Page 41 of Luna Trials
My wolf tensed, waiting for the familiarity of the first blow and ready to go down swinging.
Trenton closed his eyes and groaned, breathing deeply as if he was trying to learn patience. That was a little confusing. “Why do you have to make everything so difficult?”
My jaw dropped. “Me?”
“I don’t think she gets it,” Stef said, with none of her usual bite.
No. I didn’t. “Gets what?”
“Will you sit down and stop thinking everything is a fight?” Trenton actually asked me to do something without a command.
Stunned, I sat. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I thought you were smart,” Stef said, changing tactics when Trenton shot her a warninglook. “Fine. You’re smart. But you’re an idiot if you think messing around with Tuila and McCaw Packs will keep you inMating Season. You’re going to make enemies and we won’t be able to help you.”
The thing about growing up with someone is that you knew when they were mincing their words even if they didn’t flat out lie. She wouldn’t have helped me even if she could. “I can take care of myself if anything happens. Do you want to tell me what you’re really worried about?”
Stef had the decency to glance away, but not before I saw the scheming look in her eyes.
“This is all about the polls, isn’t it?” I turned to Trenton.
“I’ve been working to get you two some sponsors,” he explained. “But it’s harder than it seems. They want to know their investment will be worth it.”
“And?” I asked, loving the way they squirmed.
“Do we have to spell it out for you?” Stef growled.
I leaned back against the sofa. “Please do.”
“You are such a brat.” Stef straightened her shoulders, taking a deep breath. I didn’t bother to respond to her insult. This was too much fun.
Trenton dragged his hands over his face. “There was one sponsor who said they’d bite, but they want to make sure you’re on board before they send stuff over.”
I burst out laughing. “Two days ago, you didn’t want to be anywhere near me and now you need me here.”
“You have to understand why we felt that way,” Stef’s voice was sugary sweet and oh-so-fake. “You’ve never exactly been Luna material, but seeing the magic you must have worked on the reporters, I think we underestimated you.”
If that was the case, I’d underestimated myself. I’d done nothing to draw the attention I was getting. But the Luna comment rubbed me the wrong way.
I looked to Trenton, willing him to say something. Even though we’d long since passed the time where I actually cared if he’d step up. It was just funny, watching this come full circle, and I was curious what he thought. Call it an experiment.
He stared back at me, clenching his jaw in anger. If that’s the way he wanted to play it, I refused to care about his tantrum.
“Good luck with–”
“Please,” Trenton said before I stood up.
Damn it.As much as I wanted to live with my newfound power, that wasn’t the reason I was here. Alpha Derek was in charge. I was a good little wolf, doing what I was told to help Trenton with the games. That was my ticket out of the pack and I wasn’t about to throw it away.
Still…
My wolf chuckled as I cupped my fingers around my ear. “I’m sorry. Can you say that again? It was hard to hear you over the cheering of my fans.”
“Why are you like this?” Stef screamed as she threw her hands in the air.
Trenton shook his head, a small smile causing the dimple on his cheek to deepen even though his eyes still held to that brewing storm of frustration I knew so well. “Thank you, Aspen.”
Geez.