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.

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 Alpha, died. Everyone

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

the hell does he mean by

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

staring at her in awe, completely amazed by her

an amazing

was basically telling the truth except

had been ignoring my achievements all the time. My stepmom always tried to

she's only making me look perfect in the eyes of the Lycan Beta so he can choose me

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

demands and my step mother quickly

Ashanti." I nearly fall over when the Beta makes eye contact with me. I feel like my organs are

when he looks away from me.

in Rhea's direction. All the

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

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

not mated

Yet!

an

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

so many daring things before,

Beta. That is an offense punishable by death if she's

eyes. The expression on my stepmother turns from worried to relieved, and it becomes proud. I'm sure in her heart, she's