2

~Aria

I anxiously tap the tips of my fingers together, leaning forward on the couch.

"Take it," Alexa insists, nudging the glass at my face. Rolling my eyes, I dismiss her, not wanting any of the Chardonnay she was nearly drunk with. My eyes are glued to the television, anticipating what is to come next.

My best friend flops down beside me, balancing the stem of the glass between her fingers.

Here we are, waiting for the live announcement of every name that has been pulled for from the ballot. The names of the people who will be competing in Alpha Malik's competition for love. I had a slight glimmer of hope that maybe, maybe I wouldn't be selected. That everything those rogues had told me was a lie.

It has been a month and a half since I saw them last. The main rogue, who I was requested to call Grey visited me once, reminding me of my ties to the organisation I didn't know a anything about. All I know is that they want me to retrieve a family heirloom that is currently in Malik's possession.

And that's the reason I'm going to be chosen to compete, despite the fair selection process.

"This is the most focused I've seen you about something that isn't reading," Alexa observes, kicking my shin gently with the edge of my slipper. It was mine because she takes it upon herself to wear anything that belongs to me.

I shrug, trying to loosen up a little. "I don't know...I just want to get this over with."

Alexa couldn't know what had happened-Grey made the clear. She was to remain innocent to the situation, and when my name is announced, she would be left to think it was purely the luck of the draw. She may still have the chance to be chosen to compete next to me, but I doubt such things could happen.

I will be going into this blind, and alone.

"So, no one knows what those who are chosen look like?" Alexa asked, more to herself than me. I hadn't sent in any picture, and I can't imagine anyone else doing so either. I wouldn't rule out Alexa using her impeccable good looks to sway some of the people behind the selection process.

Just her eyes could make a man change the rules for her.

"Obviously we aren't going to get picked," Alexa reminded me, making me take a deep breath, trying to lean back to calm myself a little. "Remember, literally a one in a million chance."

"Still a chance," I mumble under my breath.

The broadcast began exactly on time, with a man and a woman, dressed immaculately, tucked behind a desk scattered with paper. They made slight jokes toward the beginning, trying to lull people into a sense of security before they broke it to those who didn't make it in. Every now and again, the camera would cut to a shot of Malik's estate, where the girl chosen would be living.

"Imagine...Imagine being able to live a life that isn't so mediocre," Alexa murmurs dreamily, resting her head in her hands. Luckily she decided to put her wine down and pay attention to what's about to happen on the screen.

I couldn't imagine because I have never come close to it. And I have never wanted to.

"To all those chosen for this auspicious experience, competing to be the Love Pack's Luna, good luck," the male presenter says warmly. A sickly sweet smile painted across his face. I wonder what he thinks about this. Does he agree with it?

The female presenter nods in response. "We will be announcing the 24 contestants from all twelve Pack competing."

Suddenly, Alexa was on her feet.

"It's starting!" she exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together. I stay safely on the couch, arms crossed over my body as I tap my foot nervously. How is Alexa going to react when she hears? Will she be mad at me? Or jealous?

With dramatic music blaring in the background, the announcement began. All I could imagine, as random names from each Pack were announced, the excited and disappointed girls all around the land. Alexa had her fingers crossed, as she knelt in front of the television, waiting for them to reach the Love Pack.

"From the Desire Pack, Phoenix Diamond," the female presenter read out, glancing from the paper in her hand, to the camera.

Alexa looked over her shoulder at me. "Have you heard of her."

Shaking my head no, I wonder briefly why I would know someone from the Desire Pack. Alexa has always been a lot more popular than me; online, and off. She has her hands in friend groups I didn't know existed, and now, I've gotten used to being the one friend left out.

"Her family is super wealthy...I can't believe she got she got chosen..."

Rich? Who in the Desire Pack isn't? The fact that she got picked for this stupid thing is probably a coincidence. But for some reason, it made me fidget nervously, hoping that it wouldn't put her above us.

Why am I even thinking like that? All I need to do is get the necklace and get out of there. No need to seduce the Alpha.

"Now, for the Love Pack members chosen," the announce.

