One by one they were ranked and rated and now Lady Hale stood in front of me. I look down at my feet, refusing to disobey even though it’s taking every one of restraint I have not to raise my head and meet her contending gaze.

I hear the faint sound of a chuckle and even then I still don't look up.

“They will most certainly have fun with you,” she said. The cold of the metal abasing my skin made me shiver as she slid the cane up my leg, lifting the dress as she went. The beak would occasionally made slits on my leg and my hip, drops of blood made a cooling path down my leg.

“Spin.” she ordered and the change in her voice was instant. The gruff change and demanding tone had me sucking my teeth and focusing on the pain to stay obedient.

I turned on the spot, the dress rode up further and she watched every angle of my body. I felt the hairs rise on my thighs as the wind blew in and brushed against my bare skin.

“Very nice. Eight” she cooed.

Capitan Tala came up behind me and my hands were pulled behind my back and bound with rope dipped in wolfsbane.

I ground my teeth to dust when I felt the poison seep into my skin.

Once everyone was ranked, Lady Hale ordered for the blindfolds to be put on and complete darkness followed when I was being led to the truck.

This was it, this was the end. My parents were probably waving, my sister pressing back against my fathers legs in fear and I couldn't say goodbye to any of them.

It happened quickly, the grading and grabbing, I was already in the truck sitting on a damp wooden bench with splinters poking into my thighs.

Sweat and fear filled the air, it was a scent unlike any other and one we had grown accustomed to acknowledging.

The truck was driving over a bumpy road and with each bump I felt my body lifting from the seat and the taller girls slammed their heads against the low ceiling.

We continued for what felt like forever and not a single source of light manage to penetrate the truck walls.

The car eventually stoped and I listened in, trying to hear something that could give me a hint of where we were but all I heard was the footsteps on moist ground. The feet that pressed into the water filled grassed, like stomping on wet moss.

Someone opened the doors and small rays of light danced on top of the blindfold.

I smelt the damp grass, bark and the oak. We had to be in the woods, it made sense considering that’s where the hunt took place. I never knew where the house was though. Any time someone returned for the briefest moment they were forbidden from ever discussing what went on after the ritual.

We were all pulled from the truck one by one and led over the grounds to a smoother surface.

I felt myself being jerked to a stop and my arm brushing against another. For some reason I still heard the gleeful squeals of the girls around me.

Don’t they realize that we were on the threshold of the beginning of the rest of our lives? This wasn’t a fairytale where we meet a prince that would take us to his castle and love us forever. This was more like Shrek where Fiona was locked in the tower and no prince ever came to save her. She saved herself but the analogy ends there because there was no saving of any sorts. There was no prince charming in that house. There were however Alphas, some of our worlds strongest and most fear leaders who take pleasure in the hunting of young girls to later groom and use. Some marry and actually fall in love but it’s rare. And then there is the leader, the Lycan king. He’s not known for his loving tenderness or his wonderful leadership, he’s known for the tyranny he reins on his people and the iron fist with which he leads.

The shiver going through me right now was no joke, my shoulders spasmed and my spine did a slithering shake.

“Bring them in.” A dark voice tossed the order behind me. He was elevated from the ground, that much was clear.

My body jerked when someones hands came around my head and undid the blindfold. It was like every nerve in my body was on high alert, all because they took away my ability to see. Normal it wouldn't bother me but I was weak right now and so was my wolf so to remove a sense was not optimal.

The light from the sun immediately blinded me and I closed my eyes to allow them some time before they adjusted.

“Move!” Ordered Captain Tala and pushed my shoulder to get me going.

The other girls were looking excitedly at the surroundings. We were deep in the woods, I saw the goblin moss that covered the rocks as far as I could see.

The crowns on the trees were thick and bushy, preventing the sun from reaching the ground most hors of the day. I was too busy looking around at the trees and the plants to notice where I stepped. I stubbed my toe on the widened stone staircase and cursed as I fell against the steps. Captain grabbed my arm and forced me up to my feet. She glared with a fierce frustration when I slowly stood in pain and bit back a wailing whine.

“That bitch needs to be put in her place” Trixy said and my eyes widened for a fraction of a second out of fear of captain Tala overhearing. That was until I remembered that she couldn't hear my wolf though the fear was very much visible.

“Don’t say that,” I bit back.

“Why? It’s not like she can hear me,”

No she couldn't but it frightened me still. Words like that could get you killed. Captain Tala was respected, high up in rank with the council and a true force. Rumor has it she used to work with the Dark Guard, they were the councils last line of defense and the last people you wanted to see on your doorstep. If the Dark Guard showed up, you knew that your minutes were numbered.

