Chapter Four

I was still in complete shock when we made our way onto the stage. While climbing the final stair, the alpha and his entourage left the hall. The second they were out of sight, a few girls in the front let out frustrated screams.

Some girls' faces crumpled, and they couldn't hold back their tears. They looked like raccoons with smudged masks running down their cheeks.

Angry voices began to rise from different corners of the room. "This is not fair! How could they not see my potential?" one girl's voice cut through the air.

The ten of us selected gathered near the edge of the stage. The rest of the girls were excited, and one of them leaned in closer.

"Isn't it a miracle that only line six got picked? We should have our special name.”

“How about the famous line six?" Another girl suggested, and the rest approved with their eyes lighting up with a thrill.

MC Charles stepped back onto the stage, trying to calm the crying girls. "Ladies, ladies, please. Your emotions are running high right now, and rightfully so. But every single one of you showed incredible bravery by attending this project. Don't forget that. There are no losers."

They booed at him, and the more he spoke, the angrier they got. "You have special gifts. You're not going home empty-handed."

Nobody listened to him. I felt guilty. Here I was, feeling like a fraud. I knew I was a ticking time bomb of exposure, and somehow, I wished I didn't make it to the next round.

The girls were free to leave with a tangible parting gift for their efforts. But this next round could unravel all my lies. The thought of trading places with one of them flashed through my mind, but eyes were everywhere on us – the organizers, the audience – and I couldn't slip away or exchange discreetly.

"Come with me," one of the soldiers announced, and we were led to the backyard where a helicopter was waiting. It was almost nine-thirty, and the night had fully set in.

This was real, and I pinched myself to be sure I wasn't dreaming. The helicopter blades were whirring, and the pilot did some last-minute checks.

Natalia placed her arm on my shoulder and drew me closer. I shot her a tight smile

"Did you bring extra clothes? I didn't because I thought the pageant was just a one-day thing."

She shook her head. "Nope, didn't pack a box. They've got everything we need."

As the helicopter doors opened wide and the pilot welcomed us, we rushed in. Natalia and I found a spot at the back, where we could get a clear view of everything.

"You're so chaotic," I laughed, and she flung her head back, letting out a loud laughter.

"We need to be together all the time."

It was nice having a friend. At the sanctuary, we were all sad and hopeless, wearing moody faces and not in the mood to interact. This felt good and different.

The helicopter started to lift off, and the city lights below shrank, replaced by the darkness of the night sky.

"I've got to be honest, Natalia," I whispered. "I have no business in this beauty contest. I'm just five foot four, I don't take care of my skin, don't even get me started on the catwalks and makeup. I've got two left feet, and I hate speaking in public."

Natalia shot me an amused look. "Why are you paranoid? You think I've got what it takes for this?"

"Of course," I rolled my eyes. "You're perfect."

"Yeah right," she smirked. "That's exactly what the fifteen-day training is for. They're going to teach us everything we need to know. And even if we don't win, we get to pamper our skin, eat good food, and have some fun."

The pilot's voice crackled through the intercom, announcing that we were landing on the island. We landed gently on a helipad and disembarked.

Ruin Island was the opposite of its name. It was breathtaking. A large mansion stood majestically and its surroundings were lit with halogen lamps, reflecting light on the huge pool.

We made our way to the mansion, where a middle-aged woman with her hair in a super tight bun stood to welcome us. I felt pity for her hair edges and wondered if she didn't have a headache.

"Welcome, contestants. I am Ms. Muffinbutton."

Natalia raised a brow, and I pinched my lips short to conceal my laughter. Ms. Muffinbutton proceeded with a warning.

"Do not think you're here to relax,” she warned and the girls grew quiet. The woman reminded me of the matrons at the sisterhood sanctuary who never smiled.

"In the next round, you'll be staying in a hall upstairs. There are five bunks and ten-bed spaces."

"Why can't we have our private rooms?" one of the girls whined. The matron ignored her and made way for us to head inside

The entrance was majestic and huge, with a living room downstairs having crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, reflecting light off the polished marble floors.

We walked through the halls with carvings and artwork and then went to the hall upstairs where they had arranged for us. Narrow beds were lined and neatly arranged. Natalia pulled me towards the third bunk on the left, where we claimed our spots, and I shook my head, amused at how she never wanted to let go of me.

The bedding on the bunk was clean and had two silk pillows each. Each bunk had a night lamp and a mini-fridge tucked neatly into the corner. We were given storage bins as well. The bathrooms were five in total, clean and well-maintained, with a steady supply of hot water.

A bell rang for dinner, and we all went downstairs. The chef, a nutritionist, introduced himself.

"Tonight, feel free to indulge in any cravings and eat all the junk food you want. But be prepared because starting tomorrow, your diet will strictly consist of healthy food."

The girls murmured among themselves, and Natalia, sitting next to me, rolled her eyes so dramatically at the announcement that I had to stifle a laugh.

"Watch out. They'll start serving us grass tomorrow as if we're a bunch of goats," she whispered with mock horror in her voice.

Because of the warning, I opted for a burger and milkshake combo, enjoying my guilty pleasure. We chatted among ourselves, getting to know each other. A girl with multicolored hair and the most beautiful hazel eyes I'd ever seen approached me.

"I see we share something in common," she said with a smile. "The color suits you. Don't change it."

"Oh, it's natural," I replied, and her mouth fell open in surprise. "You don't know how lucky you are," she said, clearly intrigued by the burgundy color of my hair.

Upstairs in our room, Mrs. Muffinbutton with a serious tone, announced that there was a strict curfew.

"Anyone leaving their room after lights out is in deep trouble."

She walked away, and I wondered about the reason behind such stringent rules. After brushing my teeth, I lay on my bed with a smile playing on my lips.

I woke up minutes before midnight, feeling restless. Everyone else was asleep, and I itched to go outside. Despite the rules about not going out after curfew, I wanted to see the garden at night.

This place was just as restrictive as the sanctuary, and I hated feeling trapped. Carefully, I got out of bed, trying not to wake anyone, and tiptoed downstairs.

I headed straight for the garden, which looked amazing under the moonlight. I picked a rose petal, took a deep sniff, and smiled. Then I lay on the grass, letting the cool night air surround me.

I started dozing off, and something I hadn't felt in years washed over me – happiness.

If only it could last forever.

My eyes flew open when I heard a low growl. I sniffed the air and knew that a wolf was nearby. I wasn't terrified, but my aunt warned me against revealing my Omega status by shifting.

From the darkness emerged two red eyes. My thoughts scattered, and I was more than a little nervous. I gasped, realizing with a shiver of panic that the wolf wasn't normal; it seemed like a maniac. It shoved its way forward, setting my nerves on edge. Its mad, staring eyes warned me that I was in danger.

Fear gripped me, knowing that I couldn't outrun the wolf in my human form. Still, I tried covering several feet and crying out.

"Stop running," my instinct urged me loudly. "Turn around and face the wolf."

It was very close to me when my head turned with a snap of the neck, and my legs gave up.

When I fell, the wolf leaped over me, almost suffocating me with its black fur. Then an unexpected urge to pet the wolf surfaced.

I began stroking its fur, and, to my surprise, it became calm, with its growling fading.

Puzzled, I continued, but I sensed trouble. If the wolf shifted back to a human, it would expose my secrets of sneaking outside. I kept on petting, wondering who was behind the wolf.

Almost immediately, it fell asleep in my arms. I watched it, staring at its nose. Even while asleep, it looked restless. I carefully slid away, not wanting to startle it awake. When I was free, I turned and ran back towards the mansion, pushing my legs as fast as they could go.