Arabella's Point of View

"...That's all for today. Have a splendid weekend," Ms. Marshall wished us as she packed up her big textbooks.

Daphne scoffed beside me, packing up her books angrily and recklessly.

"This weekend is gonna be anything but splendid," she grumbled lowly. "I can't believe I'll be sacrificing myself for the sake of other girls," she said aloud this time.

"Sacrificing yourself?" I asked.

"Yeah. The selection parade has been brought forward, and who knows—we might not come out alive."

I nodded in agreement. She had just reminded me how near we are to the selection parade—my heart is about to rip out of my chest in fear.

"I might as well start writing my will now."

She paused and tilted her head. A deep frown appeared on her face—I knew exactly what she was gonna say next.

"Do you think I should will all my allowance to Dante or put them up for charity?"

I twisted my lips and thought briefly.

"Judging by how much Dante has scammed you, I'd advise you put it up for charity. Those old people and orphans need your money more than Dante. He's earned enough of your money from his dirty scams," I said.

Daphne and I laughed as we found my words funny.

"Exactly my thought," she agreed.

We continued packing up, and finally, we were done and set to go home. This was our last class for today. We carried our bags and headed out.

My phone vibrated in my pocket just when we were about to take a curve down our class hallway. I reached for it and saw it was Pete calling. Pete is my manager at my part-time job.

"Hey, Pete," I answered the call, handing the big textbook I was holding to Daphne.

"Ara, your mom called and said you wanna quit your job," he said.

My brows furrowed instantly. I gave Daphne a questioning look, but she shook her head.

I don’t recall ever telling Mom I was gonna quit my job. Why did she say that to him? In fact, there’s no reason for me to quit my job.

"Yeah, she said you needed time to get ready for the selection parade..."

I tuned out the rest of his words and released a sigh.

"Okay, thanks," I said and hung up.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket, and we continued walking.

"I think your mom is nervous. She must be scared of what’s gonna happen to us," Daphne said.

"Yeah. We don’t know what’s gonna happen to us in there. What’s gonna happen to whoever is selected this time? Are we gonna come back with our memories intact?"

Daphne simply shrugged, because that’s all she could do. She had no answers to my questions—she’s just as clueless as me.

"Hey, Ara!"

I heard the voice I dreaded most. Daphne snorted quietly, and we stopped walking. Daphne took a step forward and stood in front of me in a protective stance.

"Ingrid Michaelson," I said under my breath.

"What does this evil elf want this time?" she growled lowly. "I'll beat her up if she doesn’t filter her words."

I laughed.

Daphne is all bark and no bite. She sure loves me and is willing to fight for me, but she runs off at the very last moment. Like I said before, my wolf is stronger than hers.

Ingrid stopped in front of us, with her three minions standing behind her. I rolled my eyeballs. Don’t they have anything to do other than following Ingrid around?

"Ara, are you also going to the selection parade?" Ingrid asked.

"Yes. Am I not entitled to?" I asked her back.

She chuckled, looking at her minions to join her—and they did.

"I heard my dad saying the Beast King is secretly searching for his mate. That’s why girls are taken to his palace. I bet you didn’t know that."

"So? What are you implying?" Daphne asked.

"I don’t think you’re eligible. You’re just wasting your time because you can never be the Beast King's mate with this ugly face of yours," Ingrid laughed.

I pushed Daphne aside gently and walked around Ingrid as I was assessing her. Then I stopped in front of her and stared at her face.

A sigh left my mouth as I shook my head in disappointment.

"What’s with your expression?" she asked.

"You call me ugly..." I sighed. "...but I’m still more beautiful than you—even with your plastic face."

"What are—"

"Take a look at your body. You’re too straight. But look at all my curves," I gestured at my body as I made a sexy pose.

She looked down at herself. From the corner of my eye, I could see Daphne trying to hold back her laugh.

"Did your mama iron your backside when you were a pup?" I asked.

She quickly touched her butt.

"Your ass is so flat. But take a look at my heavy ass," I turned and twerked in front of her briefly.

Daphne couldn’t hold it in anymore. She burst into uncontrollable laughter—and even some of Ingrid’s minions joined in the laughter.

I turned back to face Ingrid and winked at her. Her face had turned crimson red from anger or embarrassment.

"Don’t worry, Ingrid. I’m not gonna snatch him away from you, because I’m too hot and beautiful to be mated with a beast."

My eyes trailed her body, taking note of all her flaws—both her physical flaws and her innermost flaw, which is her rudeness.

"He’s more suitable for mean, wicked, and evil elves like you. I believe the Moon Goddess already paired you two—that’s a perfect match for sure," I said.

"That’s right. Go, Ara!" Daphne hyped me, still laughing her guts out.

