Chapter 221

Cara’s POV

As we started to move about the stage, following the steps of our routine, I kept an eye on Lilia and her can of paint. I had my suspicions that it was intended for me. At a crucial moment, when we were at the front of the stage, the routine would bring us directly side by side.

Perhaps there would be the time for her to splash me. But no… perhaps not. That would be too obvious, everyone would see, and she wouldn’t be able to explain why she had a can of paint on her.

If that red paint was for me, and I had no doubt that it was, then she would need to splash me at a time when we wouldn’t be the focal point.

I tried to think about the routine and all of our positions, but in doing so, I nearly missed a step. Claudia righted me.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered.

I looked from her to Lilia. She followed my gaze. Her sister noticed and looked too.

I didn’t know if they saw the paint. There wasn’t time to ask, not without drawing too much attention to ourselves.

Right now, we were being judged by the crowd, and though this competition was not a popularity contest by definition, there were still benefits to being well-liked, including more coverage by the television crews and slightly better start times to accommodate with television schedule.

No one wanted to ruin their chance to compete during primetime hours.

I realized then, the perfect moment for Lilia to strike. We would move to the back of the crowd, and then promenade forward. When we were in the back, nearest the curtains, that was when she would strike. Then I’d have no choice, I would have to promenade forward or look like a fool.

“Charlotte,” I said, unsure how I was going to convey all that needed to be said in such a short amount of time without drawing notice.

“On it,” Charlotte said in reply, like she didn’t need me to say anything.

The time came, our group moved to the back of the pack.

Lilia and I, at this time, were supposed to come side by side.

Charlotte missed a step, falling behind. This pushed me back so that she was beside Lilia instead. In a faux rush to move to her correct position, Charlotte ‘stumbled’ into Lilia.

Lilia loudly cursed, drawing a few eyes. The sound of a tin can hit the floor.

Charlotte hurried on, back into place, and I came to stand beside Lilia. That massive skirt of hers was covered in red paint.

“Not a word,” she growled at me.

I didn’t have to say anything. As we moved to the front of the stage, the audience said it for me. Many of them laughed. Lilia’s face turned red with anger.

“You’ll pay for this,” she hissed at me, just before we separated per the routine.

As we moved back to our initial positions, I dreaded what was to come next.

The lights dropped, and everyone else on the stage shifted.

As the lights came back on, all of the contestants were in their animal forms. Except for me.

Eamon’s POV

I sat between Alaric and Landon down in the audience of venue, watching the opening event. Despite my status as Alpha, we were seated in the middle of the audience, rather than the front.

This could have been for any reason. I didn’t want to think too much about it. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this had been done as a type of retaliation for threatening the commission. At least, I supposed, we could still see the stage.

There were plenty of seats worse than ours, but as Alpha…

Perhaps the fault was on me. Perhaps I had grown accustomed to too much special treatment. Maybe I was out of touch.

All the more reason for me to support Cara for Alpha and take a step back myself.

Colin was right, supporting her was the correct choice.

Watching her on stage, I could not be more proud of my sister. As frightened as I was for her to be competing in these games with her dwindling health and inability to shift, she was still here, still trying, still willing to do what it took to prove herself.

That itself was worthy of praise, forgetting all of the other merits she held which made her perfect for the Alpha role.

If only her wolf would return, then we wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore. Her health would no longer need to be an issue.

As the contenders on stage move back into the positions they had started from, all of the lights in the room clicked off. When they came back on again, the stage was filled with shifted wolves, two bears, and of course the panther that had not yet revealed her human form.

The only person on the stage still human was Cara.

Around us, the mumbling began immediately. My brothers, Alaric, and I all looked around, frowning and glaring at those who were speaking against Cara, but there were many who couldn’t see us to be intimidated by us.

I had noticed when we found our seats that there had been many BloodyMoon pack members in attendance tonight. That group was quiet. Most of the pack already knew of Cara’s condition and had already accepted her.

The other half of the audience, however, was filled with strangers, and their whispers grew louder and louder until it was outright mockery.

“Why won’t she shift?”

“Is this some kind of joke?”

“Does BloodyMoon think they are better than us?”

The words grew louder and more distinctive, no longer amble chatter.

My heart sank as my worries took root. There were so many packs here tonight, ambassadors from all over the continent. If Cara didn’t have their respect, as Alpha she would struggle on the world stage. She would be unable to broker deals or peace treaties, which would make BloodyMoon weaker.

This wasn’t her fault, but it was a sign that perhaps she wasn’t mean to be Alpha after all…

Then, a voice much crueler and louder than the others spoke up.

“Is this the best BloodyMoon can do?” one man called. “A princess who won’t even shift?”

I opened my mouth, ready to argue. Alaric was already on his feet.

But it was none of our party that spoke against this heckler.

Instead, it was the whole of the BloodyMoon pack who rose in defense of their princess.

“That is our princess and our Beta!” one of them shouted in return. “You will be silent and show her the respect she deserves.”

Others chimed in, and soon the dissenters were drowned out by the well-wishers.

Soon, half of the auditorium broke into loud applause, all while cheering for Cara.

Slowly, Alaric sat back down. He was clapping too. As were my brothers. And, after a look from Landon, as was I.

I had been too quick to doubt not just my sister but also my pack. BloodyMoon adored Cara, clearly evidenced by their desire to cheer for her despite her inability to shift.

She was our pack’s pride and joy. Our missing princess, returned to us, who had only ever done us proud.

I was ashamed of myself.

With the pack behind her, Cara would make a great Alpha.