"Wow, I didn't think he'd be this handsome!"

My first reaction to seeing Luke was covered in amazement and awe. How could this supposed monster be so attractive; that too, to a human who's only heard horrifying tales of his clan— a clan of werewolves that have been ravaging our world for centuries! Well, none of that mattered anyway because I was chosen by the Midnight Pack to audition for the role of his slave. Me— a helpless sixteen year old girl living with a simple family who would never dare to challenge the authority of this dangerous pack of monsters unless they wanted to be served as appetizers in their fancy parties. My mother snatched his picture away from my hands with disgust.

"How could you even say that Lydia?" she asked me with worried eyes. "These animals will use you for their filthy pleasures; don't you remember what they did to Suzie?"

"I know mom, I'm sorry. I just didn't think he'd look like this, you know? I was imaging some rough hairy giant with yellow eyes or something" I replied.

I had realized my insensitivity to my family's past. Of course, my mother was right. Luke's community was known to always mistreat humans. They looked upon us as the inferior species to be exploited by their ‘superior' genes. My older sister Suzie was one such victim to their cruel ways. I missed her a lot; she didn't deserve to die the way that creature ripped her apart just because his new mate thought it would be fun.

"These sick freaks and their traditions; I hope you don't get chosen for slaughter once that dog finds his bitch" she said with a trembling voice anticipating the worst out of this invitation.

"Don't go for it!" my father interrupts with a hopeful realization. "We'll figure out something to tell them. "We'll tell them you ran away with your boyfriend! Yes! They'll believe that!" he grinned.

As much as I was scared to go for this ritual, I also knew that if I refused, they would kill my family. I'd rather be raped every day of my life than have their blood on my hands.

"Dad, we know that's not going to work. Just look outside and see it yourself."

I raised my hand and pointed toward our little window. He and mom both looked back through the window to find a mysterious figure lurking around the shadows of our streets. It looked massive and I could see shiny yellow eyes from its canine face just like I'd imagined Luke to have.

Dad started freaking out and muttered, "What? Why do they have that thing roaming around our house? They almost never visit our side of town!"

Mom chimed in by saying, "They'd want to keep a close watch on their precious little virgin; make sure she doesn't wander off anywhere."

Dad exclaimed in an agitated tone, "Those bastards! They got nothing better to do than treat us like their pets!"

My inquisitive little self asked with innocence, "But mom, dad— why is it this way? Why does the Midnight Pack hate humans so much?"

"Oh, my little baby, you have no idea! This has been going on for longer than any of us can remember. Our town is the worlds' best kept secret."

"It's true! They've managed to keep this place hidden from the rest of the world for so long. We're on a large island so that does make it easier but it's still noteworthy for them. These creatures exist all over the world too; they work for big companies under their human costumes and bring back the wealth here so that they can enjoy their niceties in their big stuffy mansions. I fucking hate them!"

"Jonathan! Watch the language!"

Mom spoke with a bit of moralistic shock, reminding dad that he was cussing in front of his virginal daughter.

"I don't care Lisa! Our daughter is going to get violated by those vile disgusting monsters and there's nothing we can do about it! Even if we tried to resist, they'd just kill us and take her anyway. Look at us— a bunch of sheep!"

I didn't know whether to laugh at the genius of my father's taunting of the situation, given that we were all dressed in dirty white clothes and were being watched over by a werewolf; or cry at the inevitable fate that I had to meet and they had to watch. I tried to cheer him up with some optimistic thinking.

"Come on dad, it can't be all that bad. He might not like me if I'm not dressed properly."

"It won't matter Lydia; they strip you naked and ‘test' you out before they make their decisions. They might even kill you if you're below par for their standards. Suzie used to tell us all about it in her letters" he stuttered while fighting back tears. "You know, sometimes I wish I could turn into one myself; I'd kill their leader and rule over their kingdom. I could save so many lives."

Dad couldn't hold his feelings back anymore and he burst out crying. Mom tried to calm him down but it was all in vain.

"John, please!" she urged him, "Not in front of Lydia."

"Why did they have to choose her?" he asked mom with teary eyes and shaky breaths, "There are so many women to choose from around here; why her?"

It pained me to see the impact of this ‘invitation' already on my parents. I didn't want to see them like this but I guess this was true slavery— to the destinies we never asked for. I had a look at the simple piece of paper that literally spoke out this truth on simpler terms. I decided to read the words underneath the promise of Luke's handsome portrait.

"Jonathan and Lisa Muybridge

You are hereby intimated about the inauguration of Lucas Kane as the new alpha of the Midnight Pack. As you are familiar with our sacred ritual given that your first daughter had already participated in the previous inauguration, we require you to send your daughter— Lydia Muybridge to our ancestral home for the ceremony. She will be competing against 9 others who have been given the same opportunity. You need not worry about transportation; we will be sending a vehicle to pick her up at eight o' clock. You are instructed to have her ready by then as we will not wait for a moment longer— this is a special moment for our noble clan. We expect your full cooperation and nothing less!"

I thought out loud as I had a look at our barely functional wall clock.

"Mom, dad— they said they're sending a car for me at eight. The time is 7:59!"

Dad's breathing got heavier and he manically said, ‘No, this can't be. This can't be!"

Mom started crying too and let me know her pain by telling me, "Lydia, baby I just want you to know that we will always love you no matter what! You deserve a better life!"

To be honest, I didn't feel as sad or depressed as my parents— I'd already resigned myself to what was going to happen and it started happening right as I put down the page on our dining table. We could hear a car pulling up in front of the house. It was followed by a stern knock followed by a couple of doorbells. My parents just kept crying.

"I can't do this Lisa!"

"Neither can I John!"

Surely enough, the door was pushed open with just the slightest punch from a tall bulky man in a black suit; he looked closer to what I had imagined Luke to look like. There was a fancy black car waiting for me behind him and he let us know his intentions.

"Lydia Muybridge— in the car, now!" he ordered in a stern and ferocious voice.

There was no point worrying about it anymore; it was time to see what the pack had in store for me. I walked past my parents as they buried their heads in sorrow on the table and I entered the car.