The Alpha's Ghost Bride

Chapter 4 – The Alpha’s mate Selection

Megan



The next day, I squeezed into the back seat of Harry’s car, surrounded by Mika’s endless collection of clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

I was there, not because I wanted to be, but because Mika needed someone to carry her things. She had made it clear that was my only purpose on this trip.

As always, she treated me like her personal maid, and I had no choice but to comply.

"Don’t you dare drop any of my stuff," Mika snapped, turning to glare at me. "If you do, I swear I’ll slap you so hard, you’ll have to borrow a face from a dog."

Her words stung, but I lowered my head and nodded without saying a word. That was how it always was. I kept my mouth shut, did what I was told, and tried not to make things worse for myself.

Harry, who was driving, glanced back at us through the rearview mirror and spoke up, his voice serious. "Mika, you need to win this Luna selection. Our business is on the brink of collapse, and we need the money. If you marry Alpha Jake, our problems will be solved."

Karla, sitting in the passenger seat, nodded in agreement, her greedy eyes lighting up. "We may be human, but that doesn’t matter. You just have to make sure the judges see that you’re the right one for Alpha Jake. You’re beautiful, and you can play the part. They’ll choose you for sure."

Mika flipped her hair with a smug smile. "Of course I’ll win. There’s no competition here. I’m the best choice, and they’ll see it."

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. All I could think about was how unfair it all was. Here I was, carrying all of Mika’s things, working myself to exhaustion for someone who never treated me with an ounce of kindness.

And yet, she had the chance to win everything. I knew my place in this family, though. I wasn’t one of them. I was just the adopted daughter they had taken in to do their dirty work.

When we finally arrived at the Crest Moon Pack’s mansion, the parking area was nearly full. Dozens of cars lined the lot, and I could already see a sea of people making their way inside.

My heart sank as I noticed the sheer number of women. Thousands of them, both human and werewolf, had gathered for this Luna selection. The sight made me swallow hard.

I struggled to carry all of Mika’s things as we made our way inside. The weight of her clothes, shoes, and accessories was almost too much for me to handle, but I kept my mouth shut. I knew better than to complain.

As we entered, the crowd was overwhelming, and I could feel the presence of the werewolves all around me. Even though some were in human form, their aura was different.

It was something I couldn’t explain, but it made me shiver. No matter how long we had shared the same world, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy around them.

We made our way into the grand hall, where the women were lining up for the selection. I stayed silent, my arms aching from carrying Mika’s things, as I watched the process unfold.

The women stood tall, some looking nervous, and others confident. Mika, of course, was one of the confident ones. She stood with her head held high, as if she already knew she would win.

As we waited, I couldn’t help but notice the judges. They were high-ranking members of the Crest Moon Pack, each of them carrying an air of authority.

But the one who stood out the most was Lucille, Alpha Jake’s aunt. She was known for being strict and ruthless, and it was clear she wasn’t here to be impressed by looks alone.

"We’re not just looking for beauty," Lucille said arrogantly, addressing the women who stood before her. Her voice was sharp, "The woman we choose must be smart, capable, and strong. She needs to be able to fight, even if she’s human. We don’t need a pretty face. We need someone who can stand by Alpha Jake’s side."

The women murmured amongst themselves, some looking nervous, others trying to maintain their confidence. I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me just hearing her speak. Lucille wasn’t someone to be taken lightly, and the thought of her judging these women made me even more uneasy.

The hours dragged on, and the line of women grew shorter and shorter. Soon, there were only about twenty left, and Mika was still standing there, proud and confident. She wasn’t worried.

In her mind, she had already won. I still stood behind her, carrying her things, trying to ignore the aching in my arms and back.

And then, suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed. There was a commotion near the entrance, and all eyes turned to see what was happening.

Beta Lucas, the second-in-command of the Crest Moon Pack, entered the hall, his face pale and his eyes filled with panic.

Everyone, including Mika and the other women, bowed to him out of respect. But there was something wrong. I could feel it in the way he moved, in the look on his face. Something terrible had happened.

Lucille stepped forward, her face stern but concerned. "What is it, Beta Lucas? What happened?"

Beta Lucas’s voice trembled as he spoke, and my heart sank at his words. "The Alpha… The Alpha is dead."

A collective gasp filled the room, and I felt the blood drain from my face.

Dead?

Alpha Jake… dead?

"We were ambushed by rogue werewolves," Lucas continued, his voice breaking. "They pushed him off a cliff. His body is still missing."

For a moment, there was only silence. Everyone seemed too shocked to speak. The women, the judges, even Lucille, stood frozen in place, trying to process what they had just heard.

Mika, who had been so confident just moments before, was now staring at Lucas in disbelief. "Dead?" she whispered, as if she couldn’t comprehend the words.

Karla’s face twisted in shock, but I could see the greed in her eyes flickering away. She had been so certain that Mika would win, that they would secure a place in Alpha Jake’s life, but now everything had fallen apart.

Harry, standing next to Karla, looked just as stunned. "This can’t be happening," he muttered, shaking his head. "Without Alpha Jake…"

Lucille’s face hardened, and she stepped forward again, trying to regain control of the situation. "We need to find his body first," she said firmly, "Until then, this selection is postponed. Go home. All of you."

The crowd began to disperse slowly, but the shock lingered in the air. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. The Alpha, the one everyone had feared and respected, was gone. The Luna selection, the thing Mika had been so sure she would win, was now meaningless.

As we made our way back to the car, I could feel the tension radiating from Mika, Harry, and Karla. No one spoke. All of them are speechless.