PURE BLOOD

Allegiance rituals are one of the oldest ceremonies, the House of Stone holds dear to its heart. I can't say for sure who instituted the ceremony or when it was instituted.

Most of the members of the Stone royal family have no idea either; it's a tradition as old as we can remember and the only one that sets them apart from the other houses.

I wasn't sure how Ava managed to pull the strings, but I know it must have taken a lot of effort to bring a non-member to her allegiance ceremony.

She practically leaped for joy when I called her to take her up on her offer. If she had any ulterior motive for inviting me, well, that makes the both of us.

I had to find out why the witch Lelani would send her minions to my office. It makes no sense, but nothing she ever does is in vain. She is up to something, and I think I should clip her wings now before it's too late.

I pulled up at the garage and got out of the car. I decided to drive myself today because I wanted to clear my head and prepare my mind for the mind game ahead.

"Hey, you made it." I saw Ava come out of the house and head towards me.

"Yeah," I replied. We exchanged pleasantries and headed into the house.

I got in to see a small number of people, who divided themselves into groups and spoke about whatever.

My eyes rested on Lelani, she turned to look my way the instant I got in. We held a gaze for seconds before she turned away.

"Make yourself comfortable; I will be right back," Ava whispered before disappearing upstairs.

That line should have been mine. If she and her mom didn't mark me to be killed, well they are going to pay dearly for that.

I could feel their gazes on me; it was slowly becoming burdensome. I moved towards the hallway, escaped through the back, took a right, and there I was at my haven.

I can't recall the number of times I have hidden away in this garden to enjoy some alone time.

Not that I am hiding away or something, but I just need to clear my head and get my acts together. I was enjoying the beautiful garden, when a mixture of jasmine and rose hit my nose.

"Beautiful combination," I whispered, closing my eyes to enjoy the scent.

"Who's taking up my hiding spot?"

"Not here too," I whispered to myself. I turned to see who the intruder was.

"Hi Joel," I replied, smiling at him.

"Look who showed up," he smiled.

"It is I, your fairy godmother."

"Very funny," he said, laughing hard.

"What are you doing lurking around in dark places? Shouldn't you be preparing for the ritual?"

"Are you going to tell on me?"

"And risk not seeing you again, nah," I said, and we both laughed.

"How did you find the garden? Not many of our members know about it."

I paused for a second, wondering what to say. "I took the wrong turn, and here I am." I lied. Well, I hope he believes me because I can't think of what to say if he doesn't believe me.

"Oh......"

"What are you doing?" That deep, familiar voice cut him off.

"Alpha Damian, I was just,"

"Go make yourself useful, Joel," he commanded, cutting him off. Joel stole a glance at me before disappearing.

"What are you doing with my Delta?" he questioned. I know I should be scared of him at this point; he is known to snap once he is angry, hence the name, Mad Alpha, but rather, what I smell from underneath that mask, is jealousy.

"Enjoying nature, why can't I do that with your Delta?"

"He is beneath you, Nicole" his gaze burning with lust and the animalistic instinct to bend me over and fill me with his dick.

"Really, well, he makes me smile," I quickly chipped in. I heard his heart beating faster, and his face quickly changed, ready to tear Joel into shreds.

"I will see you around Alpha Damian," I whispered before disappearing into the house, his gaze lingering on my body. He isn't the only one who enjoys the hunt.

I got inside to see a few members of the Stone family seated, Lelani inclusive. I guess the allegiance ritual had already begun. But then what was the Alpha doing outside?

I was lost in thought, wondering what could be wrong, when Lelani walked up to me. From her facial expressions, I knew she was about to confront me anyway.

"Hi Nicole"

"Lelani." I slightly looked down to show respect, then stared back at her.

"It seems you have so much free time on your hands."

"I don't understand," I blurted out, frowning. The door suddenly opened up, and an old lady came out.

It's traditional for the oldest lady in the pack to announce the arrival of the Luna after the initiation.

She clapped her hands to gain our attention; we all turned, and she said,

"Hello everyone, we present to you Ava Dahila Stone, the Luna of the House of Stone."

Ava walked out hand in hand with Damian, all smiles, and of course, thinking she had won this game, we all cheered so happily.

Only, I was cheering her on because it might be the last time she smiles so heartily. I would gladly be her nightmare.

The old lady raised her hand, and the cheering ended.

"In respect to the traditions, a gift shall be bestowed on the Luna by our Alpha." The room was suddenly filled with murmurs, which died down as quickly as it began.

"Ask anything of the Alpha, and consider it done."

