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.

We were all instructed to move through the door and the girls who were kneeling slowly stood up on Talas orders.

We were given no further instructions other than the subtle gesture to move into the adjoining room. I felt the warmth of being watch instantly, a pair of yellow eyes followed me from the corner in the room, making me stand back and hold up the line- not something you want to do in a room full of teatestorne-filled male wolves. They were like starving animals who saw meat hanging on a stick in a tree, if you got in their way you could be their next meal.

Clenched jaws and grunts had me speed up and I saw one of the alphas glaring at Liv while she made eyes at the Alpha behind him. He fixed himself on the sofa, the leather scrunched under the wright of an alpha who joined them on the couch.

The trembles from my wolf indicated the massive power of dominance we had been plucked down in. This was was the honorable tradition- the many years we spent being groomed to partake in the Hunt and I see now that it was all overly romanized for the sole purpose of making us listen and obey.

Lady Hale stood by the door and her black leather pants rubbed against each other.

I saw the hunger in their eyes when they saw her, some were salivating at the thought of what Lady Hale could do with them and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them already knew. She obviously noticed the gazes, it was clear as the glimmer in her eyes sparkled with something dark and devious. Her claw-like nails tapped against the silver handle on the door and her smirk deepened as she lifted her head and looked out over the massive game board.

“The rules are as followed; there will be no touching the girls in any way before the clock hits. Watch them, sense them and smell them- perhaps you catch that special whiff that makes your senses set aflame and that will be the scent that you hunt. After the Hunt, once a girl is claimed and marked, she is all yours. Girls, remember, only one Alpha can claim you- If more than one catches you in the woods they themselves must fight till one prevails and can claim his prize. There can never be two marks on one girl, this is a show of power as much as it is of lust,” Her stone cold expression shifted and she continued, “Girls, you have the power in this first half. You may touch, feel and move on our Alpha’s however you please. Give more attention to the ones you fancy and maybe- if you are lucky- he will be the one that stands over you later on. If you’re one of the lucky ones then maybe his mark will adorn your neck- a promise for tomorrow.” Lady Hale walked away with those last words and then it was just us and them.

The sheer pulling of the dresses to make their boobs more visible was astonishing. Did the girls not see what was going on? We were dolls for these men, nothing more than the tools they would use for their own sick amusement.

The only lucky ones would be the girls who left unmarked. They were the only ones who could continue their lives outside of this cult, maybe find a mate and get the happily ever after that was promised to us all.

I looked to the side and saw the alphas on the couch in a stare off with Liv. He sat back and folded his finger in a beckoning call before putting his hand on his lap, showing her where to go.

Liv bated her lashes and dragged her fingers seductively over her chest but I saw no flutter in his eyes, noting that told me he fancied her- as Lady Hale put it. They weren't allowed to touch so why was he edging her on?

Liv didn’t seem to see what I saw in them, on their faces and especially his; the one who called her over. She walked like they were the first steps to a glorious future and she swayed her hips softly on the way. Liv casually pulled on her dress to showcase her breast and I watched as he touched on the edge of her dress, gently pulling the fabric between his fingers before he pulled her down on his lap.

A squeal left her lips and my head whipped to the side when I looked at the girls in wonderment.

They men weren't allowed to touch but they sure were eager to. All of the girls walked out, slowly surveilling the Alphas and their choices, everyone took their time and kept their distance but Liv caught our attention and we all looked to the loungeing area by the fire. He hugged her waist with one hand and the other came around her head and pulled so hard that I flinched from the pain it must've caused her.

“What is that on your lips?”

My heart stopped.

Her legs were straddling his waist, one of his hands was in her hair and the other was slipping down her waist and disappeared under her dress.

“Nothing,” she lied in a grin.

“It looks like gloss,” another Alpha chimed and leaned in to asses her closer.

He pressed his thumb against her mouth and slid it across her lips; he rubbed his thumb with his index finger and the lurching darkness in his eyes doubled.

“Yup, gloss.”

They grinned and watched with dangerous glares as she writhed on top of his lap.

“Gloss- that is a breach isn't it?” The one under her asked. His head cocked and he slowly moved her dress up her back.

“Such a little rule breaker.”

He pulled her in and I gasped, my eyed widened and I furrowed my brows in disgust we he spat onto her lips and he wiped his thick fingers across her mouth to remove any remanence of the gloss. “In case you didn't know- a breach of rules on your part, immediately extirpate any and all rules on our part.” He pinched her lips between his fingers and leaned in, “nod if you understand,”

Even I, from where I stood safe by the window, shivered from the dark, rumbling, evil in his voice.