Page 84 of Luna Trials
I almost snapped at the young male human who was just doing his job and walking around theroom handing us each a number. In my defense, he breathed really, really close to my face.
And I wasn’t the only one who seemed affected. Most of the other candidates were waiting in their own little corners of the lobby for Molly to tell us when to start. I hoped the nesting site wasn’t far away, because with the vibes coming from some of the girls, it would be a bloody trip.
I had to laugh at the ridiculousness of this all and tried to breathe to keep myself calm as I let my gaze sweep the lobby. Opal was still hiding somewhere. Stef was standing alone near the fireplace. Edith and her sister huddled close together, not letting anyone into their bubble. Fallon was sitting on two black suitcases near the doors and staring straight ahead.
“We’re almost ready.” Molly came strutting into the room doing her clapping thing to get our attention, seemingly oblivious to the glares directed at her back.
We all stood slowly, keeping our belongings close. I had to force myself to stay steady so I didn’t take my gram’s trunk and run.
The main production crew came out with the cameras following Jay as they placed him in the center of the lobby.
“And now, one of our favorite parts of the Luna Trials is about to begin,” Jay spoke for the cameras like this was a documentary. It was about to get National Geographic up in here. “In a few moments, the doors will open to reveal forty blankcanvases with coordinating numbers assigned to each of our lovely contestants. Minimalist chic? Farmhouse classic? I know you’re all as excited as I am to see what styles will pop up today as the rooms are turned into nests…”
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.My wolf snarled.
Will you shut up?I growled back.
“For the safety of the production crew, the cameras will be maintaining their distance during the design process for the next eight hours.” Jay chuckled like he said something funny.
None of us were laughing.
He swept his arm to the side, smiling big for the camera. “Let the third Luna Trial begin.”
*
Outside the resort in the courtyard across from the gravel driveway was a row of white crates labeled with numbers each spaced about ten feet apart. In the mad rush to find number 28, I bumped into Opal who gave me a tentative smile.
“This is crazy, right?” she whispered with a glazed look in her eyes.
I nodded, clamping down on my lips so the growl didn’t slip out, and managed to mumble, “Good luck.”
Opal skipped away with a large duffle bag smacking against the backs of her toned legs.
Finally, I made it to my assigned crate. It was basically a storage shed sitting on an oversized palletwith two doors that swung outwards. I threw them open and was greeted by the scent of wood.
Bare pressed timber walls lined four sides and there were exposed 2x4s lining the top. A single window was on the back of the eight by ten room.
This iswrong.My wolf was still snarling.
I leaned back, looking at the other contestants around me. Fallon was down the line near the first crates shaking two cans of spray paint as black fur sprouted along her arms.
We were all going nuts.
I ducked inside the room and closed the doors behind me, needing a moment of quiet to think. There were two plastic bins sitting in the corner of the shed and nothing else. No chairs. The floor was hard. Unnatural. Treated wood. There wasn’t enough air.
I set down my gram’s trunk and threw open the window. My frantic gaze swept the ceiling of the box. We didn’t even have light.
Stop stalling. We need a nest,my wolf barked.
Sweat beaded along my skin and I fanned the bottom hem of my shirt, trying to cool off.
Why did this feel so serious?
Like I woulddieif I didn’t figure it out.
It was just a nest. But I was worried that he…
Ranger’s dark eyes filled my mind.