She glanced at me and smiled. I instantly knew she was up to no good; whatever she was going to ask, we would regret later. Ava has always been one mean girl who gives no shit about anyones emotions; as a matter of fact, her motto has always been, Whatever Ava wants, Ava gets.

"I want Eloise Head on a platter," she said, pointing at the blonde girl standing in the corner.

I was shocked to find out that she was talking about Eloise Gilmore.

"Luna Ava, we cannot..."

"You said anything, and it is done. Well, I want her head on a platter now," Ava yelled, cutting the old lady off.

"Get your sh*t together; what are you doing?" Damian tried scolding her, but the Ava I had grown up with doesn't give up too quickly until she got what she wanted.

Eloise was at the corner, watching silently as the drama unfolded. Lelani seemed more troubled than ever; I guess this wasn't part of the plan.

Eloise Gilmore is the youngest daughter of the House of Gilmore, one of the lowest houses in the order. She was mated to the Beta of the House of Brighton to secure her house's future but instead ran away with the Gamma of the House of Stone to become his mistress. The gamma was killed in a rogue attack a few years ago, and she decided to stay since she had nowhere else to go.

I wonder who told Ava that it was possible to kill Eloise; even when she has been disowned by her father, killing her will be outright war with the Gilmores. Alpha Damian Stone can't afford to go to war with any of the houses right now since he would soon lay claim to sit at the head of the order as the Alpha of the Alpha.

"Well, since Luna Ava can't come up with a befitting wedding gift, we would gift her what we had prepared."

"I demand a trial; if Eloise is found guilty, her head will be chopped off," Ava cut in feeling pained.

Damian and the old lady exchanged glances before the lady accepted the trial.

Ava has some stunts up her sleeve, but I wonder what, because I could swear she just wants Eloise because of her madness to keep Damian to herself.

We were ushered into the inner throne room, and I stood at the far corner, watching the whole drama.

"She stole my diamond necklace, the one you gifted me on the night of our wedding," she accused Eloise, who stared at her confused.

"Eloise Gilmore, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Damian asked, looking from Eloise to Ava.

"I didn't steal anything; I don't even know what the necklace looks like Alpha Damian," Eloise said almost in tears and, scared for her life.

"Shut up, you liar."

"Silence Ava," Damian barked. "Do you have any evidence or witnesses?"

"This is the necklace; I found it in Eloise's room, and I do have a witness." Ava quickly announced, and Eloise fell on her knee, begging for her life, while the whole room suddenly became noisy.

"Silence everyone, Bring your witness; if this witness confirms your story, Eloise's head will be brought to you on a platter, but if not, then this case will be thrown out and never raised again.

"I call on Mrs. Nicole West; she saw the necklace when I found it in Eloise's room."

Eloise gasped the moment she realized that the luna was falsely accusing her. For some reason, I saw myself in Eloise. Ava is about to snuff out her life like she would have done to me if I hadn't escaped.

She had already hatched a plan before inviting me over for the allegiance ceremony.

I could hear whispers of my name around the room, I was called to stand at the center with all eyes on me,

Ava nodded at me, she smiled urging me to go ahead and confirm the story and seal Eloise's fate.

"Were you with Luna Ava when she found the diamond necklace in Eloise's room?" Damian asked. I gently walked to the center, everyone staring at me. Eloise was on the floor looking dejected, while Ava didn't stop smiling at me. I guess she is so confident that I would help her achieve her devious plans.

Maybe I would have if only I didn't swear to bring her down.

"I wasn't with Luna Ava when she found the diamond necklace," and the room instantly became noisy again.

"Silence! Are you saying that you didn't witness this"

"No, I didn't witness it."

Damian turned and stared at her with bloodshot eyes. Lelani was pissed, but I didn't give a fuck.

"This case is hereby thrown out." Damian rules before storming off.

"Thank you; I owe you my life," Eloise said before going to join some women at the corner while Ava grabbed my hands.

"You said you would help."

"Ouch," I yanked my hand away, "I said, I saw the body build, but it wasn't Eloise; don't drag me into your drama," I warned her.

Ava stormed off, looking pissed. It's all going according to plan; turn them against each other. At this rate, I might not lift a finger as they keep aiming for each other's throats.

"If you don't leave this minute, I will tell my son-in-law that you are not who you made him believe you are," Lelani warned.

"Good. While at it, please explain to him why you broke into my office, jeopardizing his company's future. Do you want to try?"

"How did you..." I quickly shoved a picture of the white SUV into her hands.

"We both know who owns it," I said, staring at me in surprise while hiding the picture in her bag.

"If you pull this kind of stunt with me again, I won't be this kind."I warned her.

"What stunt?"