CHAPTER 4

Amelia was drained after a particularly long day. She had spent time trying to keep the Alpha happy. She harmed the pack even on the times when they had made it clear they they had only the intention of torturing her.

She was entirely exhausted, and she had only managed to finish all of her chores by the time it was 11 p.m. that night. She couldn't wait to retire to her cell. It wasn't a room, but for her, it was still better than nothing.

She hated the fact that she had to live this way in her own home, but she also felt that there was nothing that she could have done about it.

She was just about to fall asleep when she heard a loud banging against her foot. She ignored it at first, as she had thought that it was nothing more than her imagination. But soon enough, that changed when the banging became more annoying.

She got up ever so slowly as she stood up to her feet. She made her way to the door grudgingly before making her way over to it. She let out a sigh from her lips before she noticed that it was Salem. She looked towards him with a dismay in her expression.

"The alpha wished to see you." He said that to her, and with that, he turned around and left. Hsr was left completely confused, as she didn't entirely understand what it was that was going on.

She decided not to think too much about it. She told herself it was nothing serious as she allowed him to lead her to the stairs and began to make her way up the set of them. She let out a sigh from her lips at the very thought as she began to head to the top floor, where her Alpha was. She felt a sense of fear come over her as she took a moment to compose herself.

She knew that it wasn't going to end well, as he never called her unless he wanted something from her. She knocked on the door once and froze on her spot before she heard him clear his throat as though he was encouraging her to make her way in.

She sucked in a deep breath as she stood awkwardly in the corner of the room. He looked up at her slowly with slight irritation before ushering her to sit down in the seat before him. She let out a sigh from her lips before rushing over to sit down in the chair.

"Uhmm… you called for me, Alpha." She said to him unsurely, and he only hummed at her in response but didn't say anything else to her at that moment.

"Well, the Alpha of the North is coming in a few days". He said to her, "Dimpled." She was quiet, and she looked towards him as though she were simply waiting for the moment for him to give her further explanation.

"And despite my reserve about the matter, he had insisted on the fact that he was going to want to meet each and every one of the maidens. And also to my own ill content, they have now come to include you." He said to her.

She never truly understood the reason why he hated her. Maybe it had to do with the fact that he blamed her solely for the passing of her mother, or maybe it had something to do with the fact that she had never developed her earthly powers in the way that the others in the pack had. She didn't care how much or how hard he tried to blame her for that; they both knew it was not her fault, for they had no more control over it than the moon had control over the sun.

"So I will need you to appear presentable before them. I don't want these to be any sign of the fact that you are disgruntled or in any kind of pain. I had you move into the upper bedrooms until the time passed. After that, you will then return to your quarters and continue on with your speech." He said to her.

She kept her head down as she remained quiet but said little to him in response. "You may go," he said to her, and she rushed to her feet. The last thing that she wanted was to upset him any further.

And so the day went by in a whirlwind as she was moved into a place that was foreign to her. She was taken to a new room that was reserved for any Alpha's daughter, and although she knew that it was only a fairytale that was bound to end soon. She would tie on that gown.

She was woken up early the next morning by a loud knock on the door. She let out a groan as she made her way slowly to her feat. She looked around the room as a feeling of unease crept over her. She let out a sigh from her lips, and she pulled the door open and found one of the higher pnegas atandi mg there.

She was shifting between her feet as the maid appeared to be uncomfortable at the moment. "I would like to help you get dressed. All the other maidens are ready," he told her. Amelia was uncomfortable with the thought of someone helping her out, but she knew that she didn't want to make it any more awkward. There was no point in her causing any further uncertainty than was necessary.

"I have picked a pale blue dress for you, and it is so that it can complement your eye." She said to her, and Amleia took a look at the soft blue lace dress. She put it between her fingers, taking in the soft texture of it.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of, "Thank you, it is beautiful." She managed to say something, and she watched as the girl hummed a tune in response.

That was the most that they said to each other, and before they could say anything else, they rushed to get her dressed. There was a silence that fell over her as the slight humming that filled the room seemed to keep her company. She felt like a true woman experiencing the proper pampering.

After a moment, she pulled away, and Ameila was able to look at herself in the mirror. "You look beautiful, she heard the maid say. They were pulled out of their thoughts when they heard the sound of a sharp knock at the door. They let out a sigh as Amelia stood to her feet.

"Come in; you must go before you are late." She said as she nodded her head at her. "Thank you." The maid brushed her off as they made their way out of the room together. The ceremony was held on the training ground, where a large tent had been set up for the entire pack. She had heard the Alpha of the North was coming with his own entourage, but aside from that, she knew a lot about him.

She made her way towards the tent, where she could hear music playing, and she noticed the other girls standing in a row in the middle. They were displayed like pieces of art, and she fell short in comparison. She came to stand beside the last girl, keeping her head forward as she tried to ignore the look of disgust from the other pack members.

She tensed as she heard a trumpet being blown before the curtains in the back were pulled open, and she smelled the most intoxicating scent of fresh oak wood and soil. Her body tensed as realization hit her.

To further seal her fate, she heard a loud crowd.

"Mate."