The Main Clearing is an architectural extravagance. From the outside, it's merely a large forested hill, blanketed with billows of snowy grass. The middle of the pit is carved out, revealing it's rows of rings straining out past each other every level. It's almost like an ant hole, the way networks of tunnels dissect out of the earth so the wolves can return to the neighborhoods. 

Since the town's founding in eighteen eighty-nine, The Main Clear has served as a location for elder meetings, clan meetings, and tribal celebrations. Today it acts as the as the ceremonial Match Building. 

I'm standing right above one of the tunnels, staring down, quivering as I prepare to take the deranged ride of my life. From here, it's almost as if I can see all of Howl Falls, the town allocated specifically werewolves. And past the fences, I can see into the Everglades. 

The Elders say that before Howl Falls came into the picture, werewolves were never safe. So we came up with the one solution that would keep us protected from the ones who tried to wipe us out. We moved into a ghost town, renovated it to suit our lifestyle, built the Main Clearing and turned the ghost town into what we call Howl Falls. 

We made the fences last. Their prime objective is to protect us from the heinous beasts outside of Howl Falls. To ensure safety, we made the fences electric, so they'd shock anyone trying to get past or over the fence. No one's allowed to leave the grounds of Howl Falls, but as everyone says, it's for our own good. 

I crouch down, extending my legs into the tunnel, as I grab onto the metal rail above. I take a deep breath in. When I come out of a tunnel, I'll have a Match. I'll be returning home to introduce my Match to Sabia, and he'll take me to his place to meet his family. I pull back and let go the bar barrelling down the tunnel like I'm riding a slide. I scream at the top of my lungs ... because I feel like it. The static of the metal in the tunnel shocks my skin, almost as if it's a painful whip.

I see a slim and svelte wolf, fur as silver as glass china---one that Sabia keeps locked up in her closet. The eyes are mellow...almost sympathetic, almost opposite to the sharp dagger like eyes that my brother has in his human form. Kyran approaches me, his skinny legs shift up and down, his sharp claws are dragging across the dirt pavement.

With a glance over to the contiguous tunnel, Kyran sinks inside and runs up to the third-level ring - where the members of The Council of the Wise are situated. I look around at the scenery.

The first-level ring consists of old tree stumps that they moved down here when creating the pit and serve as chairs for clan meetings. In a typical meeting, the first ring acts as the level for rogues and newbies, the group of wolves that still attend school. But today, only the people who're getting Matched today are allowed down here once the ceremony starts.

To the left, there's a cluttered crowd of male wolves participating in the Matching Ceremony. They're all bathed in silk tuxedos and flannel suits. Meanwhile, to the right, there's a crowd of girls chattering feverishly amongst one another as they do last minute fixes to their gowns. And in the front of the crowd of girls, Keanna is excitedly waving at me with every muscle in her body. 

Keanna is sporting a light cyan gown of silk, vibrant fabrics. She wears her hair in her regular pleated braid, drooping down the side of her neck as she looks from side to side, with the famous smile of hers as if nothing can ever go wrong in life for her.

I rush over to her, joining in on the line of anxious females. I give her a slight embrace. "Are you excited," I ask almost immediately. I pat down the silk cloths of my dress. 

"A little nervous actually. I just don't want to end up Matchless like that one girl last year." 

Keanna bites her fingernails as she looks back and forth at the crowd of boys at the other end of the first ring. I nod. 

"Don't worry. You're the most fabulous person I know. There's no way you're gonna end up Matchless." 

I guess it feels good to play the optimistic friend for once in my life. She lets out a pressed-lipped smile and bobs her head a little. 

I hear a gong sound from the third ring. I look up, seeing the sun preparing to go to sleep. In two rings of the gong, the sun will have set, and the ceremony will begin. Keanna takes my hand in hers and looks anxiously into my eyes as if she's trying to see into my soul. That's what she calls her way of looking softly at someone. 

"Are you ready for the biggest moment of our lives?" 

"Yes." 

I inhale deeply through my nose, feeling a slight pang in my chest. I squeeze Keanna's hand. I'm ready. I'm ready for this to befall. I look at the sky, watching as the sky turns a beautiful crimson color. The gong sounds a second time. Come on. Come on. The sky fades to black and is replaced by the gentle glow of the crescent moon.  The third sound of gong sounds louder than the other two combined. 

