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.

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

of presenting young maidens for the ritual." I glance

does he mean by

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

completely amazed by

an

Rhea grimacing and I feel all of this funny. She was basically

My stepmom always tried to prove Rhea is

only making me look perfect in the eyes of the Lycan Beta so he

other enemies from the Lycans. However, the chosen girl will be serving

Beta demands and my

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

quickly and I release my breath when he looks away from

direction. All the color drains from my

She turns to look at my father, but he kept his

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

not mated to

Yet!

Beta asks quietly, giving her an intense look and

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

daring things before, but this tops

just lied to the Lycan Beta. That is an offense punishable by death if she's

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