2099

Aria

"That's them!" Zariah squeals in my ear.

We stare out the window in Zariah's room, which faced the front of the house, showing the courtyard where the rest of the contestants were arriving. This is probably going against the rules, but it's not like I haven't done so already, and Zariah is too curious to care.

My fingers are ice cold, as the press into the window sill, while I fight for the best look at the girls. Most of them step out of the same sleek black cars we had yesterday, however, none of them looked as if they had dressed as lavishly as we had been instructed. Many wore loose pants and sweatshirts, with their hair messy from the travel. Most of them travelled days to cross the land.

"Sizing up your competition, Zariah?" Brynn said slyly from where she lay on Zariah's bed. We aren't even allowed to be in each others room and were even instructed to stay where Malik would be able to find us, so he could talk properly to us before he chose who to eliminate.

He's met Zariah, and Brynn, but when I saw him walking down the hallway earlier, I had slipped into a broom closet to hide. No way do I want to see him after last night.

"No," Zariah muttered, face almost pressed against the frosted window. "I'm curious."

You could easily tell each Pack members apart, as they revealed themselves to us. The dark features of the Vengeance Pack, the sandy hair of the Discipline Pack. You could even tell the Freedom Pack member's apart from everyone, with the unruliness of their outfits.

Brynn came up behind me, looking over my shoulder. "Not that I would call the competition."

"They aren't dressed up yet," I tell her. "My future Luna might be in that group.

The noise Brynn makes in her throat as she backs away is comical. The only reason she applied in the first place was 'for a laugh' as she liked to say. As I Desire Pack member, whoever gets chosen probably doesn't affect her.

"In that group, is Haven Reed from the Vengeance Pack. According to her online profile, she just broke up with her boyfriend and applied for this as I was to get back at her former boyfriend. As a member of that Pack, she clearly doesn't believe much in mates," Zariah tells us.

"You know, you're kind of weird," Brynn observes.

"Noted."

Looking out the window to where Zariah had pointed to the girl she was talking about, I noticed those dark features about her, that honestly made me a little envious. The sleekness of her hair is something I would never achieve on my own.

"Watch out from Alani Prelich over there...Her father is the commander of one of the most notorious armies in the Power Pack," Zariah warns me, and I shiver, as she glances up, so I can see the darkness of her eyes.

I make a mental to avoid her at all costs.

"Anyone else worth knowing about?" I ask, looking at the array of girls that were being welcomed inside. It might be safe for us to wander out now since I'm sure Malik would be occupied by his new arrivals.

"Passion Pack members are pretty strange. Nylah and Mareli, are their names," I'm told.

"So are Desire Pack members," she adds, glancing over her shoulder.

Brynn rolls her eyes.

We decide to go together down to dinner, in exactly what we wore this morning. Already, I imagine Elaine stressing out that she couldn't find me in my room, where she could dictate what I wore, despite the fact that Malik wouldn't be eating with us. It's almost like she is wanting me to impress the girls more than him.

The food is mediocre, but I wasn't complaining. Brynn however...

"Look," she said to the lady who had served us. She raised her eyebrow, but Brynn wouldn't be intimidated. "This...Whatever this is, can't actually a food."

The argument that ensued had me and Zariah dragging a riled up Brynn to where we would sit next to what looked like a Freedom Pack member, and the other girl from the Wisdom Pack, who Zariah introduced as Livia. Zariah didn't seem so warm towards her, as she turned straight back to me, and changed the conversation as soon I had said hello.

"So, I heard you were the girl who snuck into the Alpha's kitchen," the Freedom Pack girl exclaimed, her misty grey eyes widened in awe. "How did Malik not kick you out straight away?"

Brynn, who had been eating something that looked like a burger, set it down, ready to tell her side of the story. Clearly, everyone thinks it's a great feat, but that doesn't tempt to reveal what had happened only last night.

That I was the first girl out of all the competitors that he had met.

"Yes well, he didn't seem happy at all...Actually, the second I opened my mouth, he seemed infuriated. Without listening to what I had to say, he demanded I never do it again, and stated that if I did, he wouldn't hesitate to have me removed," Brynn said, almost as if it was something to be proud of. In her mind, it probably is.

The girl beside me seemed amazed. "I can't believe he had mercy on you. Clearly someone is getting favoured...

They had no idea. Had I admitted that I met Malik, and we actually held a conversation last night, hostility may have arisen. He made me smile, I think I did the same to him. I hate that I have to think about that since this is a completely platonic mission...But how do I get that necklace off him?

