The Alpha Selection

♔ Chapter 13 ♔

It's been three weeks since Liam abandoned me and a little more than a week since I've registered for the Blackbook. I've only had to go to one social so far, and that was a quick speed-dating session in the Reception Room at City Hall.

Ugh, it was terrible. Most of the guys there had no class and, just as Espen had warned, they wanted to move fast.

Just at the mention of wanting to take things slow and steady sent them running.

I felt bad for a while, but then I reminded myself that I didn't need to be with a guy that didn't think I was worth their time and patience.

I shook my head just thinking about it. The whole thing had just been a disaster, and there would be more like it.

Espen guaranteed me that.

I went upstairs and washed up for dinner. Like most nights I expected an hour of sitting quietly and waiting to be excused.

Usually Alpha Emerson would be talking about gossip among the rich and Elite as well as some of the important yet horribly boring Alpha business. Then everyone else would talk about their day or something totally amazing that happened to them.

But tonight the energy was different. Alpha Emerson was beaming and shouting for the servers to bring out bottles of champagne. I sat down at the table and looked to my sister for an explanation. She shrugged, and looked at my dad who didn't know who was going on with either.

Luna Kimberly sat beside her husband and smiled gracefully. For the past few weeks she had been on holiday visiting her family in New York. Now that she was back, the Alpha was in a much better mood.

But that didn't explain why he was in such a celebratory mood.

As the food was served he began to finally tell us what had gotten him so worked up.

"So I just received word today that someone in this very pack has been Selected to be in Adrian Hayes' court!"

The room erupted in applause but I wasn't impressed by the news. I mean no one has ever gotten Selected from this pack before. It was rare that girls really got chosen from the smaller, less influential packs.

But I secretly hoped that Espen might get the chance to go. She'd get money and be guaranteed to have a decent guy on her arm on by the end of the year, regardless if she wins the Selection or not. Just thinking about how she'll respond to the news made me smile.

"Do you know what this means?" Amber, my dad's wife, beamed. I swear if she got any more excited she'd burst.

Literally, she could make her water break and induce her own labor.

"I know. This pack can finally get some recognition. And if the Selected girl actually wins we'd have a pretty strong alliance with one of the richest and most influential packs in the country!" Alpha Emerson took his wife's hand and squeezed it tenderly.

"We'll have to send letters to all the girls informing them that there's a chance they might have been picked and host a Reveal party."

Ugh, one more stupid party I'd have to go to.

Every pack that had a girl that was Selected had a Reveal party. This was where all the Omega girls would come together to sit and wait to see which one of them had been picked. The Alpha would most like give a speech, and the girl would be brought on stage.

Really it was just a way for the camera crew to catch the chosen girl's reaction to being picked.

I had to admit that I rather enjoyed watching the Reveal. Every year there was more than one reaction that made me double over in laughter. I think it was my favorite part of the Selection.