I was still in complete shock when we made our way onto the stage. While climbing the final stair, the alpha and his entourage left the hall. The second they were out of sight, a few girls in the front let out frustrated screams.
Some girls' faces crumpled, and they couldn't hold back their tears. They looked like raccoons with smudged masks running down their cheeks.Angry voices began to rise from different corners of the room. "This is not fair! How could they not see my potential?" one girl's voice cut through the air.The ten of us selected gathered near the edge of the stage. The rest of the girls were excited, and one of them leaned in closer. "Isn't it a miracle that only line six got picked? We should have our special name.”“How about the famous line six?" Another girl suggested, and the rest approved with their eyes lighting up with a thrill.MC Charles stepped back onto the stage, trying to calm the crying girls. "Ladies, ladies, please. Your emotions are running high right now, and rightfully so. But every single one of you showed incredible bravery by attending this project. Don't forget that. There are no losers."They booed at him, and the more he spoke, the angrier they got. "You have special gifts. You're not going home empty-handed."Nobody listened to him. I felt guilty. Here I was, feeling like a fraud. I knew I was a ticking time bomb of exposure, and somehow, I wished I didn't make it to the next round.The girls were free to leave with a tangible parting gift for their efforts. But this next round could unravel all my lies. The thought of trading places with one of them flashed through my mind, but eyes were everywhere on us – the organizers, the audience – and I couldn't slip away or exchange discreetly."Come with me," one of the soldiers announced, and we were led to the backyard where a helicopter was waiting. It was almost nine-thirty, and the night had fully set in.This was real, and I pinched myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming. The helicopter blades were whirring, and the pilot did some last-minute checks.Natalia placed her arm on my shoulder and drew me closer. I shot her a tight smile "Did you bring extra clothes? I didn't because I thought the pageant was just a one-day thing."She shook her head. "Nope, didn't pack a box. They've got everything we need."As the helicopter doors opened wide and the pilot welcomed us, we rushed in. Natalia and I found a spot at the back, where we could get a clear view of everything."You're so chaotic," I laughed, and she flung her head back, letting out a loud laughter."We need to be together all the time."It was nice having a friend. At the sanctuary, we were all sad and hopeless, wearing moody faces and not in the mood to interact. This felt good and different.The helicopter started to lift off, and the city lights below shrank, replaced by the darkness of the night sky. "I've got to be honest, Natalia," I whispered. "I have no business in this beauty contest. I'm just five foot four, I don't take care of my skin, don't even get me started on the catwalks and makeup. I've got two left feet, and I hate speaking in public."Natalia shot me an amused look. "Why are you paranoid? You think I've got what it takes for this?""Of course," I rolled my eyes. "You're perfect.""Yeah right," she smirked. "That's exactly what the fifteen-day training is for. They're going to teach us everything we need to know. And even if we don't win, we get to pamper our skin, eat good food, and have some fun."The pilot's voice crackled through the intercom, announcing that we were landing on the island. We landed gently on a helipad and disembarked.Ruin Island was the opposite of its name. It was breathtaking. A large mansion stood majestically and its surroundings were lit with halogen lamps, reflecting light on the huge pool.We made our way to the mansion, where a middle-aged woman with her hair in a super tight bun stood to welcome us. I felt pity for her hair edges and wondered if she didn't have a headache."Welcome, contestants. I am Ms. Muffinbutton."Natalia raised a brow, and I pinched my lips short to conceal my laughter. Ms. Muffinbutton proceeded with a warning."Do not think you're here to relax,” she warned and the girls grew quiet. The woman reminded me of the matrons at the sisterhood sanctuary who never smiled."In the next round, you'll be staying in a hall upstairs. There are five bunks and ten-bed spaces.""Why can't we have our private rooms?" one of the girls whined. The matron ignored her and made way for us to head inside The entrance was majestic and huge, with a living room downstairs having crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, reflecting light off the polished marble floors.We walked through the halls with carvings and artwork and then went to the hall upstairs where they had arranged for us. Narrow beds were lined and neatly arranged. Natalia pulled me towards the third bunk on the left, where we claimed our spots, and I shook my head, amused at how she never wanted to let go of me.The bedding on the bunk was clean and had two silk pillows each. Each bunk had a night lamp and a mini-fridge tucked neatly into the corner. We were given storage bins as well. The bathrooms were five in total, clean and well-maintained, with a steady supply of hot water.A bell rang for dinner, and we all went downstairs. The chef, a nutritionist, introduced himself."Tonight, feel free to indulge in any cravings and eat all the junk food you want. But be prepared because starting tomorrow, your diet will strictly consist