"Cheating huh?" hear someone say from the other end of the table.

Almost every girl is looking, but it was her gaze that was the most frightening. If I remember correctly, Zariah told me her name was Mareli, from the Passion Pack. her hair is a fiery red - not orange - that commands the attention in the room by itself. Her expression is hostile

"Nah, just Fate," Brynn replies carelessly. Is a fight about to start here?

Mareli narrows her eyes. "I seriously think it's cheating that you got to see Malik before anyone else. Especially since you broke the rules...Do you really think Malik is going to want a Luna who doesn't do what she's told?"

A challenge flares in Brynn's eyes, and I see her jaw tick. I want to bury my face in my hands to get away from them both. This is exactly why I won't say anything about my encounter with Malik. All these girls seem really competitive, and any chance to drag another girl down is one many of them would take. Including Mareli...

"Cheating or not, I'm winning, aren't I?" Brynn says cheekily, winking at Mareli. I see in infuriation flicker across her face instantly.

"It doesn't work that way," the girl snaps, pushing her way to her feet. Her metal chair screeched against the floor, making me cringe. "I shouldn't work that way."

In a flurry of red hair, she turns and storms straight out of the room. She had managed to befriend Macie, of all people, who ran after her. Also, Phoenix Diamond, from the Desire pack rolled her eyes, before begrudging following her out.

Brynn grinned, glad she had caused a little uproar in the room.

That night, I was stuck in my room alone again. Tiredness hasn't hit yet, and again, I'm left staring at that old book on Love Pack policies and history. Too bad I got so caught up in Malik last night, I forgot to bring a book back with me.

Sighing deeply, I pace to keep the wicked thought out of my mind. I want to go back down there...Dammit, why am I thinking like that?

"Aria, you're going to get yourself eliminated," I mutter, but didn't stop myself from slinging my jacket over my shoulders. It's cold tonight, so I accompany them with slippers, which might make my footsteps a lot quieter.

Hopefully, Malik won't be out tonight...

He never actually told me why he was in the library in the first place. Honestly, he doesn't strike me as the kind of person who enjoys reading to past time. Hopefully he took some blushing girl with him on a date of some sort. All I need, is to slip into the library, grab a book-any would be better than the one they gave me-and leave again.

It was quiet, when I wandered in. That's always a good sign.

Keeping my steps quiet, I pad across the carpeted floor, looking around to make sure no one would be interrupting me. Seeing nothing, I move to a shelf, and pry a random book out from between others.

My heart has never beat so fast. Usually I am not the kind of person to break rules, but now I have the taste for it, it seems to be becoming a lot easier.

"How did I know?"

The book slips from my fingers, as I jump. Everything I had planned just went straight down the drain. This plan, which in the back of my mind, I knew was very bed, now has been ruined, and I'm showing how shameless it is through the colour of my cheeks.

Turning around, I meet the striking blue eyes of Alpha Malik, who emerged from the shadows. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him.

"Well, isn't this interesting," I mutter, trying my best not to lower my gaze in submission.

I'm in this now, aren't I.

He chuckled. Again, he wore very casual clothing, which was a stark contrast to what I saw him in today. To me, he looks better like this: all loose an underprepared. It makes him seem less like an Alpha, as well as less like someone who might eliminate me from this competition, for breaking the rules more than once.

"Is this a trend?" he asks, raising a dark eyebrow, so it disappears under the mussed strands that hung over his forehead.

I shrug carelessly. "Not until you kick me out of this competition."

His eyes are alight, as he regards me. I'm at least grateful for the fact that he was actually talking to me this time, unlike yesterday, where he just stared for a good five minutes, while I rambled in embarrassment. This time, he was letting me keep a shred of my dignity.

"Who say's I'm going to do that?" he questions, tilting his head. "I quite like these night visits."

Is he serious? Or is he playing with his food until he rids of me?

He takes another step forward, closing the gap between us. Our proximity is heady, and I suddenly feel myself quivering, as I fight to keep his intense gaze. Up close, he is so much more handsome. No wonder all those girls are basically already in love, talking about him like he is a saint. Just staring at him, even I think that much.

"However," he adds, and my heart falls.

He smiles slightly, and I swear I was incredibly close to having a heart attack. The only reason I'm surviving, is because he doesn't look angry in the slightest. He still looks amused...

"I shouldn't really be letting you get away with all this rule breaking, through," Malik says carefully, and I swallow. "Maybe we should consider some sort of punishment?"

At that point, I felt my knees weaken, and I know I might not get out of this alive.

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midikacrane

Midika

~Midika 💜🐼