Page 13 of Luna Trials
“You’ll be fine.” Clara waved her hand in front of my mouth to shut me up. “This is the preliminary stuff where they show clips of the Luna Trials and we get to meet the ladies. It’s only a few episodes, but voting is the fun part. It’s how all theviewers get to stay involved. Oh! What are you going to do for your nest?”
“My nest?” Panic was starting to sink in.
Bishop gave me a side-eye. “Her nest?”
It took him a minute to connect the dots. He really was smart. The tests didn’t give him enough time.
“No shit.” He put his fist over his mouth, eyes lighting up as he did a little happy jig in the small space. “You got an invitation. You’re going toMating Season. Teach, say it isn’t so.”
Bishop stopped dancing and put his big paw on my shoulder. I’d remind him of the no touching rule if I thought he’d actually harm a fly. “Forget her nest. What is she going to wear?”
Clothes I assumed. “Can we go back to the part about someone dying?”
“Something dramatic happens every season.” Clara shrugged off my concerns. “Don’t worry. Just keep your head down while you’re there. Nothing happens to the contestants that aren’t super popular.”
“But how did someone die?” I asked.
In hindsight, maybe this wasn’t the best place to do my research.
“Wolves,” Bishop said like that was enough of an explanation. “You know how vicious and territorial they can be.”
“Then why don’t they use a more peaceful species for this show?”
Clara and Bishop both looked at me like I was stupid. Okay. I had that coming.
“I’m sure big cats would be just as entertaining,” I mumbled.
“It is kind of your species’ fault that we integrated with humans and now have to abide by their laws.” Clara motioned to her jumpsuit to prove her point.
It was all those werewolf romance novels that went mainstream. Back in the day, women went looking for hot wolf hookups and we had no choice but to come out into the open, to argue for basic rights, after one tryst too many between horny wolf shifters and smut readers.
“Besides, you all breed like rabbits since you’ve taken up so much territory. And that’s why it’s common for wolves to take a chosen mate now during your season.” Bishop sighed. “The rest of us are still blessed with finding our fated mates while we watch you struggle to make a real connection.”
Clara rolled her eyes. “Whatever. It’s not that deep.Mating Seasonis just fun.”
“This is so fun,” I deadpanned.
“I’m bummed we won’t know the Alpha lineup until after you go, but keep your cellphone on and I’ll try to call you with updates.” Clara swung her legs off the desk as the whistle sounded for lunch.
“You’re going to leave a lot of broken hearts behind here.” Bishop clapped me on the back. Hard. It was only my shifter strength that kept me from crashing into the desk. “Don’t forget about us when you get rich and famous.”
Rich and famous. Ha. I was more worried about survival. But Bishop and Clara had other priorities. Food was number one.
I didn’t blame them.
“I’ll miss you guys,” I called after them, not expecting Clara to turn around with tears filling her bright green eyes.
“Don’t ever come back here. Okay?”
*
I shoved my clothes into a plastic bag that I’d grabbed from the commissary and shifted just outside the prison fence where the sagebrush dotted the barren field. My jaw elongated and bones broke, spine cracked and nail beds splintered, as each part of my human body rearranged into the anatomy of my wolf.
It wasn’t as painful as it sounded.
Finally.She shook out her brown coat and picked up the bag with her teeth, eager to have control of our physical form.
Ears twitching, she set off on a trot through the open high desert. The chilling late winter winds blew down from the mountains and whipped through her fur as she picked up speed, chasing the illusion of freedom and enjoying the earthy scents.