of healthy food."The girls murmured among themselves, and Natalia, sitting next to me, rolled her eyes so dramatically at the announcement that I had to stifle a laugh. "Watch out. They'll start serving us grass tomorrow as if we're a bunch of goats," she whispered with mock horror in her voice.Because of the warning, I opted for a burger and milkshake combo, enjoying my guilty pleasure. We chatted among ourselves, getting to know each other. A girl with multicolored hair and the most beautiful hazel eyes I'd ever seen approached me."I see we share something in common," she said with a smile. "The color suits you. Don't change it.""Oh, it's natural," I replied, and her mouth fell open in surprise. "You don't know how lucky you are," she said, clearly intrigued by the burgundy color of my hair.Upstairs in our room, Mrs. Muffinbutton with a serious tone, announced that there was a strict curfew."Anyone leaving their room after lights out is in deep trouble."She walked away, and I wondered about the reason behind such stringent rules. After brushing my teeth, I lay on my bed with a smile playing on my lips. I woke up minutes before midnight, feeling restless. Everyone else was asleep, and I itched to go outside. Despite the rules about not going out after curfew, I wanted to see the garden at night.This place was just as restrictive as the sanctuary, and I hated feeling trapped. Carefully, I got out of bed, trying not to wake anyone, and tiptoed downstairs. I headed straight for the garden, which looked amazing under the moonlight. I picked a rose petal, took a deep sniff, and smiled. Then I lay on the grass, letting the cool night air surround me.I started dozing off, and something I hadn't felt in years washed over me – happiness.If only it could last forever.My eyes flew open when I heard a low growl. I sniffed the air and knew that a wolf was nearby. I wasn't terrified, but my aunt warned me against revealing my Omega status by shifting.From the darkness emerged two red eyes. My thoughts scattered, and I was more than a little nervous. I gasped, realizing with a shiver of panic that the wolf wasn't normal; it seemed like a maniac. It shoved its way forward, setting my nerves on edge. Its mad, staring eyes warned me that I was in danger.Fear gripped me, knowing that I couldn't outrun the wolf in my human form. Still, I tried covering several feet and crying out. "Stop running," my instinct urged me loudly. "Turn around and face the wolf."It was very close to me when my head turned with a snap of the neck, and my legs gave up.When I fell, the wolf leaped over me, almost suffocating me with its black fur. Then an unexpected urge to pet the wolf surfaced.I began stroking its fur, and, to my surprise, it became calm, with its growling fading.Puzzled, I continued, but I sensed trouble. If the wolf shifted back to a human, it would expose my secrets of sneaking outside. I kept on petting, wondering who was behind the wolf.Almost immediately, it fell asleep in my arms. I watched it, staring at its nose. Even while asleep, it looked restless. I carefully slid away, not wanting to startle it awake. When I was free, I turned and ran back towards the mansion, pushing my legs as fast as they could go.AdonisMy eyelids fluttered open. My vision was hazy and blurry because I awoke from a deep sleep. I rubbed my eyes to get rid of the grogginess, and it took a few seconds to clear up.Forcing my way through the maze of confusion, I looked up, feeling lost and surprised.As soon as the drizzle touched my skin, I knew that I was in my human form and looked around. I was outside in the purple garden on the grass.Never in my Twenty-Six years of living had I felt such serenity and calmness around me, but I couldn't remember why. It felt strange like someone had calmed my inner storm.My recollections were disorganized, so it was impossible to piece together the event. My crazy wolf was unusually quiet, as though its impulses had been restrained with a tight leash.Raindrops hit my skin as the drizzle got heavier. "What happened last night?" I kept asking myself.My wolf suffered from fast memory loss and impulse control disorders, so it was a relief not to feel the usual emptiness and de
Day 1IrisThe bell's harsh ring pierced my ears, making me jolt awake. After stretching, I sat up in bed, yawning and covering my mouth with my hand as I tried to blink away the last traces of sleep.The girls were up, and my heart skipped as I threw back the covers while running my fingers through my hair and tying it back into a ponytail, securing it with a scrunchie.Our first activity for the day began ten minutes ago. My friend and bunkmate, Natalia was snoring away, her nipple peeking through her tank top. I shook her shoulders attempting to wake her up. “Natalia, wake up,” I said with a groan. She didn't budge and I nudged her harder before rushing to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face.I stared into the mirror. The events of last night flooded back. I remembered the mad wolf and how my touch calmed it down.Something about that incident made me feel warm inside, but at the same time, I was terrified. Was that going to put me in trouble? And I knew for sure that
