mate?”

“Yes.” Aaliyah laughed at the wonder in Elyssa’s voice. “It’s been two years now, and he’s the best thing that ever happened to me. You’ll love it, I can tell you’re a fighter.”

“Hmm.” Elyssa smiled to her and pulled the robe on, then she looked herself over in the full-length mirror.

“You’ll surely have a handful of wolves tearing at each other over you.” Aaliyah stroked her arm with a big smile. “You’re pristine.”

“Thank you.”

Taking a deep breath, she nodded to Aaliyah to lead her out of the room. Elyssa’s gold stilettos echoed as she followed alongside Aaliyah, with Jeremy trailing behind them.

Before Elyssa re-entered the ballroom, Aaliyah whispered to her, “Be careful, and go left when they take you into the tunnels.”

She passed Aaliyah a gracious smile, ignoring the eyes now stripping her completely bare as she joined the line of females. Taylor made room for her and took her hand as expected.

“I cannot believe you did this,” Elyssa whispered to Taylor. “You knew this would happen and didn’t bother to tell me.”

“What are you yapping about?” Taylor replied. “This is the only reason unmated females attend this ball.” Elyssa eyed her. “We should have distinguished mates by dawn.”

“We have to survive the wilderness first, Taylor. That’s why the ritual was abolished. Half of these girls may not make it out alive,” Elyssa said.

“There goes our beautiful azure surprise, gentlemen. A true gem, wouldn’t you say?” As Victoria Callisto’s voice rang out, Elyssa turned to face her against the murmurs from the crowd. 

The entire ballroom was staring at her now, like the Ewing's did; all they saw now was a rarity that anyone would kill for, and she couldn't understand the appeal. Other than their looks and the gift that the goddess had given them, she didn't think there was anything special about them.

"You're an azure? You swore you weren't," Taylor whispered through gritted teeth.

"She's mistaken, Tay." Elyssa returned as she eyed Victoria Callisto.

“It is time to send the females in.” Victoria smiled.

Elyssa searched the room for Lucian, but didn’t find him. As she turned to follow the line of females following Jeremy out of the hall, she met Antonio’s gaze. Though he only smiled; no words spoken, she knew what his intention was, and she didn’t want him to ruin her plans with Lucian, or worse, engage him.

He was a vicious monster, and she was not losing any more people to him.