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HOLDEN
The formal grand dining room was one of the rooms I rarely visited. It was reserved for large gatherings, more of a ballroom, really. But it was large enough for multiple tables and a reception area, perfect for meeting all the women participating in the Contention.
I adjusted my tux jacket as I walked toward the double doors, wishing dinner wasn’t so formal. I was much more comfortable in jeans, but the Contention was all about tradition, so here I was.
The buzzing conversation stopped when I walked through the doors, every pair of eyes fixed on me. I smiled and nodded at some of the women closest to me but kept walking to the back of the room, where a bartender was busy making drinks.
“Hey there, buddy.” Garrett clapped me on the shoulder as he joined me. He chuckled softly. “I don’t know whether to be envious or grateful I’m not you right now.”
“Whiskey, neat,” I told the bartender, then arched an eye at my beta. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means these women are all vying for your attention, but some look like they might eat you alive.”
I glanced around the room, noting that pretty much everyone was watching me, even my parents, who were chatting with a tall curvy brunette. “Has everyone met my parents?”
Garrett nodded and took a sip of his drink. “Just waiting on you to show up to get the party started.”
I forced a smile. I wasn’t into the prospect of meeting everyone in a setting like this, but that was how the event was orchestrated. It was like group dating but magnified. I’d have to meet them all before dinner. Thankfully, I’d be at a table with my parents and inner circle, so I wouldn’t have to make small talk over the meal. At least not tonight.
But until then, I had obligations to uphold. “You want to join me in making the rounds? I could use a wingman.”
Garrett snorted. “I don’t think you’ve ever needed a wingman in your life. Just look at them, staring you down like a school of hungry piranhas.”
I grimaced. While I didn’t think it was quite that bad, many of the women were openly staring, flashing smiles and winks my way. Each hoped they’d be the one to catch my eye—each wanted the chance to be the alpha’s wife.
That was the problem with this thing. It was hard to know who was putting on an act and who wasn’t. Ultimately, the training and competitions would whittle the numbers down. My job was to figure out which woman would be the best for the job. Sure, it would be great if we got along, even better if we hit it off like my parents. Of course, I wanted to find a good match for myself, but most important was finding someone who would help me lead the pack.
The pack came first. Always.
“Well, better get out there and start mingling,” Garrett said with a wink.
I knocked back the rest of my drink, then got another before making the rounds. Scanning the crowd, I didn’t realize I was looking for Kayden until I didn’t see her. I frowned. Perhaps she was late? I’d verified that she was no longer in the cell, but I knew she still wasn’t keen on the Contention. Had she found a way out already?
Disappointment settled over me, but only for a moment because the first woman brave enough to approach was making a beeline for me.
“That’s my cue,” Garrett said. “I’m out.” He slipped away, joining Cal and Jax over in a dark corner—no doubt so they could entertain themselves by watching me.
“Hi, I’m Madison,” a tiny woman with short brown hair said, her bright blue eyes twinkling. She was short for a shifter, but made up for it in confidence. She stood straight with her shoulders back, with no sign of intimidation on her pixie-like features. Her voice dropped lower as she leaned in close. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Holden.”
I had a feeling plenty of the women would like to ‘get to know’ me. “Nice to meet you, Madison. What pack are you from?”
The next hour was filled with similar small talk, and while I got a general impression of each woman, I didn’t get to know any of them on more than a surface level. I made a point of not making judgments upfront. There would be plenty of time to learn more about the contestants over the coming weeks.
By the time I’d talked to everyone, the staff was bringing in serving carts. I glanced around, looking for Kayden, but she still hadn’t shown up. If my count was correct, another woman was missing as well.
I made my way to the head table, situated among the dozens of circular tables around the large room, and sat between Garrett and my mother, facing the door.
“Welcome, ladies, to the first night of what will be an extraordinary event, unlike anything you’ve experienced in your life,” Willow, the head coordinator, began. She then dove into a lengthy explanation of what the women could expect and how the next few weeks would go. “Each day, you’ll have classes and physical training to ensure you’re up to speed on everything an alpha’s wife should know and be capable of, unless it is a competition day.”
I tuned out as she described the competition coming up in a few days. I already knew the gist of it, and I found my mind wandering back to Kayden. After all the trouble we’d gone through to get her here, what had happened?
Just as I was about to ask my mother, the door behind Willow swung open, and there she was.
Kayden walked in wearing a simple cream wrap dress that was far more understated than the other women. She was wearing no makeup, and her hair looked slightly damp as if she’d just showered.
Hushed whispers filled the silence, and Willow paused her speech, glancing over at Kayden with a slight frown. I had to hand it to Kayden, she didn’t look fazed at all. She simply scanned the room, found a table with an empty chair, then headed toward it, not seeming to care that everyone was watching. Willow resumed speaking, but I focused on Kayden as she passed by my table.
She didn’t look at me, but I noticed the edge of a bandage peeking out from her dress, and there was no mistaking the scent of blood. My wolf reared up in my mind, but I shoved him away.
