The Alpha Selection

♔ Chapter 20 ♔

Everyone cheered as Adrian Hayes came onto the screen.

While everyone was busy drooling at the Alpha,  I looked over to where Lola and that woman from earlier was sitting. Our eyes met and I started to feel slightly off. Why was she staring at me? I had a feeling it had something to do with my terrible interview from earlier.

I felt my locket warm beneath my dress, which caught my attention. In the past couple of days I figured out that my necklace must have been like a mood ring. It seems like whenever I was scared or anxious it warmed and calmed me, like it was now.

In that moment I was truly grateful for it, because my stomach was still gurgling from uncertainty.

I felt someone pinch my leg and when I looked over I saw Espen's lips move.

"Pay attention," she mouthed.

I narrowed my eyes at her before looking back up at the screen. I really should have been paying attention, I hope that I didn't miss anything important. Although, I truly doubted that I did.

"Without further ado, here are the girls that I have chosen to be in my court!"

The screen shifts so that Adrian's face appeared in one box and a photo appeared on the other side.

The first girl was from the Ashford Moon pack in Colorado, which was to be expected. They were a really rich and affluent pack and it seems like they always had at least 3 girls who ended up being Selected to be in some Alpha's Selection.

Next was a girl from the Grey Mason pack in Louisiana. I could tell from her athletic build and simple choice in dress for her profile that she was athletic like me.

I found my attention waning as the other girls names and photos were being released. For once, I felt like everyone else here in the pack. I just wanted our girl to be Revealed already.

I rubbed my hands together as girl number 16 was being Revealed. She was a sweet looking girl from North Carolina. Honestly speaking she was one of the prettiest with her brown eyes and long brown hair. Like me she didn't wear much makeup so you could see her natural features like her freckles.

Adrian smiled again as he looked down at the next name. While he had looked slightly shy about announcing the names of the girls he had chosen, he looked more excited. Every time he looked back up at the camera you could see the hope in his eyes. He really wanted one of those girls to be his wife and mate.

Was he acting or was he genuinely looking for a mate?

I suddenly found myself curious. I wanted to know his story. I mean why would someone as hot, rich, and soon-to-be powerful be mateless. It was most likely because he rejected his mate in hopes of finding someone "more suitable" meaning richer or with connections. That's probably why the girls that had been Selected were rich, well known, or were just from really powerful and affluent packs.

Everyone held their breath as Adrian's mouth started to move again.

"Deianira Santiago, from the Sweetwater pack."

My mouth dropped open as Espen jumped up and squeezed the life out of me. I felt like fainting as everyone turned around and applauded. I looked back at the stage and saw Lola smirking at me, the woman beside her still looked stony, and Alpha Emerson had his teeth clenched in a forced smile.

"Deianira, please come to the stage!" Lola squeaked.

I don't know how but I stood up and walked towards the stage. I couldn't feel anything not my heart which had been racing, not my lungs that were working overtime, not even my feet which was taking me closer and closer to the stage.