Page 36 of Luna Trials

I chose my words carefully, making sure to smile. “I think everyone deserves kindness and at least an education. Don’t you?”

“Maybe.” The man beside Molly chuckled, taking the lead again. “Can you tell us more about your grandmother? The one who gave you the trunk. Our viewers are asking about her.”

My smile faltered. “Gram passed away when I was young. My papa, her husband, raised me. And hegave me the trunk along with some material she kept for my own future nest.”

A camera zoomed in on my face.

Was I supposed to cry or something?

“And where are your parents?”

I looked to my feet. “Also gone.”

Well, one was gone and one was dead, but my bio-mother might have been dead for all I knew or cared. It was easier to explain it that way instead of saying she ran off, abandoning me when my father couldn’t give her the life she wanted.

“You poor thing.” Molly sighed as the cameras rolled backwards. “Alone in this world, coming from a cutthroat pack, and now you’re here for the chance of a lifetime. You must be so excited.”

I laughed quietly to myself. While I’d been looking for her trap in the questioning, I completely missed the lead rope and she’d led me straight to where she wanted me to drink.

I guess I had to play the part.

Raising my face, I gave her my sweetest smile and let a few tears shine in my eyes.

“It’s a dream come true, like a fairy tale. I’m praying to the Goddess that I’ll be good enough to pass the Luna Trials and earn my spot here this season. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”

*

Damn their stupid no-full-shifting rule.

I needed to let my beast run free.

With the mood I was in, I kind of saw the merit in the whole don’t-wolf-out thing. I don’t think I would have attacked any of the staff or production crew. Though I would’ve liked to have a woman-to-woman conversation with Molly alone.

Just a little chat…

I swear I wouldn’t even extend my claws.

Frustrated and over this already, I pushed open the heavy wood doors of the lobby. The front grounds of the resort spilled out onto a gravel circular driveway with the fish head fountain I’d seen when we arrived. Past the open lot, it was a straight road down the mountain. Somewhere out there was bound to be the property border wherelegallyI should’ve been allowed to shift.

I seriously thought about it.

But I wasn’t sure if I should be pressing the rules this early in the game.

If my teenage wolf-girl self could see me now, she’d probably kick my ass.

Even my wolf sighed as I rounded the entrance, making my way to the back of the resort. The air in the woods was colder and wetter than the high desert. It made it seem like spring was nowhere near. And the sun seemed to set earlier than it did where I was from. Strange how that works.

The back right of the property had manicured gardens with a stone bench and some kind of rose hedge. The flora was strange here too, so different than the dusty sage and hardened pinyon trees I’dgrown up with. I was surprised it stayed so green in this chill. Thankfully my shifter blood kept me warm despite only wearing a sports bra and leggings.

The gardens led to a concrete patio and huge pool with loungers at the back of the resort. I kept walking past it, following the trail through the woods and hoping for a sign that read, “You can shift here.”

Because that would be a nice thing to have.

No such luck.

The trail did kept going and I jogged along it, leaning into my wolf’s senses and letting her breathe in the new smells. The rich scent of moss and earth and hearty pine was overwhelming. It carried notes of…

I was not going to think about him.