Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"Moon goddess, please help me this once," I prayed silently, and just then, the door was opened. I looked up to see three Omegas walking in with plates of food and anger on their faces.

"You better shift today after all these good treatments." One of them scoffed as they dropped the plate for me, walking away hastily as if I would kill them if they stayed any longer.

I could only sigh.

*******

NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON...

I was sitting on a chair in the square with my head positioned to enable me to see the moon clearly.

A crowd was around me. The Alpha and Nana were also sitting on the upper ground beside me, watching me. The sounds of drums and sparkles of fire were also illuminating the whole place.

Every single werewolf in the pack above the age of 18 was all looking at me in anticipation.

I saw as the moon finally turned full round, and at that moment, all drums seized, leaving everywhere dead silent.

My heart began to hammer so hard and loudly inside my chest that I was sure anyone close to me would hear it clearly. Panic coursed through my body like electricity, and I was shaking so hard.

Tears began to brim in my eyes as I watched myself feeling nothing.

"Moon goddess, please, please, please" I kept begging and praying, but it all seemed like I was talking to myself. I don't know how long I sat there, but it all dawned on me when the moon began to get covered inside the cloud, causing an uproar from the crowd.

I had failed to shift. Not even a voice from a wolf inside me. Is it over already? My nightmare was becoming reality!

"No..." I began to cry sadly as I saw the disappointment on everyone's faces, especially my father.

He stood up from his throne and my heart seized, forcing me to gulp and gasp for air. I could vividly remember that he promised to show me hell if I failed.

Is this a dream or what?

Why didn't I shift?

Am I not born of two werewolf parents?

"Now we all know she is not worthy to be the heir. She is a disappointment." The Alpha's voice rang in my head, and I could only bow my head in agony.

"But, some days ago, we had speculation that the Lycan prince liked her. When he came to visit, he not only fixed his gaze on her but also asked me not to punish her. It would be a blessing to us if the Lycan prince marked her as his mate, isn't it?" I was shocked to hear this, as hope began to seep inside me.

"Yes!!! We will become the most powerful among other packs!" The crowd chanted.

"So I planned not to punish her, but give her all she needed to get the heart of the prince." My father concluded, and I didn't know when I jumped up from the chair, squealing in excitement and gasping as my heart thumped in glee.

I felt so much happiness as it was clear my dreams were coming true. My days of pain and misery were actually coming to an end. He simply stated that he would provide me with everything I required to win Jaden's love. Even when it didn't seem so easy, I believed there was a connection between us.

"Everything was a lie!" A voice echoed from the crowd, and everywhere went silent again as all eyes traced the direction of the voice.

My blood ran cold as I saw the Pack witch walking in. I only knew she was a witch with her dress, but hadn't met her before. Now I don't understand what she meant by her statement, yet I felt trouble looming.

My eyes flashed towards Nana, and she was all calm and undisturbed.

"Ariana, can we know what you meant?" The Alpha questioned her as she finally got to the upper floor. She bowed to the alpha.

"I am sorry, but I can't stay quiet and see the Alpha being deceived by this small girl." I cringed as the witch announced it, wondering what was going on. I am literally shaking now, praying my happiness won't be snatched away..

"Huh? Really? What did she do? Tell me!" The Alpha shot, curiously.

"I didn't know she was going to use it on the Lycan prince, and her pay was good. That was why I gave her the love charm." The witch spoke out loud to everyone, leaving me more scared at the accusation.

"You mean it was all charm all this time and there wasn't a true love connection? Ava charmed this Lycan prince???" My father, Sean, roared in extreme rage and disappointment.

"Yes, my Alpha. I am sorry for giving her the charm. As I heard you mention this about the prince, I couldn't hold myself from spilling it out, even when she begged me to keep it a secret." Ariana went on with lies without even glancing at me.

She was destroying me to the very last.

"It is all lies!!" I burst out, but the crowd was already in uproar from being deceived, not to mention my father, who was boiling in rage. His bloodshot eyes burned with rage and abhorrence.

"I will be leaving to attend to something, Alpha." She concluded and bowed before taking her leave.

"Who are you? Who paid you to do this to me? Why did you do this to me? I never wronged you for any day." I screeched at her, tears flowing like rivers down my cheeks, but the woman didn't spare me a glance as she made her way through the crowd.

I felt so devastated, shattered, broken, empty and destroyed. My bones couldn't even hold me up again as I crashed on the ground.

"I can't believe she deceived me and everyone!" My father thundered, his powerful Alpha voice reverberating through every corner.

"Alpha, she hurt me by doing that. Who knows if the Lycan could have liked me instead? Her charm must have covered his eyes. Remember, he praised my cooking skills after eating that toast bread and fried egg I cooked and served him." Nana chipped in with those whining tones.

"You are right. I was wrong to think this curse had any importance." The Alpha spat in irritation. I can't call him my father anymore because I think that hope is gone already.

"Please, I want her to pay for it by being my slave. Please, Alpha, I haven't begged for anything from you personally. I wish so much that you fulfill this request of mine." Nana knelt before him and made that cruel request.

She wants me to become her official slave with the mark of slavery at the side of my neck. That mark would make any man find me attractive. Even my mate would reject me in the future if he ever see that mark.

How cruel can my world be?

"You don't have to kneel. Ava did an abomination." The Alpha growled, and not even the crowd could pity me as they all agreed with Nana.

"She deserves to be her slave!! Mark her as a slave!" They were all screaming.

"Get her here and bring the slavery dagger." The Alpha commanded and I couldn't hold it any longer as I slumped and lost consciousness with tears streaming down my cheeks freely.

Death should take me away, please.