Chapter 9 - Oh Matron, You didn't have to

I look to the centre of the clearing and our "seats of honour" was the generously decorated floor. Not a single pillow in sight. 

𝑜𝒉 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝒉𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜

Do you like it?

The bare floor? Of course, I love it. I have been looking for ways to express my inner animal and you giving me this opportunity is one to die for.

I hook my arm with the respectable prostitute and we make our way to our seats of honour.

How can you be chipper about this Amelia?

Something I learned after many years of being bullied. When they do nasty stuff to you, they do it because they enjoy your reaction of pain but when you show you are happy, you flummox them and the real winner is you.  So, after you, my lady. I mock curtsy. She laughs and mock curtsies too.

Settling down on the cool floor, I sit cross-legged while June takes up a weird kneeling position.

Why are you kneeling?

I feel more comfortable this way.

I shrug and watch the happenings. So far, we have been the only people to show up. Not a single pack member in sight. To my left and right, my fellow contestants were seated at different tables.

The Alpha and his Elite men with their families will soon join us. When they do. Each of you will introduce yourself clearly and choose the name you wish to be announced during the tournament. You will..., she gestures to a contestant raising her hand.

You said we would meet the pack today.

And you are. The Elites are the strongest warriors of the pack, to meet with them is an honour. This pack is very large so meeting all of them is something you will have to wait for. Any more questions? No one. Now I will remind you that you are here to win a husband, My Alpha. So you will do your best to show yourself as the most suitable candidate, she glances at me as she continues and I give her a foolish grin. That being said, be on your best behaviours ladies.

I look around and see the flurry of activity. Each of the contestants adjusting their costumes and smiles. My eye catches Martha and she winks at me, she is dressed as Princess Jasmine what an irony.

I feel them even before the matron announces them. I am not used to having these werewolf instincts. They appear from the bushes like they have always been there and they make their way to the lavish blankets and pillows.  Each of them gave me amused looks as they passed and I gave each of them a big smile in return.

I turn to notice June fidgeting by my side, I am this close to telling her to woman up, when I realise she is my competitor too. So I just ignore her and kept smiling. After everyone settles in, no movement is made, I guess we are still waiting on the Alpha.

The Alpha just mind linked me, he says we should proceed as planned.

Yes Beta Jimmy

I look at the Beta in question and he is a scrawny fellow. But if my time at pack has thought me anything it has taught me to never assume the size of the wolf by the size of the man (this is a pun too, if you get it, you get it. if you don't get it, forget about it).

In that case, we will proceed with the introductions. she gestures to the girl dressed as a peacock and she stands.

I am Ria Formosa and I am from the  Waterstone pack. I will like to be announced, Ria

The next girl stands, I am guessing she is some type of tomato. I am Venus Williams from the Bannerman Pack and I will like to be announced, as Venus.

The next girl and so it goes

I am Zee Grant from the Southern Pack and I will like to be announced as the future Luna.

A sudden hush descends and gradually everyone is talking at once

She can't do that

Why didn't I think of it first?

The brazen girl.

Are all representatives from the Southern pack desperados

Silence. All the girls keep quiet. There is no rule against her choice of address, might I remind you that you are here to compete for the position of Luna not tea party. If you forget that for even one minute then you will have someone else take away that opportunity. What just happened should serve as a reminder. Now we may proceed.

Talk about raising the bar, this girl obliterated the bar. How is anyone supposed to follow that? That someone being me. The matron saved the best for last, what an honour.

I stand and I see expectant faces of the Elites on me, they are enjoying all this huh. I look at the girl who worsens my fate and she smirks at me. To think that she dressed as an angel.

Hello! 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝐴𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑎. 𝐷𝑎𝑚𝑚 𝑍𝑒𝑒. 𝐵𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑤, 𝑡𝒉𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑. 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑑𝑜 𝑖 𝑔𝑜 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑠? I realise they are still waiting for me to talk. I smile broadly.

Hello! I am Amelia Collins from the Northbridge Pack and I am very happy to be here 𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑖 𝑎𝑚 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑐𝒉 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡.

What are you supposed to be? A little boy called out

I am dressed as a Wolf's meal. That's when it clicks. I whirl facing the matron. I would like to announced as the Alpha's meal.

The Alpha's meal?

Yes, The Alpha's meal.