Page 116 of Midnight Moon
You couldn’t.
My best friend had fought back her own tears and sadness, doing her best to make the most of our last night together.
Hunter had handled the evening differently. He’d started it at my side, silent and brooding as he, too, came to terms with what was in store for me. He even offered to help me run away. He’d said we could leave right then and drive to Canada. No one would know we were gone until it was too late.
Even drunk, I knew his plan was impossible.
The Alpha Games’ rules were clear. All approved rewards must be given to the victor. Any pack who held out would be excommunicated from the inter-pack alliance. Though running away and giving the Wilds Pack the proverbial middle finger sounded appealing, the Summit Pack couldn’t afford to be isolated from the others. Each pack relied on each other, in one way or another, to survive.
Besides, it was my own father who’d all but guaranteed I would be shipped off to the Wilds Pack. And let’s not forget, I was apparently the target of a group of sorcerers who wanted access to the supposed power my mother gave me at birth.
No, there was no way to get out of this hell my life had become, and no amount of alcohol changed that.
A tentative knock tapped the door, pulling my thoughts back to the present. It gently opened.
My father stood there, looking solemn yet determined. “Blair, it is time.”
We hadn’t spoken since I walked away from the combat field, and his closed-off expression hardly welcomed conversation.
I rose from the bed, shouldering the duffle bag I’d stuffed with the meager belongings I’d brought to Badlands’ territory.
My father noticed. “I’ll have the rest of your things sent to Alaska,” he said as if he were doing me a favor.
I wanted to sneer and reject the offer out of spite, but I reigned in my temper. It would serve no purpose. “Thanks.”
I walked into the living room. I shouldn’t have been, but I was surprised to see the other four members of my pack waiting for me.
Of course, they wanted to say goodbye. We were family.
Tears in her eyes, Stephanie closed the distance between us and wrapped me in a tight embrace. “I’ll visit you. I promise. And we will talk every day.”
Emotion clogged my throat. I choked it down and wrapped my arms around her. “You better.” I couldn’t think of a time when we’d spent more than one week apart. I didn’t know what I would do without her.
Our embrace continued, neither of us wanting to let the other go. My father cleared his throat.
Stephanie pulled back, wiping her eyes, and giving me a watery smile. “Text when you get there.”
“I will.”
Beta Nathan placed a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, gently drawing her back. “You performed well in the games, Blair.” Respect showed in his gaze. “I wish the end would’ve turned out differently.”
I thanked him. His words were kind, but I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for him to propose his son become the next alpha heir. Not long, if I had to guess.
Angelina stepped forward and gave me a teary embrace. Her husband drew her back as well. Then, Hunter stood before me.
Rather than sadness, his eyes blazed with anger and determination.
I opened my arms for a hug. Hunter closed the distance. I gave a tiny gasp when he lifted me off my feet and pressed me tightly against his chest. I could feel his rapid heartbeat against my breast.
“Don’t give in,” he murmured against my hair. His breath tickled the top of my ear. “I’ll find a way to get you out of this. I swear it. Until then, don’t mate with him.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell Hunter how futile my resistance would be. That didn’t mean I would willingly tie myself to the unknown Wilds alpha, but it would only be a matter of time before I was forced to honor the terms of their pack’s prize.
Instead of speaking, I burrowed my head into the side of his neck, inhaling his scent. It reminded me of home. I feared I would never smell it again.
“It is time.”
Hunter and I broke apart. I looked at my father. He held the front door open, gesturing for me to go outside.
