Chapter 10
Damon
The moment 1 stepped into the hall, the scents of perfume, nervous sweat, and lingering anticipation assaulted my senses. The masked women stood in perfect rows, their bodies tense as they waited for my approach.
Zane stirred within me, restless, searching.
Then, it hit me. A scent unlike the others reached me. It wasn’t the overpowering floral notes many of these women had drenched
themselves in.
No, this was different. It was unpolished, unaltered. Like the first breath of air after a storm. It was faint and wholly intoxicating.
Rain–soaked earth mixed with jasmine and sandalwood.
I found myself moving before I had even made a conscious decision, following the scent to its source.
Zane rumbled with approval. That one, he urged. She smells perfect. Choose her.
I stopped behind the woman. She stood still, her masked face turned slightly as if sensing my presence. The dim lighting of the hall cast shadows along the curve of her neck, along her arm.
“What happened here?” The question escaped my mouth before I registered the thought. There was a brief hesitation in her
response but I was too transfixed on her skin to really notice.
“It was from training; my wolf doesn’t always heal me fully.”
Without thinking, I reached out, trailing my fingers along the jagged pattern of scars. I catalogued each one and turned her hand over, to see if there were more. Her palm was warm, small, calloused.
Definitely not what I expected. These weren’t the marks of a pampered noble. They were the remnants of struggle. Work. Discipline.
“Were you doing a lot of household chores for your Pack?”
Her breath hitched while my brain finally caught up with the sound of her voice and the realization hit me like a blow.
This was the same girl who had tried to use a hairpin to rise to power. The same one who had the audacity to argue with the other women earlier. The one who met my gaze with defiance instead of submission.
My grip on her hand tightened for a fraction of a second. Then Flet go. Instinctively. Almost violently.
Zane growled in protest.
You might have hurt her he warned, his voice edged with disapproval. Be careful. The injury she has is unusual.
I barely heard him. My mind was racing. It wasn’t just that she had ulterior motives, it was the resemblance.
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Even masked, even in a room full of other women, she stood out. The way she carried herself, the way she didn’t cower like the
others was too familiar. It was like seeing a ghost.
Zane’s voice was quieter this time, more thoughtful. She looks like Natalie.
My jaw clenched.
like Natalie. She’s not
This is a good thing, he continued. Especially when she dared to argue with the others this afternoon. Just like Na the type to scheme behind your back. We like females like her.
My gut twisted. No, I didn’t need a reminder of Natalie. I didn’t want an imitation, some cheap replacement wearing her face.
She is not Natalie I reminded Zane. She never will be.
I felt a sharp, unexpected irritation rise in my chest, making my patience snap. Without another word, I turned and strode past
the other women, ignoring the way their gazes followed me.
A part of me was still aware of Elena’s scent lingering on my skin from the brief contact, of the strange pull that I refused to
acknowledge.
I needed to leave.
Ronan was waiting near the entrance. He barely lifted an eyebrow at my abrupt exit as he extended a piece of parchment toward
- me.
“Your decision, Your Majesty.”
I exhaled sharply, forcing my thoughts into order.
I stared at the number where Elena had stood for a long moment, then picked up my pen and began to circle it.
Lila
The tension in the hall was suffocating. As soon as Damon left, whispers erupted and spread through the group, every woman on
edge waiting for the results.
I stood in the middle of it all, their stares drilling into the back of my head. Once again, my attempt to fade into the background
failed miserably.
Vanessa was the first to step forward, her face barely concealing her satisfaction at this turn of events. “How convenient,” she sneered, folding her arms across her chest. “You just had to draw attention to your hand, didn’t you? what a pathetic attempt to make the Lycan King notice you.
I exhaled slowly, leveling her with a steady gaze. “If I wanted attention, I’d have chosen a far more effective method than a few
scars.”
Vanessa’s lips curled as if she wanted to snap back, but another girl – I had no idea who let out a soft scoff and cut her off.
“Honestly, does it even matter? He walked away right after, didn’t he?” She twirled a strand of golden hair around her finger.
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Chapter 10
“Maybe he was disgusted. Maybe he’s already decided to eliminate her.”
A ripple of agreement spread through the group.
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“He didn’t even look at anyone else after that,” another girl added with an almost eager smirk. “If you thought she was special,
you’re in for a rude awakening”
The tension from minutes earlier shifted into a collective relief rolling through them like a wave. They wanted me gone from the
selection process. They needed me gone.
I let them have their moment. Let them think they were winning-
Then, with a slow, deliberate tilt of my head, I asked no one in particular, “Are you so concerned about my arm because you can
find anything unique about yourselves?”
Vanessa’s expression flickered with anger and what I hoped was embarrassment. A few of the woman exchanged uncertain
glances, as if they hadn’t expected me to stand up for myself.
They expected me to cower, to shrink back like a wounded pup. But they didn’t know me or what I had survived.
I didn’t care. I’d spent my life surrounded by wolves who looked down on me. This was nothing new. And honestly, they couldn’t
hold a candle to the shit the real Elena pulled on me.
Before anyone could fire back, the heavy doors swung open.
A hush fell over the room as several guards and maids entered, their movements precise and rehearsed like a small Palace Army.
At the front of the group stood a steward holding a large booklet, the selection results contained within.
All around me, women straightened their posture, smoothing down their dresses and adjusting their masks, as if a single wrinkle could be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
Even Vanessa went stiff beside me, her arrogant expression faltering just a little.
I almost smirked.
They could whisper and scheme all they wanted, but none of us knew what was about to happen next. I just hoped my name wouldn’t be called.
One of the maids stepped forward, clearing her throat before addressing the room. “The results of the first selection will now be
announced.”
A collective inhale filled the hall.
Vanessa clenched her fists at her sides. The girl with golden hair looked as if she was holding back a squeal of excitement. Everyone was tense, anticipation thick in the air.
I just stood there, waiting.
Ready to pack my bag and get the hell out of here away from a one–sided mating pull with a Tyrant King.