Captain Tala was one of their enforcers, she was their most skilled killer and had taken down more creatures than anyone could count.

The door to the house closed behind us and the sound of the lock being turned echoed in my head.

We were led through the rundown rickety house which was not at all how I had envisioned the meetup spot to look like.

There was a giant hole in the roof and through it I could see the sky as clear as if I were outside. It was the only spot where trees didn't cover the view.

Layers of dust were gathering on the surfaces of the broken wooden boards and the decaying bureaus. A big closet in the corner of the first room had a door that hung of its hinges and inside hung clothes that seemed to have been eaten on by something.

I dragged a deep breath and held it when the smell of rotting flesh seeped up my nose.

The girls all covered their noses and its moments like these that being a werewolf was a curse.

Our heightened smell unfortunately allowed us to smell the scents of everything, including sweat, blood and sex. All of which were mixing in my nose right now.

Captain Tala held open a door and we all piled through it into a cold room. The windows were broken and faced the leafy forest, no light came in and the chilly breeze swept around from the vent.

“Face the wall.” She said without stepping inside with the rest of us.

We lined up and faced the wall as ordered.

There was s a white linen sheet that hung in the ceiling, blowing subtly by the breeze around the room.

Pieces of lace were stuck to the wooden boards and if I stared at them long enough I could se them dancing in shapes of a woman in heels swigging in the wind.

It was beautiful and cut short by the sound of heavy steps pressing against the squealing floor boards. No one spoke as they shifted position and I heard someone leaving as another one entered.

The door behind us slammed shut but us girls weren't alone, someone was inside the room with us.

He held a high rank, our wolves felt it in their core and Trixy reluctantly fell in a submissive bow and bared her neck.

His eyes warmed the back of my neck as he scanned me from where he stood. He walked behind each girl, taking her in and undressing her with his eyes. The white linens we wore did little to hide our bodies and I felt on my skin where his eyes were wandering as they left behind a heated trail. There was only one male in our world that would be allowed a peak before the others but I had never heard of him participating in the Hunt. He stepped back and I could hear how everyone in the room held their breath, myself included.

“Turn.” His voice was dark and low with a controlled calm I had never heard before.

I spun slowly until I face him. We got a good look for a second but Trixy forced my head down and I could feel her backing away instantly with her tale between her legs.

My breath was caught in my throat and my legs were shaking, fighting to hold me up. My head was still down but I managed to peak at the girls to see how they were holding up.

Some were holding their breaths, others were happily waiting for a formal introduction but me? I was terrified, replaying the rumors I'd heard about the Lycan King and dreading finding out wether or not they were true.

He clapped his hands behind his back and ran his eyes over each and everyone of us. We were all pinned to the spot without anyone keeping us here. Our feet pressed heavy as if glued to the floor and our heads were down, almost impossible to raise unless we were told too. I flickered my gaze for a split second and him stand there stoically. He raised his head and I was met with eyes colder than a glacier.

When I was ten my mother sat me down, looked into my innocently naive eyes and proudly said, ’Hazel, in a few years you will be apart of our worlds most grandest tradition and be chosen by an Alpha.’

My response was always ’no thanks, mama’. I was happy gliding through life in school, with my friends, chasing and hunting in the woods.

My only dream was gaining my wolf and going on real hunts and maybe one day, if I were lucky, join the Shadow Guard and work for the council.

That all chipped away slowly as I grew up and before I knew it I was eighteen with no mate being told it was time I partake in the Hunt. Not as a hunter, no, girls couldn't be hunters. Us girls were the prey, hunted like a deer in the woods until caught by an Alpha and becoming his claim.

I shiver as I stand thinking about this tradition, the one I had been told was an honor and that I now was part of.

There wasn't much time to ponder on the past when the Lycan King suddenly moved toward us. He had been watching for minutes now and I thought that maybe he was just getting a glimpse and then he would go.

He walked closer and started at the end of the line.

Her head was forced back with a rough pull of her chin, a quiet gasp left her lips and his chilling cold eyes circle down her chest.

“Turn.”

His voice sent my nerves into overdrive and they tingled in my arms as I pressed my hands tighter together like it was an order for us all.

Lily start turning.

“Slower.” He said calmly but it was the darkness in his voice that had us all covering.

She gulped and slowed down, each step thought out with a small pause to allow him time to see her.

