Three

I tossed and turned all night and finally managed to sleep in the early morning hours. Mom had been up early too. I peeped through the hallway and saw her in the upstairs living room, watching a rerun of our family's favorite sitcom. I hid away immediately, not knowing how to process this myself or what I was doing. We hadn’t talked about it yesterday, and I wasn’t ready for that conversation. 

At 6:30, I freshened up and drove to the pack house. I walked through the foyer and found out that most of the girls had withdrawn by morning. All four remaining volunteers were already there, clustered in the main hall. 

The Beta's daughter, Brianna, looked confident, like she'd been preparing for this her whole life. She was perfectly put together in a cream-colored two-piece and red lipstick that matched her outfit. She barely glanced at me before going back to her conversation.

Luna Catherine appeared from a side hallway, clipboard in hand. She looked us all over, then called each of us forward in turn. When it was my name, she gestured for me to follow. She led me to a small office off the main hallway and closed the door. I stood there awkwardly while she sat behind the desk.

"Sit."

I sat.

There was a small silence before she said, "I'm going to be direct with you, Lisa. You are at a disadvantage here."

I looked up. "I know."

"Do you?" She leaned forward. "Brianna has been trained in diplomacy since she was a child. Melissa's family has Lycan connections. Natasha speaks three languages. They've spent their entire lives preparing for opportunities like this."

"But I—"

"I'm not finished." Her tone wasn't harsh. "Your mom has omega blood. You don't have the other girls’ training or connections. What you have is three years of working closely with me and knowing when to speak and when to stay quiet."

I nodded.

"Alpha Cameron needs someone who understands that this arrangement is temporary and transactional. Can you do that even if it's difficult? Even if people judge you? Even if you are isolated in a territory where you know no one?"

The questions made it scarier by the second. I hadn't met Alpha Cameron before. It made me imagine him as some monster. 

"Yes."

Luna Catherine was silent for another moment, then nodded and sent me away.

Back with the rest, we were drilled on Lycan customs. How to address a Lycan Alpha, how to show respect without looking weak, the subtle politics of pack hierarchy, what topics were safe and which ones were landmines.

Over the next two days, Sasha and her mom drilled me relentlessly. We role-played scenarios. What to say if Cameron asked why I volunteered, how to respond if he tested me, how to handle awkward silences.

On the second day, I picked up my best dress. It was beautiful. Dark green, fitted but not tight, with long sleeves. I tried it on and stared at myself in the mirror. I seemed confident and polished, like someone who belonged in a Lycan's arms. But underneath, I was still just me, still the girl whose family was falling apart. No flashy dress could change that.

On the third morning, I woke up to my phone buzzing relentlessly.

Cameron's convoy just arrived. Be at the pack house in one hour.

My hands were shaking badly. I could barely type a response.

I got dressed, forcing myself to breathe. I was styling my hair when Mom knocked on my door. She walked in.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart. What's the occasion?"

I turned. She'd stopped crying yesterday. Now she just looked tired.

"Where are you going? You were away all day yesterday, and I wanted us to talk." She paused. "I figured out you caught your father..."

"Mom, please not now," I cut her off. "There's this opportunity with the pack, a temporary arrangement that could help us financially."

Her forehead folded in a frown. "What kind of arrangement?"

I explained it as carefully as I could. She listened without interrupting. When I finished, she was quiet for a long time.

"Lisa, you don't have to."

"I want to." I grabbed her hands. "Mom, if he chooses me, this could give you a fresh start, real security. You wouldn't have to worry about money, or the house, or any of it."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Honey, I'll be fine. I don't want you sacrificing yourself for my mistakes."

"Dad made the mistakes. I'm making a choice." I squeezed her hands tighter. "Trust me, please."

She pulled me into a hug, holding on like she was afraid to let go.

"One year," she whispered. "That's all?"

"One year."

My brother stood outside the door. He looked so much older than seventeen at that moment.

"First, Dad leaves. Now you might leave. What am I supposed to do?"

"James, please..."

He turned away. 

My heart ached. 

"You're supposed to finish school and be a pain in the ass as always. I'll be back in a year."

He scoffed. "That's what Dad said about his numerous business trips."

The words hit hard. "I'm not Dad," I said firmly. "I'm coming back, I promise."

He didn't speak. He turned away and went back upstairs.

The pack house was swarming with activity when I arrived. All four volunteers were there, dressed in different shades of formal wear. The beta was giving last-minute instructions while Luna Catherine checked everyone over with a critical eye.

She adjusted my collar. "Remember what we practiced. Confidence, not arrogance. Answer his questions honestly, but don't ramble."

Then she leaned forward to whisper so others wouldn't hear. "Don't underestimate yourself. I would really want you to be chosen."

My heart skipped at that revelation. Why me? Why not Brianna, or Melissa, or Natasha? But I couldn't ask her that.

Brianna went first. She walked in with perfect posture and her head held high. She was in there for maybe ten minutes before emerging with no expression on her face.

One by one, the other girls disappeared into the room and came back out. Some looked relieved, others looked disappointed. None of them looked happy.

Finally, it was my turn.

"Lisa Hartwell," the beta called.

I stood on shaking legs and walked toward the closed door. Luna Catherine gave me a thumbs up and a sign that I should breathe.

I nodded and stepped inside.