Four

The room was smaller, with dark wood paneling. Three people stood near the window. The tallest among them turned when I entered. Tall, dark hair, gray eyes that seemed to see right through me. He looked majestic but exhausted, like he hadn't slept in days. There was nothing soft or warm about him. 

Beside him was a man and a woman.

Alpha Cameron looked at me the way someone might look at a tool they were considering buying.

"Sit," he said.

I sat in the chair across from him, forcing my hands to stay still in my lap. Lycans always had this effect on people, this intimidating effect. He studied me in silence, and I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.

"Why did you volunteer?" he finally asked.

I'd practiced this answer a dozen times with Sasha. But sitting here under his cold gray stare, all my rehearsed responses felt hollow.

So I told the truth.

"My family needs financial security. You're offering that in exchange for a year of my time. It's a fair trade."

He and the other two exchanged glances. That stoic expression seemed replaced with a bit of surprise before he schooled his features.

"That's it. Money?"

I nodded. "That's it."

The female beside him, whom I was sure I had seen before, crossed her legs. "Most of the other girls gave speeches about duty and honor and serving the alliance. You're not interested in any of that?"

"I'm interested in keeping my mother from losing everything because my father decided to fuck his secretary."

The beta's mouth twitched slightly, and the woman raised her perfectly groomed brow.

Alpha Cameron's expression still didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes.

"Honesty," he said. "That's rare."

He asked more questions about my work, education, and my wolf. I answered as directly as I could without trying to make myself sound more impressive than I was.

"You understand this is temporary," he said. "One year, then you go back to your life."

"I understand."

"No expectations of anything beyond the contract."

"None."

"If you become pregnant, the child stays with me when the arrangement ends."

Silence stretched. No one looked at me.

I kept my voice steady. "I understand."

They exchanged glances. I didn't know if it was good or bad.

He turned away, and I realized the interview was over.

"Thank you for your time," the beta said dismissively.

I stood and headed for the door. That was it. I had failed. He was going to choose someone else, someone more appropriate.

"Lisa."

I turned.

Alpha Cameron was standing by the window now.

"You'll have my decision by tonight."

I nodded and left.

Outside, my best friend Sasha was waiting in the hallway. The second she saw me, she rushed to my side and hugged me.

"How did it go?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I think I screwed it up."

"What did you say?"

"The truth about my family."

"Not like that," Sasha groaned.

"I know, but I couldn't lie." I slumped against the wall. "He's going to choose Brianna."

We hung around for a bit and I drove home, needing to spend the rest of the day with my mom.

We talked about everything, about the way forward, and when she told me she was going to accept my dad if he came back, it made a wave of anger rush through me. But I gave her some grace by not speaking my mind. None of this was planned. And if it was unethical and unwise to accept her cheating husband back, then what about me who had applied for a temporary position whereby I could even get pregnant and give up my child after a year?

It wasn't until later that night, when I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, that my phone finally buzzed.

From Luna Catherine: Alpha Cameron has made his decision. He's chosen you. Be ready to leave tomorrow at noon.

I jerked awake from my bed, reading the message several times before it sank in.

He chose me.

My heart pounded.

He actually chose me.

I called Sasha immediately.

"Oh my God, Lisa, he picked you!"

"I know."

"Are you okay?"

I had no idea how to answer that.

"I don't know," I said finally. "I really don't know."