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, but that ritual stopped when their previous

maidens for the ritual." I glance at

does he

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 proud of." My stepmother praises me with a smile tha doesn't reach

completely amazed by her ability to

is an amazing

basically telling the truth except for

the 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

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

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

my

Ashanti." I nearly fall over when the Beta makes

when he looks away from me. His eyes

Rhea's direction. All

father, but

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

mated

Yet!

Beta asks quietly, giving her an intense look and

and he's my mate." The office is filled with gasps and murmurs from other elders who are aware of the fact

done so many daring things before, but this tops

That is an offense punishable by death if

stepmother turns from worried to relieved, and