Ingrid pointed a finger at me.

"You’re... you’re... you’re..."

"I’m what?" I cut her off. "I’m too hot compared to you," I told her.

Her eyelids twitched as tears brimmed in her eyes. She threw her minions a glare, and they stopped laughing immediately.

I reached forward and held up her chin, because I’m a little taller than her.

"Ingrid Michaelson, you’ve forgotten I’m not one of those weak female elves in your clan who you mess with. I don’t take shit from anybody—not even the Beast King."

She slapped my hand away and pushed me very hard. I would have lost my balance if I wasn’t standing upright.

"Your words can’t get to me. You’re still inferior to me," she said.

I stepped closer to her and looked in her eyes, then released a short laugh.

"My words already got to you. Go home and cry." I turned away from her and faced Daphne. "Dolphin, let’s go."

I flipped my hair back and walked away, although I heard Daphne blowing raspberries at her before running after me.

Daphne threw an arm around my shoulders when she caught up to me. She kissed my cheek and howled shortly.

Arabella's Point of View

"You were so hot back there," she praised me.

"Of course, I'm Arthur's sister," I bragged.

Being Arthur's elder sister has taught me a lot, and one of those things is to be brave enough to stand up for myself.

"Let's go home and get ourselves ready for the selection parade," Daphne said.

★★★★★

TWO DAYS LATER – SELECTION PARADE

We've all (the eligible girls) gathered at the entrance of the Wizardry Forest. This is the road leading to the Beast King's palace—weird, right?

Our families were standing beside us, consoling us and giving us advice about how to behave when we get to the palace—what to do and what not to.

Every girl was staring at the Wizardry Forest with great fear. In fact, one could tell how scared they were from how they were trembling.

I'm not scared of going through the forest because I've gone through it before. I'm just scared of what's gonna happen at the Beast King's palace.

"Are you even listening to me?" Mom's question snapped me back to her.

"Yeah," I answered.

"Don't talk to anyone when you get to the palace. Don't ask too many questions—in fact, don't ask any questions at all, because I know you too well," she said sternly.

I nodded.

"And don't run about. The King is very ruthless to rule breakers, and he kills for fun."

"Hm," I hummed.

Mom sighed and pulled me into a hug. She patted my head gently.

"I know the Moon Goddess wouldn't pair you with him. I just can't help but worry, though," she said.

I smiled.

"I'll be fine, Mom." I pulled away from the hug and held her hands. "I have a way to make them disqualify me from the selection parade."

"What?"

I nodded.

"Let's get to the palace first. I'll make sure I get disqualified," I assured her.

Mom glared at me but didn't argue with me. She leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Just be careful and come back to me in one piece," she said.

"I sure will."

Arthur cleared his throat and stepped forward. He stared at me for a moment.

"Well, I'm praying you die there because I'm not gonna miss you..."

Mom smacked the back of his head for saying such words, but I simply smiled because that's exactly what I was expecting him to say—but I know he's indirectly telling me to come back safe.

"...What? If she comes back alive, she's gonna disrupt my plan of becoming the Alpha's son," he said.

"Hush," Mom hushed him and quickly looked around to check if anyone heard him. Fortunately, everyone's minding their business right now.

"I can play matchmaker between you and Alpha Jarek when she's gone," he grumbled further.

I reached forward and ruffled his hair, but he quickly slapped my hand away and frowned at me.

"Not the hair, please."

"Don't worry, Arthur. I'll come back intact," I told him.

He scoffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. He leaned against a tree as he tried to keep a cool expression.

"I don't care whether you come back intact or not. I'm not gonna miss you anyway," he said.

I laughed and shook my head.

"I love you, Arthur."

He scoffed and looked away, but I heard him grumbling, "I love you too, sis."

Mom and I exchanged looks and laughed at his naughtiness. I hope I'll come back to my happy family. I don't want them to be sad because of me.

"Alright, it's time to leave. Everyone, be in a straight line," a man dressed in some sort of uniform commanded—an army uniform, I guess.

Everyone (I mean the eligible girls) started lining up at his command. I also leaned forward and gave Mom a goodbye kiss on her cheek when I saw Daphne rushing toward me.

Mom patted my shoulder and gestured for me to join the line. Daphne, who had already gotten to us, linked our arms and smiled at Mom.

"Bye for now, Mrs. Humphrey. We'll be back real soon."

"I know, dear," Mom replied.

Daphne and I hurried up to get in line too. I groaned when I realized the girl standing in front of me was Ingrid.

"Humph, some people don't know where they belong," she said.

"I know, right? Like I'm too hot and too sexy for that old beast. I might ride him to death," I replied in a whisper, putting emphasis on riding him to death.

She turned and glared at me.

"You're such an uncultured swine."

