Luka frowned. "Why?" 

"Look, I know you mean well," said the long haired werecat. His body language might be aggressive, but his concrete gray eyes showed sincerity. "Mohan's right. If there should be the first werewolf who join us in his reign, it could be you. But after we all found out about your cousins, I think it's best for you to join Delta instead." 

"I don't get it, why..." 

"Mohan has been through a lot. He lost so many good favors because of that. I'm afraid recruiting you into our fraternity only makes things worse; for Mohan, for us, and for you. As you can see, we are mostly consisted of werecats and we're looking for vampires to join us. These are two races that aren't friendly with you. It will be so cool if we win something together, as werecats, vampires and werewolves. But if things go south, Mohan will be blamed again." 

Luka clicked his tongue. Just when he thought things were getting better, the universe brought Sanzhar to announce that they're not. 

"I know it's unfair for you," Sanzhar spoke as gentle as he could. "But if we have to choose to save either you or Mohan, we will choose Mohan in a heartbeat. Delta will give you a more suitable home. And I will wait for you in Agmi match. I might even let you punch me once or twice." 

Luka scoffed. So Ohini was right. There was something dangerous happening in Beta Alpha and Mohan was the center of it. Despite his good intention on getting all the races together, there's still no guarantee if Luka would be safe there.

"Fine," he relented. "Even if you don't let me, I'll punch you anyway." 

"You got it," Sanzhar gave him a high five. Matthew came running toward them. “I believe this situation will change if the leaders inspire their people to embrace every race. We need both the chief and the alpha to actually do something about it.”

"The alpha?” asked Matthew who finally caught up with them. “What did I miss?”

"Take him with you," Sanzhar slapped Matthew's back. "Wayne's gonna love him." 

"You know Wayne?" asked Luka. 

"We went to the same high school," shouted Sanzhar just before he jumped into the water. 

"It's a small world after all," Matthew sang. "What’s up? You seem angry." 

Luka sighed and put his arm around Matthew's wet shoulder. "We're not welcome here anymore, Matthew." 

"What?" 

"Mohan's in some kind of trouble. If he insists on taking me in and I end up fighting with all the other werecats, he's gonna be in a bigger trouble. It's okay. No need to worry again now. To Delta we go." 

"To Delta we go!" 

But before going to the next Delta's rush session they had to attend their classes. The next day, Luka was more liberated to only attend Delta Pi Kappa's rush events. It made him closer with other guys such as Gin, the sneaky incubus; Hallmar, the merman with the man bun; Khazin, the 18-year-old ghoul who was already on his third year; Trefrey, the animal loving fairy; also Parker and Gumball, the inseparable sophomore werewolves. It's funny how most sophomores had food nicknames such as Gumball, Dimsum, Scones, Pretzel and Chili.

One of the events was volunteering at the local school for special needs. The rushees helped the members who already made a show for those kids. It was fun, touching and life-changing. 

Brayden might not show it, but he seemed satisfied seeing Luka at every event. Luka was sure that he had overcome his challenge of convincing Brayden. Ariane must be surprised. 

It’s something that came to his mind when they were gathered again that night. Kiowa told them to write the names of five actives that they looked up to. However, Matthew was convinced that it’s a ruse to create a list of the potential big brothers.

“You’re an idiot if you don’t put Brayden on your list,” whispered the guy. “Yes, he’s intimidating, but that’s exactly why you need to pick him. He will straighten you up. Damn, I wish I have someone like that in here. Oh, well, what can I do that everyone loves me?”

“So who do you choose?” Luka glances at his paper. Matthew let him read the list of men he had quickly compiled: Hallmar, Gin, Trefrey, Moley and Pinky.

“Hallmar and Gin can help with my social skills,” explained Matthew. “Trefrey and Moley can help me with my growth. While Pinky... I mean, he’s just cool, isn’t he?”

“Social skills?” Luka raised his left eyebrow. “You mean getting laid?”

