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.

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 ritual stopped when their previous Alpha, the father of their present Alpha, died. Everyone

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

hell does he mean

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 her class every academic year. She has won many academic awards and competitions Everyone in our pack knows she's a brain box and for her fighting skills... oh, they are impeccable. She's so strong and brave! She is a daughter I am very

completely amazed by her ability to lie through her teeth so

is an

see Rhea grimacing and I feel all of this funny. She was basically telling the truth except for the last part that she was

truth already hurts my poor little sister. They had been ignoring my achievements all the time. My stepmom always tried to

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

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

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

I nearly fall over when the Beta makes eye

release my breath when he looks away from me. His eyes stop on

her?" He nods in Rhea's direction. All the

to look at my father,

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

not mated to

Yet!

you?" The Beta asks quietly, giving her an

My soul walks out of my body. "His name is Conrad and he's my mate." The office is filled with gasps and murmurs from other elders who are aware of the fact that I'm the one who's in a relationship

done so many daring things before, but this

Lycan Beta. That is an offense punishable by death

travels over to Conrad and for a 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 brilliant