Page 58 of Luna Trials

Never happening.I growled, hurrying to unlock the door to the hotel room when I scented Stef and Trenton inside. I needed the stability of pack right now even though mine really sucked.

“Hey Trenton.” I took a deep breath, ready to humble myself as he made his way to the door I’d just closed. “Can I bother you for a second? I kind of need your help.”

“I’m sorry. What was that? I couldn’t hear you through your mumbling.” Trenton smirked. Cocky jerk. I wonder if he’d still be so smug if he knew his dad was forcing me to stay here toprotecthim. “I’ve got to go, so if you don’t need anything…”

I inhaled again, trying to channel some inner peace. “I really need your help.”

“You need me.” His smile broadened. I wanted to smack it off his face.

“Tomorrow for the humanitarian thing, the other candidates are giving a money donation to the hospital. Can you see if Alpha Derek has anything to contribute?”

Trenton frowned and I turned away, already knowing the answer. And that, ladies and gentleman, is why we never ask for help.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “You should have asked sooner. I just got him to extend a line of credit to Stef to make up for the clothes she didn’t get.”

“What?” I leaned back, looking into Stef’s room as she lifted a garment bag over her shoulder.

“Maybe you should sell one of your new dresses,” she offered, unhelpfully. “I’m sure your stylist friend will get you more.”

*

I spent all night calculating how much sick kids were worth to me and, yes, I felt like a jerk for it.

I snuck downstairs after the resort was quiet and found the ATM, sacrificing more precious sleep before running back to bed.

Dressed in donated clothes that made me look way richer than I was, I skipped breakfast, munching on jerky instead, as I made my way downstairs. The cameras were set up, filming the roped off sections with the signs that directed us to our destinations.

Puppies.I stared at the animal shelter sign wistfully as I walked to the van waiting to take us to the hospital.

Opal was already sitting in the third-row seat with her raven black hair covering half her face and holding a package on her lap.

“Good morning,” I greeted her. “Did you figure out your donation?”

“Yep.” She fiddled with the package. This close, her sweet scent was overpowering and my stomach growled in response. It made me crave funnel cakes covered in powdered sugar.

“Please tell me we’re stopping for coffee,” Fallon said as she climbed in next to me and pushed her sunglasses up through her hair.

A human woman who I thought was Molly’s assistant took the front passenger seat. “No stops. They’ll have some coffee at the hospital. We’re on a tight schedule today.”

Cindy crawled in after Fallon, wearing a crisp white two-piece jacket suit with her fiery red hair tied back in a braid. She sniffed in Opal’s direction and herwolf flashed in her eyes before she climbed onto the middle seat. “What’s the holdup then?”

We all looked over to where Edith was walking through the lobby doors, holding her cousin’s arm. Chad smiled. His bright eyes seemed to gleam in the morning light. Ranger was nowhere to be seen.

Thank the Goddess.

Says you. I’d be more thankful with some eye candy.

Will you please tone it down?

After the cameraman and Edith took their seats, the driver steered the van toward the long driveway of the resort. Blue skies and thick evergreens greeted us on the drive down the mountainside.

“We have an hour for photos and two hours scheduled for visitation,” the human woman was explaining. “Remember the non-disclosure agreement. No talking about the show or any of the contestants, but you’re okay to talk about yourself.”

I leaned back against the seat after she finished the rundown and turned to look at Fallon who was staring out the window.

Without meaning to, the question I’d been mulling over all night came rushing out, “Did you ask your brother to cover my donation?”

I wouldn’t have been mad if she did, but it made me sick to think she pitied me that much.

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