Squealing, Alexa does a few paces across the room before she stayed quiet, go back to kneeling in front of the television like it was a God send. All I can think to do is stay stock still and hope that maybe, maybe this was all some prank...Anything but being chosen for this thing.

"Our first nominee...Macie North!"

The sigh that came from Alexa was clearly irritable. I didn't know her, which made me assume that she is from another part of the Pack.

"Still one more chance," Alexa says arily, not bothering to look back at me. I'm grateful that she doesn't, so she won't noticed how stressed I probably look. Knowing my best friend, she would take it as my want to be chosen, just like her. She couldn't be further from the truth.

"And our second..."

I close my eyes.

"Nominee to fight for Alpha Malik's heart..."

Alexa crosses her fingers.

"Is..."

My breathing completely stops.

"Aria Quade."

My heart plummets, as the presenter pronounces every part of my name slowly as if I didn't already get the picture. Alexa doesn't move for a second before a loud shrill erupts from her mouth so glass-shatteringly loud, I'll probably get a noise complaint.

"It's you! You...I...You...Got picked!"

The fact that I suspected it didn't alter my emotions. Just hearing my name made me freeze, my heart stopping to the point where I may have passed out. At least it would have been sweet relief from the quivering madness that was my nerves.

I don't want this. There is no way I am ready to meet an Alpha.

Alexa throws herself at me. "I can't believe my best friend just got chosen for this competition. This is the best day of my life!"

Am I dreaming, or is Alexa okay with me taking away this opportunity from her? I wanted to cry into her shoulder and tell her the truth, but I couldn't begin to form the words in my mouth. The face of Grey stained my mind, blocking almost every sense of sanity.

"I can't believe it," I say breathily, partially crushed my Alexa's body weight on top of me.

"Neither! I'm so glad I made you apply," she exclaimed, cupping my face in her hands. She was so flushed, genuinely excited, while I could feel all the colour drain from my face. To me, this news is the worst I could have ever received, but for Alexa, this was a step closer to the life of wealth and fame she so desperately wanted to drown in.

Even if it was a vicarious life through me...

"I'm scared," I tell her truthfully.

Alexa let's go of me, rolling off me and back onto the couch. She was still smiling like an idiot, clearly not knowing what I was insinuating. Or at the very least, the reason behind it. Her innocence to the situation gives me some solace, at least.

"Don't be," she says, not being able to smother the bubbles of hysteria in her voice. "This is Malik we are talking about. He is a hot substitute for your mate, at the very least."

I don't bother holding back my eye roll. Typical Alexa.

"So you're not mad?" I ask warily. Alexa shakes her almost instantly, and I relaxed as soon as I noticed the honesty in her eyes. What could be worse than entering a competition to steal from my own Alpha? Lose my best friend because of it.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need her.

"What happens now?" I question, glancing back at the television, as the read more unfamiliar names out. The names of the girls that will be thinking I'm trying to get them kicked out. If only I could explain right off the bat, to keep everything civil...

Alexa grins. "Aren't you lucky I read the information sheet?"

Not really.

"Tomorrow, cameras will be over to document your life before you head off, to see the way their future Luna may live. Then, they ship you off to meet the other competitor in this Pack, before you meet the other girls-"

Alexa takes a deep breath.

"Then you meet Malik...And that's where the fun begins," Alexa says, shoving the information at me in a flurry of frantic words I hardly understood.

"Right...The Alpha."

Alexa grabs my shoulders, shaking me slightly. I look her in the eye, and I see a girl completely serious about this entire thing. She would do a much better job seducing Malik than me, and she knows it too. All her plans resting on my shoulders are a waste of time.

"You have to try, Ari. Promise you will try," Alexa begs.

"I hate when you call me that," I mutter.

It was Alexa's time to roll her eyes. "You can't be shy, okay? Don't go all book nerd on him please."

I frown at her, tilting my head. A shy book nerd? She just summed me up in one whole sentence, she expects me to hide that from Malik? Maybe if I admit my tendencies to him, he won't look at me twice...

No, I can't be eliminated.

"Fine, fine," I brush her off. "I'll try to get into his damn pants, okay?

Alexa grinned. "That's my girl."