Chapter 5

AYLA BAILORE

I was so dead. I felt my legs tremble as they instantly lost their strength. The King was standing right in front of us. The heat of his gaze was on me, but I dared not look. Instead, I kept my gaze fixed on the spotless sheen of the marble floor.

“Alpha Arnold,” I heard the King's voice, it was huskier and deeper than I remembered a moment ago. But that wasn't what made me furrow my brows. It was the way he addressed Arnold with a streak of emotion in them. Anger maybe.

He'd call him Alpha, but Arnold wasn't the Alpha of his pack. That much I knew. Or was he somehow related to the Iron Claw Pack Alpha?

“Your Majesty,” Arnold mused, almost in subtle mockery, but I was sure that tone should get him killed. No one should speak to the King with such disrespect.

I bit my lips immediately as I reminded myself of my own predicament.

“We didn't receive your letter of interest, I didn't think the Iron Claw would be interested in something like this,”

“It was a last-minute change and I was under the impression that the Luna Queen Selection was for every pack, the Iron Claw Pack not excluded,” Arnold said.

I didn't know a thing about the pack's politics or what the hell was going on here, but I could feel the unmistakable tension in the air. It was raw and palpable. And judging from the grave-like silence in the hall, I knew that I wasn't the only one feeling it. There was something between these two. Something that…

“You,” I jumped slightly at the sound of the King's voice. I could feel the heat of his gaze on me and involuntarily my eyes lifted to meet his.

His face was an emotionless mask of ice. And trust me, terrifying as hell that I couldn't stop the shiver that shook my body over and over again. At that moment I was thankful for Arnold's hand on my arm, it was the only thing keeping my legs from crashing onto the floor.

Once more, I felt the King's gaze slip to Arnold's hand on me, the golden flecks in his eyes darkened, and for a second it almost felt like all hell was about to break loose when a beautiful young woman stepped up beside him.

“King Lucian, the Oracle is here already,” The woman informed, all the while the King's unreadable stare was on me.

“Let's begin,” He walked away, and took his seat on the tall chair. Next to him was a woman dressed in a white cloak with a hood over her head. That must be the moon goddess Oracle. Never met her before and never thought I'd ever get to see her.

Just then one of the men from the royal squad stepped on the podium and instructed the women participating in the Queen Selection to step forward.

My heart raced in my chest. I cast a nervous glance at Arnold but his gaze was on the King. I had taken a step away from him when he gripped my arm again, leaning close to whisper in my ear. “Whatever you do, remember, Emily's life is on the line,” With that he released me.

I joined the line of women standing in front of the podium. There were over a dozen contenders lined up. One look at them, and all I could see was determination and fierceness. Almost as if they'd been preparing for this their whole life in hopes that a day like this would come.

“I'm screwed,” As the words left my lips, someone giggled next to me.

I glanced left to find another contender standing so close to me. Pretty face, a beautiful smile, and red hair that stood out.

“Hi, I'm Lara,” The red-haired chirped beside me, and despite my ever-pounding heart I couldn't help but return her smile.

“I'm Ayla,” I whispered back, moving my eyes from her to the throne seat, and unexpectedly, I found the King's gaze on me.

“Welcome contenders,” The King's man from earlier greeted again, his voice vibrating through the walls, gaining everyone's attention. “It's an honor to have everyone here. You've come from far and wide to compete for the honor of being named Luna Queen,” His words boomed out over the crowd. He was dressed in a black dress shirt and black pants like everyone else in the royal squad including the king. But there was something that slightly tore him apart from the rest, and I couldn't help but wonder who he was.

“Prince Dane,” Lara whispered beside me, answering my unspoken question. “He's the King's only cousin and moderator of the competition alongside Lady Triss,” She pointed at the beautiful lady from earlier, now standing next to King Lucian, whispering only the goddess knows into his ear.

Genuine curiosity filled me this time. “Who's she?” I kept my voice low, asking my new friend.

“Triss? Oh, she's like the King's shadow. One could say most trusted, he barely goes anywhere without her,” Lara informed, and my gaze went back to them. I could already tell there was something between them. The thought alone made my insides churn unpleasantly, and I hated it.

Someone like that bastard would have an endless line of lovers, so why didn't he just pick from them, instead he had to come up with this ridiculous competition.

“But Triss isn't like us,” Lara's words brought my attention to her. “She's a witch,” She whispered and I could barely contain my surprise.

