Chapter 2. Sacrificial Lamb

Miatta's POV

“Wake up, little one,” my mother beckoned, her sweet voice bringing me to awareness.

Immediately, I opened my eyes and saw her smiling down at me. Was it all a dream, I wondered. She shook her head in the negative, reading my thoughts.

We had lost the war after all. However, we were in my bedroom and there was no sign of the lycanthrope anywhere.

“We have to hurry, dear,” my mother said, tossing my clothes into a bag. “Delay is dangerous.”

I was confused and wanted some answers but my head felt like it was filled with wool. 

“What's going on, Mother? Why the haste? Are Father and my brothers safe?” 

“They are,” she answered, ignoring my other questions but I had not noticed at the time.

I was overjoyed that the other half of my family had returned safe and sound. I had feared for the worse.

She worked in silence, picking up things from my room and shoving them into a hide bag. Was I going somewhere?

Suddenly, the flap in front of my room moved aside and my father walked in, accompanied by a lycan. I withdrew instinctively, wondering what was going on. My mother stopped her packing and left the room silently, dropping my bag at my feet.

Just outside stood my two brothers heavily guarded by more lycans.

“Father, welcome,” I greeted, rising to my feet and bowing my head slightly in obeisance as was required of me.

He kissed me on the forehead, a tight smile on his lips. 

“May I have a word with my daughter?” he directed his question to the lycan who had come in with him.

The monster nodded once and gave us some privacy but he stood within earshot. My brothers joined us, entering my room with grim looks on their faces. 

“Sit,” Father gestured towards a tree trunk that served as a seat.

I reluctantly obeyed, noting that none of them sat down also. They hovered over me in awkward silence.

“Daughter,” he began, walking around me solemnly. “Do you know that you can put an end to this war, that you can put an end to our people's suffering?”

Me? That was my first thought when he brought up the topic. How could I save my people, little as I was? However, if there was such a way, I was ready to do whatever it took.

“How do you mean, Father? Tell me what I have to do and I will do it immediately,” I assured him valiantly, unaware of my fate.

He exchanged odd looks with my brothers and came to stand before me.

“Then it is settled then. You are to be given away to the Red Bone Pack as an alliance gift. The arrangements have been made and...”

“What?! You cannot be serious, Father!” I interrupted him loudly, forgetting my place.

Rising to my feet, my wolf was enraged by the injustice done against me. She rose to her haunches also, roaming restlessly. I was to be given away to the lycanthrope against my own will? 

“Silence, sister, before you say something you will regret!” Franco, my oldest brother warned, growling in his throat.

I couldn't believe they were going to stand by and watch my father send me into the arms of those monsters. I stared into their eyes, gauging their reactions but their minds had long been made up. They were on my father’s side.

“Do not silence me, brother! What have I done? Why me? Why did you decide to dictate my destiny, Father? Don't I have the right to choose anymore?”

Tears threatened to break through the boundary of my lashes and I held them off with all my might. Only cowards and wimps cried to get sympathy. I didn't want their sympathy; I wanted due justice.

“Sister,” my other brother, Valerian beckoned gently. He was a lot like my mother in character, soft-spoken and in love with nature. He took my hand and hugged me tightly. In my ears, he spoke softly:

“This is not Father's will and you know that.” He loosened his arms from around me and smiled. “You can end this war, sister. The Alpha of the lycanthrope has promised to withdraw his forces and leave us alone if we give you to him. It hurts us dearly, sister, but it is out of our hands now. You will be honoured for your bravery for ages to come and generations will tell your story.”

My wolf mellowed, listening to his calm words. It was up to me in the end. If I refused to go with the lycanthrope, they would wipe out the rest of our pack and if I agreed, I might never see my family again.

I weighed the pros and cons in my head, pacing my room. They stood aside, waiting for me to make up my mind. 

“Can I visit home occasionally?” I asked but sadly, I already knew my answer.

There was no way the Lycan Alpha would let me return home ever. I would belong to him, both soul and body forever till I faded away in death.

The tears I had been fighting back broke out freely, staining my cheeks shamefully. I would miss the love of my parents, my brothers and the safety of the pack but had no choice; my destiny had been decided long before time.

“Take me to him. I will do what I must to bring peace to our pack. I accept my fate,” I stated with a distant voice that wasn't mine.

My mother came in at that time, tears clouding her eyes. She hugged me warmly and kissed me on both cheeks.

“I'm sorry, dearest. I tried everything to change it- your destiny- but it isn't in my power. It is the Moon Goddess that decides and it is for us to follow her will blindly. I can only pray that you find your way in this life. Remember, my girl, to be as cunning as a serpent and wise as a dove. You are being sent to them for a reason, my girl. Find that and your path will become clear.” 

She kissed me again on the forehead this time and stepped aside to allow my father to come forward. He led me outside to the courtyard where a mountain of a man stood in his majesty.

His back was covered with scars and ugly wounds and his skin looked as tough as leather. When he turned toward me, I almost fainted with fear. Dark fur stained with blood trailed down his chest and his shoulders were as thick as tree trunks.

He lowered his bloodshot eyes at me and snorted like the animal that he was.

“We depart immediately!” he commanded in a deep growl and his army fell behind him.

I was shackled both hands and feet and pushed along behind the warriors. I sucked up my tears and fell in line as well. My glance behind me was the last I saw of my pack.