The Choosing

chapter one

THE CHOOSING
chapter one
  My eighteenth birthday was a sign for me to be put in the choosing. It wasn't my choice but it gave my family a chance. A chance to live. A chance to have a constant supply of food on the table, at least for a little while. My birth date had fallen at the right time for the choosing. Years ago in my great grandmothers era, it would have been unheard of for werewolves to be real. They were just fables in a book. I can't think of the past though. Werewolves rule us humans now. We were seen as workers and nothing more. We were normal. The werewolves held power and were peculiar. They were a change that people were looking for. The wealthy humans joined in as a society with the werewolves, while the unfortunate humans who weren't wealthy became slaves. They like to call us workers. I on the other hand had a chance to make a change for my family. The alpha King had a son. His son had just turned eighteen and was the coming of age to find a princess. The choosing was a chance to give a working class human family a chance at joining their society. The choosing took eight human girls at the ripe age of eighteen to live in the castle while the prince chose who he shall marry. It was a very exciting ceremony for the wealthy society. It would be broadcasted on TV for six grueling months. Some girls saw it as a chance to one day be queen. I just looked at it as a chance. A chance of hope for my family, but I didn't want to be married. I didn't want to win. I just want to survive a while longer. I want my family to have food on the table every night and not have to worry.
  "Olivia Renalds, you and seven other girls have been accepted to be in the choosing for Prince  Jasper." My mother read gleaming with pride. Tears sprang from the corner of her eyes and glistened her cheeks. The acceptance letter had come through the mail after I had applied two days ago. "You seem shocked Livy." My little sister Anna said grabbing my hand and squeezing. I was more than shocked. Hundreds of girls had applied yet I was one of the ones to be getting this chance. I applied because my mother wanted me to and I honestly planned on not being chosen. My mother read on, "as you know your family will be provided food and money while you are away, if you are eliminated from the choosing the curtesy will stop and you will continue your life as a worker. Good luck and let the choice of a lifetime begin." my mother put the letter down. She flipped it around to look at the back, running her fingers across the smooth envelope. Her warm brown eyes met mine. I didn't know what to say. I was speechless. "I don't want to win. I don't want to marry. I just want to be able to provide for our family." I choked out panic bubbling inside of me. My mother embraced me with a hug. "You have been chosen, you make this family proud. You know your father would be proud too." She said letting go of me. My father had died at the hands of a rogue wolf pack. It was purely murder but the society ignored it. I sighed and nodded my head. She was right. He dreamed of this. He wanted a chance for us all and he knew the timing of my birth had been hope. So much so that he had the audacity to name me Olivia Hope. I loved my father but this is not what I wanted. Deep down I held some resentment.  "Please Livy just for awhile. Just until you get eliminated if that's what you want, but just for a little bit of food." My sister begged placing her hands together and pouting. I could never resist her sad face. I put my hand on her shoulder. " I will stay as long as I can but I don't want to be queen of the society. You know what happens after the anointed queen bares a child." I said looking my sister in the eyes sternly. Once the queen bares a child for the king they are made wolves by being bitten. Bitten wolves are looked down upon the society compared to full and half blood wolves. My sister nods her head sitting back down. "Why don't you go get some rest," my mother says to me. "We don't know when the guards will be here for you." She states pulling her hair into a loose bun. I yawn in reaction and nod my head. All of this sudden news gives me an overwhelming tiredness. I must drift off as soon as my head had hit the pillow because when wake I hear the guards barge in. My heart pounds and my panic quickens. "Why so soon." I mutter standing up quickly.
      "Hands behind your back." The guard yells putting a blindfold over my eyes. "What the hell!" I scream kicking one of the guards in the shin. "Feisty one." I hear a deep voice say. The anger builds inside me. "Miss calm down, this is part of the choosing. You are unable to see how to get into the castle." The deep voiced guard said grabbing my arm and pulling me forward. My panic subsides to a dull feeling but I'm put on edge. I can hear the faint goodbyes from my mother and sister as I step into what I think is a larger car; no not a car, it's a van. I need to pay attention more. A guard places his hand on my shoulder. His grip tightening on my shoulder.  "Let go of me, you fool. I'm in no danger to run off. You know as well as I do it'd be no good to run off blindfolded." I sternly say trying to make my voice come off strong and even. "Learn your place girl." The guard slaps my face. I had no way of seeing it hit me until it did. My cheek burned. It took everything I had to keep my mouth shut. "I'd be careful, you could be talking to your future queen." A voice with an Italian accent says. He sounded like he was coming from the front of the vehicle. He must be the driver. I silently thank the man with the Italian accent. The motion of the car jostles me around and makes me nauseous. The car screeches to a stop. The ride felt short but I know my adrenaline just made it seem so short. I hear the car door open and the feeling of the brisk air of the outdoors. It smells sweet, like fresh rain. I love the outdoors. I always have. Hands slide my blindfold off and I flinch. "Careful, this ones feisty and hot-headed." The same gruff man from before scoffs. I glare up at the man, my eyes adjusting to the outdoor lighting. I look around at the crowd of the society. The castle is huge. The big iron gates seem captivating. I can only imagine how big my eyes look. It's nothing like I had imagined. The society has bright colors. Men and women are dressed in unique outfits, like I've never seen before. Come on miss, lets get inside." A younger guard says shoving me along. The cameras swarm me. Cameramen and producers surround themselves around the line of vans that await in front of the castle. "What is your name, young lady." a women in a bright pink frilly hat asks me shoving the microphone to my mouth. I know I should say something but I don't. I stare at the camera like a deer in the headlights. The younger guard grabs me by the arm and pulls me along away from the camera. "You better get used to that." The younger guard whispers rudely. "You didn't give me time." I counteracted back. The truth was that I was embarrassed. I made a fool of myself and if I truly wanted to last long here, then I was going to have to play the part. I took a deep breath. We made it up to the castle doors and they opened slowly. I could hear the seven other participants behind me. Well here goes nothing.

// hi, I'm Kylie and I understand that this is sloppy and kind of crazy but it's my first book so please bare with me. Any input would help me. Thank you! I will also update regularly and I hope you enjoy:)