Chapter 5 ELIZA

Even when they don't shift, werewolves still move fast. So, it was not a surprise when I saw that everyone had already arrived and was already seated in the huge assembly hall the moment I arrived.

'Everyone is in high spirits,' I immediately thought as I stole a glance inside the hall. Although everyone was keeping order, most of the students, and even the professors, were sporting bright smiles and excited eyes.

However, instead of talking about the king's aide, most of them were talking about the young alpha.

'I guess... the young alpha is really here,' I thought, feeling worried.

The higher their rank is, the more despise they show towards me and my mother.

I was afraid...

Afraid that the young alpha would also end up like Angelica and cause me immense pain.

'No, it will be okay...' I tried to convince myself.

'Even if he ends up like Angelica... it will be okay.'

'As long as they don't hurt mom,' I thought as I clenched my fist tight.

"Settle down. We will begin in five minutes," suddenly, I heard a stern order in my mind, startling me out from my thoughts.

'That's the gamma's voice,' I thought as sweat started to appear on my forehead.

Our alpha, beta and gamma had the power to issue an order through a mind-link. Immediately, the entire hall quieting down.

'I should also sit down,' I thought before finding an empty seat at the most hidden corner of the hall.

Unfortunately, the moment I sat, the guy who was sitting in front of me gave me a hard glare before mouthing, 'Get out of that seat before I kill you.' And as if he was not satisfied with the threat, he started pouring his aura towards me.

Immediately, I felt an invisible force weighing down my body.

It was not as strong as Angelica's aura. However, I still felt as if my skin was being torn and my bones slowly being crushed.

I gasped in pain before stumbling out of the seat.

"Get the f*ck away from me, trash," the guy said before looking away.

I could only stare at his back before looking down. And, with difficulty, I walked several meters away from him before finding another secluded seat.

However, as I attempted to sit down, the guy who was sitting on the next seat roughly pushed me on my arm, making me stumble on the ground.

"Ah," I could not help but mutter a groan as I felt the pain from my arm.

The werewolves were inherently strong creatures. That one push managed to dislocate my arm.

More than that, my stumble has caught the attention of many werewolves, including the gamma who was standing in the center of the stage.

Dangerous!

My mind warned as my body immediately ducked down. I had no choice but to hide.

Gamma Lenor was as powerful as he was cruel. There were many times in the past when he threatened my life and the life of my mother.

'No... If I'm not careful... what happened in the past might happen again...' I trembled as I glanced on my legs that was almost made worthless by him.

I was very aware, one attack from him could take my life or render my body useless.

Against my better judgment, I shivered in fear as I sat on the ground, at the dark and hidden spot of the hall, beside the garbage can.

Of course, my action was seen by the crowd, and most of them started sneering and laughing at me.

"Oh my gosh... Look at that. She went to the trash area!"

"At least she knows where her place is. We don't need to tell her where she belongs."

"How cowardly. The gamma didn't even do anything and she's hiding like a mouse in the corner."

The crowd openly talked and despised me.

But what could I do?

In the room full of werewolves, I was the only human.

Against them, I was not capable of protecting myself.

Against them, I could only lower my head and bow in submission.

Because in my life, the only thing I could do was to struggle and survive...

For the sake of my sick mother...

And in hope of seeing my missing father...

I could only accept being battered and humiliated... and be thankful that I even survived.

Thus, in the dark hidden corner, I could only hide to protect myself from further being harmed.

'I don't usually cry...' I thought as I gaze at the bright stage in the center of the assembly.

'But why is it today... I'm feeling so emotional,' I thought as a single tear fell from my eye.

Suddenly, a tall, middle-aged man with black hair and black eyes appeared in the center of the stage. Immediately, the surroundings became so quiet you could hear a needle drop.

The man, who looked very powerful and intimidating, scanned the crowd with his hawk eyes. And everyone, including the alpha and the gamma of our pack, stayed still, and allowed him to disrespectfully look at them.

At that moment, there was no question as to the identity of that man.

Lord Keifer, the Alpha King's Aide and the honored guest of the university.

"I'm not here to meet and greet all of you," he spoke quietly but each and every one of us heard him.

"I'm also not here to be welcome by you all," he coldly added as he continued scanning the crowd. When his eyes got into our side of the hall, I felt as if his eyes stopped and stared in my direction.

"I am the King's Aide. I am here by the Lord's bidding," Lord Keifer added, and I felt as if he was directly talking to me.

"And the Lord's wish... is to proceed with the last trial for the succession to the throne of the Alpha King."

"Henceforth, all the candidates to the werewolf throne would return to their respective packs and compete with each other with different tasks."

"The Alpha King will closely observe them. And in the end, he would choose one of them as his heir to the throne," Lord Keifer stated as everyone held their breaths.

Even I, who was suffering from the pain of my arm, had my heart beating faster as I listened to the important announcement.

"So then, everyone welcome...

...Lord Neo Karalius, one of the successors to the Alpha King's throne," he said.

Then, suddenly, the air in the hall stagnated. Slowly, a powerful presence was felt, before a tall figure appeared beside the King's Aide.