Matthew smiled as he pulled back his paper, “You know what I mean.”

Luka concentrated on his blank paper. Matthew knew the kind of guidance he wanted from his big brother and the kind of guidance they could give. But what about him? What could they possibly give him?

Yes, Brayden would be an obvious choice. He’s the alpha. But with all the other werewolf pledges who might choose him too, Luka wouldn’t even be in Brayden’s consideration. Therefore, he’s going to put his name last.

According to the explanation from the Bjornevik brothers, he needed someone who could give him the support system and point out the shared suffering. The first person that spelled support to him was Ohini. And then, of course, Moley. The other names he put was of the other werewolves: Vest and Bowtie. They could guide him on how to be a proper gentle-werewolf.

The pledges then handed the papers with nervous excitement. Would they get their chosen actives as their big brothers?

The last event they had was a joint party with Zeta Gamma Psi and Pi Tau, Castor’s mom’s sorority. Normal straight guys would be so happy being surrounded with such lovely girls, but Luka was in love. Every time they brought in a girl, he could only think about Daisy.

"Daisy?" suddenly Matthew chimed in. They were sitting around in the sofa while the girls were talking about themselves. "Who's Daisy?"

Luka totally forgot that Matthew could tap into his mind and he just tapped in at the wrong time. When Luka said it's nobody, Matthew took out his phone and checked on his Facebook to find Daisy on his list of friends. Bingo. He tapped her photo and showed it to everyone, telling them they couldn't compete with her. His phone moved from one hand to the other, from the other sorority pledges, to Gin, to Ohini, even to Moley. They laughed at Luka and convinced the girls that he's not worth flirting with. At one side, Luka wanted to choke Matthew for being such a nosy little prick. At the other, he's glad he didn't have to explain himself anymore.

Ariane was just laughing at him when he told her about the party on the next day. She was curious how her nerdy brother Sepp had managed to handle all of it, especially remembering how different Mia was compared to typical sorority girls. Luka was still playing guess with her when someone came and flashed a light on Luka's face. In an instant, Luka was absorbed into the flashlight tube!

* * *

Luka's head was smashed into someone else's as he fell to the wooden floor. His eyes were still blurry from the light and everything was dark. There were noises, chants and shouts somewhere far from he was. When his vision returned, he found himself in a large room with a hundred other kids. Lights leaked through the gap of curtains in front of them. Seeing the stairs, cables and the back of lightings made Luka believe that they're at the back of a stage. The rows of chairs arranged upwards behind him proved that they're at the backstage in the stadium. 

What's happening? 

"Listen up, rushees," a woman in cream shirt spoke through a loudspeaker. "Welcome to Bid Day Ceremony." 

The hundred kids instantly cheered. They were officially bid! 

Luka realized that they were put in different circles, seventeen circles of boys and nine circles of girls. There were nine guys in his circle. He recognized all of them from Delta Pi Kappa's invitation only events. That could only mean... 

A man came in and pressed a button on his flashlight. Something, or more like someone, burst out from the tube and landed headfirst to the floor. He screamed in pain. "How many times should I tell you, guys? You cannot treat me like this. I don't have superhuman strength. See I got a bump." 

"Matthew?" 

The ranting guy with a bump on his forehead turned to him. "Luka!" He crawled to get to him, "The fuck is going on?" 

All of a sudden, a package appeared on everyone's lap. Luka's circle untied the rope and found two t-shirts inside; one was black and the other was dark green. They were all bid by Delta Pi Kappa. 

The woman continued with her instruction. Those who would pledge for the Greek organization that gave them a bid must wear the Greek t-shirt first and then the black t-shirt. Those who did not want to pledge were allowed to leave the place. Four guys and three girls got up once she told them that. They took the stairs to the right and departed behind the curtains. 

After they wore their t-shirts, the woman called the girls first to line up randomly before taking the stage upfront, except the nine girls who circled behind everyone else. She told them to wait. And she continued instructing the girls to rip off their black t-shirt once they're up there and run to their chosen sorority. 