IrisA dermatologist was invited to take care of our skin. It was my turn, and I walked into an examination room whose walls were painted a soothing white color.Dressed in a white lab coat, the doctor greeted me with a friendly smile. Several shelves were filled with skincare products, and she passed me a magazine that explained different skin conditions and then made sure the room was well-lit."You have to take off your clothes and lay on the table," she pointed to the center while bringing out a scalpel, tweezers, and magnifying glasses."Let's talk about your skincare routine. Do you currently follow any?"I almost laughed, as if I was ever given such luxury. Even before the test, I had nothing to call my own. I was living like a maid in my father's house."No," I said simply. "I've never really thought about it."She smiled. "No worries, it's never too late to start taking care of your skin. Now, let's assess it. Do you have any specific reactions or sensitivities to skincare pr
Day 2Adonis My mind and body were in complete harmony, beyond description. Some people believe that having good sex, drinking alcohol, or getting high on marijuana are the only ways to feel euphoric.I have been celibate since Isabella's death; I was not drunk, but I was high on an unfathomable level of happiness. For the first time in my life, warmth flooded my heart, and I couldn't stop smiling. This unexpected sense of comfort puzzled me. Something was calming me down, but all I could recall was a touch.Those gentle, magical hands gave me goosebumps all over. The sun shone through the curtains, and I felt energized. The question was, "Whose hands were those?"It was driving me insane that I still couldn't recall anything. I wanted to put a face on those hands because their touch was the only thing that put me at ease. Trying to remember was like hitting a wall. When I shifted, there was no synergy between my human and wolf forms because my wolf memory was so bad. This was ou
IrisI felt humiliated and uneasy as my body gave way beneath me. I wasn't sure if my vertigo after landing on the floor from the unsuccessful catwalk was a result of tiredness or the fact that Alpha Adonis was in the room.I felt something pressing against my ribs and was eager to get out of there. The instructors and the girls were harsh, constantly laughing at those who were weak or lacked the necessary skills. They worsened my mood."Iris! Are you okay? Natalia rushed to my side. "Are you hurt?""A little," I managed to say. "Maybe I should sit for a while.""You okay, Iris?" Another girl asked. I nodded, feeling embarrassed.Adonis remained expressionless while watching. The man was almost too attractive for words. His green eyes, firm features, and the confidence he exuded made me forget to breathe.I despised the fact that my feet were wobbly in those high heels and that I foolishly fell when Alpha Adonis entered the room. His gaze was fixed on me, which made me extremely nervo
IrisWith all of my strength, I dashed out of that damned passageway like a terrified rabbit fleeing a grizzly bear. I rounded the corner as quickly as possible and was out of the Alpha's sight.Thank the Goddess I made it to the kitchen before my legs turned to Jell-O and I stumbled for the second time that day."Watch your steps, young lady," one of the cooks, an elderly woman, said to me, concerned and slightly annoyed.I got my ass off the floor and continued walking. I had no idea what it was, but Alpha Adonis made me feel emotions I had never experienced before.Surely, he was every girl's dream, a beautiful man. I found myself drawn to him and couldn't recall ever feeling this way about Ethan. I couldn't wrap my head around it, but my instincts told me I had shared something special with the alpha. I carefully made my way upstairs, intending to go to my room, when I noticed the other girls heading to the examination room.Curiosity got the better of me, and I quickly joined th
AdonisBack at the mainland, I drove past the guard station entry point revealing the familiar sight of the warrior base. The Lycan pack and tribe flags fluttered proudly from poles, their red and green colors vibrant in this late afternoon.A group of warriors practiced combat maneuvers with wooden swords. It was hard not to be impressed, considering these dudes worked extra hard to protect the civilians. A line of patrol vehicles snaked along the driveway. I parked my Range-Rover and got out, approaching a group of guards standing at attention. The head warrior, Laura, a Twenty-Six-year-old Amazon with a pixie cut and sharp, dark brown eyes, approached to salute me. I nodded in acknowledgment, my gaze sweeping over the plastic badge dangling from her shirt. Not only was Laura disciplined, she was one of the most capable members of the guard force. The first female member of the guard since its creation.Laura had been appointed the role on the day I was crowned Alpha. She’d gone o
Iris I hid behind a tall oak, pressing my body into its rough bark. It was extremely difficult for me to breathe in this position because I didn't want to get caught. With frozen breath, I watched Sophia, Alpha Adonis' best friend, get violated. The wolf gave her a hot chase, and I silently prayed that she'd shift and fight for her life. The majestic creature I'd grown so close to during my nightly hideouts was now a mad beast, pursuing the poor lady across the garden with all its might. I felt my soul leave my body, and I staggered like a drunk. As much as I'd have loved to help, stepping out of my hiding spot and exposing myself was a foolish attempt with lots of consequences. I couldn't ruin my chance in this contest. The thought of being caught outside, especially at this forbidden hour, and the decline in my score prevented me from moving. My body unexpectedly released all tension, and I covered my mouth with my hand, suppressing a relieved sigh when I saw that Sophia had man