Three

ELLA’S POV

Dave and his advisor were in a corner, talking in hushed tones. Their eyes moved over us every few minutes, causing me to shrug off, as the dreadful feeling was threatening to consume me.

They finally finished their discussion, and we waited for them to address us.

“It hurts me to do this. It hurts all of us, but It is necessary, because it’s the only way we can be safe” Dave said as he took a deep breath.

“The choosing is not malicious or personal. To the family that gets chosen, you have a week to prepare your daughter. Say your last goodbyes and when the men come to take her, do not struggle with them. Simply hand her over to the guards”, Dave voice sounded really hurtful that I felt like my heart was going to explode inside of me.

The hall was tensed as everyone waited for his final decision. But he just remained silent. At one point I wanted to scream at him, but then I saw his lips splitting apart.

“North.” He called the name and hesitated.

He had a solemn look on his face, and I was convinced that my family had been chosen. But still, I visibly relaxed and waited for him to complete it.

“You may take your seat”, he finally said.

My head jerked up. His eyes were on the North girl, wasn’t it?. Was he telling her to take her seat?.

I looked at him and his eyes caught mine.

“Anderson. Your family has been chosen”, he said, causing the hall to go dead silent.

And there I was thinking that this morning was bad, not knowing that is was even worse.

Finally getting back home, mother had silently cooked in the kitchen, father locked himself in the bedroom and Nichole was nowhere to be seen.

I opened Elena’s bedroom door, and I was her wipe her eyes quickly.

“Elena? Are you crying?”, I asked.

“Of course not”, she replied.

“That’s a lie. There’s tears in your eyes”, I persuaded.

“I said it’s nothing” she snapped. I plopped In her bed, but she still remained seated with her back facing me.

“You don’t want to join me?” I asked and she sighed and laid down with me.

“I’m sorry for snapping at you”, she apologized.

“But I’m not even offended”, I replied.

“Still. I shouldn’t have. It’s not like it’s your fault”, she said.

“What do you think is going to happen” I sked her instead, waving off the topic.

“We are the only daughters papa has”, she said.

“But I think something can be done about this. Maybe we can speak to the alpha and make him change his mind about it, maybe he can choose another family”, I said and she scoffed.

“It doesn’t work like that Ella”, she said.

“But if…”, I tried persisting, when she snapped at me again.

“Stop it Ella” she said angrily and sat up again.

“Do you think the other families want to send their daughters too. You think any of them will be willing to exchange places with us”, she asked harshly.

“We’ll never know if we don’t try” I tried to reasoning with her, but it jus only made her angrier.

“Nothing can change our fate now. So It’s better If you wake up from your silly dreams and face the reality. This isn’t the same as making Naomi sell the stupid shop. This is something bigger than any of us”, she yelled as she was breathing harshly when she finally finished talking and I felt really hurt.

Tears were welling in my eyes. Elena had never spoken to me like that before, not even when we had our little quarrels that never lasted.

I quickly stood up from her bed while hiding my face, so she wouldn’t see my tears.

“Ella I..” she tried speaking, but I was hearing none of it.

I closed her door and rushed to my room, locking the door behind me. It was then I let the tears fall.

Why was she so upset with me. I was only trying to lighten the mood and make things better. Why did she have to snap at me. It wasn’t like it was my fault we got chosen.

I wiped my eyes angrily. I shouldn’t be crying. She was the one who got me upset by losing her temper and yelling at me.

And so, I concluded that I wasn’t going to speak to her, until she apologized for her blow up.

I didn’t leave my room until dinner.

I spent the time. Arranging my room over and over again until I was tired. It was something I did whenever I was upset. As it always helped to calming me down.

I slumped on my bed when my muscles felt weak causing me to doze off like a light shortly after. But shortly after, a knock on the door woke me up from sleep.

“Ella, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes” mum called from the other side of the door.

I dragged myself up from my bed and into the bathroom to take a shower, after which I changed into a black leggings and a sweater.

I felt a bit cold after my shower. Maybe not completely because of the shower, but because of the situation I and my sister are into.

My phone rang on my bed and I picked it up. Fredo’s name flashed on the screen, and I quickly swiped and picked the call.

“Hey” I said excitedly.

“Babe. I’ve been calling” he complained as soon as I greeted.

“Ohhh. Sorry, I was fast asleep. I didn’t hear it”, I replied

“So.. will see you tomorrow?” he asked.

Gently and slowly I gulped. I wasn’t sure father would let me leave the house tomorrow. But I think he won’t have a much problem with it

“Probably. Elena and I were supposed to set up her new shop today, but with the announcement, we didn’t do it. She might be needing my help tomorrow. But I promise to see you immediately after”, I replied

He grunted.

“Okay. Has your family said anything about the choosing?”, he asked

“No. Maybe after dinner. I’ll give you the details tomorrow”, I replied

“Okay love”, he said

“Goodbye. I love you” I said but he already hung up.

I frowned and tossed the phone on my bed, before stepping out of my room and saw Elena standing at her door. I wanted to smile at her, but I remembered she had upset me, so I looked away and made my way to the table.

Mom had already set the table and they had taken their various positions. I gave Dad and Mom a kiss on the cheek, before taking my position. Elena did the same, before sitting next to me.

I expected her to whisper her apology so all could be forgotten, but she ignored me and focused on her meal. Well If that was what she wanted, then so be it.

I ate my meal in silence like the rest of the family and after the meal was done and the dishes cleared and washed, dad called us all into the living room.

“You all were present for the choosing today, and you all know what happened. But I don’t know if you girls understand the gravity of this situation” he said in his serious voice.

Mom cleared her throat and continued from where father left off.

“One of you will have to go to the beasts”, she said, causing my eyes widened.

“What? You can’t possibly send any of us away” I said horrified.

“There is nothing we can do about it sweetie. It’s beyond our control” she said in a small voice.

“So what are you going to do? Send your daughters away?”, I yelled.

“Not daughters. Only one of you will have to go”, father said.

“No. That is impossible. Nobody is going to Frida”, I scolded.

But come to think of it, who amongst us is going to be the bride?