“Here,” Ezra said, sliding something soft and familiar into my hands. My cheeks were flushed, and I forced myself to look at what he handed me. It was a dark leather book that was titled ‘The History of The Betas of Black River.”I recognized this book from the library; it never seemed important enough to even skim through, though. I raised a brow at him, waiting for him to explain.“I took out the text, horribly boring thing.” Half of his mouth tugged up through that faint scar I wanted to kiss. “I replaced it with blank pages. If we need to communicate, if something happens, and I won’t be able to see you.” He swallowed. “We can use this to correspond as a backup.”I nodded. I hated the thought that I wouldn’t be able to see him every day, even in passing. I grew to love seeing him in the library, and before I let myself fully realize, I craved that time spent with him, and replayed it at night when I fell asleep. But who knew what was to come after my stunt tonight? I wouldn’t be

The Luna returned that night in a huff and called me to her office. She was annoyed she missed the other parties even though she was bored because of the meetings and blamed me for cutting her time short, claiming she was sent to ‘check on me’. I wasn’t sure if she just wanted someone to vent at, so I listened, nodded, and apologized profusely for my mistake. If they thought to send someone to watch over me, they chose the worst one. I really doubted she would pay me any interest at all, but they probably thought the idea of a ranked member here would instill fear in me. She poured a glass of vodka and trailed on about the Alpha Trials, but nothing of note until the lead Omega knocked on the door red-faced and frazzled, and I was dismissed. The next day, the Alpha and the brothers returned. I kept out of their way, only seeing them at dinner. Luna Natalie already seemed exhausted by the few decisions she had to make for the menus and guest arrangements, but that was all she had to

I had breakfast with them all, the only meal that I apparently would be having with them this week. I glanced at them all under my lashes; it was bittersweet, coming to an end. I sat in this spot for years, creating and enforcing my persona, and soon, it wouldn’t be them all sitting across from me. It was coming to an end, and it felt reliving but also strange that it might all end so soon. Heavy even. Luna Addison looked bored yet flustered. The Alpha was eating as if this might be his last meal. Nolan focused on his food, Hunter looked as bored as ever, and Dominick, well, he actually didn’t look very well, possibly nerves. “We won’t be here for lunch, and dinner will be a big affair,” The Alpha said, pointing a sausage at me. “Tell the Omegas to send something to your room or just eat in here alone.” “Of course, Alpha,” I said, averting my eyes. Ezra said the first night went well. Nolan was nervous but came off confident at their stupid little show of skill. I called on Tia a

I waited back for Sam in the library after I forced myself to eat a sandwich in the kitchen. The chatter was less about the food now but more about the challenges and their predictions on the next Alpha. I flipped through the books again about challenges and went to see if there were any we missed. I must have been there for hours, but I didn’t notice the time pass; I was buried in my research.Sam knocked and entered. I didn’t have a guard today because it was assumed I would be with Dominick. No one, not even his mother, came to check on him while I was with him, and I popped in all day, making sure I would be seen in case any of his family checked, which they didn’t.Sam strolled up and handed me a note with a white wax seal and a swirl of dark red. I took a deep breath; it worked. They responded. I took an unlit candle from the mantle and dipped it into the embers of the fire. I carefully held the seal over the flame. It sparked and hardened and released its hold on the paper.

That night, I snuck out in my hidden pants, my hair braided and coiled in a tight bun. I wrapped a scarf around the lower half of my mouth and dawned a hooded cape. I walked a wide circle starting behind the packhouse and snaked through the forest so I wouldn’t be seen by anyone. It took longer wearing clunky men's shoes I swiped on the way out, but I didn’t want to bring anything besides the clothes on my back.There was part of the maze that sprawled into the edge of the forest. The onlookers were sitting above the maze dug partially into the ground. I hated how impressed I was; this was a huge feat for only a week of preparation. But I had to give credit to the Omegas, warriors, and whomever else they tasked with this. It wasn’t like The Alpha and Luna were the ones out here digging. I memorized the map Ezra drew and came to one of the three points he marked that were the most hidden from the audience. This part of the maze was short and something you would accidentally stumble u