I lean back a little, watching the stars come out one by one. The low whispers of the crowd rush around me as people discuss the results of the lottery, and I know that the plan has worked, at least for now.
Everyone will be so caught up in this, there won’t be time for petty squabbles, and hopefully, the troublemakers are all being broken up so they can’t do any more damage.
My gaze drifts back to Scarlett and the Eccles elders. Again, the idea of being free of this place sends a little thrill through me that is more excitement than fear.
Scarlett was an outcast, but she was still connected to the alpha. That protected her somewhat. I had nothing to protect me.
I look away quickly, not wanting to dwell on the past. I’m starting to feel edgy, and I just want the meeting to be over so I can decide what to pack.
And say goodbye to all my plants. I’ll have to find someone to water them for me…
Rex announces the alpha as Dan, one of his black ops pals. The information means very little to me, and I’m barely listening when he goes on to choose the luna randomly out of those already chosen to go.
The entire clearing seems to pause as he looks at the piece of paper. My heart skips a beat, and sweat breaks out across my ribs.
“Grace Fenton,” he says.
Every single set of eyes in the clearing suddenly seems to swivel and stare right at me, and it feels like a massive spotlight has switched on right above my head.
Shock floods through me, and I can’t move. I can barely breathe. Alisha beckons to me, and I get up slowly, feeling completely disconnected from my body. I manage to walk up the front with short, steady steps, hearing my heart hammering against my ribs so hard, my blood roars in my ears.
Alisha wraps her arms around me, squeezing me too tight. I gasp a little, and she loosens her grip.
“I’m sorry!” she chokes out. “I’m just a bit emotional. I can’t believe you’re actually going.”
“Neither can I,” I answer, my voice surprisingly steady.
Over Alisha’s shoulder, I look over at Dan, and he stares back at me, his expression unreadable and his dark blue eyes completely blank.
Fear sparks in my chest for the first time. I know all the black ops guys are good men, and I’ve even advocated for them more than once—but there is a sense of raw violence about them that scares me.
Like clouds on the horizon that could bring the soothing rain the desert needs to heal itself…or a storm of such terrible power, it rips the ground open and leaves only destruction in its wake.
Alisha pulls back a little and sees the direction of my gaze. Dan has turned away now, but I can’t stop looking at him, and I know by the chill seeping through me that I’ve probably gone as pale as a ghost.
“Oh, Gracie,” Alisha says, rubbing my arm. “It’s okay. Dan’s a great guy. Brad talks about him a lot. He’s very dependable, and he’ll take care of you.”
“Okay,” I whisper, nodding. I try to smile for my friend, but it gets stuck on my face as a grimace instead.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Alisha wraps her arms around me again. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
I lean my head on Alisha’s shoulder, wanting her comfort but also feeling like an absolute traitor.
There’s so much you don’t know, sweet girl. So much I’ve kept hidden. And now, I’ll never get the chance to tell you.
I don’t say a word as the meeting wraps up. Dan makes no attempt to talk to me, and I’m grateful for it—I couldn’t stand an awkward exchange of emotionless platitudes right now. Inside of me, my blood is racing, pushed by the ever-increasing throb of my panicked heart.
I have to get out of here.
I let the others give me a ride home, even though it would have been easier to stay at the garden. Standing in my front yard, I smile and wave, waiting for the car to disappear around the bend before I drop my hand and my fake grin.
I’m running towards the edge of town before I can even think. Not for the first time, I wish for the speed and strength of a wolf so I could cruise over the miles with little effort, but wishing for that won’t get me to my destination any faster.
I’m fit enough that I can run most of the way, and I don’t have to really slow down until I reach the first ridge to the north east of town. The second I enter the cluster of hills, my hair stands up all over my skin, and even my long blond tresses frizz and float around me. I reach out to touch a nearby tree, and a static shock sparks between us.
These rocks have always been charged, but this is more concentrated than I’ve ever seen it. It must be the snake.
I know that I have walked right into the area the snake is reported to hide—and I haven’t done it by accident.
