I shot him a cocky smile, which sent a jolt of pain through my face. No more smiling for me today. “I was born ready.” I latched on to the horn handles of the tray and heaved it up.
“Want help with that?”
Even though my joints smarted a little, I said, “I don’t need anyone’s help.” I gave him a wide berth so our arms wouldn’t graze, then pressed my shoulder into the swinging door.
The only thing I needed was for Evelyn to keep loving me in spite of the beast I was.
Ichanged out of my work uniform before meeting with the five elders. I slid on skinny jeans and a pair of much-loved, scuffed-up Timberlands that seemed appropriate footwear for paintballing.
Lucas, Matt, and Liam were already in the conference room when I arrived, lounging on the springy office chairs
“Close the door, Ness,” Bushy-Eyebrows instructed.
Even though the idea of being locked in a room with eight men was unpleasant, I shut the door before making my way to the free seat next to Matt. I felt his gaze rake over my face. Lucas looked too.
The bald elder leaned forward and clasped his hands. “Did someone…hurt you?”
“No.” I didn’t offer details. “So what’s on the agenda?”
Chairs squeaked as bodies shifted.
Bushy-Eyebrows took a swig of water from the glass in front of him. “Okay. Let’s get down to business. There will be three tests. The first, endurance. You will have to run twenty miles in wolf form over a terrain set with obstacles and traps. The last person to arrive at the marked destination will lose. And anyone who switches into his or her human form will be automatically disqualified.”
My pulse jackhammered inside my veins. To compete, I would need to change. Fully change. Not the pathetic attempt I’d gone through last night.
Praying the assembled werewolves’ heightened senses wouldn’t pick up on my nervousness, I asked, “When will this take place?”
“The sooner the better. Would next weekend work for everyone?”
That gave me one week to master my wolf form. Not ideal but better than a couple hours. I toyed with Mom’s ring, slotting it around one finger, then slipping it over another.
Everyone nodded.
“We will test your cunning next. The details of that trial will only be given to the three winners of the first contest,” Bushy-Eyebrows said.
I could do cunning. I released Mom’s ring and tucked it back into my tank top where the warmed metal rested against my heart.
“And then we’ll end with a test of strength. A fight between the last two contenders.”
“A fight?” I croaked.
“Did you think this was some sort of beauty pageant, Ness?” Eric asked.
I squashed my aching lips tight to seal off the sharp comeback that threatened to pop out. A fight wasn’t fair, but I supposed the elders knew that. Even though I was strong, how much damage could a hundred-and-twenty-pound girl inflict on a two-hundred-plus-pound monster like Matt? I could hurt him, sure, but beat him…unlikely. But maybe Matt wouldn’t be the one in the ring.
Maybe Iwouldn’t be the one in the ring.
Bushy-Eyebrows leaned forward in his seat. “Does anyone have questions?”
The other three shook their heads. I neither shook my head nor nodded. I stayed perfectly still.
“Now let’s talk rules. Eric?” Bushy-Eyebrows nodded to the bald elder.
Eric started, “Non-pack members-”
I bristled. “So these rules only apply to me?”
“Just the first one. If you lose, Ness,” Eric said in a voice that sounded like he’d eaten gravel for breakfast, “you cannot ask the future Alpha to bring you into the pack.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Which means I’ll have to leave Boulder?”
“Yes.”
Even though I’d planned to leave, I wanted it to be my choice. Not theirs. “But if any of the others lose, they get to stay in the pack?”
“Correct.”
Well, that’s fair.
“You will all be civil to each other. We don’t want any fighting outside of these trials,” Eric said.
Bushy-Eyebrows continued, “Internal discord will only weaken the pack. Already not having an Alpha for such a prolonged period of time has hurt us and bolstered the self-worth of neighboring packs. Let’s not give them more ammunition.”
Last night, they’d all been civil to me. This morning, Liam had been borderline kind. Would this go on? The pack had shunned me when I’d needed help after Dad was shot. I had a long memory, and that memory had wedged deep trust issues inside me.
“Okay, Ness?” Eric asked.
I didn’t appreciate being singled out. Again. I shoved my shoulders back hard against the leather seat. “I can be nice.”
“Can you?” Lucas asked.
I shot him a taunting smile. “If I want to be, yes.”
“Well, we do hope you’ll want to be,” Bushy-Eyebrows said. “Any uncivil behavior reported to us will incur serious consequences. Elimination being the gentler consequence.”
His name suddenly slotted into my mind. Frank. Frank McNamara. He used to be the Alpha when my father was my age. Dad had always spoken highly of him. I wondered if Frank would’ve allowed me into the pack had he been Alpha instead of Heath. But I quit wondering fast because what was the point in musing over something that couldn’t happen?
“I believe you kids have something fun planned, so we’ll adjourn this meeting.”
Yeah, fun. Not.
“Next Saturday, come to the pack headquarters at noon. Don’t be late.” The elders rose.
As Frank passed behind my chair, he placed a palm on my shoulder. “Jeb told me about your mother this morning.”
Great. Lucy was giving out my room number to strangers, and Jeb was informing people of my loss. So much for respecting my privacy. Sadly, my aunt and uncle were meeting my expectations…my very low expectations.
“Maggie was a good woman,” Frank added.