Chapter Eleven

Walking into the Dining Hall, I ran a hand through my hair, anxious about tomorrow. Speculation of the infamous Test, which took place on the last day of the Alpha Trials, buzzed around the remaining few females that were here and in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but wonder why I was still here myself.

I had to do something to get sent home before then, there was no way that I would allow myself to be alone in a room with him. It was too dangerous, too tempting.

“Ladies, settle down please!”

My head snapped up at the regal female voice that echoed through the room, she was dressed up to the nines with jewels, her hair neatly done, various rings and perfectly manicured hands.

“As you all know, tomorrow is the last day that you will be with us. In order for the proceedings to happen, we need to remove a few of you from the line-up. That’s where I come in.” Her hands clapped together. “For dinner tonight you will be watched very closely, making sure that only the most elegant among us can proceed onto the next level tomorrow: the test.”

“I’m totally going to fail this” A girl next to me shook her head.

Looking for Ruth, I propped my head up and scoured the tables. She was neatly seated beside two other girls and pulled a face at me like she really didn’t want to be there.

“Everyone, have a seat at the tables before you.”

Walking over and taking a seat in the middle of a dark and fair skinned girl, I shot them a smile. Assuming we were meant to be eating together, I wanted this to go as smoothly as possible to avoid awkwardness. “Hello”

“Hey! I’m Rosemary.” The dark-skinned girl took my hand in her own and shook it. The fair-skinned girl simply looked me up and down, scoffing and looking away. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Isabella! It’s nice to meet you” I gritted my teeth, putting emphasis on the ‘nice’ and nodding to the rude girl. “This is so strange right?”

“Totally,” she laughed at me, looking down at her empty plate and the various knives and forks surrounding it. “I’m rubbish at etiquette”

“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like this” I muttered, picking up a fork and holding it in the air. “Where did you learn?”

“I’m from Alpha Luke’s pack” She nodded, straightening up her shirt. “We learned it in school, but it’s something that’s practised quite a lot at different Balls and dances. My father makes us do it at home but it’s so hard to be elegant” Chuckling to each other, we looked back up the front to the teacher as she clattered her knife and her glass together to try and get our attention.

“So, this dinner will be three courses. A starter, main and dessert. You will be judged on how you hold your cutlery, how you drink and eat and your table manners. The results will be revealed later on tonight” She stopped, walking over to a board that had different rules on it. “Remember ladies,” Her hand pointed to the first rule. “Always be polite and never speak unless you are spoken to directly, this is especially important around males, and of course, Alpha Theo.”

“Sure” I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

“Next, you use your cutlery from the outside in, any ladies who do anything else will have points taken off with immediate effects, don’t forget that” Pausing, she stepped to the front. “Finally, chew with your mouth closed. We are all ladies here and I will come to you personally and slap that food right—” She stopped, taking in a deep breath and calming herself. “I will tell you politely to close your mouth. But I shouldn’t have to”

“God, kill me” Rosemary leaned into me and I giggled at her, nodding in agreement.

“Very well, now we are all accustomed to the rules. You may begin. After you have finished your meal you may head back to your rooms for the night and prepare for tomorrow. As always, those being removed will know before the night is up”

Doors opened around us and guards brought in our meals, as soon as ever starter had touched the table the woman nodded to all of us.

“You may, begin”

For starter, we had what looked like some kind of fruit platter covered in a strange sauce. Picking up my fork from the outside, I picked at it and pulled a face. “Any clue what this is?”

Rose was sat up straight, being the best version of herself she possibly could be. “No clue, some kind of wild fruit with a berry sauce. It’s nice, you should try it”

“Alright...” It was tastier than I had expected, and I made sure to keep my mouth shut when I ate. Frankly because that woman really scared me, but also, I may be an animal but I wasn’t going to act like one. “It’s nice. Really fresh too, wow they must have picked these this morning”

“What do you expect?” She shrugged. “It’s for the future Luna”

“That’s true” I nodded. “What do you think about all of this anyway?” I hadn’t had a chance to speak to anyone about all of this, except Ruth, but I wondered if someone had the same opinion as me.

“This?” She covered her mouth as she spoke and I nodded. “It’s weird, I mean getting stolen in the middle of the night was strange enough, and then you come here and get told you have to compete for Alpha Theo’s hand? Something off about that”

“I agree” I pointed my finger at her, not caring about who was watching or if they thought it was impolite. “It’s strange. I don’t even want to be here. I’d much rather be home.”

“Really? I suppose I don’t really care what happens. I’ve never left the pack before so this has been weird seeing other people, but kind of nice to be away. You would make a great Luna though, don’t you think?”

“No!” My head shook. “I would be awful, it’s so much pressure that I couldn’t handle. I mean, imagine having a whole pack to look after yourself? Damn, that would be scary.”

“Your body changes though.” She nodded.

“How?” I raised my eyebrows at her.

“I’m not quite sure the science behind it, but something deep inside you—your inner wolf—yearns for that role. And if you are appointed Luna, your body changes to become more powerful and strong. It’s quite remarkable”

“Sounds cool, actually” This was the first thing I had heard that actually made me want to stay here.

We had all finished our main courses by now and the desserts were on their way around, looked like some kind of cake.

“It’s strange to think that we’re sitting among the next Luna of Alpha Theo’s pack.” She gazed about as the dessert was placed in front of us. Chocolate cake.

“My pack” I corrected and she looked at me with shock.

“Surely you would want to be Luna of your own pack then? C'mon! You must at least try. Think about how proud your parents will be of you”

My mind cast back to my father, who was probably lonely by now since my mother wasn’t here anymore. And I wished that he was with me through all of this. “I suppose so”

“Then it’s settled, when I look at my TV tomorrow night, I will see Isabella...”

“Short.”

“Isabella Short! She will be the new Luna of Alpha Theo’s pack. I can feel it” Her finger poked into my side.

“It’s televised? God, I’d hate that” I shoved a big lump of cake into my mouth. “I would die, honestly”

“But If you were beside your mate you’d feel totally at peace” Her eyes batted at me and I swatted her off.

“Rose, it’s not happening. There are so many other girls here that would literally murder me to have a shot at being mated to an Alpha. I, on the other hand, don’t feel that same pull.” My head shook, finally finishing my cake and smiling at her. “All done!”

“Fine, but just know that you are more than capable”

I stood up from my seat and laughed at her. “Rose! No”

Walking away from her, she shouted to me. “You can’t hide feelings Isabella! They always surface no matter how big or small!!”

“See you later!” My hand waved at her and I walked back down the hallway towards my room, trying to shake off her words and packing my bags, hoping and praying I would get sent home to my father.