Hazel's POV

Alpha Matteo kept chuckling at how scared I looked. Forcing my eyes to open, my jaws suddenly dropped at the sight before me.

The newly initiated warriors’ bodies were painted with what looked like red human blood. Their hair was decorated with wild bird feathers, cowries, and small bones, with bold white chalk marks under their eyes.

I looked at the girls and noticed they were wearing small dresses made of dry leaves, soft animal skin, and ropes of grass, covering only their pubic areas.

Around their necks were small human skulls, dangling down to their bare chests.

Ah! Do you know what baffles me the most? The...