Page 5 of Luna Trials

I had to get out of here before I cracked and did something stupid. Or before I got paired with one of these jerks.

I didn’t want the white picket fence or to move up the ranks. I wasn’t my mother, planning to use a male to better my position in the pack. I wanted anonymity in the giant world outside our territory. I wanted to get my papa somewhere safe where hecould heal and never work for these assholes again. I wanted freedom. Escape.

One month, three days, three hours…

The clock on the wall above the jukebox ticked slowly as Alpha Derek made his opening remarks, acknowledging the shifters around him and ignoring those of us in the back.

Until his eyes shifted, ever so slightly.

“As you know, mating season is coming and with that the new spring. I’m proud to inform you all that the producers ofMating Seasonhave sent us an invitation to the show. Trenton will be a contestant in this year’s Alpha Games and hopefully come home with a Luna bride to lead the future of our pack.”

Boisterous cheers sounded around the room. I threw up a little in my mouth. That stupid show was a joke to most shifters. Only Alphas and their sons got the invitations, dragging along a potential Luna candidate or two like some barbaric slave trade.

The humans ate it up though. It was one of the many changes that had taken place as shifters integrated into human society over the past few decades.

I glanced over at Stefanie as she squealed. She stood from her seat, clutching Trixie and Leah by their hands.

Hello… Maybe this was my lucky night.

If Derek sent Stef and one of her groupies with Trenton to the show, then I might be able to live out my last few weeks in this pack in peace.

I crossed my fingers, sending up a silent plea to the Moon Goddess that things would go my way.

Alpha Derek looked around the room, daring someone to challenge him. “I’ve decided to send Stefanie and Aspen as our Luna representatives.”

Stomp the brakes.

What did he just say?

I blinked fast as if that would clear my ears. There’s no way I heard that right.

“Alpha?” Trenton broke his brooding silence.

“Did he say…”

Shifters were not a quiet group. Their voices rang out in confusion. I could still barely hear them over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.

I pulled my knees to my chest, trying to push myself into the wall behind me and disappear. My wolf was deadly quiet, waiting for a fight. But it wasn’t like I could take on the Alpha.

This had to be some sort of joke.

Derek misspoke.

Hehatedme.

Chairs squeaked across the chipped hardwood floors as they scooted back and all eyes turned to me.

I was going to be sick.

“Alpha Derek, all due respect, but Trixie or Leah would be a better choice,” Stefanie was saying.

For the first time in my life, I agreed with her.

I nodded, raising my eyes, and met Trenton’s gaze from across the room. There was a twitch of his lips. A snarl waiting to escape.

“I’ve made my decision,” Alpha Derek stated, silencing the commotion. “Aspen come here.”

I despised Alpha commands.