os

arrive at the castle safely. Some of the packs are in a bit of an uproar over the way that King Gene has chosen the four Alphas to be co

ind wrapped around why I’m even going to the castle. The last thing on earth

ach is in knots as I swallow back b

e my father pushed me onto the tr

lace in the world

that there are other women on board who are going for the same purpose, but I haven’t met any of them yet

all, only one of us will be stayin

“I suppose some of these pretty girls must be going to the castle

this is the third train ride I’ve been on this month where there’s bee

s will indeed be shat

ched blondes, fierce redheads, girls with satiny dark hair–I’d go as far to say that they’re mo

de, straight hair, blue eyes, and a decent figure. My nose is a little too long for my face, I think, and

I manage a smile back, but I’m too nervous to keep looking at her.

gh a few girls look a little nervous, but no one looks

ch is reassuring, because as much as my parents seem to hate me, at least I w

y way I can just hurl myself out one of these windows. We are going too fast for that. T

in the world, it has t

n see in the distance. Our escorts are still with us, so we try to keep chatting minimal. I find myself sitting right next t

ger as we travel toward it. I c

t ten stories tall in places. With turrets and catwalks on the

cle stops out front. I wait my turn to get

ing room, the room l

ace tells us. “The king will interview each of you, and the

Examination?

eans over to a brunette and whispers, “

nations, silly.” She rolls her eyes, and

re I want to. It’s not as if we will all be staying here. Only one of us will get the job, and the others will leave. No

head whispers to me. “I t

w up at the sewage treatm

huge difference to my famil

e about how much this will help my family–I d

ow,” she says, as if the redhead had been speaking to her. “I just

r each Alpha?” asks the redhead to whoever was listening. “Th

more fertile than the others? Since the first to breed will

or in front of us opens, and I realize one of

group, I try to g

the woman in the

m f

m f

I am wearing. My eyes dart to the exit. Do I have enough time

hese dam

my silver heels. I’m not used to wearing them. My parents insisted

e desk. He has gray and brown hair and a tight-lipped expression on

I walk to one of the chairs acro

se Forrest, sir

w old a

hard. “Twe

you found

head. “No

enty-one yet. If I haven’t met my

you her

ruth, so it will be all jumbled if I try to recite it. S

You don’t wan

ts wanted me to come. They believe this will be a great honor. Which it will

parents will get information about my answers, so I have to be

his dark eyes seemingly unimpressed

eks flame up at the question. I hope he d

tions. He asks me, “Have you found your fated mate? O

fated mate, nor am I in love with any man.

ere’s something wrong with me. I can’t tell him I don’t have time to date because I’m too bu

lf turning red in the face. A mom

y, standing. I bow and back out

in the black suit says, “Head strai

other girls. The redhead smiles at me, but I can barel

g the examination that will be next. If the k

ill happen to me next. The last thing I wan

inue to walk. I wipe them awa

t I just

side of me, I’m not paying attention to where I’m going, and afte

ng. When I turn around again, I begin quickening my

of mu