Chapter 26 A Prize
Sienna
I tugged at the long sleeves of my dress, making sure they completely hid the marks on my wrists before I headed to the breakfast table.
“G-good morning,” I stammered. Seeing Sev sitting there, casually reading the newspaper, made my stomach do a backflip. Those gray eyes of his were staring right through me.
“Good morning. You must be starving.”
I bit my lip and nodded, taking the seat on his right side. I was actually so hungry that I ended up asking for a second serving.
While I waited, I couldn’t stop myself from peeking at him. He didn’t even look up from his paper as he reached for his mug, but I could see the veins in his hands. My mind immediately flashed back to how those hands felt against my skin last night.
My eyes moved up to his lips—the same ones that had been all over me down there. God, I really wished I hadn't been blindfolded so I could’ve actually seen him do it. I had to mentally slap myself. What is wrong with me? Am I becoming a total pervert?
“Are you alright?” he asked. He was using that "gentle" voice again, but honestly, I think I was getting more used to the cold, deeper one.
“Of course. I was just thinking about...” I trailed off. I wasn't sure if it was okay to talk about last night now that it was morning.
“About?” he prodded, looking at me with total curiosity, like he was daring me to finish the thought.
“About school! I’m late for my Saturday class. Bye!” I blurted out and tried to jump up. “Shit!” I shrieked. The sudden move made my pussy hurt like hell.
He definitely noticed. My posture went completely awkward and my eyes literally darted down to my lap before I could stop them.
“I’ll have Jordan get you an ointment,” he stated, totally calm.
I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the floor would just swallow me up. This was so embarrassing, but the pain was winning, and I wasn't about to let my pride stop me from getting some help.
“I... would like that,” I mumbled.
“Well, someone’s in a good mood,” Cole said, dropping into the seat next to me. “You’re actually here before I am for once.”
“I’m in a great mood,” I said, giving him a wide smile. The soreness down there was finally gone thanks to the ointment, and I felt like I could actually walk like a normal person again.
“That’s good to hear. To put you in an even better mood, we’re going to a party.”
I arched an eyebrow at him, curious.
“Elizabeth’s 21st birthday. She invited the whole school, but of course, since you never even glance at the bulletin board, you have no idea.”
I wasn’t entirely sure if hearing Elizabeth’s name was supposed to put me in a better mood, but a party is a party. I hadn’t been to one in two weeks, and I was dying to see how people actually let loose in a place as intense as this. Plus, if it was a public thing, Sev was bound to be there.
“I’ll be there,” I replied, already wondering what I could wear. “Speaking of birthdays, how old are you anyway, Cole?”
He looked genuinely shocked by the question. “And here I thought you weren’t interested in me at all.”
I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my chair. “Of course I’m interested in you. I love you, remember?” I gave him a playful wink, and his face immediately soured like he’d just bitten into a lemon.
“No thanks. I’m twenty-three, by the way.”
I gasped, pressing a hand to my chest. “Twenty-three? You’re basically a grandpa.”
Before he could even open his mouth to snap back, the door swung open and our instructor, Keisha, marched in.
“Good morning, class. Today we’ll have a combined session with Section A. I want you all to change into your PE uniforms and meet me out at the stadium.”
Section A. My heart did a nervous little stutter. “That’s Elizabeth’s class, right?” I whispered to Cole, and he replied with a nod.
To be honest, since I’d arrived at the Academy, I’d learned way more about Elizabeth than I ever cared to know. She was the pack’s golden girl—the first female to shift at twenty and the youngest student here until I crashed the party. But everyone knew I only got in because of my "connection" to Sev. I was the charity case, and she was the prodigy. You can imagine the kind of looks I got in the hallways.
We headed out to a massive open stadium I didn't even know existed. Standing right in the middle with Keisha was Sebastian. My heart skipped a beat seeing him. They looked so civil together, so comfortable, which I guess is just how adults handle having a history.
But... why was he even here?
My eyes darted around until I spotted her. Elizabeth was standing with her class, looking effortless and perfect as ever. Damn.
“Alright, listen up,” Keisha called out, her voice carrying across the field. “Today, the Alpha is here to observe how well you perform. In two years' time, some of you will be deployed outside the pack to aid our allies, so he wants to see who has the most potential.”
A wave of excited whispers broke out among the students.
“What’s the big deal about that?” I muttered, looking at Cole.
“What do you mean? It’s glory, Sienna. But mostly? It’s an escape. We aren't exactly prisoners, but this pack is all we’ve ever known. The thought of traveling the world... it sounds pretty incredible, doesn't it?”
“This is a competition,” Keisha continued, her eyes sweeping over us. “You’ll be divided into teams for a disaster simulation. We’ve prepared a scenario to see how fast you react. Whoever finishes first with flawless execution wins. And the prize? You’ll become the Alpha’s companion for his week-long stay at the Silver Spring pack!”
The stadium practically exploded. Everyone gasped, the energy shifting from curious to cutthroat in a heartbeat.
My heart started hammering against my ribs. Being with the Alpha at Silver Spring? I’d heard about that place—it was famous for its hot springs. I couldn't think of a more romantic spot if I tried.
I looked at Elizabeth, then back at Sev. I didn't care about "escape" or "glory." I wanted that week.
No matter what, I was going to win.