Page 5 of Alpha Games
The breath rushed from my lungs and I laughed softly through it, wondering how if I’d completely misread the situation. Fallon seemed serious and I couldn’t detect any hint of a lie.
She’s on our side.My beast rolled her eyes.
I wasn’t always the best judge of character, but I wasn’t usually so off base. If Fallon was still my friend, maybe that meant Ranger didn’t have plans to kill all of Nuva Pack. Or maybe I sucked at politics and was getting this all wrong.
You’re giving me a headache,my wolf groaned.
“I’m assuming that’s a no on the lead thing?” Fallon arched an eyebrow.
I was still smiling as I shook my head. “I’ve got nothing. I don’t understand why anyone cares if I’m here or not. It doesn’t make sense.”
Fallon’s eyes narrowed as she took a longer sip of her coffee. She swallowed before she spoke again, “I’ll keep my nose to the ground. Something is bound to turn up soon. Nice shoes by the way. Are the sponsors coming through?”
I glanced at the brown ankle boots I was wearing. After telling Jesse I’d break my neck in heels, he’d spoken to the sponsor he was working with and they sent over a few practical pairs of dressy boots.
“Seems like it.” I wasn’t sure what brand these were, but I was in love with how the leather already seemed to be worn in. My fingers were crossed that I could keep them after the show ended.
“So… About that kiss with my brother,” Fallon started as the spotlights lit up the stage.
The room darkened just in time to hide the blush creeping onto my face.
“Oh, look. Here comes Jay,” I said, grateful as the production assistant stood in front of our seats with the cue card showing the two-minute warning.
“Alright.” Fallon put the lid back on her coffee. “We can talk about something else.”
Yes. Please.
I looked around as if another topic would materialize out of thin air. “It’s… um… weird being on this side of the cameras.”
“I’m fine with it.” Fallon laughed. “It’ll be nice to watch them suffer for a change.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little unfair that we don’t get to vote on who stays?” Equal rights didn’t really extend to shifters though. Humans got feminism, but we were stuck with base instincts and beasts that needed Alphas to keep us in check during our more feral times.
Which was about the only thing Alphas were good for if you asked me. Then again, no one usually asked me.
“I’d rather deal with the popular vote than go through what they’re about to,” Fallon’s voice held a note of warning that made me shiver.
“Is it really that bad?” I thought of Trenton, wondering if he’d measure up. Even if Ranger wasn’t out to kill him, Alpha Derek would still want my head if anything happened to his precious son.
“Have you ever seen the games?” Fallon asked.
“I caught the highlight reels.” I chewed my bottom lip, watching as Jay took center stage. I studied a bit more for this round, but it never seemed like enough and I was always playing catch up.
Fallon chuckled as she patted my knee with sisterlike affection. “You’re in for a treat.”
*
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1…”
“Good evening, viewers.” Jay smiled for the camera.
“Good evening,” we called back from the stands although it was morning, but the people watching at home didn’t know that. It’d be night when the show aired on TV.
“Twenty Luna contestants passed the trials and earned their spot onMating Seasonthanks to our voters.” Jay read off the list of names as our pictures filled the dropdown screen behind him.
I twisted around in my seat, looking at the women who’d come to the filming of the AlphaGames premiere. The room felt so empty with over half of the females gone. I almost missed the noise and laughter of the first few days. I wondered for a moment how Stef was doing back home. Probably hating me, but that was nothing new.
“And now is the moment you’ve all been waiting for.” The spotlight shone on Jay, darkening the stage as the cameras rolled into position. “It is with great respect that I introduce you to this year’s Alpha lineup.”