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.

only heard of that from other 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

been bestowed the honor of presenting young maidens for the ritual." I glance at Rhea and she looks as

the hell does he mean by

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

at her in awe, completely amazed by her ability to lie through her teeth

an

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

poor little sister. They had been ignoring my achievements all the time. My stepmom always tried to prove Rhea is

know she's only making me look perfect in the eyes of the Lycan Beta so he can choose me and she'll finally get rid of me like she has always

knows this Concordat is no 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

two?" The Beta demands and my step mother

hair. She's my beautiful Ashanti." I nearly fall over when the Beta makes eye contact with me. I

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

direction. All the color drains

nervously. She turns to look at my father, but he kept his eyes on the Beta

and my eyes widen in shock. I snap my head to look in her

not mated

Yet!

quietly, giving her an intense look and she calmly nods her

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

things

lied to the Lycan Beta. That is an offense punishable

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