They Gave Me Zero Votes, I Chose Another Mate

I looked at Vivian's ballot box. It was crammed full.

Even without Silas and the others' votes, she still would've won.

I'd reminded them over and over. I only needed one vote.

Yet none of them would give me one.

When Vivian saw me, she smiled and patted Silas on the arm.

"Flora's here. She must be really upset. Go check on her."

Silas glanced at me, then looked back down at Vivian.

"You're too sweet. Even now, you're worried about Flora.

"Getting chosen as Moon Envoy is a big deal. Are you ready?"

Vivian gave him a shy smile.

"I never thought everyone would pick me. I'm so nervous right now.

"Will you be my Moon Escort and ride in the procession with me tomorrow?

"With you there, I know everything will go perfectly."

Vivian looked up at him hopefully, but Silas hesitated.

The Moon Escort guards the Envoy during the procession.

He's also supposed to be the person closest to her.

Silas already had a mate waiting for him: me. He had no business taking that role.

Just then, Scott came over, grinning.

"What's there to think about? Vivian finally became Moon Envoy. If you won't go with her, what kind of friend are you?"

Alexander squeezed in too and pointed at Vivian's ballot box.

"Seriously, Silas. Look how amazing Vivian is. All these votes. Are you really going to let her down?

"Not like my sister. She didn't get a single vote, so she won't be needing a Moon Escort anyway."

"That's enough!"

Silas shot him a look and cut him off.

Then, as if he'd only just noticed me, he walked over.

"You look awful. Still mad?"

When I didn't answer, he laughed.

"I was going to vote for you, but Vivian had a real shot at becoming Moon Envoy. I couldn't let her lose.

"Besides, the Moon Goddess is our guardian. There's no way she'd actually punish you.

"Every election, you were too scared to even leave the house. That's the only reason I signed you up, so you'd stop being afraid all the time."

I looked up at him and spoke slowly.

"Pack law says only she-wolves can run. Vivian is human. Why did you help her sneak into the election?

"Did you have a hand in her winning, too?"

Silas looked impatient.

"You get so petty whenever Vivian is involved.

"Okay, so we didn't talk it through first, and you ended up without a single vote.

"But Vivian has always dreamed of being Moon Envoy. That's why I paid people to keep quiet about what she is and got the other wolves to vote for her."

My eyes stung, but in the end, not one tear fell.

"She wants something, so you all just hand it to her? Do you have any idea what happens when a human pretends to be a wolf—"

"Enough!"

Silas scoffed and cut me off.

"I know. You're a purebred white wolf. You've got Beta blood.

"Vivian's human, so you've always looked down on her.

"But she's every bit as good as you, and we can't give you everything you want.

"So what if you really lose your feelings? Wouldn't that be better? Then you'd stop getting jealous over Vivian every other day."