Just then, Triss stepped forward. “The competition will officially begin tomorrow. We will have a series of challenges. Every challenge will be carefully recorded, and at the end, the contender with the most points and who has found favor with the King will be our Queen,” She spoke in a calm, entrancing voice before moving her fingers in the air and immediately a glowing mark appeared on our wrists. “It's a temporary mark of the King, it automatically disappears when a contender is disqualified or eliminated from the selection,”

Triss shared some vital information, and soon, Dane stepped forward and informed us of the dos and don'ts in the game, once again welcoming us all. I really couldn't believe I was now a part of this, whether I liked it or not. For my survival, I had to start thinking with my brain and figure out a way Emily and I could escape this nightmare.

The real party started and the guests were enjoying themselves, including the contenders. Meanwhile, I could barely get a morsel down my throat. Not with Arnold's gaze following my every move. But it wasn't just his. I could also feel the heat of the King's gaze. It had also never left me, and I couldn't find the courage to glance in his direction.

The music changed and some guests started appearing on the dancefloor. I was with Lara and had no interest in participating in that when I heard a voice next to me, and a hand stretched out.

“Care for a dance, Ayla Bailore?” The voice sounded familiar. So familiar I felt the sickening feeling that crawled up my spine. This wasn't good.

One glance at the figure towering above me, and I froze. Every bone in my body trembled at the sight of him, Colton. Garrick's very own beta and one of the many assholes who made my life hell as a slave.

Shit. In all my worry I had completely forgotten that Alpha Garrick had also received an invitation, hell, they had even chosen the most worthy she-wolf of the pack. Madison Wilkerson, the Betas daughter and another nemesis of mine. She was also Karen's best friend, so imagine just how much she'd hate me.

“My apologies, but I'll pass,” I tried to keep my voice from quivering but with the tremble that went down my spine, it was next to impossible.

Colton didn't take the hint, instead, he grabbed my hand, regardless, leaning in to whisper. “It's in your best interest you comply mutt, otherwise, everyone will find out what a gold-digging whore you are,”

“Everything good?” Lara yelled over the blasting music in the hall, and I was thankful for the loud sound, at least no one would have heard anything.

I smiled at her nodding, before bringing my attention back to Colton. “Lead the way,”

He led me to the crowded dance floor, one hand on my waist and the other on my hand.

“What the fuck are you doing here mutt? Does Garrick even know you are here?” His eyes now burned with anger, and his hold on me tightened.

I pasted a smile on my lips, I could feel the heat of a few stares my way, and one of them belonged to Arnold, watching me with an unreadable, yet dangerous gleam in his eyes.

“You escaped, didn't you? I don't know what lies you spilled to Alpha Arnold, but I plan to remedy that. And once I drag your disgusting ass back to Garrick, you're done for,” His threats rose fear in my chest, but I squashed it down instantly.

“Are you done?” I didn't know where the bravery came from as I cocked my head sideways, once again grateful for the loud music. “Because I am. The only reason I agreed to dance with you was to set things straight. Tell Garrick he doesn't own me. Not anymore. I am no longer a part of the Red River Pack. I belong with the Iron Claw Pack now and as you can see, Arnold personally brought me here. He knows everything,”

I was lying through my teeth. Arnold knew nothing about me aside from the pack I came from, but Colton didn't have to know that. I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if Arnold found out I hadn't just escaped the Red River Pack but I was mated to the Alpha.

One of the rules that had been said tonight had been that each contender mustn't be claimed or spoken for. Which in a literal sense didn't apply to me, but I had a mate I was still very much linked to. And that alone changed everything and could ruin everything for me.

“But if you want to take up the matter with Arnold, please do, even though only a fool will go against the Iron Claw Pack. With that being all, I'll take me to leave,” I tried to pull away before my nerves gave me away and showed how heavily terrified I was of him, of Garrick, and the situation I was in. But Colton's hands gripped me tighter to the point of pain.

My eyes widened and the dangerous wave of anger vibrating scared me. Colton was exactly like Garrick, they'd been friends for a long time, and was as twisted as his Alpha, but surely he wasn't stupid enough to try to hurt me in a hall full of many wolves, right?

“Colton, let go,” I almost whimpered from the pain. His claws had elongated a little and were digging into my waist and my hand.

“You won't make a fool of my Alpha. Of our pack. You're his and will remain his until the day you die. Once he finds out you're here, it's over whore. Come with me now or—”

“Or risk losing your head for touching one of the King's women,” A cool, calm, and controlled voice sounded behind me.

I froze.

Even Colton froze.