Lily was the epitome of a healthy female werewolf. She’s tall, the tallest of us all, with model-like legs that were tight and firm. Her hips were narrow and her stomach flat with visible muscle and her chest were perky and filled out her clothes nicely. He moved closer and grabbed her shoulders to stop her from spinning any further. His lips hovered close to her skin and he pushed her down.

“Kneel.”

I saw something moving on her face, a smirk that shadowed her lips. Her eyes sparkled now and she did as she was told. She was in a squatting position when he told her to stop and he raised her dress. He told her to continue down on her knees.

The dress fell around her like a flower and her back was facing him.

Darian moves to the next girl and I lowered my head further. He was five girls away and then it was my turn.

“Kneel.” He orders without sparing her a second glance.

The girl kneeled and he moved to the next.

My nerves were tensing the closer that he got and I felt my wolf trembling with her body so close to the floor that she almost laid down.

I lifted my gaze an inch when I heard his groan and watched as he reached out his fingers and snapped her brazier open to expose her chest. The chill in the room bushed over her skin and he watched her nipples stiffened. I wasn't thinking as I shot out my arm to to over her but luckily I'm stopped before it reaches anywhere.

Iliana holds my arm and her eyes bore into mine with a loud warning.

But it was to late and Darian turned his head and glared at me. His eyes gently lower to where Iliana was holding me and she slowly let go of me and folded her hands behind her back.

Many say as a joke that certain animals can smell fear, it is very true that fear has a scent and at that moment I was reeking of it.

“Do you oppose me undressing her?” Everyone looked up as subtly as possible and stared with widened eyes at me.

I shook my head and lowered my gaze, “No, sir,” it came out no louder than a whisper.

Darian moved closer to me, with each step his eyes took in more of my body because in the end it was how we look that determined our chances in the Hunt. Nothing else mattered to them but what he saw and it appealed to him.

“You stoped her.” He said and moved to Iliana.

Panic was slowly starting to creep up on me.

“I-i’m sorry.” She stuttered.

“Why did you stop her?” He moved like a predator and his words were calm but it wasn't like a calm breeze, no it was a lethal poison that was calm until ingested after which it would kill you with ease.

“Because i- i didn’t want her to get hurt.”

“Smart girl.” He’s standing in front of her, his eyes cast glances at me and the ones I meet sent chills down my spine. How could a person seem so cold? It was as though his heart didn’t beat as ours. I didn’t feel any warmth from him.

“And what if you were to get hurt because you protected her?”

My eyes were now as wide as saucers and my breast are rising high as I'm getting choked by the dress.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly.

I pressed my nails as hard into my skin as I could to stop my legs from shaking. Maybe if one part of me is hurting it will draw attention from the others and I won't think about how my legs are nearly folding underneath me.

Darian stands staring soullessly at Iliana and it’s all because she looked out for me.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear something inaudible. I feel my brows pressing down when I realize that I can't listen in on his words.

Iliana’s head shot up and she stared in fear, frozen in her spot and doesn't move a single muscle.

Darian makes a quick move and I look up to see his hand wrapped around her throat and Iliana was up on her toes.

He pulled her in and I see his eyes changing color.

“Now.” He barked by her ear and turned to face us, “stay, don’t move until I get back and do not make a sound.” He ordered.

Iliana fell to the floor and coughed as she scurried across the room to a craggily door that opened with a force.

She walked inside and disappeared in the darkness that lurked in there. I heard a squeal and then noticed Darian turning to walk after her. His fingers worked his belt and slipped it out from its loops.

The leather was snapped in his hands and stretched as he walked into the room. My head snapped to the side and I see the girls looking as confused as myself.

The door slammed shut and I jump from the sound.

Every bone in my body was telling me that something bad was going to happen and if it did, it would be my fault because she protected me.

We had no choice but to wait because that’s what we were told.

The orders were clear and Trixy couldn't disobey them even if she tried.

Our faces contorted in fear when we heard the sounds. The sound of leather landing on her skin with a whipping sound that bounced against the walls and made me clench my eyes.

She screamed, one quick scream that filtered over to a choking sob. I wanted to move, to run in there and knock him to the ground- just long enough for Iliana to run away.

“He’ll kill us”

“I know but he’s hurting her.” I said and try to reason but I knew it wasn't her fault that I couldn't move. The kings orders were different than an Alpha’s. Our Alpha’s orders were strong but could in certain situations still be disobeyed. Darians orders were different, it was physically impossible for us to defy them.

