Chapter 3 THE SELECTION
ISABELLA
He left the helmet hanging and casually pushed back the platinum hair falling at the nape of his neck.
I have to admit it, that exotic hair has always been my weakness on a guy.
He swung off the bike and, Goddess, he was easily six and a half feet tall.
I felt like an ant next to him.
He started up the stairs and, for a second, that chiseled, brutally handsome face turned our way.
Blue eyes, cold as ice. Ferocious, razor sharp.
We lowered our heads in perfect sync. Very few people could hold the gaze of a Lycan from the royal line.
I felt my whole body start to shake.
The more I fought not to show fear, the more I shook.
His boot steps drew closer, his aura keeping us obedient and still.
“Hang in there, he’s just passing by, it’s just a second,” I told myself, holding my breath.
But when the prince’s shadow stretched over the top of the stairs, someone shoved me from behind.
It happened so fast I couldn’t do a damn thing.
With a squeak, I found myself tumbling forward, hitting the floor in the worst way possible and blocking the royal prince’s path.
I ended up like a freaking pancake, sprawled right across the landing.
The collective gasp around me branded me a total abomination for daring to get in His Majesty’s way.
Would it help if I just stayed there and played dead?
“I… I’m sorry, Your High...” I snapped my mouth shut the second I felt his presence right over my body.
Maybe the prince will help me up. Maybe he’s not as much of a jerk as he looks.
“Than…”
My hand stayed stuck up, my chin tilted, just in time to see his whole package passing right over my face.
Yeah... nop. The Lycan prince didn’t spare me a second glance and stepped over me like I was a stinking smear of crap on the floor.
Lucky me he didn’t actually stomp on me.
He walked through the doors without a single hesitation.
Fucking bastard!
Laughter exploded around me.
“She really thought that was the way to get Prince Aurelius to notice her…”
“What an idiot. Miska’s going to destroy her in the selection…”
Whispers rose from every direction.
Now I was the Seraphina who’d tried to get Aurelius’s attention like some desperate clown.
The humiliation was so intense I honestly wanted to melt into the floor and stay there forever, right at the entrance.
The sudden click of heels rang in my ears.
“Miss Olivan, what on earth are you doing napping on the landing?!”
The shrill voice of the woman who’d welcomed us only made the mockery worse.
I got to my feet with my head down, brushing off my jeans, apologizing a thousand times and wishing I could vanish.
My eyes landed on my poor suitcase, kicked off to the side, and then on the girl who’d been behind me.
The smug look in her eyes made it obvious she was the one who’d shoved me.
A brown-haired bootlicker with a fake innocent face.
I grabbed my suitcase, anger burning hot in my chest.
This… was war.
I understood right then that if I tried to play sweet, the monsters in this Academy would eat me alive.
Thank the Goddess we finally got to go inside after my little show.
But another decisive moment was coming.
The selection to become the Lycan prince’s Seraphina.
I picked up more information just by eavesdropping around the massive entrance hall.
The whole Academy had an old, classic vibe. Dark wood everywhere, huge tapestries, stained-glass windows casting colored light. It was a lot to take in.
My new friend Kiara turned out to be a huge help too.
Her mom worked here at the Academy, which is why she knew so many details.
That’s how I found out that if I failed as Aurelius’s Seraphina, I could still compete and be chosen by another Lycan.
“Oh nooo, what a tragedy, I really wanted that wolf to feel us up a little. He smells like pure heaven.”
“Thera, he’s an asshole. Are you a masochist or what?” I muttered under my breath, and she huffed in annoyance.
“It’s not like I want him as our mate, okay?… I just want to check if it’s true Lycans have a cock like an anaconda.”
“Oh my God, shut up already.” I decided to tune out her crap, even though I knew she was just trying to calm me down.
But it was impossible to think about anything other than the fight heading my way.
“Seraphinas, this way please!” another secretary called, appearing out of nowhere and motioning for us to line up off to the side.
“Good luck, you’ve got this. If I’m done early, I’ll come watch from the stands,” Kiara encouraged me, pumping her fist in the air.
“Good luck on your entrance exam,” I shot back with a grateful smile, still thankful I’d saved her.
At least I’d met one decent person inside these oppressive, intimidating walls.
As the line moved down a gloomy hallway, I made a decision:
I was not going to win that damn selection.
I was not going to be Prince Aurelius Blackridge’s Seraphina.
I’d set my sights on some other Lycan.
In the end, the goal was to stay here, break the spell tying me down, and get stronger before the real Savannah woke up.
The fight to become the next royal pet… I couldn’t care less.
PRINCE AURELIUS KADEN BLACKRIDGE
“Why does Kaden always get to choose first?”
William’s childish whining fills my ears.
He’s sprawled on a couch, one step below the chair in my private box.
Six Lycans are scattered at my feet.
Some of them share blood ties with the royal family.
William, that lazy, carefree blond, is my cousin.
“That’s kind of the whole point of being the prince. And stop calling him by his first name, we’re at the Academy. Grow up.”
“Ow, asshole!” he yelps when Darius smacks him on the back of the head.
Darius is the muscular redhead with the bad temper.
But he’s a skilled, loyal warrior. My best friend and my right-hand man.
I ignore the flirting those two pretend-hate idiots always fall into and narrow my eyes at the women being called into the huge combat arena.
The stands curve around us in an oppressive semicircle, mostly filled with professors and upper-year students.
I know damn well that from this moment on, every professor is already scouting the candidates, deciding which ones they want to snatch up for their guilds.
For this Selection, the Academy put together a pretty brutal obstacle course, and I have a solid idea of who’s going to win.
It’ll probably be Miska, and sure enough, the starting whistle blows and she’s the first one to sprint out, launching herself at the climbing net.
I’m comfortable with her. I’ve tested her skills as a Seraphina more than once and… not bad.
The sex isn’t exactly mind-blowing, but she’s a fiery, eager Alpha who knows how to please.
If I have to complain about something… it’s that her endless submission bores me to death.
Kind of like I am right now.
I drum my fingers on the black leather armrest, half listening to the Lycans’ chatter and the hungry stares from the she-wolves draped over them.
Just when I’m about to leave, something catches my attention.
My wolf, Ash, lifts his head too, locking his gaze on the blonde who came out of nowhere and is now running right behind Miska.
She’s smaller, but quick, like an overcaffeinated squirrel.
I watch the explosive strength in her muscles under the blue tracksuit.
The white T-shirt clings like a second skin, and those small breasts bounce with every movement.
Nothing like the voluptuous Alpha she-wolves I usually go for.
“Hey, Kaden, isn’t that your little fan from the entrance?” William is a clown, as always.
Was that the girl from the stairs?
I remember her little scene on the landing.
Lying there like some damsel in distress.
I hate women who pull stupid stunts just to get a second of my attention.
But I have to admit, her guts out there in the arena are… actually entertaining me.
“Watch out!”
William yells at her, and I tense up when I see her step into a kill zone.
