7: Chosen by the pack men.

Aife pov

Soon after the conversation, Erin and Abigail returned with more women in tow. It felt a little weird to have them all give me so much attention.

Each of them had questions about my pack, family and what had happened. I tried to be as open and thankful as I could when I answered them, but kept out some details on purpose.

Like the part about the table and men, stripping me naked. I didn’t want anyone to know that.

A part of me knew they would find it out from some of those men eventually, but I hoped they would understand why I didn’t speak about it.

As the conversation progressed, I learned a little more about the Crimson Moon.

I had heard awful rumors about the pack no one believed existed. They were hidden somewhere, left their territory only to attack and slaughter, but I had hoped it was nothing but a way to scare children. A terrible tale.

Sadly, that part about them was true.

However, what truly surprised me was what they did after the attacks. The women claimed men brought home multiple girls every time they destroyed packs - like some trophies.

Neither agreed to explain why they stole women, just laid out the system they lived by. As Abigail put it in - the lucky ones were chosen by the pack men.

The reason why no women were to be seen around the main building while I was there was because the chosen ones lived with their partners in separate houses and the workers were there in early morning or late evening hours. Some were there to cook lunch, but they weren’t allowed to leave the kitchen.

“So, how do they decide which one to keep and which one to toss away then? I’m sorry, but I’m struggling to wrap my mind around the ruling logic. Why kidnap some just to turn them into servants and deem them as unfit later?” I finally started asking questions.

Claudia offered me a smile of pity. She didn’t look like someone who was sad for my situation, rather sad for my lack of understanding and intelligence in this particular situation.

“Darling, we don’t know how they choose. All we know is the same as you, we were once ripped away from everything we knew. Some of our sisters and friends were taken as mates of the warriors and the rest of us, well, they saw flaws I suppose,” she chuckled at her last statement.

I raised an eyebrow and let my eyes scan the faces of the women surrounding me. Claudia appeared to be a little older than the rest, but her beautiful brown eyes and curly blonde hair made her look like a Goddess. She didn’t lack in the looks department. In fact, neither of them did.

Erin was a young, bubbly, red-haired ball of energy. Abigail, opposite of her, was a very calm, yet passionate brunette with the most captivating green eyes I had ever seen.

Then, there was Mary and Sally - breathtaking twins. Long, dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Next to them stood Kate, almost a copy of Erin, except the hair color.

It didn’t matter where my eyes landed - all of the women around me were unique and unbelievably beautiful. If anything, I was the one who stuck out like a sore thumb, so I didn’t understand why I was taken from my pack. Perhaps in my case it was about the bloodline, not looks? Most likely.

Now, I had even more questions, but before I could voice any, Claudia placed a hand over mine and sighed, “it’s time for us to return home. You need some sleep and so do we; it’s a big day for all of us tomorrow.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that statement. A big day? Sounded more like my worst nightmare.

As they stood from their seats, I restrained myself from saying anything. I enjoyed a great meal and some small talks with them, so all women deserve some rest. I would be lying if I claimed I wanted to get some sleep, if anything, I knew I wouldn’t be able to close an eye before the morning came.

I was told to go to the bedroom and rest, but once they left, I just laid on the couch and tried to analyze everything that had happened. I knew overthinking would bring me no good, but I couldn’t help it.

At one point, I had to have dozed off, because I was woken up by Claudia, shaking my body and hovering over me. “Aife, didn’t I tell you to sleep in the bed and set an alarm? We will be late if we don’t leave now. The rest have already left.” She scolded me.

I ignored the pain as I got up from the couch and followed her outside. Claudia took her time scolding me for still wearing the ripped clothing and missing out on having a shower, but halfway to the main building, she finally calmed down.

“When you go see the Alpha, if he says anything about clothes, tell him we didn’t have any in your size and I already ordered some. It’s a lie, but I will do that as soon as we get to the house. But really, you’re so tiny, I don’t think we have anything that could fit you, as you see, we’re all a little on the bigger side. Maybe that’s why we’re so undesirable,” she added the last part as a whisper.

From the corner of my eye, I could see the sour expression on her face. Truth to be told, neither of them was ‘on the bigger side’ as she claimed. I was dangerously thin, that was clear, but it was the lack of food over the week for me.

Claudia and the rest of them looked perfectly normal in my eyes - even more than that, actually. They had tempting curves and beautiful bodies. I believed the bitter words had to be the reaction to rejection from the very men who had stolen them from their families, but chose to keep that to myself.

I had gotten enough scolding already, I didn’t want to listen to more of it.

Once we reached the main building, we joined the end of the line of women, waiting to be let in. If nothing else, at least we weren’t late, which seemed to mean a lot to Claudia.

My whole body was hurting as I kept switching my weight from one leg to another while the guards let in one woman at the time. They inspected the clothing and shouted at anyone, who had as much as a tiny speck of dirt on it. Now, I understood why Claudia wasn’t happy with me.

By the time we reached the door, I felt like my feet were on fire. The guards let Claudia enter the building without checking her, but she insisted she would wait for the newcomer.

As soon as their eyes set on me, their faces twisted in disgust. “What the fuck are you wearing?” One of them barked and lifted his hand as if he was about to slap me.

The other guard grabbed his wrist and hissed, “don’t act out now. Later, after she sees the Alpha. He’s already waiting for this one in his office. Let him deal with the scum.”

Claudia’s eyes widened as she started backing away and disappeared in the building. So much for helping me here. The aggressive guard reached around me and grabbed a fistful of my hair, dragging me inside the building without a word.

All of the women got to witness my misery as he dragged me by my hair through the crowd. He kept pulling and tugging until tears filled my eyes. I was so close to crying out in pain, but the grip suddenly disappeared and I was thrown on the floor.

“About the damn time you decided to bless me with your presence.”