A group of young women arises from a remote corner of the ground ring. Throbbing drumbeats replace the noise of the gong that fades off with a sizzling distance. Steady, the women come out, hips oscillating under layers of red and gold silks draping all over them. Soon, red and gold enclose the entire ring. In the front, Eileene leads the group in a traditional ballroom dance. I forgot she's part of the dance team.

Legs twist and turn in quick movements as the tempo of the drums picks up. The quicker the pace, the faster the changes. My eyes mesmerize themselves as I try to keep up with their footwork. Then all of sudden the drums, just like the gong, fade out after a good thirty seconds of watching. 

I hear roars from the audience as a popular tropical house song takes over the Main Clearing. I watch carefully as the silks fall to the ground to reveal the tank tops and jeans that accentuate the sharp angles of their figures. They make sharp movements with their heads, arms, hips, and legs as they stay in synch with the tempo of a four-beat drum that fills the air. Spins and twists follow up as the chorus has of flameout of amalgamated xylophonic blips. 

With a screeching halt of the beats, the women collapse to the surface and disappear into the far corner that is too far me to get a good glance of where they're all heading. I always keep telling myself that I'll be one of them someday. I will be good enough to make it onto the dance team. 

I look up at the second ring as a gray wolf with long, ropy muscles in his arms and legs that pounce on the mossy stump to hoist the rest of himself onto the stand. Llwyd notices my intent gaze with those daggers he claims are his source of sight and bares his fangs at me, soaked in blood. 

Stop staring! 

I turn back to the grassy area. No silks, only dewy green blades of nature. I glance back at where Llwyd stands, two legs on his stump, two hands clutching his cape of tribal fur to the middle of his chest and a clenched jaw. 

As I plop myself down on a stump, I find myself jammed between long skirts of pastel silks and elaborately styled curls and waves. To be honest this too much of a fairytale for me. All of the girls are dolled up as if they'll be eligible to be Rylan's soulmate when they all know the chances of becoming a Luna is one in a million.  

"Welcome members of the Moon Clan." Llwyd scans the area to make sure everyone is sitting. The members of the Council sit behind him in the second ring. He gets his pride and we get destiny. That's the price for our safety. "Today we celebrate as our young werewolves take on a new milestone - finding their Match. Being Matched is a rite of passage for our kind." 

Llwyd then goes onto to speak of our antiquity. Back in eighteen-seventy-five, the Moon Clan used to work on farms in Mexico to scare off rabid pack animals that threatened to eat the livestock, but we soon had enough. Lead by audacious fifteen-year-old Eloísa Caro, we left the comfort of our surroundings to find a new life in America. Life in America was no better. 

The humans there tried to hunt us down and make us weep. During the first years in America, many lives were lost - each name is listed in the particular book of fallen heroes of Howl Falls in the local mortuary. We looked towards every solution possible - fleeing to Europe, living amongst real wolves, but the last idea was the best. We decided to establish our own society. 

"No matter if they're a rogue or not. All young werewolves are given a chance to climb up the social ladder. We all deserve a second chance to mend our wrongdoings."

Llwyd stares down at me as I try to maintain eye contact with him. In all truth, I'd prefer to be in my own comforts, somewhere dark in a closet, curled up into a ball of self-security. Why am I the one to get his shivering looks? Why am I fresh meat from the deli in his eyes? 

"Speaking of second chances," Llwyd says with a sleek smile crossing his face, "let's get on with the ceremony. Ladies shall be named first." 

Alonna Abbotts is called up to the podium first. She walks in such a regal manner it's almost unnatural, with her long waves of icy orange locks swishing at her waistline. Her lava red gown follows the trail of her footsteps, the lace ornaments swishing with each sway of her of her hips.  

"Alonna Abbotts." 

She approaches the podium, looking up at him. Sweat rolls down her bare arms. I can see body trembling. Like every other seventeen-year-old, the inevitable question we all fear must be lacing through her brain - Matched or Matchless? 

"Through thorough considerations of your evaluation and suggestions of the Council, you've been Matched with Winn Callings."  

The girl's shoulders drop as her fate is announced. I watch her close her eyes and breathe in and out slowly. Winn comes up onto the podium. After the two shake hands, they go on and announce the next Match, and it goes until everyone is paired off. 

