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Chapter Two

BLAIR'S POV

My father's words were words of comfort not to me and definitely not to the people. I knew he meant well but it was dangerous. The priestess left with her words of warning and doom, I really felt every word she uttered.

In the days that followed, the pack house saw more activities than every other day in the last five years. It started with the crops, harvests for the year's end were dying all of a sudden with no explainable reason.

The children were next falling sick in quick succession as well, so far none of them had died but it only seemed to be a matter of time, it was all a veritable disaster, and the priestess seemed to be having fun with it, she came to offer prayers for the sick children but everyone else was on pins and needles.

I woke up one morning, it was dark and I had nowhere else to be, so I went to the sick bay. The children were no better but thankfully no worse. Their parents looked worried and sad, I heard the whispers among them, as they tended to their children.

"It was the failure of an alpha to let his daughter die. She hurried to him crying and he folded like a cheap paper, disgrace"

"He should have let the girl die and given her up for the sacrifice when he had the chance, and we wouldn't be in this mess"

"Now the moon goddess is punishing every member of our pack, including him." another said

"The girl couldn't even sacrifice herself for her father, now he just might die. '' They clucked, each word pierced me like a blade and it was hard to let go of it. They were right in some way, my father's choice had led to this, and their pain and suffering were all because he loved me.

Then, my father felt I was just like the little children and I blocked out everything they said and focused on caring for him.

" I'm so sorry" I murmured as I wiped his skin with a cold cloth, he looked to me raising his shivering hand to my face

" I am fine. I'm the one who is sorry" he coughed taking my hand into his,

" I love you so much," he said as I smiled, leaning my face on our intertwined palms.

" Your mother would be so angry with me for leaving you like this" he murmured,

" You are not going anywhere " I cried and he smiled

" Of course, I am not. But I want you to know that you are the brightest star in my sky, and I will always think of you that way" I gulped, nodding and he straightened on the bed turning on his side.

I rose when a knock came on the door, it was Beta Richard, he was always checking in on me, bringing good food, water, and kind words

" How are you " he asked and as he shut the door behind him, I grimaced softly as he looked at me

" He is not well, I am so afraid that he will die" I whispered and he shuddered

" That's not the best way to think about this dear, he will be fine, that is all you can hope for, at this point in time" I nodded gulping down my tears, he grabbed my arm tightly pulling me into a hug

"The alpha will be fine Blair " he whispered very softly and I nodded. With a large sigh, he pulled away.

"You can go tend to him again" he ordered and I sighed. I walked into the room and sat by his side. He was still asleep as I rubbed his forehead with wet clothes, all the while praying that everything would go back to how it was, but it didn't. The moon goddess was just getting started it seemed, I lay down against him and fell asleep.

He died that night.

I woke up the next morning taking his hand in mine So I could wake him up but he didn't respond,

"You need to wake up Dad" I muttered but he didn't stir he felt cold as ice and I was so afraid of what to do

"Dad, dad please wake up" I cried pulling him into my arms he didn't move, didn't speak either, as the door was thrown open wide and people rushed in.

I stood over his grave as we buried him. It was a cold morning, most of the pack had come except those who had children at home who were sick, Beta Richard joined me at the head of the grave taking my hand in his.

"Blair, I know that you are sad." He said taking my hand, I swallowed the tears that had built up in my throat,

"But the Alpha is dead so we have to think of the future" I nodded softly, I knew that without an alpha we would be sitting ducks and I knew my duty was to get mated. I would do so to protect my father's pack but I had no idea how to survive being mated to someone who was not my fated mate and who would not take care of me.

"Our pack –" he started and then stopped

"The pack is weak Blair, and we are open for taking but if you can mate with someone who will lead us, that will keep the bigger packs far away." He muttered, and I sighed while nodding my head.

"We could prevent unnecessary deaths," he added. As if I wasn't already aware of the benefits. The Crescent Moon pack was the smallest pack on the edge of the border maps, there were many times that we had fallen prey to being overrun and having a strong alpha had helped that. I knew what he was saying but still, I was scared

"Who do you think" I asked softly cleaning my eyes again and looking at him

"Alpha Zoran" he whispered, I recoiled from Beta Richard's touch

"Alpha Zoran, of the Black Fang?" I muttered and he nodded, my stomach whirled with nausea.

Alpha Zoran was old enough to be my grandfather– that may have been an exaggeration but the thought of being mated to him made me shudder, he was older than my father, by at least five to eight years

"I- I" I stuttered then paused,

"Blair"

"I'll think about it, give me a little more time" I pleaded, with my voice breaking, he glanced at me and huffed.

"Just a little more time" I begged and he nodded.

The pack was attacked a few days later, no one was killed but a lot of people were injured, when I saw him walking towards me I knew my time was up, he stood in front of me and sighed,

"I'll do it" I murmured over the injured child

"I'll mate with Alpha Zoran"

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