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.

older members of 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 ritual stopped when their previous Alpha, the father of their present

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

hell does he mean

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 proud of." My stepmother praises

amazed by her ability to lie through her

an

I feel all of this funny. She was basically telling

the time. My stepmom always tried to prove Rhea is the smarter one through her own fabricated narratives even though all the facts

perfect in the eyes of the Lycan Beta so he

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

Beta demands and my step mother quickly stretches her

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

murmurs quickly and I release my breath when he looks

He nods in Rhea's direction. All the color

to look at my father, but he kept his eyes on the Beta and mouth

blurts out and my eyes widen in shock. I snap my head to look in her direction and the

not mated

Yet!

you?" The Beta asks quietly, giving her an intense look and she calmly

body. "His name is Conrad and he's my mate." The office is filled with gasps and murmurs from other elders who are

many daring things before, but this tops it

Lycan Beta. That is an offense punishable

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,