Last night left me feeling uneasy about today. I already hated the fact we were offered up as gifts to the wolves. But last night really opened my eyes to their world. We as humans have always had limited contact with the beasts. The only lycanthrope I have ever had the privilege of meeting was the security guard at the hospital, Carson, and he didn't even like me.

I took my hair, placing it into a low ponytail after taking a shower. Brushing my teeth, I started packing my backpack. Every 'harvest girl,' was allowed to bring one backpack filled with whatever they wanted. I didn't waste much room for clothes, only packing a few t-shirt, shorts and jeans. However, I packed plenty of bras and underwear. I took a family photo off my nightstand like I did every year.

This was the last family photo, involving my father. We looked like the 'Brady Bunch,' our smiles as cheesy as can be. I missed him. I missed his smell, hickory, with hints of pine. I missed his big arms, hugging me with such love. I missed his laugh when he would monkey around with me. I miss looking into his deep blue eyes, seeing the love a father holds for his daughter.

I missed him.

Skylee looked to be around twelve in this photo, a fake smile upon her lips. The cheesiness oozed from the photo, but it was all I had left of him. My mother however, looked radiant, her hair styled to the side, looking like a trophy wife. She looked stunning standing next to my father, smiling.

I slid the photo and frame, into my bag, tucking it in with my clothes. I needed to keep it protected. I grabbed my favorite book, from my shelf, Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice. The paperback book was so worn and torn that the book was starting to fall apart. Corners creased, cover fading, but still the same great story.

We were advised to never pack bathroom essentials.  But I threw my toothbrush and toothpaste in, just in case. I didn't want to live like an animal. With Skylee going to school to be a veterinarian, I often helped her study learning a few things of my own. If these wolves were like dogs, they had sensitive senses. Smell, taste, emotions, touch, hearing, all more enhanced than your average mundane human. I'm sure they would smell my toothpaste from a mile away.

I threw in a pair of flip flops and thin-soled tie shoes. I also put a picture of Justin and I in my bag, placing it next to my family photo. Also throwing in a large bottle filled with ibuprofen, Advil, and Tylenol. I packed it to the rim, you never know when you will need a painkiller. I grabbed a rolled bandage wrap, tossing it in as well. Thinking maybe a razor wouldn't be a bad idea, I threw that in too. I still had room, but what to put in it?

I went to my mother's room, taking the pillowcase from her pillow. I threw that in my bag as well. Scent is after all a trigger for memories. I needed that, something to remind me of her. I went back to my room, placing a pocket knife that belonged to my father in my bag. After all, they said we could pack whatever we wanted.

Skylee knocked on my bedroom door frame. "You ready for the unknown?" She asked, annoyed and agitated, yet anxious and kaput.

I zipped up my bag, putting it on my shoulder. Skylee and I were dressed in a summer V-neck chevron dress, with quieter sleeves, ten buttons on the front, and a bow tied around the waist. Classic, black, the perfect gift attire, I guess. Paired with our dresses, were black flats. Plain and dull, exactly like these dresses. This was the harvest girl's gift attire specifically selected by the wolves. I guess they liked black.

My mother made us a couple of lunch sandwiches, feeding us before we had to go. She didn't eat with us but sat in silence watching her only children munch. I cleaned up our plates, setting them in the sink for later.

My mother stood at the door, waiting. She wasn't allowed to take us to the harvest. We were picked up by black cars, escorted to make sure every harvest girl was there. Skylee's bag looked like it was overflowing with things. The zipper looked as if it was about to bust, while mine looked somewhat full.

The black car finally arrived, my mother gave both Sky and I earth shattering hugs. Kissing us on the cheek, as we did her. This was cruel, making a single mother give away her only daughters. I could feel the fright seep from her hugs. This wasn't right. 

A large man in a black suit stepped out of the car. The trunk was popped open, but he didn't move from the driver's side door. He just watched us with stern eyes, scowling as if we were such a nuisance. Sky and I put our bags in the trunk, closing it, then opening the back doors to take our seats. We were not treated as queens; we were treated as slaves. The wolf driving was just here to escort us.

He parked the car in a long line of identical vehicles. He again, popped the trunk, then went to stand at the front of the car, waiting for us to follow him. Skylee and I grabbed our belongings and walked behind the bulky beast. The area we met wasn't special, just a grassy field filled with chairs, a stage and a microphone.

Sky and I checked in with a few male wolves, giving our names, date of birth, and blood type. The two of us sat next to one another, Skylee on the inside of me, while I sat closer to the aisle. Placing our bags under our chairs, we waited patiently, holding hands, our fingers intertwined like a pretzel. Girls slowly started to file in between the lines of chairs. Taking their seats until every last one had been filled.

Our mayor took the stage, her dress a dark gray. She was in her sixties, her face lift, obviously visible. She had high full cheekbones from Botox, perfectly curved sinking into a thin jaw. Her heart shaped facial structure was almost unseen behind her volumized blond shoulder length hair. She had thin square glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose. The best way to describe her, she looked like 'Cruella de Vil', she was cold and aggressive, a woman in power. I wouldn't want to mess with her.

