The Lycan King’s Second Chance Mate by Sumi

ASHANTI'S POV.

Eerie, pin-dropping silence has been the state of this office ever since Rhea, Conrad and I walked in and greeted the Beta of the Lunar Crescent Pack.

Everyone is well-behaved, including my stepmom who never knows when to shut up. Even my father doesn't have the right to say a word unless permitted by the Lycan Beta. Everyone acts respectfully in the presence of him and the other Lycan soldiers he came along with.

The tension in this room is suffocating.

"Alpha Anderson." The Beta's thunderous voice sounds throughout the room and everyone looks at him. My heart starts beating fast.

"Yes, Beta Ronald." Father bows to him and I cringe.

It feels weird to see my father acting like a subordinate and not a leader to a Beta.

"Is everyone who's supposed to be part of this meeting, present?" His voice is calm, but carries so much power and authority.

If the Lycan Beta makes me tremble as such, I'm surely going to faint the day I'll meet face to face with their Alpha.

I hope that day never comes.

"Yes, Beta. We are all present." Father replies humbly.

"Good. I'm going to go straight into introducing the purpose of my visit." He looks around with searching eyes. I keep making sure my eyes never meet with his. "I am here to enforce the Concordat Ritual." He announces and my mind goes into a frenzy.

The Concordat Ritual.

our pack who said that in the past, every few years, Lycans would go to various packs to pick out girls for their Harem, but that

maidens for the ritual." I glance at Rhea and she looks as horrified as I

the hell does he mean

stepmom suddenly speaks up, startling me "we will be willing to offer you our eldest daughter, Ashanti. She will be the perfect candidate because she is an intellectual and a very brave fighter. What I mean is, she always has very high grades in school and takes first position in

amazed by her ability to lie

is an

all of this funny. She was basically telling the truth except for the last part that she was

the time. My stepmom always tried to prove Rhea is the

perfect in the eyes of the Lycan Beta so he can choose me and she'll finally get rid of

other enemies from the Lycans. However, the

between these two?" The Beta demands and my step mother quickly

fall over when the Beta makes eye contact with me. I feel like my

quickly and I release my breath when he looks away from me. His eyes stop

He nods in Rhea's direction.

father, but he kept his

I snap my head to look in her direction and the serious look she's wearing ignites

not mated to

Yet!

her an intense look and she calmly nods

I have. The guy sitting over there." She points over to Conrad. My soul walks out of my body. "His name is Conrad and he's my mate." The office is filled

done so many daring things

Lycan Beta. That is an offense punishable

millisecond, I see a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. The expression on my stepmother turns from worried to relieved, and it becomes proud. I'm sure in her heart, she's congratulating Rhea for coming up with such a