AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Basically, the PR secretary will be the face of the North American pack. She won’t be tied to any one pack in particular, and while her vote will represent her home pack for all official business, her job is to present a united front to all the packs. It will be her duty to create a public image for Holden and Garrett as well as present all major policies to the regional packs in an effort to get everyone on board.”
Reagan was smiling and nodding as I spoke. “Honestly,” I told her, pulling her aside after we concluded our meeting for the day and the other women had headed up to change for the formal dinner, “I think you would be excellent in the PR position. From what Garrett has told me, you’re interested in bringing the packs together and enacting change. There will be a lot of hard work ahead of you, but I think you can handle it.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she told me. “I think I’d enjoy it as well.”
She paused as if she wanted to say something else, and I had a sneaking feeling I knew what it was about, but I really didn’t want to discuss Garrett with her, even if she was aware something was there between us. It was too much. I’d have to deal with seeing them together soon enough. The longer I could put off that reality, the better.
“I’ll see you at dinner, then,” I said then headed out to get ready myself.
I chose a long dark blue dress with a skirt that flared out slightly at the bottom, a short train trailing behind it. The fabric was soft and silky, studded with crystals along the straps and neckline. It was elegant but understated, not too flashy, but something that made me feel beautiful, nonetheless.
I even requested for Kayden to let me borrow her hairdresser. She curled and twisted my hair into the most beautiful side-swept style, and I borrowed one of Kayden’s simple diamond necklaces. A wave of sadness washed over me as I stood in my room, looking at myself in the mirror and wondering what Garrett would think of my look.
We were so close to the end now. Our time together was slipping away, hour by hour. I didn’t often let myself dwell on how none of this ever would have happened if I’d just kept my mouth shut instead of throwing out that snarky comment about Garrett having his own Contention all those weeks ago. But it was hard not to think that way now. Then again, if we hadn’t been forced to spend all this time together, would we ever have discovered how we felt?
Well, I didn’t exactly know how he felt, but I knew how I felt. I knew that over the course of this competition, I’d gone from having a crush on him to falling head over heels in love. If I could do it all over again, would I choose to get to have this experience, this time with him, even knowing it would end in heartache?
My heart told me the answer was a resounding yes. Despite how much it would hurt to let him go, to watch him live his life with another woman at his side, I wouldn’t wish these weeks together away for anything.
Swallowing against the lump in my throat, I gave myself a final once-over in the mirror then headed downstairs for what would be one of the final events of the Contention.
Garrett was already in the dining hall when I arrived, speaking with Holden, but he excused himself the minute he caught sight of me. As he strode toward me, my breath caught at how handsome he looked in his formal tuxedo, his hair combed back from his face. He stopped a couple of feet from me, and it was all I could do not to reach out for him.
“You look incredible, Jess,” he murmured, keeping his voice low. But his eyes were bright, his smile soft, and once again, I wished things were different.
“Thank you,” I managed to say. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
He shrugged, giving me a lopsided grin. “I thought about just wearing the dress shirt, but I figured you’d give me grief for it.”
I laughed. “You know I would.”
“Are you ready for this?” he asked. “Last time, things got pretty crazy.”
“This is a much more scaled-down version than the one from Holden’s Contention. I’m sure it will be fine.”
He stepped closer, his eyes growing serious. “If things get out of hand, I’ll keep you safe. You don’t ever need to worry about that, okay?”
I nodded, my throat constricting at the concern in his gaze. “Thank you, Garrett.”
He glanced up then, looking behind me, and I turned to see Reagan walking through the doors.
“That’s your cue,” I told him, forcing a smile.
He looked back down at me with a sad smile. “I’ll catch up with you in a bit, okay?”
Garrett reached out and captured my hand, giving it a comforting squeeze before dropping it quickly and moving to Reagan’s side. I watched as he gave her his most charming grin, and they immediately fell into conversation as they walked together to the table where he would be dining with the four contestants.
I turned with a sigh, joining Kayden at the table where she sat with Holden and their inner circle, along with Bridger and Kessa, who would be part of tonight’s surprise. She gave me a curious look, but I pasted on a smile and pretended not to notice, making small talk while we all mingled around for cocktail hour.
The evening was beautiful. The girls had done an excellent job with decor and the menu. Even Willow came up to congratulate me on having overseen their work, and how she was proud of how well I was doing in my new role. Everything was going off without a hitch, and I should have been immensely proud of myself, but it was hard to really think about it when my mind was consumed with thoughts of Garrett.
As dessert was served, Kayden, Kessa, and a handful of soldiers quietly made their way out of the room in phases, trying to avoid notice. It wouldn’t be long now until the secret challenge was underway.
I watched Garrett laugh and charm the women, barely keeping up with the conversation at my own table. Suddenly, a loud growl pierced the air, reverberating from the hallway beyond. Holden shot to his feet, just as we’d planned, running for the door.
“We’re under attack!” he called out, and the room erupted into chaos. Everyone except the four contestants knew what was going on, and they played their parts to perfection. All around the room, men and women shifted into wolf form, preparing to defend themselves.
Then ten giant wolves burst through the doors, a silvery-white wolf at the lead—Kayden. Holden shifted on the spot, engaging his mate in a fairly aggressive fight, but that’s how they liked to play. Kayden was always up for a challenge, giving her mate one in turn.
