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.

go to various packs to pick out girls for their Harem,

been bestowed the honor of presenting young maidens for the ritual." I glance at

the hell does he mean

What I mean is, she always has very high grades in school and takes first position in her class every academic year. She

by her ability to lie through

is an amazing

and I feel all of this funny. She was basically telling the truth except

truth already hurts my poor little sister. They had been ignoring my achievements all the time. My stepmom always tried to prove Rhea is the smarter one through her own fabricated narratives even though all the facts prove

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

honourable Ritual even though people are too afraid to admit it. When a girl is picked from a pack, the pack receives a fortune and protection from Rogues and other enemies from the Lycans. However, the chosen girl will be serving the men in Lunar Crescent Pack and we all know what that means. Any girl who refuses to go with the Lycans will bring a

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

over when the Beta makes eye contact with me. I feel like my organs are falling from

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

in Rhea's direction. All the color drains from my

at my father, but he kept his

already." Rhea blurts out and my eyes widen in shock. I snap my head to look in her direction and the serious look she's wearing

not mated to

Yet!

asks quietly, giving her an

and he's my mate." The office is filled with gasps and

daring things

lied to the Lycan Beta. That is

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 brilliant plan under such high