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I finished my workout, then headed back to my room to shower, not happy with where my thoughts had gone. Lunch was waiting on my table when I came out of the bathroom in a silk robe, but Faye was nowhere to be seen. I ate quickly, then dressed in some jeans and a flowing white blouse, unsure of the dress code for a classroom environment. It was casual but still put together, and I thought Faye would approve.
Finding the classroom took me a while, and I had to turn around twice and ask a staff member for directions. By the time I made it, everyone else was there.
Jessica waved me over, and I smiled at the sight of her. She’d saved me a seat. At least there was one person here that was honest and kind.
“Good afternoon,” the tall redheaded woman at the front of the classroom greeted us once I’d been seated. “My name is Sarah, and I serve on the alpha’s council as a historian. Today I’ll teach you about the hierarchy and politics within the shifter council, including an overview of the various council positions.”
I perked up at that. So far, I hadn’t heard anything else about the top ten being eligible for those jobs, and I hoped I would learn more today.
“But first, a lesson on the ranks within the North American pack. Many of these formalities are observed at a regional level, so most of you should be familiar with some of what I’ll say. But there are a few differences regarding leadership within the alpha’s council.”
I took notes, particularly the council positions, which drew the unwelcome attention of the bitch squad.
“Do you not know how this works, Kayden?” Sydnee hissed from two tables behind me when the instructor stepped out for a short break. She giggled. “I thought everyone was aware of pack laws.”
I sighed and tried to ignore her, but she wasn’t finished.
“Where are you even from? Some backwoods pack lands, no doubt. I’ve known all of this since I was a child.” She gave me a pitying look, though I knew it was fake. “Poor thing, totally out of your league. But I guess that’s what happens sometimes.”
I might not have had a strong grasp on all of the politics, but it had never interested me. Unlike most of these women, who seemed to have spent their entire lives preparing for the Contention, I was a waitress who lived a simple life. And I’d been happy with it, up until Nico died.
But at least I was learning now. Maybe it would come in handy if I did have to go home and deal with Branson. Not that he followed the rules…
By the end of the lessons, I had a raging headache, and all I wanted was to take a nap.
“Do you have any idea what’s planned for tonight?” I asked Jessica as we quickly walked out of the classroom, putting as much distance between us and the mean girls as possible.
“Another dinner, I suppose. Probably not as formal as the first night, though.” She glanced up at me, a spark of hope in her eyes. “Do you want to sit together?”
I smiled. “I’d love that.”
I’d been too busy to feel lonely, but I missed my sister desperately and wondered what she’d been told about me leaving. If only I could have told her goodbye… But there was nothing I could do about that. For now, Jessica was quickly becoming the closest thing I had to a friend here. And I had a feeling we would need to stick together in the coming days.
10
KAYDEN
Faye was waiting in my room when I returned, already sifting through my wardrobe again. She was becoming a regular fixture in my private quarters.
“How did classes go?”
I shrugged. “I learned some things.”
“Fabulous,” she trilled. “Now, I was just informed that Holden and the others will be absent from diner tonight due to an important council meeting. It will just be the girls dining together tonight.”
“Fabulous,” I echoed, much less enthusiastically. “Can I just have dinner in my room then? I’m not really up for socializing.”
“While it technically isn’t against the rules, it’s quite discouraged. You wouldn’t want anyone to think you were hiding out up here, would you?”
Faye had a point. Sydnee might get the wrong idea and think she’d intimidated me.
“And,” she continued, “as an apology from Holden for missing dinner, he’s arranged a little surprise for all of you.”
I groaned and walked toward the bathroom. “I’m not sure I’m really in the mood for a surprise right now.”
Faye smiled, her blue eyes twinkling. “You’re going to love this one, trust me. You and all the other contestants have the opportunity to make a call home before dinner.”
I spun, staring at her, almost afraid I hadn’t heard correctly. “What did you say?”
