8

" G , what are you doing out here?"

I jumped, startled. When I turned to him, he was almost there.

"I was just a little hot," I lied, quickly turning back to the balcony rail and surreptitiously wiping away my tears. "Look how pretty," I distracted, pointing at the pretty view ahead.

During the day you could see from here over the coniferous forest to a gigantic mountain panorama. Now that the great sun had set, even with a werewolf's enhanced night vision, one could not marvel at the vast vista. Still, the sight of the aesthetically ornate entrance of our warehouse, which looked more like a palace, was rewarding. The surrounding trees were illuminated with fairy lights and a red carpet led the guests of our pack up the front steps. And all because of my birthday.

Isaac came to my side. "Uh, sure." He surveyed the crowd below for a moment before quickly turning back to me. His charming toothpaste smile graced his lips, so perfect his teeth should have gleamed. "And how are you, birthday boy? Ready to party?”

I smiled and was glad Isaac was there. The saddening memories that had enveloped me had receded into the background. "It's clear."

"Did you..." Isaac faltered slightly and his cheeks turned pink.

What? Isaac O'Brian got embarrassed?

He cleared his throat and I had to hold back my laughter. "Do you have any suspicions who it might be?"

He tried to be casual and leaned against the railing, but I noticed there was nothing casual about his demeanor.

I watched as the silver-haired woman, who was in the process of linking an arm with a man dressed all in black, lifted her lilac sparkly dress and climbed the carpeted stairs. A warm feeling spread through me. Zaira had actually come.

"No," I said casually, my racing heart belying my words. Of course I had my suspicions, I had had them ever since I first stepped into the camp and looked up at him. "You already?"

"I've got my list of who I'd like."

My head snapped up. "A list?" I laughed and punched his arm. "Asshole! Who's going to make a list?” Well, admittedly, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. After all, I had limited myself to a single candidate.

Isaac straightened jacket. "When do you know?"

"I don't know, sometime tonight I guess." I didn't know the exact time of my birth, only the day and that it was after the meager supper I had been given. In the cells one could orient oneself neither by daylight nor by any clock. We only knew it was morning when breakfast, consisting of plain bland oatmeal, was handed to us through the bars.

He nodded and ran a hand through his hair a little nervously. "And already excited for tomorrow?"

Pure joy flowed through me at the thought that I was actually admitted to the final exam. "You still ask that! And how! It's going to be great.”

“We're all going to the coast before practice.” Isaac tugged at a strand of hair in my ponytail. "Are you coming?"

I frowned. 'Joy said we're not allowed on the coast - closed off ground. You know that."

"So what?" His boyish dimples showed. “What she doesn't know doesn't make her hot.”

I hesitated. “Unfortunately I have to pass this time. I'll have another lesson with Arya then.” I grimaced. "Sorry."

"Come on, we both made it to finals." He winked at me. "You can skip this one training session."

"I can't." I really couldn't—if they existed. I'd made enough excuses like that before, the only question was how long they would last.

A shadow fell across his face. "Come on, G ..."

I shook my head. "Just because I made it through the final exam doesn't mean I'm as good as you."

"Of course it's you Georgie! You train harder than anyone I know including myself. You will also pass the final exam with links. And otherwise I'll just help you, quite simply.” he convinced me and his charming smile receded. He was truly an eye catcher. Sky blue eyes, a symmetrical face, handsome features and voluminous blonde hair that gave him the look of a fashion model. If I had been smart, I would have fallen in love with him.

"You won't." His harsh voice cut between Isaac and me like a sharp knife, and we jumped apart.

Everything changed now that he was there. All my senses focused on that one wolf. The air filled with his scent and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My heart was pounding against my chest, fluttering around restlessly. A feeling that only Beau could give me.

"Each of you will complete all parts of the exam completely on your own."

I hadn't heard him step through the double doors and onto the balcony, but now he was standing in front of us. He looked devilishly handsome in that black tuxedo. It didn't come with a tie, but the way he'd left a few buttons on his white shirt undone and a few chest hairs peeked out made up for that little thing.

"Otherwise they shouldn't even register for the exam." Now his eyes were on me. The mood settled into a tense silence. We all knew that statement concerned me. My blood was boiling, but underneath was a savory pang that went straight into me.

Isaac looked back and forth between the two of us uncomfortably. "Emm... So Georgie, are you coming in now?"

I swallowed. Not a chance, I wouldn't shy away from him like a frightened little mouse - although at that moment I might have been more of a shy mouse than a wild she-wolf. 'No, I'd like to stay outside for a while. Go ahead."

He nodded, then glanced back at Beau, whose scowl was still on me, and then hissed off, seemingly glad he wasn't facing Beau's wrath.

"Isaac is wrong."

"Oh yes?" I turned away from Beau and leaned back over the parapet, my eyes once again on the lively bustle outside the entrance. Turning your back on a predator could be very dangerous. My neck was exposed, he could grab it and break it with one grip. But I didn't give that worry a single thought. Beau would never hurt me about that.

“We both know you won't pass the test with links. You're the worst of your senior year."

ouch . My back stiffened. "Good to know."

“Georgie, you still have time to undo that mistake and step out. It is not too late yet."

And that was the end of my joy at having made it into the final process. Undo that mistake? Argh! Why had I thought for a second that he would be happy for me? I spun around, my long black hair blowing like a fan through the air. "So you think I'm backing out?" It was more of a statement than a question.

His green eyes bore into mine. "If you were smart, you would do just that."

Well, I already knew that I wasn't smart. 'Cause my stupid, stupid heart had chosen someone other than my best friend. How many times had I asked the moon goddess to give him as a mate? Countless times! But at that moment, I wished more than ever that it wasn't so.

"Well, it's good that the decision is mine." If I ever had any doubts about competing, they were just over. "I will participate."

His eyes flashed. A deep, dangerous rumble. "Wrong decision, little one."

A stab in my heart. I wanted to be angry at him, growl at him, even hiss at him like Arya always did when something didn't sit right with her. But I just felt miserable. Miserable, disappointed and betrayed. How can you feel betrayed when that person has never stood by you? That was impossible. Yet that's how it felt. My voice was shaking and I clenched my hands into fists. "That's mean, Beau!"

"That's the truth," he shot back, his face hardening. "If you can't take it, then you're in the goddamn wrong place."

I flinched, cursing my naïve heart in the same breath. I might have forgiven his early adolescent crush, but how could it betray me to still be in love with a werewolf who didn't even really like me?

I adjusted my black dress to hide my shaking hands. "We'll see about that." With that, I crossed the balcony and headed for the double doors, surreptitiously wiping away my tears.

And he hadn't even congratulated me.