"Oh, thank you," I replied.

She scoffed and didn’t say any more words to me. Daphne tapped my shoulder, and I leaned back to give her my attention.

"She's scared of you."

"She's supposed to be. I'm a wolf and she's just an ordinary elf—I might bite off her long ears if she steps on my tail again."

Daphne cringed.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."

"I'll keep that in mind," I assured her. We laughed briefly.

Soon, everyone was done lining up. Some men who were also dressed in army uniform moved around and shared a piece of cloth with each of us.

"Now put on your blindfolds," the man who commanded us to line up earlier commanded again.

We all obeyed him. We quickly put on the blindfolds and waited for his next words.

"Hold onto your neighbor’s shoulders and start walking ahead," he said.

We quietly and obediently did what he told us. I quickly told Arthur and Mom goodbye through our mind-link before we embarked on the journey.

★★★★★

KING'S PALACE – 50 MINUTES LATER

"Stop and take off your blindfolds!" the army man commanded after we had walked for a very long time.

Without wasting time, I took off my blindfold and looked around me. My eyes met with two big gates.

I raised my head to take a proper look. I couldn't help but awe because the gates were incredibly tall—I never thought they were so tall, and I had never seen any gate as tall as these. Though it looked like one of those ancient gates.

Which made me wonder... how old is the King exactly?

"Ara," Daphne whispered. "What do you think we're gonna face behind these gates?" she asked lowly.

"An old beast," I answered.

The army man cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"We're about to go inside. Just set your gaze on me alone as I lead you in, and don’t look around or..."

He trailed off. His eyes moved around, which we all followed—only to find guards standing beside each of us.

"...or these guards won’t show you any mercy," he said.

I gulped and cursed mentally. Here I was, thinking of how to rub mud on my face to make me look ugly and get disqualified—how am I gonna do that now?

"Come with me," the army man said.

The gates slowly opened up, and we trooped in after him. I wanted to look around, but remembering the army man's warning wouldn't let me.

★★★★★

We stopped at a door after walking down countless hallways. He pushed the door open and stepped in before inviting us in too.

I had taken a sneak peek at some of the hallways on our way here, and strangely, there were no portraits of the King—which kept me wondering.

Why are all the hallways so plain? Where are the Beast King's photos? Why isn’t there any portrait of him? Is he that ugly and too unpleasant to the eyes?

"Your Majesty, the girls are here," the army man said with a bow.

I looked to the front and saw a man sitting on a small chair with a small table in front of him—though his back was facing us.

"Hm," he hummed.

Is he gonna keep backing us like that? But my thoughts were interrupted when he turned around.

My jaw dropped in shock. Isn't this that handsome stranger from the Wizardry Forest?

What is he doing here? How did he survive the Beast King? Wait—was he captured by the Beast King and taken to his palace to be a slave?

That’s right. He was captured by the Beast King. I must find a way to rescue him. After all, he saved me that night, and that’s why he was captured.

I cautiously took a few steps back and moved away from the others to a position where he could see me. Then I waved at him.

"Hey," I whispered-yelled, but he didn’t hear me. "Hey," I whispered-yelled again, but he still didn’t hear me.

A few girls heard and gave me weird glances, but I quickly muttered "sorry," and they turned their gaze away from me.

Is he ignoring me? Or he really can't hear me? Maybe I should just continue waving until he looks my way.

I started waving at him, but I quickly gave up when I realized he wasn't sparing me a glance. His attention was on the other girls. Maybe he's scared of the Beast King.

I couldn't come up with any good plan, even after much thought, on how to rescue him from here. I felt a sudden surge of frustration, and I couldn’t help the next words that left my mouth.

"My darling!" I blurted out very loudly.

All heads turned toward my direction, and my eyes grew wide like a deer caught in headlights. Embarrassment swallowed me, and I felt like disappearing into thin air.

Daphne rushed toward me. She grabbed my arm and leaned closer to my ear.

"Why did you call him your darling?" she whispered.

"I... I... I know him," I answered her loudly.

"You know the King?" one of the girls from the crowd asked.

My head turned back to the handsome stranger. I took a closer look at him, and I started taking note of things I had overlooked before.

The chair he was sitting on—it might look small, but it's made of gold. His extravagant clothes and his posture—he looked so majestic.

"He's... he's the King?" I stuttered quietly.

"Yes, that's the King," Daphne answered.

I pulled Daphne closer to me.

"You mean he’s the Beast King?"

"Yeah," she answered.

Then I recalled how the army man had addressed him earlier—"Your Majesty." I also recalled his words back at the Wizardry Forest—looks can be deceiving.

It's over.

My legs suddenly became jelly, and I found myself falling to the ground and was instantly drowned into the abyss of darkness.