The Prince's Catch

I sighed loudly in frustration as I brushed my hair for what felt like the hundredth time. Glancing at the clock on the wall alerted me to the fact that it was nearly 6.30 pm. It was time. Tonight was the night that all the eighteen-year-old virgins gathered under the clock tower for the selection. What was this selection, I hear you ask?

The Imperial Family and their ministers, advisers, and privy council members would come down from the mountain top palace every year. They would then select the prettiest and purest girls to join them, high up in the castle. Depending on their abilities and skills, they would end up either as a servant, bed maiden, or become a trusted Pack member. That's right—a Pack member. I live in the Bloodmoon Empire, which meant we were ruled by the Imperial Family, the purest bloodlines you could ever get in a werewolf. And tonight was the night of the annual selection.

Most of the girls who got selected wouldn't even survive the year. Most slaves and servants ended up killed if they disobeyed their new masters, and the bed maidens were just thrown out by the Prince's or whoever used them when they got bored. It didn't bother the palace as they knew they could get more girls next year. I just hoped and prayed that I wasn't picked at all. Even though I was a werewolf, it didn't bother me if I joined the Empire Pack or not. I was just happy to live an ordinary life down in the city if you could call my life anything but ordinary.

I glanced over at the black lacy dress with fancy gold embroidery – the attire of choice for this year's ceremony, hanging up against my wardrobe door. Every year, a dress was made and created for the selection and proudly hung on display in the city's square so that everyone could see what the tributes would be wearing. It was a great honor if you managed to get picked, but a great deal of shame came to the family if you weren't, not that I was a stranger to shame.

Ever since I was a young girl, I have been bullied by the other kids I went to school with. I lived with my elderly grandmother as both of my parents had died fifteen years ago after catching the White Plague. The White Plague also happened to wipe out just under half of the city. The other school kids found it quite amusing that I was essentially an orphan and blamed it on my looks. I was petite, with pale skin and green eyes that shone like glass bottles under the sunlight. I had pale pink, plump lips, with a small pointed nose and perfectly sculpted eyebrows. I always styled my breast-length chocolate brown hair in a half-up, half-down style, which accentuated my looks, but I was ruthlessly picked on no matter what I did.

A loud knock sharply bought me back to my senses as my bedroom door creaked open noisily, and my grandmother shuffled in quickly. Her long gray hair was tucked neatly into a bun on the back of her head, while a floor-length purple dress covered her weathered and hunched body. As frail as my grandmother looked, stupid she was not. She was bright as a button and sharp as a knife, even though her body was giving up.

"Come, come, my little minnow," urged my grandmother loudly. "It is quarter to 7. We need to be

under the clock tower at 7 pm. And you aren't even dressed! This will not do!"

"But grandmamma, I cannot do this!" I protested loudly. "If I do not get picked, then shame will be brought on our family. Not that I haven't already brought shame to you!"

"Now stop with that nonsense. You have not brought shame to me, pet!" my grandmother smiled fondly. "The other kids do not understand. They do not see the beauty that I see in you. And besides, if you don't get picked, what's the big deal? I'll still have my little El. Now, come. Get that dress on quick sharp and get your behind down to the square! You know the rules!"

Smiling gently, I hugged my grandmother tightly before pulling the dress carefully off the hanger and slipping it over my tiny frame. Carefully, I gazed at my appearance in the mirror and gasped loudly. The dress was a perfect fit! The lacy sleeves finished just above my elbows, while the deep v neck showed off the little cleavage that I had. The hem of the dress lovingly skimmed across the midsection of my thighs, showing off my pale skin. Even I had to admit that this dress was beautiful, and it made me look almost regal. Feeling tears beginning to prickle in the corners of my eyes, I turned around and hugged my grandmother tightly once more, which for all I knew, could have been the last time.

"Oh, grandmamma, don't cry!" I sniffed tearfully. "This isn't goodbye! I promise! Before you know it, I'll be home again, and we can forget that this night ever existed! I love you! Forever and always. Don't you forget it!"

Before my grandmother could reply, I planted a soft, lingering kiss on the top of her head. I quickly walked away, out of my room and down the corridor towards the front door. Before I could change my mind, I pulled the door open and stepped out into the cold, black night. I knew if I were late, the Imperial guards would come looking for me, and the possibility of being punished for my delay was high. Hurriedly, I made my way through the dark cobbled streets towards the square. The cobbled streets were empty and silent as everybody had now assembled themselves in the square to watch the proceedings. As I neared the square, the rumble of hundreds of voices began to fill my ears, and a lump formed in my throat. Just as I was about to make my way through the stone archway, a group of dark figures leapt out of the shadows and encircled me, blocking any means of escape.

"Ahh, look guys, and girls," sneered a high-pitched voice cheerily, who I instantly recognised as a girl called Rainie. "If it isn't the orphan girl on her way to the selection. Like any of the Imperial Family would want you!"

"Look, Rainie, please move out of the way," I pleaded. "If I am late, the guards will be sure to punish me. Please let me through!"

"Look at the tramp pleading for her life," laughed a harsher voice who belonged to Rainie's boyfriend, Everett. "Such a shame to prolong her life anymore, wouldn't you say, hm?" It was because of him, Rainie escaped the selection process. You had to be a virgin, and because Rainie had already been claimed at the tender age of sixteen, she was now exempt. Many of the girls and young lads around heralso made sure to lose their virginities. Rainie took one small step towards me and lowered her hood, revealing her flame-orange hair and bright blue eyes. Smirking gently, she eyed me up and down before taking another step towards me.

"Yes. It would be a shame to let this tramp waste the Imperial Prince's time," purred Rainie slowly, letting every syllable roll over her tongue effortlessly. "Let's do everyone a favor and make this quick."

Before I could utter another word or move another muscle, the dark figures suddenly enveloped me into a whirl of darkness. The last thing I could remember was the pain from many pairs of hands and feet hitting my body and the cold, hard cobbles smashing into my head.