Music started to play, provoking the cheers from the audience outside. The host gave a shout out to the audience, turning up the heat, before she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, let me present you the most anticipated pledges of the year!" 

One by one, those girls got up the stage. The crowd roared. The boys behind the stage could only wonder what was happening up there. After the other girls went out to the stage, it was the nine girls' turn. The woman specifically called out their names and arranged them in such order, then the host told the crowd, "And now, here come the girls who receive more than one bid. In no particular order, our first girl was the captain of her high school's math team. She's the first girl who ever won her hometown's engineering competition. She had been invited as a speaker in NJIT STEM summit. This is Kiana Faux." 

The crowd sounded off for her arrival on stage. 

"What's it gonna be?" the host continued. Something happened. The crowd went rowdy again. "It's Omega Sigma!" 

The same announcement happened to the other eight girls. Once the commotion went down, the woman told the boys to stand. It's their turn now. Luka stood alongside the other pledges in black t-shirt. 

"Here comes the boys!" called the host, signaling them to walk up the stage. Luka followed the line until it was time for him to go out to the stage. 

He walked out from a dark backstage right into the flood of light, nearly blinded by them. The scream of the crowd stung his ear drums. There were groups of people standing below the stage and up on the seats of the stadium. The people below the stage wore different colored t-shirts. Gray, yellow, purple, and many more. Squinting his eyes, Luka searched for the group with barn red t-shirt. There they were, with Brayden's red quiff being the center of attention. 

"That's Luka!" Ariane pointed at the big screen where her clearly distraught cousin's face showed. She was sitting on the stadium seats with Finlay and Castor. "He got one bid." 

"Wow, that's savage, I wonder which fraternity that gave him the bid," Finlay said sarcastically while nibbling on his peanuts. 

Then Luka ripped the black t-shirt, revealing the barn red Delta Pi Kappa t-shirt he wore underneath. The Delta actives jumped and punched the air seeing him wearing that. 

"Well, that's a plot twist," added Finlay. Castor just laughed and flapped his wings. 

Then Luka rocketed and jumped at the group of Deltas, doing that crowd surfing he never thought he'd enjoyed. Each and every one of them gave him a high five, a pat on the back, a stroke on the head, even a hug. It was quite moving, having all those guys welcomed him with such warmth and open arms. That sense of acceptance was the very thing he needed. And all of a sudden, he realized he’s not in this fight alone.

The last guy just jumped off the stage to the crowd of Tau Nu Omega. The host's voice thundered again, "Now it's time for the guys who got multiple bids." 

"Is there anyone else you're waiting for?" Luka asked Gumball. 

The Mongolian werewolf shook his head. "Nah," he answered. "We got all we need, right Boss?" 

"Yeah," Moley looked up at the stage. "We gotta wait until it's over, though." 

"The next guy is," the host read her card, "the ultimate four bid receiver, Bashar Al-Falih!" 

Luka's heart shrunk. The beanie-wearing ghoul came up to the stage. All eyes and cameras were on him. 

Castor and Ariane turned to each other, “Isn’t that...”

"The d'Auvrecher's ghoul mate!" Finlay pointed the screen.

Bashar tore off his t-shirt revealing a gray t-shirt underneath. The guys from Gamma Theta Pi supported him who jumped right on top of them. 

"Oh, Dagda, Persephone, Mother Earth, God Almighty please," Finlay prayed, "please don't let that wombat..." 

Luka's ears could only hear his own heartbeat and heavy breath. Everything moved slowly. His head was swerving. When he finally got a hold of himself, the host shouted, "The 44^th son, the first one that has ever pledged, Raoul d'Auvrecher!" 

The vampire stepped into the stage. Without trying to build up the tension, he ripped his black t-shirt straight away. Now he stood there wearing a gray t-shirt. 

Raoul d'Auvrecher was now a pledge. And he pledged the wealthiest fraternity in all Erebus.