Page 2 of The Wolf Moon

“Maybe I’ve changed my mind,” He muttered unhappily. I looked at him carefully, having already guessed what was bothering him.

January was the month of the Wolf Moon. Every year the human villages were required to give up a sacrifice to the lycans for the hunt. Our particular village was one of the largest of the human habitats, so the chance of being sacrificed seemed slim. It was more likely to be killed at random by a wandering werewolf when hunting as I tended to do. At least until last year when one of Greg’s best friends was selected.

The entire process was eerie. The King Alpha of the lycans issued the requirements of the sacrifice each year, sometimes demanding young adult men or the elderly. Last year included children between the age of 5 to 10 years old. I had never felt such raw fear as then, and so this year I could understand Greg’s discomfort.

The King Alpha demanded young female virgins between 13-18. I was snuggled in the center of the requirement. It wasn’t as if I announced I was a virgin. In fact, I considered lying, but those trying to evade the process would risk the life of everyone they knew if they were caught. So I admitted my potential and now waited for appointed lycans that would arrive to each village on the day of the Wolf Moon. That day happened to be today.

“I’ll be fine,” I told Greg, reaching to mess up his hair before pausing. Blood still dirtied my hand from the deer. Instead, I bumped into him teasingly. “Come on. If Dad is calling for me, that means the lycans are here.”

When I walked into the house, it was into a world of chaos. My mother was hysterical with panic, similar to last year when she had to present Greg to the wolves. I could still hear her cry of sheer relief and terror when he came back untouched but in tears.

“Milena, where were you?!” She screeched in fear. I dropped the deer in bewilderment. My close family were all buzzing around the room in equal panic. My aunt immediately began to pull off my clothes while my cousin simultaneously began tugging the presentation dress over my head.

“There’s no time for a bath, darling. The other potentials are already there.” My aunt cooed to me as soothingly as possible, picking at the remains of the woods in my wild hair. My initial shock was turning into real fear.

“I’m late?” I asked.

“We sent Greg for you hours ago.” My cousin stressed with anxiety. I stepped into the shoes placed in front of me, but it did me no good. I looked wrecked. A glance around revealed a guilty-appearing Greg who no doubt had tried to postpone my return to avoid having to present me. My mother was beside herself now that I was here, wailing with fear. My father was comforting her the best he could, but he looked terrified himself.

“There’s just no time, Milena. Go on. Get there as fast as your feet will take you,” My aunt instructed me, her voice strained. Before I could turn to obey, she grasped my face in her hands quickly. “Step lightly, my child.”

“Remain unseen,” I breathed, repeating what had been lectured to me since the requirements had been announce. She released me and I immediately ran back into the cold air of the January morning.

My feet were less certain as I raced to the presentation. The sky was suddenly too bright and everyone was waking. People I both knew and didn’t know were looking through windows and standing in doorways, watching as I ran past. I felt my feet were heavy, not light. I felt extremely on display; seen by all. My stomach was tight from dread.

I approached the Center Hall; the town house where the presentation was held every year. There was not a sound nearby besides my breathless gasps as I reached for the door. I hesitated, taking a moment to collect my breath before straightening my shoulders and opening the door.

“Finally!” The village leader John declared as he saw me enter the lobby. He immediately grasped my arm, tugging me almost roughly towards a side door. “You’re late and they’re extremely impatient… people.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized sincerely, trying not to panic as I was led into the presentation room. A line of girls similar to my age were standing, each with an expression of fear as we entered. Most were relieved when they saw it was just me, but many others seemed to be stuck in that constant terrorized state.

“Stand with them. I’ll be right back,” John announced, leaving me with the rest swiftly. I quickly shuffled to the end of the line, glancing at the others despite not wanting to. I didn’t want to see the face of the one chosen. I would be haunted enough as is.

However, as I stood waiting, I noticed that each girl was cleaned spotless. Their hair was styled meticulously. Their presentation outfits were without a wrinkle, stain, or tear. Their skin was untouched by the outside world, if only for the moment. I hesitated and looked down at myself.

My hair was untamed and still held evidence of my hunt and the woods. My dress was tattered from the run here. My hands were tainted by the blood of my game. Much of the blood remained along the back of my legs from dragging the corpse. I smelled of the trees, wildlife, and nature in general. I stuck out horribly.

Step lightly. Remain unseen.

I swallowed loudly and nearly felt nauseated when the door opened again loudly. The others whimpered beside me, just as terrified to be there as anyone else. I stared at the two forms that followed behind the village leader, never having laid eyes on the deity shapeshifters before. My fear was overwhelming, but at the same time, I was horribly curious and dazed at being before such creatures.

One stood off to the side, obvious respect radiating towards the other as he allowed him to take lead. The leading lycan was a looming figure, powerful in just his existence. I felt I could look at him for hours and not be able to take in more than a couple of his features. His appearance was that shocking.

He was radiating energy as he stepped in front of us without actually looking at us. His hair was either light brown or dark blonde and was short, but otherwise uncared for. He was horribly scarred on every part of him that I could see bared which wasn’t much. His face held marks of animal attacks, claws and teeth alike, but despite the apparent scars he was striking and god-like.

“My name is King Alpha Roman Stone,” He announced sharply, his voice a growl of distaste as he addressed us with a glance over us as a whole; as though he couldn’t actually see the potential victims. I would have been stunned by his introduction, after all the King Alpha was considered the highest on the lycan rulership and in the same way the highest ruler over the human cattle, but my current level of panic was too high to surpass any further. I felt downright numb.

“As you know, I’m here to select the sacrifice. Every village offers one to each pack and you will be selected for the Trinity pack,” The King Alpha stopped momentarily before announcing what he deemed obvious, “My pack.”

He turned to glance at John.

“This is all of them, right? Or should we just spend some time picking off members of your community until you’re ready?” His tone was so dark and nasty enough as it was, but the idea that my tardiness could have caused horrible consequences made me redden deeply with shame.

“This is everyone,” John assured, “I apologize profusely, King Alpha. You can… you can take two if you must.”

“I can take all of them if I must,” The King Alpha snarled back dangerously, causing many of the girls to gasp with terror. He turned back to us, towering and horrifying, but seemed to calm back to boredom just as quickly. “One will do. Let’s start.”

The King Alpha took a step forward, finally doing more than glancing over each of us. I considered taking the time to wipe the blood from my hand onto my dress, but then feared staining the fabric even further. Instead, I tightened my hands into fist firmly, looking down at the ground in front of me with anxiety.

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