Choosing Ceremony Divergent Novels & Stories

“It’s… Choosing Night for the Lycan King, and Naomi is invited.” “No,” Dad whimpers. “She’s demanded to come.” Silence spreads in the living room. I can’t say I blame them. Even I get a shiver running down my spine. Choosing Night is a Lycan ceremony, a party where the Lycan King gathers all the eligible brides in the land and chooses a bride. This doesn’t seem to be a bad tradition in itself.

Turing from them, I focus on my mate. “I don’t think I broke the curse because I chose you,” I murmured. “Although the reason may have been selfish, I’ve chosen you before. All those time I came to you on the battlefield, gave myself up as an offering moments before you could kill Ethan, or tried to take you down counted as me choosing you. None of those broke the curse. The reason was selfish and remained the same in all, but one. This one.” “Don’t stop now,” Shane whispered. I watched as Odis ran forward and fell to his knees. Gabe ran up behind him and watched as his mate screamed over Ethan’s body.

“I do.” “Then that’s what it means.” I turned my face toward the breeze. “I’m not sure how to plan a ceremony when part of me still doesn’t like people watching me. I’m still adjusting, Kiran. I don’t want to be paraded around like some newly claimed prize.” “Then don’t let it be about them,” he said simply. “Make it about you and Damon. Do it your way.” “And what if my way is barefoot in the woods with no speeches and no fancy dress?”

I stood tall. Took a breath. The plates began to tremble. The black candles dimmed. “If only one of you can be saved,” I said softly, “then you’ve all been used. And I refuse to be part of that.” The spirits screamed. Shrieking, howling, tongues lashing through the cursed air. One bride cried out: “YOU CANNOT REFUSE! YOU ARE THE CHOSEN BRIDE!” I looked each of them in the eye. “Exactly. And I choose to destroy this ritual.”

Ava dropped to her knees, torn between love, duty, and the fear of becoming something monstrous. Then she remembered— Lucien’s warning. The Oracle’s fear. Damon’s belief. Kellan’s promise. She rose. “No. I choose what I become.” Her voice shattered the vision. Light exploded around her. She fell back into the Ritual Plateau, gasping, glowing faintly with silver fire. The Oracle wept. “She has passed. All have passed.” The fire circle faded. Ava stood at the center. “The trials are over,” the Oracle whispered. “The Chosen must now… choose.”

“We’ll help.” My heart cracked open. After everyone left, Alpha Tristan and I walked the terraces. The brand throbbed beneath my sleeve. He stopped me gently. “You can’t keep going like this.” “I can’t stop.” He took a deep breath: “Then choose.” I studied the valley below—twins playing, aliens like the Lycans and Riverdalians moving in harmony. “The ritual,” I said, voice flat. “It ends here.” He nodded. Late that night, under twin moons, we assembled the ceremony.

“The moon is almost out. We can’t keep debating over this. You were given the golden cup earlier today when you came veiled to the alpha’s chambers. You were asked to return tonight for the union, so why the sudden change of mind?” “You’re mistaken. I’m not her.” I pleaded. My voice however, was nothing compared to the duty. They dragged me down the corridor until I was standing before a large oak door, several meters taller than us. “Breath,” the first man…the gentle one, muttered. “I can’t,” I responded. My chest rose and fell like I was being rammed with a sledge hammer. He placed a hand on my back and leaned closer to my ear. “Yes, you can. You’re about to be the bride of Alpha Garrick.

“Let go. Ascend.” I bared my fangs. “Never.” The cavern split into dozens of mirrored paths, each archway framing a different version of Kael. One smiled softly, arms open. Another snarled, eyes black with hollow rage. A third lay broken, bleeding out on silver stone. The realm’s purpose crystallized: break my certainty. Force me to choose a path to ascend as the Vessel pure, unbound and alone Vessel. I straightened, the silver mark burning on my shoulder. “I choose the one that leads to him,” I said, voice steady. “Not the one that makes me doubt.”

As long as I could graduate smoothly and gain access to more resources, I'd agree to anything. When we arrived, a red carpet stretched across the academy entrance. A grand welcome banner had been prepared for him. Even the guards lowered their heads respectfully as he passed. The Alpha family's heir occupied a unique position. I had seen it in my previous life as well. Oscar never needed to prove who he was. His face alone was enough to make countless werewolves wary. The moment we entered the campus, I saw Evelyn and Evan surrounded by a crowd of students. Just like before, Evan was an outstanding student. He had ranked first on the entrance examination.

“Just thanking the gods.” “For what?” “For letting me come back,” I say softly. “So I could choose you. Again.” His throat tightens. I feel it through the bond before I see it in his eyes. “You always choose me,” he says. “No,” I correct gently, taking his hands. “I get to choose you.” He exhales, like a man finally setting down a weight he carried across lifetimes. The ceremony will be simple. Western vows beneath the open sky. No crowns. No spectacle. Just us. Just truth. The land does not need another ruler forged in fire. It needs love that lasts.