The girl whose last name comes before White is paired off. As she gets onto the podium, I feel Keanna grip my hand tightly. Sweat pours down her forehead. She must be nervous that she'll be the one ending up Matchless. 

According to Kia, Keanna's family seem to have a streak of bad luck in past years. Last year, Keanna's cousin from her mother's side, Kiona Embers, was one of the unfortunate victims to the streak of becoming Matchless. 

Long ago, a few years after the founding of the village, some insurgents came into form to bring down Howl Falls as soon as it came up. Legend has it, ancestors Gwynne and Killian were among them, and they capitulated before they could go in too deep. Their punishment was that one child from each line of their offspring would have to bear the repercussions of opposing the society. 

The pair leaves the podium and returns to their seats. Proceeding, the next name is called. 

"Keanna White." 

I give Keanna's hand a quick squeeze as she stands up where she finds the chance and quickly pulls me to my feet in a hug. Her sad, breathy voice makes its way to my ear. 

"Always remember this B: sometimes you only love what you can't have." 

She pulls away and makes her way to the podium, her body trembling the whole time she walks. She saunters so quickly, it's as if she's blown there by a gush of wind. Approaching the podium, she places her hands on opposite sides of the stand as she steadies herself.  

"You have been declared ... " 

Llwyd pauses for a moment, and we all look up at him. A lot of things can happen in a flash of respite. Someone can change their mind about someone. They make up their mind about someone. 

All I know, there are people in mounting rings above, those of whom are her adoring devotees, are cheering her on. All I can see is Keanna, sweat pouring down her glossy shoulders. Her parents are holding their family together as they pray for the best. 

I revert back to Keanna. Sweet Keanna who anyone should feel lucky to have the chance to date. There's no one in this life I know has so much optimism in mankind that she's a rainbow twenty-four seven, or can never stop seeing the best in everyone she knows. If anyone deserves a place in the system as Luna, it has to be Keanna. 

A millisecond later, the whole world stops.  

"Matchless." 

Murmurs of surprise prowl through the entire Main Clearing. My heart skips a beat. How is that even possible? I look up at the third ring, where family members of the Matching Ceremony participants sit. Keanna's family are consoling each other as they bemoan yet another streak of bad luck. Poor Keelyn must be traumatized, losing her cousin and her sister. 

According to Moon Clan Law, siblings and parents of a Matchless wolf are prohibited to show their face in public until a month following the Matching Ceremony. And when their month is up, they are covered in black garments for the rest of the year. It's truly is a stigma to be Matchless or even related to someone Matchless. 

But when I look back at Keanna, a smile is crossing her face, as if she's almost happy to bee Matchless. As she leaves the podium, she retreats to separate side of the room reserved for the Matchless at this ceremony, and she's instantly on her phone, texting her thumbs away.

"Betrys Wilson." 

I stand as I hear my name. I make my way over to the podium, taking in every odd stare participants are giving me one by one. I sigh. I've waited for this moment way too long, I remind myself as I take in deep breaths. I look up at Llwyd solemnly. 

I haven't seen Llwyd wear this look a lot in the time I've known him, but I know it's never a good sign when he has those hard eyes like that. I feel my throat. I pray, Lord, don't make me Matchless. 

My heart in my throat, my eyes beg Kyran for reassurance. He doesn't seem to notice me with the small wolf with fur as red as her real hair is already watching the ceremony at his side. I forgot Eileene's also on the Council, the first of her family.

I move onto the giant wolverine with fur dark as night, sitting with her snout high and proud in the air. Even as a wolf, Sabia still acts regal. Her wide eyes cast down upon me. All will be okay, her visage assures me. 

"You've been Matched with Athan Wellings." 

The chatter throughout the Main Clearing drops dead silent in only seconds of those last two words leaving Llwyd's mouth. I look over at my Match, the person I'm supposed to devote myself to from here on out. 

There's not much of a difference in our heights. We're both lagging one inch from six feet. Athan's eyes aren't a welcoming with their sharp, blood red pigment, but rather more a warning to drive people away - not that the girls at my school care. They find him, and I quote the direct words of one of his game pieces (as I like to call them) ... "Sexy." 

We meet eyes as Athan finally makes his way onto the podium. My heart rather jumps out of my skin and runs away as I decipher the last two minutes of my life. I have to spend the rest of my life with Athan Wellings, known heartbreaker and hybrid. 

