The Delta's Daughter Chapter 144

TALA

Eloise helped me put on the thin blue tunic dress and then braided my long red hair, wrapping around my head like a crown. I applied a coat of mascara and clear lip gloss, just to give my lips a shine.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror of my vanity. “You look beautiful Tala,” Eloise praised.

“El won't you be coming too A lady always needs her maid.” I asked my best friend.

She smiled, her lips pulling into a tight line. Her smile was not of happiness rather it was fake and forced. “I have been told I am not needed, you will be escorted by Jack and the wolf.” She said.

I could tell she was upset and holding back and I didn’t need to ask her what was wrong. I already knew. Today, my father would be announcing my pairing with Jasper. Her mate. And there was nothing we could do about it. I felt guilty. Even though I didn’t want to, I was stealing her future, her happiness. Her mate.

“We have 28 days until the full moon, Jasper and I will find a way out of this. I promise.” Her hands rested on my shoulders and brought one hand up and laid it on one of hers. Squeezing it gently, trying to reassure her that this was not what Jasper nor I wanted.

Jasper was in love with her, and she was head over heels for him and I was the obstacle in the way of true love, a fated pair being held apart because of rank and greed. Eloise didn’t deserve to be tossed to the side. She didn’t deserve to have her fate ripped away from her. She didn’t deserve to be treated as less, because she wasn’t. She was so much more than a maid, so much more than my best friend. She was strong and not once did she scream or yell at me in anger, not once did she blame me or Jasper for our fathers' decisions.

A knock came at the door and Jasper entered his gaze immediately falling on El. The look of love poured out from his light green eyes as they cast a wanting look over Eloise. I blinked for a long second, trying not to cry for my two best friends and their tragic love story.

I cannot let my father win. I will find a way out of this pairing. For them, for Jasper and El. I thought to myself. I just didn’t know how yet.

“Jack and Oliver are waiting for you in the hall. Father said they will be escorting you to the opening ceremony instead of me.” I gulped and shivered.

“Yes, that’s right. Jack has decided to be my companion until my father gives him what he is owed. If my father doesn’t, then Jack said he will take me as payment instead.” My voice trembled as I relayed what transpired in my father’s office.

Jasper shook with anger. “You are not a fucking bargaining chip.” He gritted out “How can a father do this to their only living daughter, it's sick. What he is making us do is sick. What he will put El through is sick and my father is no better.” I could see his skin become red, the color creeping up and over his face.

“Tonight, after the opening of the games, when they introduce the slave girls, the three of us will form a plan, a good one, one that will get you two out of this… this… pairing!” I nodded my head, agreeing with Eloise.

Jasper crossed the room and took her in his arms, smoothing down her black hair as he administered kisses on the crown of her head. “You are right little mate, we need to form a solid plan.”

Eloise was smart, smarter than me, and she wasn’t an idiot, just a little sheltered from the day to day life. I was well educated, but Eloise had a natural talent for math and science. Like my sister Shayna, El was a whiz when it came to electronics, of course, she wasn’t a chemist or alchemist like Shayna had been, that had been a gift from the goddess, a gift Shayna had abused.

Eloise though could build a radio from scraps and could calculate time, distance and speed in her head with the click of a finger. Between the three of us, we should be able to come up with a solid plan and be able to stop the forced mating and marking that was meant to take place in 28 days.

If it meant me taking my life, then I would gladly do it if it meant Jasper and Eloise could live happily ever after.

I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin, taking several deep calming breaths before I opened my door and was met by Jack the bear and his wolf Oliver.

I would not let them intimidate me this time.

Jack was big and scary, the epitome of evil. With a viciousness that rivaled even my father’s cruelty. Whereas Oliver had a look that was sly and cunning, he was calculating. I think if the moon goddess had given evil shifters mates, these two would be a match made in heaven.

“Why don’t you look gentle to the eyes.” Oliver’s slimy voice cooed at me as I emerged from my room and made steps towards them.

“Very pleasing to the eye,” Jack complimented.

“Gentlemen, shall we” I said ignoring their looks of lust as their eyes roamed my body.

I would not let them intimidate me today. I said to myself again. My wolf growled in my head, Mora did not like these two being so close to us and neither did I. However, for the sake of getting through today and my sanity, I pushed the nauseous feeling of being so near to these two shifters to the back of my mind and chided my wolf to 'behave' herself.

I plastered on the best smile I could fake and held my arms out for the two sacks of skins to take. Trying not to gag when they both took an arm each, oblivious of my aversion to them, they then led me down and out to the arena.

The arena was packed with spectators. Shifters from all ranks crowded on the stadium's stone seating. Neighboring Alphas and higher-ranked wolves were seated in private tents, slaves serving cool drinks as the sun beat down heavily. The air thick with humidity made it hard to breathe.

I stood behind our tent, while my father addressed the pack and visiting shifters. I stole a glance at Jasper who looked nervous as shit, hoping I didn’t convey the same unease as he did.

Jack and Oliver conversed over my head, as I waited to be announced. They were muttering something about a prince, but I couldn’t concentrate to listen to them, my wolf was bouncing around in my head like a jack rabbit, excited about something and I was having a hard time reining her in.

I saw Jasper round the tent and the clapping and cheering of the crowd, then I heard my name and my legs went stiff. I couldn’t move, but then Oliver’s large hand took my elbow and pulled me forward and out of my stationary state.

I was oblivious to what my father said, and gave the crowd a small toothy smile and slight wave.

“May this year’s Gladiators be presented to the Alpha!” The announcer called out and I shifted my gaze to the approaching Gladiator slaves. I had only ever seen Teal, so I was curious as to what the rest looked like; if they would be as big and strong as him.

Four Gladiators approached our tent, walking swiftly as they crossed the arena to us.

My skin heated up as the Wolf Gladiator next to Teal walked forward, my heart was fluttering and my breath was caught in a stutter. The closer he got the more my body trembled.

Holy mother of the moon, take me now, I thought.

He was so… strong looking. His body was sculpted to perfection, each dip and cut of his muscular chest and ripped abs, were pure perfection.