"Ladies, it is so wonderful to see you. Thank you for being here today." She spoke into the microphone, her monotone voice unpleasant. "Today is the harvest, a day we give a piece of our town, to the wolves who protect us." She stated, as if we would believe her every word. This was total crap, and everyone knew it. "To be chosen is a sacrifice, given to continue our protection. I know all of you want to keep your loved ones safe. Just like I want to keep them safe." There was a total of around two thousand girls dreading their name being called. "Remember this is a great honor, and when you are chosen, it is your duty to please the alpha." God, just get this over with. "When I call your name, please come to the stage, you will receive five minutes to say goodbye, then leave on your new journey." She sternly said into the microphone.

Plumping her hair, she walked to a large stone black bowl sitting on a stand, its center filled with the names of every girl forced to be here. Her thin skeleton fingers reached into the bowl, pulling out a small parchment. I felt Skylee's hand clench mine. I could feel her nerves, frazzle, the pulse in her wrist throbbed in her fingers. "Please don't let them call our name." I silently whispered, squeezing her hand in return.

Mayor Haden, wiggles her fingers, finally clasping onto a single piece of paper. She stood in front of the microphone licking her lips, before speaking.

"Our harvest girl this year is....", she paused for moment reading the name, before speaking. As if the name called was such a prize. "Skylee Wallen."

Her voice echoed in the air; my face became unbearably cold. Feeling as if the blood drained my face entirely. My chest ached; a stabbing pain slashed through my heart. My baby sister was chosen, sentenced to death. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't let her go.

"Skylee Wallen, please come to the stage." Diana voiced, irritated no one was coming forward.

Skylee's hand loosened from mine, but I wouldn't let go. She tried to stand but I grabbed her wrist, forcing her down. Her head snapped to mine her eyes filled with tears not yet fallen. I squeezed her hand and grabbed my bag standing in her place. All eyes were on me now and Skylee was left safe and sound in her flimsy white chair. I slowly walked past the other girl's, their faces all showing signs of relief.

Suddenly, my feet felt heavy, my bag seemed as if I was hauling a ton of bricks. This wasn't a 'pick me caucus', you didn't get to volunteer as tribute. When your name is called you went, the wolves believed in fate. When fate calls your name you, oblige. But I wasn't about to let them take my baby sister, especially from my mother and her future. I hesitantly walked up the stairs, mayor Diana didn't know who I was, she's never seen me before.

She smiled and her assistant took my bag. She took both my shoulders in her hands, giving me a hug. Her face hidden from the crowd as she whispered in my ear. "Thank you for your sacrifice."

She pushed away from me, her grip spinning me to the crowd. We haven't lived here long, so it's not like a lot of people knew me, or Skylee. Those who did know us kept their mouths shut. Knowing if they spoke, my family would be slaughtered. But I couldn't let my baby sister walk to her death.

Diana guided me to stand beside the microphone before she spoke to the girls.

"Skylee, will honor and please the alpha, granting us another year of peace." She spoke, her eyes brushing over the crowd. "Join me in thanking her for her sacrifice." She said, causing everyone to looked at me, pressing their palms to their chest, bowing their heads in a silent prayer. It was both heartfelt and sorrowful, a silent blessing giving their hearts and minds to the one gifted. Soon a name engraved upon a monument, a sacrifice, never forgotten. Only that list was the list of the robbed and it wouldn't be my name, but hers. Those girls were robbed of their freedom, robbed of their choice, robbed of their future, also robbed of their soul. Not a single girl has returned, not a single girl was heard of again.

"Will the family of Skylee, please meet us at the side car?" Haden said, now guiding me off the stage to the waiting car. Her assistant placed my bag in the back seat. Haden waited until my mother and Skylee came to wish me a goodbye.

Skylee and my mother envelope me in a hug, both chastising me.

"What were you thinking!?" Skylee, whisper yelled. I immediately shushed her. I didn't need the wolves hearing her.

My mother sobbed in my other ear, "Your strong, you can make it," she croaked.

I squeezed them both, bringing me closer to my mother's ear, hiding my lips in her hair.

"Change the medical records." Was all I said before pulling away from them. I didn't want to say anymore in fear the wolves would hear. But my mother silently nodded, crying for her daughter's ending.

All mom had to do was change Skyee's name with mine, in the medical records. The hospital had all of our personal information. Luckily Sky and I had the same blood type, A positive. Both our parents were the same, passing on the gene to us. All mom had to do was switch the pictures so they would think I was Skylee.

I kissed both my mother and Skylee on their tear-stained cheeks. I however wasn't crying; I knew what I was doing. I was proud of what I was doing, I had accepted it, the moment I grabbed Skylee's wrist. I was protecting her, giving her a future.

I held their hands as long as I could before the wolf ripped me from their grasp. My last memories of my mother and sister were their cries of heartache and the pain I felt the day my father died.

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I hope you liked this chapter.