Episode 2
1201 Words
Elara’s pov
I woke to the sound of drums being beaten to a rhythm.
My eyes fluttered open, my lashes still sticking together due to the dried up tears.
Lights stabbed my eyes the moment I realized where I was.
After the beating they gave me under the rain two days ago I fell terribly ill and was thrown into this cage they called a tent.
My body screamed at me the moment I tried to move, like shreds of glass were being dragged over my body.
The next thing to hit me was my own scent. I smelled of blood and sweat. It was very heavy in the air and carried a hint of sickness with it.
I tried to move again but the ache was too severe.
The sound of laughter and celebration hit my ears.
If I was asleep for two days then it means it’s already the day of Mide’s mating ceremony.
I’ve always wondered what a mating ceremony would feel like. I was never going to have mine so I always tried to witness the celebration of others, but I was never allowed in.
I would either get kicked out or locked away till after. They believed that an abomination like me would stain the days.
But today was going to be different. It would be so crowded and filled with different new faces since it was the king of rouges daughter’s mating ceremony.
It was the perfect opportunity for me to watch from the shadows as the pack members would be too distracted by the guests.
I pushed myself up on my elbows and nearly passed out. Spots invaded my vision.
I had to clench my jaw and wait for the dishes to pass before I straightened up again.
I knew I shouldn’t go, I knew if I got caught I would definitely be killed this time.
But if I was going to die either way why not just do what I’ve always wanted?
So, I slipped out of the tent quietly and stayed hidden in the shadows of the trees and bushes.
I watched Mide laugh as different males circled her, posturing and dancing for her attention.
As always she looked beautiful and valued. Radiant and healthy like the sun after a storm.
The whole pack square looked different. It was decorated with beautiful fairy lights that shone under the moonlight.
Children danced and men ate watching the young she-wolves shaking their hips to the sound of the drums and flutes.
My fingers dug into my palm.
“Hey.”
A voice came from behind me and I froze.
A hand shoved me hard and I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before I fell into the firelight.
Silence immediately flooded the whole square then laughter took over.
“Well look at that,” someone sneered. “The tent rat finally crawled out of her death bed.”
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Another voice demanded harshly. “You think this kind of celebration is for abominations like you?”
I backed up instinctively as my heart pounded against my chest. “I….I was just watching. I–I didn’t mean to—”
A slap cracked across my face, shutting me up instantly.
I looked up to see Mide boiling with intense fury. “You worthless bastard!” She screamed. “You always ruin everything with your presence. If I don’t get mates tonight I’ll rip…” she clawed my face. “Every single…” she clawed my face again. “Skin out of your miserable sickle body!” She continuously clawed my face till it was covered in blood.
Hands roughly grabbed me when Mide was done with disfiguring my face and dragged me forward, shoving me into the center of the clearing.
Because I hadn’t fully healed from the last few beatings I stumbled and fell to my knees, palms scrapping against sharp granite.
I hissed from the pain as the stones penetrated the wound that hadn’t healed from last time.
Someone laughed. “She can barely stand.”
“Pathetic.”
“It’s what happens when you’re worthless and have no wolf of your own.”
The rouge king stepped forward, towering over me like a predator to its prey.
“How dare you!” He barked and his voice shook me to my bones.” I thought I already taught you your place?”
I swallowed blood. “I know my place….i just wanted to—”
He raised his hands about to strike me and I flinched waiting for the blow to land on me….
“Seize your voices.”
The words cut through the air like a blade.
Silence fell among us immediately.
The air changed. It was thick with authority and dominance.
The smell intoxicated me and I felt every hair in my body stand, but not in fear or resentment.
It felt like the scent was sending shivers down my lower belly.
It was heavy with dominance and stenched the place–I could feel it in everyone’s face and body language; the way they shook with fear. But for me, the smell was sweet.
When I looked up three pairs of eyes stared down at me with so much intensity that it made Lucas’ feel like a joke.
But the only difference was their eyes didn’t glow gold like Lucas, it glowed bright red.
Alphas.
They were identical in height and build, dark hair pulled back.
Their eyes glowed with power and the marks on their neck gleamed with power.
The one at the middle wasn’t as big as the one on the right but he had this look of authority that told everyone he was the oldest.
The one on the left looked more timid than the rest but the way he stood showcased his intelligence.
I didn’t know who they were but with how every single wolf immediately bowed their heads and fell to their knees I figured they were powerful.
Everyone dropped to their knees except me.
Not because I didn’t fear them but because I couldn’t move my legs. I was still on the floor unable to lift even my arms.
“A-Alphas….to what do we, the outcasts owe this pleasure—”
The biggest among the alphas silenced Lucas with just the raise of his hand.
“You,” the middle one spoke. “What do they call you?”
“El….Elara.”
As they stepped forward to take a closer look at me, I felt it then–we all felt it.
A kind of pull, a connection.
I felt my bones sing underneath skin and ligaments.
The ache and need to be next to them tugged at my chest like a string.
They felt it too, the pull.
I gasped when I finally realized what it was, when I could taste their scent on my tongue.
The bond.
But unlike me they weren’t pleased to have that connection.
Instead they stared down at me like I was a stain on their robes.
One of them crouched down to my level and sneered.
“You will never stand beside us. You are not fit.”
- Writer