"Oh damn!"

 I ball my hands into a fist.I feel my phone vibrate against my calves. I forgot to silence my phone. I'm the girl who sneaks her phone into a tribal ceremony. I'm the "rebel" of all wolves. Yeah, no.

I make my way back into the crowd of girls and sit down. I lift my leg onto one of the tables and read the text appearing in a white bubble on my lock screen. It's Kyran. How odd. I've never known Kyran to be the kind who is discourteous during common events. 

Meet me at the top of the Main Clearing after everyone leaves. - Ky 

I put my leg back down and zone out for the rest of the ceremony. As the service ends, people begin to barrel up the tunnels with their Matches. But as I'm about to leave to go my Kyran, I feel Llwyd put a hand on my shoulder. 

"Betrys," he says, startling me there for only a moment. I turn around to meet his eyes. He never holds me back after meetings or ceremonies. Damn, I must be in trouble, I tell myself ready to shove a pillow in my face. But then I realize, I haven't even done anything wrong. "Congrats on your Matching Ceremony." 

"Not really!" I'm hitting him on the shoulder. As much as I want to attack him to my heart's content for Matching me with Athan, I decide to stick with sarcasm rather than violence. "I was Matched with Athan Wellings, haven't you heard."

"Betrys," Llwyd says, his voice coming off like a prolonged crack of thunder, "I'm serious. This isn't meant to be a joke. Now let me cut to the chase. But, I need to you know you're okay with this before I proceed. Capiche?" 

"Rumor has it, Athan is working with a group of wolves trying to overthrow our government. I need you to get close with the group and gather intel so we can take them down before they can go any farther."

He holds out his hand. "Do I have your loyalty?" 

I'm about to shake his hand, but I instantly pull back with a smirk. "What's in it for me?" 

"You get to eliminate Athan and his family." 

His voice is malicious. I feel a gulp slide forcefully down my throat. Isn't that a form of espionage? What Llwyd tells me next, it causes a spark to ignite somewhere inside of me. Llwyd can read me like a book, I guess. 

"Have I remind you, your parents were killed by vampires. Don't you wanna get revenge on the kind that killed your parents?" 

I nod and shake his hand. I can't see any way out of this. I will do whatever it takes to get out of my Matching with Athan if it means I won't end up Matchless like Keanna. "I'm in."  

"Good," Llwyd says firmly, cupping his hands over mine. "I'll provide you with further information tomorrow." 

He drops onto all fours and transforms into a wolf. With that, he bounds up a tunnel. I also turn into a wolf and barrel up the same tunnel. 

There's no sign of Kyran when I exit the tunnels. The area is completely silent other than the chatter of a few woodland creatures. Where is he? Could Kyran have butt-texting me by accident? I laugh at that thought. I'm the only person in his contacts, so chances of that ... very slim. 

But still, I wait impatiently, staring at the trees with one little hope that someone will appear. Anyone. From the corners of the dark trees, I hear footsteps. Yes. Kyran. 

My eyes squint. A shadow wrapped in black comes out from the trees.

 "Who are you?" I demand. 

The figure is in a dark suit, mask, with matching gloves. Odd. In one hand, he - or she - holds some rope and a body bag. 

Oh hell no! 

"Who are you?" 

I repeat myself yet once again, crying at the top of my lungs. I've seen these kinds of scenes in the horror movies Kyran and I like to watch on Saturday nights. For all I know, this won't end well. I feel an arm wrap around my throat. 

I'm crying at the top of my lungs as the firm hands of the figure behind me hold me in their grasp, forbidding any escape from this treachery. A bag is thrown over my head, and I feel myself being tied up. I black out from there, not wanting to witness the rest of it. Well, that and maybe the needle they stick into my neck.  

~

The end of this chapter was a pretty hard scene to write. But I still enjoyed it. I could consider this one of my firsts. 

Why do you think Keanna is happy about being Matchless? Isn't funny that her family has a direct link to bad luck with Matching? 

Anyone else ticked off with Llwyd? I know I am.

What do you think is going to happen? Where is Betrys going? 

If you liked this chapter, don't forget to vote and comment. I'd appreciate it. Thanks. 

Here's a gif: 

X Shay X