It was quiet for a while before Ilianas choked screams filled the room and seeped out through the cracks of the the broken boards, cutting into my ears like razorblades.

If a shattered soul had a face to it with eyes and a mouth and looked like us, it would be what I was looking at. Iliana walked out different from when she walked in.

Her dress strap hung on her shoulder and she sniffled and wiped her red nose as she walked back to the line. I gulped and tried not to stare but it was hard, her face was bright red and her eyes watery after the twenty minutes that had passed. I wanted to say ’I'm sorry’ but I doubted it’d make a difference or be close to enough for what she endured.

My stomach turned and I had been on the verge of throwing up since the door closed with Illiana the king alone in that room. The other girls were staring down at their feet, nobody had even a glimpse of joy on their faces anymore.

“Hazel, is it not?” Darian asked as he walked out from the room. Whilst he’d walking over my eyes immidietly go to the black leather belt wrapped tightly around his large hand, covering knuckles and folding as he closed his fingers. He rolled down the sleeves on his black dress shirt and the leather belt, rolled around his hand, reflected something under the light. I looked closer and noticed something on the golden clasp, something was smeared on metal and I saw the same splatter on his chest. The little that I could see from the two buttons he had left undone.

Holy shit.

I looked down when I placed the crimson liquid, swallowed the bile that was on its way up and forced out a, “yes, my king.”

He stood in front of me and buttoned his shirt. He slowly undid the belt from his hand and as he did I noticed the blood drying in the creases of his hand. I was careful, as careful as I could've been to not be caught staring but Darian noticed my eyes taking in the splatter for less than a second and I thought my heart would drop. I couldn't see his face but I saw Darian drag his finger over the dried splatter and bring the finger to his mouth where his lips closed above the ring and he sucked the blood clean from his skin.

It wasn't any anger I saw on his face nor was there lust or contempt. It was just…emptiness. A hallow black hole with nothingness as a core.

“Hazel,” he didn't say it as a question or an opening. There was nothing that followed my name but how he said it- to hear my name spoken with a darkness so deep- had my blood freezing sending cold shocks trough my veins.

He moved to the girl who stood with her chest bare still and he watched her.

She did as she was told and then stood back.

It didn't make sense to me why some where kneeling and others were not. Was this some sort of screening where the King chose who would continue to the Hunt?

My nerves needed answers but it didn’t seem like I am going to get any from him. King Darian walked to the door located behind us. The screening seemed to be done and I was standing along with three other girls; Iliana, Liv and Caitlyn.

King Darian left and Liv quickly took out the gloss she has hidden between her breast; puffing a breath and thanking the gods that it wasn't her dress he ripped.

A natural cherry pink sparkled on her lips as she dragged the brush across in a haste. She hurried to put it away but I knew that if anyone noticed- wether it be an Alpha or Lady Hale- Liv would be in trouble.

Everything was planed to t when it came to the control they held over the people.

Humans and werewolves were believed to be vastly different where the humans were inferior to us. But one thing we all agreed on was that the Council was not to be messed with. It was them and the Lycan King, the only two entities that could cause fear in the bravest soldier.

There was a tale we were told when we were young about the castle that the Lycan King and his ancestors before him resided in- the tale spoke of the castle growing on top of the bones and ashes of the burnt villagers that once occupied the land. The villagers- the humans.

The door opened with a shriek and a gust of wind pulled in and swept around our barely covered bodies. Lady Hale stepped inside with captain Tala- stiff like a soldier but swifter than a fly- by her side. They walked across the room, their eyes scanning us girls carefully before landing on Iliana who was shivering as she stood staring at the floor. Her body was weak and trembling and her skin had red patches that were loosely covered by the sheer fabric of her white dress.

The raggedy door screeched painfully as it opened and behind it was yet another- thicker and steadier- door in metal. The key entered into the three different locks and with each was a new sound that made me flinch when Lady Hale turned it each time.

Rotting flesh and tear inducing odors were left behind when the door slowly pushed open to reveal the rest of the house. The part where the men gathered.

Red colored walls and golden linings that painted on the candelabras while the fire roared in the pit. The ambrosial smell nearly had me falling voer, it wasn’t at all the smells we had been forced to suffer through for the past hours.

Wasn’t this the perfect depiction of our societal norms though? Our Alphas, leaders, with a drink in hand sitting by the fire or watching through the panorama window while we’re stuck in sweat and decay waiting to be judged and hunted.

I gritted my teeth to dust and tried- I really did- to remain calm.