Two

The walk to the platform felt like miles, even though it was only a few rows of chairs. My legs moved on autopilot while my brain screamed at me to abort the mission. 

My mom's voice echoed in my head. I have nothing, Lisa. Nothing.

I felt every pair of eyes on me. Sasha remained standing with a stony expression. I looked away. If I didn’t, I’d lose my nerve.

Alpha Marcus's eyes found me as I reached the front. Luna Catherine recognized me instantly, her brows furrowing. I stopped at the base of the platform, my hands shaking so badly I had to clasp them together.

"I'll volunteer," I said, swallowing the tremble in my voice.

Surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd. I’d worked for Luna Catherine as her personal shopper since my sophomore year. I’d dated her son until the next woman caught his attention.

"Lisa? Do you understand what you're volunteering for?"

"Yes, Luna."

The Alpha and his wife exchanged glances, whispering to themselves.

"This isn't a love match. It’s a binding contract with a Lycan Alpha. Once the agreement is made, there is no backing out."

"I understand."

"It’s only an expression of interest," Alpha Marcus announced to the crowd. "Alpha Cameron makes the final selection. All unmarked females are eligible. Volunteering confirms your consent to be considered."

Another girl stood up from the middle section. After a pause, another. A few more followed. By the time the room settled, there were over ten of us.

"Are there specific requirements Alpha Cameron is looking for?" Brianna, the Beta's daughter, asked.

Luna Catherine answered. "Alpha Cameron assesses each candidate personally. Bloodline and training matter, but so do character, discretion, and the ability to fulfill contracts without complications."

Brianna's smile stayed fixed, but her eyes scanned us like she was sizing up competition.

Luna Catherine continued. The Lycan Alpha would arrive in three days, and we were to look our best for his choice.

My gut screamed this wasn’t what I wanted. But with everything that happened today, what good would a love match do me? Mom had loved Dad and now she was about to get burned. Mom was Omega. Dad’s family had always said he married down. She’d never find decent work in the pack with that over her head. The money from this could give her a real chance and prove Dad didn’t get to destroy everything.

The meeting ended. Girls filed out in clusters. I overheard someone saying Brianna was probably going to be chosen—anyone with eyes would know she was the strongest candidate.

Sasha caught up with me in the parking lot, grabbing my arm before I could reach my keys.

"What the hell was that, Lisa?"

I sighed, exhausted. "I volunteered."

"I can see that. Why?" Sasha’s voice was sharp with worry. "You didn’t even think. You just walked up there and..."

"I had to," I said, unlocking my phone and playing Mom’s voice message.

Sasha’s face crumpled as she listened. 

"She has nothing," I said quietly. "I can’t just watch her fall apart."

Sasha was silent for a long moment, then pulled me into a hug. When she pulled back, her eyes were wet.

"Are you really doing this?"

I shrugged. "If he picks me, yeah."

"Which I doubt, considering Brianna..." Sasha made a gag sound. She’d never liked Brianna. "So what’s your plan if he doesn’t choose you?"

"I don’t know," I said honestly. "I’ll figure something out. But at least I tried."

Sasha didn’t respond right away. She pulled out her phone. "I’m texting my mom. She might know about Lycan politics—she’s a pack lawyer."

"Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet. This won’t be easy." She hesitated. "Lisa, are you sure about this?"

My phone buzzed. Mom.

"I should go. She needs me."

Sasha stepped aside as I got into my car. She tapped the window before I pulled away. "Hey, you’ve got this."

I wanted to believe her.

The drive home was a blur.  Through the window, I saw Mom at the kitchen table, surrounded by papers. Probably divorce papers.

James was in the living room on his phone, wearing a sour look. He glanced up when I walked in, then back to scrolling.

"Lisa, is that you?" Mom’s voice was hoarse.

"Yeah, it’s me."

She appeared in the doorway, face puffy and red from crying. Trying to act normal, like pretending everything was fine could make it so.

"How was the meeting?" she asked.

"Fine, just pack business."

She tried to smile and failed. "Are you hungry? I made pasta, but nobody really ate."

"I’m good, Mom."

She nodded and headed upstairs.

Dad’s car wasn’t outside. He wasn’t home. The weight of everything pressed down on me. My family, my once stable family, was about to splinter.

James got up and headed for the stairs without a word.

"Hey," I called after him. "You okay?"

He paused, hand on the railing. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters."

He looked at me for a long moment. "He’s coming tomorrow to get his stuff."

My stomach dropped. "Did he say anything else?"

"Just that he’ll explain later, like there’s anything to explain. He’s leaving, that’s it."

"James..."

"I don’t want to talk about it."

He went upstairs and shut the door. I heard the lock click.

I sat on the bottom step, head in my hands. This was real. In three days, I’d stand before a Lycan Alpha and hope he chose me.

My phone buzzed—a text from an unknown number. Luna Catherine. Tomorrow, 8am sharp. Don’t be late.

I stared at it before typing back. I’ll be there.

Upstairs, I passed Mom in the hallway. She’d been crying again.

"We’ll be fine, Mom. You have me and James," I said. "We’ll be fine."

"Good night, sweetheart," she whispered.

"Good night, Mom."

I closed my bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. I’d volunteered to be a Lycan temporary mate. Leave my pack, my family, my life for a year. I might not even be chosen. 

But if I was…

I pulled out my phone and googled Alpha Cameron Silver Creek. Few articles about pack alliances, territorial disputes, business dealings. No photos, no personality. Just ruthless, cold, powerful.

Why even a temporary mate? Why not choose, fall in love, mate?

I turned off my phone and lay  back on the bed.

Three days. In three days, I’d know if I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life—or the only choice that made sense.