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.

pick out girls

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

does he mean

and takes first position in her class every academic year. She has won

at her in awe, completely amazed by her

an

this funny. She was basically telling the truth except for

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 though all the

of the Lycan Beta so he can

Rogues and other enemies from the Lycans. However, the chosen girl will be serving the men in Lunar Crescent

two?" The Beta demands and my step mother

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

murmurs quickly and I release my breath when he looks away from me.

Rhea's direction. All the color drains from my stepmothers

turns to look at my father, but

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

mated to

Yet!

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

walks out of my body. "His name is Conrad and he's my mate." The office is filled with gasps

many daring things before, but this

Beta. That is an offense punishable by death

to Conrad 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, she's congratulating Rhea for coming up with such