08

I trip over a small boulder, falling onto the path and hissing as I cut my hand. I look up as Lacey looks back, and then she laughs, knocking me to my knees as she continues past the line. Tears fill my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall, I stand up, seeing that the dress is now dirty with sand and mud, I lift my hand to see blood dripping from a large cut, running from the palm to the wrist. Sighing, I close my hand and let the blood drip onto the wet sand, as I know I need to continue down this path.

It feels like forever when I reach the beach and look up to see Lacey waiting behind three other classmates, just as one of them enters the water. Four before my fate was decided. I'm tempted to take my shoes off and enjoy the feel of the cool sand under my bare feet, but I stick with my boots. I don't want to lose them. I walk along the beach, feeling so many eyes watching and judging me. I refuse to look at the men from the other side, knowing the new alpha will be there, and seeing