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.

The lust in their eyes was deeper than the depths of the Atlantic and they made no attempt to hide it. Dark eyes swirling with blackened strings portraying love when in actuality they all wanted the flesh and not the feelings.

His hand came down hard on her ass and the yelp that left her lips had my jaw clenching tighter.

“You have to meet them,” Iliana rasped out. Her hoarse voice was shaking and she took careful steps out into the large room; she was limping as though each step hurt her.

I had to meet the alphas. I shouldn't be staring- I knew that was what she meant. But I couldn't stop looking at Liv and wondering if I should intervene.

“And do what? You alone up against a room full of alphas?” Trixy spat.

“They’re gonna- they’re using her,”

“Look around, Hazel. You’re all being used! it’s the fait of the game, you’re nothin more than puppets to them and us wolves your faithful servants who in the minds of these alphas are no match to their power,”

The alphas looked at Iliana and practically salivated. They could smell it on her; that another wolf of power had been with her and it only made her more attractive to them for the simple reason of dominance. If a girl is craved by a male then she must be something special and of course if others want her then she must be worthy to fight for. When that male was an alpha…or a king, they needed to assert their dominance over said male by taking the girl. I hated the way they were looking at her. She was hurt, voulnarble, and they enjoyed the weakened girl that strutted in front of them- holding her head high through the pain.

Come on, Hazel, you have to partake.

“If they touch her I will kill them!”

“They won’t, they respect the rules.”

Determined- and fearful of going home without a claim- I stepped out into the room and walked closer to the Alphas who stood separated in different corners. The girls were gently dragging their hands gracefully over their arms, some even went as far as to lick a part of the alphas skin to leave her scent.

There was no other way out but with one of them on my arm and seeing what I had to choose between I could tell immediately that I would be better of alone.

Despite my better judgment telling me to not to- I turned and look at Liv. Her hips were swaying over his lap, his hand still entangled in her curly hair pulling her head back. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away. Hide the fear, quench it quickly.

Some of the Alpha’s were playing cards, one had a cigar in his mouth and blew out tiny clouds as he bet against the other alpha. The smell of smoke and gin mixed in the air of this sophisticated establishment but if I looked closer- if I really tried and see this for what it was- it was no more fancy than a whore house where the girls begged for a touch to gain a decent dime. The men knew that they held the power even if there were rules set in place that they were obliged to follow. They knew what this night meant to us girls and how they would need no physical advantage to get our attention. No girl wanted to go home alone, un-claimed and ashamed- the men knew this, they knew they didn't have to try until the Hunt and that was when they would shine.

It was like the metaphor of ’falling in love’ only there was no love involved and it was more of a tackle to the ground with a big sweaty wolf hovering over you with pride.

Pride.

Was there anything less sexy on a man then when he was so full of himself that he left no room for another name to be uttered?

But this was the dream, the joy and the hope that we had to look forward to.

A gust of wind blew in and lifted my dress, I could pull it down and keep it plastered to my skin but I saw the lust in their shadowing eyes when my flesh was exposed to them. It was fun, to have power, us girls don't usually get to experience it and I felt my stomach clenching at the realization that this would probably be the first and last time that any of us did.

One of the girls jumped up on the edge of the table, she took the cigar from his mouth and wrapped her lips around it. I was fascinated by the way he watched her, how his eyes cast a subtle glance on tip of her foot before gliding up her legs and then passing for a moment at her chest and watching it rise- and fall.

He watched her cheeks pull in when she took a drag- he dragged his tongue over his lips when the smoke left and her tongue gracefully moved over the mouthpiece on the cigar.

Men, they were such simple creatures at the core and still we bowed to them for some reason. I heard that the most powerful of our kind have many times sought to be advised by their wives but they would never admit it themselves. God forbid an Alpha ever seek consult from the Luna.

My lips pressed together as the edges pull up in a laugh but I would look crazy if I started laughing all by my lonesome- and this wasn't a time for a giggle. Besides, my prospects would severely decrease if they thought I was a mental case.

One of the Alphas by the wall caught my eye, I recognized him, he’s watching the girls pass by but wasn’t showing interest in any of them. What was his name again? It’s right there, on the tip of my tongue- come on Hazel, think…

“Alpha Emmanuel,” i greeted and grabbed a champagne flout from the table. His eyes glimmered and the side of his mouth pulled up.

“Hazel —“

I smiled and raised the glass to my lips. I remembered my teachers words when I turned sixteen and was forced to join the diligence class with the other girls my age.

’A girl with poise and class walks gently into the room, she lets her eyes glaze over the men and subtly, but importantly, ignores the women. She never moves faster than him, she sips- not gulps- and she always smiles’- ugh, it’s like I was back in the classroom and it was all just coming back to me like ptsd. My teachers awfully calm voice burning those words into our heads and I was hearing her voice louder than ever right now. But there he was, like a fresh breath and a mute button to my thoughts.

“You remember,” I said with the hint of a smile but let my eyes do most of the talking. I looked into his eyes, then down at his lips, and up back up to his eyes- alternating between the two and then down at the sparkling drink in my glass and I smiled like I’d seen something beautiful in the bubble filled liquid.

If Mrs. Smith were here she would’ve be proud of me. But honestly I just don't want to go back empty handed. Even though there aren’t any severe consequents for coming back unmated, it wasn't exactly optimal either. I didn't want to be an embarrassment and I sure didn’t want to bring shame upon my family.

Just as the rim moves from my lips and I'm about to lower the glass I felt the pressure from underneath it- Emanuel pressed two fingers under the foot of the glass, rising it and pressing it against my lips. The bubbles tickled my throat but the alcohol soothed my senses. Perhaps I should try to have at least ten more glasses before the Hunt.

“You’re a hard one to forget,”

My braid fell over my shoulder and I caught his eyes with a deep gaze.

“Is it my eyes? I've heard a lot about my eyes,” I mused. My almond shape was said to be a mirror to the soul- not mine but the person looking into them. Some have even said they look like the eyes of a siren, the kind you drown in and eventually loose yourself to because you looked for to long.

“Not your eyes,” he bit down on his lip and pulled my braid between his fingers.

“My lips then?” I asked. He stepped closer and moved his head from side to side. He put my braid behind my back and I decided to try again because he stumped me. “If it isn't my eyes or my lips, it has to be my breast.” I dragged my fingers across my chest and watched as his desiring eyes followed. I narrowed my eyes and playfully scowled but he laughed and his hand lowered to my waist.

“It’s your personality, Hazel, the one you've hid away to deal with this…Hunt.”

No, don't say things like that- we’re supposed to be detached and he's pulling on real strings.

I giggled and shrugged a shoulder.

“That isn’t an answer I'm used to hearing.”

“Drop your head,” his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. I stared in confusion and noticed the small hangs to his face when his muscles moved in a grimace.

“I'm sorry?”

My eyes flickered behind him for a second when I heard the struggling groans and I saw Liv- her dress had been torn open and he’s pulling down his pants and positioning her on top of him. I gasped, my feet moved but before I got anywhere two arms grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.

Emanuels hand moved to the back of my head- he pulled me down and pressed my face against his chest but the sounds still rang loud in my ears.

“Don’t interfere,” he warned in a seething whisper.