Chapter 6

"You?" I gasped, completely blindsided by who stood before me.

It was her—the casual-dressed girl from the reception. Up close, she was even prettier than I'd thought, with warm brown eyes that crinkled when she smiled and freckles across her nose. Her short dark hair looked both messy and perfect.

"Hey there, fellow dress-code rebel," she said with a grin, extending her hand. "I'm Maya. Maya Wilson."

I took her hand, surprised by her firm grip. "Lena Blackwood."

"Oh, I know who you are. Everyone does." She leaned against my doorframe. "Mind if I come in? These hallways have ears."

I hesitated before stepping aside. Something about her felt trustworthy, like we were kindred spirits.

"So," she said, flopping onto the armchair while I sat on my bed. "What's the Alpha's daughter doing dressed like she's ready to run away rather than find her destined mate?"

Her teasing tone made me smile despite everything. "Maybe because that's exactly what I'm planning."

Instead of looking shocked, Maya laughed—a genuine, belly-deep sound that made me like her instantly. "I knew I liked you for a reason." She kicked off her boots. "My cousin Amara thinks I'm crazy for not wanting to 'fulfill my destiny' or whatever."

"Amara?" I blinked in surprise. "Amara King is your cousin?"

Maya nodded. "Yep. My mom is her dad's sister—Beta of the King Pack. Which makes me werewolf royalty adjacent, I guess." She rolled her eyes. "Not that I care about any of that stuff."

My mind was spinning. The future female Alpha and this rebellious girl were related?

"You two don't seem very... alike," I said carefully.

Maya snorted. "Understatement of the century. Amara lives for pack politics and power plays. Me? I just want to live my life without some random dude deciding he owns me because he managed to catch me in a glorified game of tag."

I felt a rush of excitement hearing someone else express my thoughts. "That's what I've been trying to tell my family! This whole hunting party is barbaric. We're not deer. We shouldn't be hunted."

"Preach," Maya said, raising an imaginary glass. "But good luck getting anyone to listen. I've been complaining about this for years, and all I get is 'it's tradition' and 'this is how we find our true mates.'"

"My brother kind of gets it," I said, remembering my conversation with Ethan. "He says when he becomes Alpha, he'll change things."

Maya tossed me a soda from the mini-fridge. "My dad just tells me I'll change my mind when I meet 'the right male.'"

We talked for hours, sprawled across my bed with empty soda cans and snacks between us. It felt like I'd known her forever—like finding a missing piece of myself.

As evening fell, our conversation turned serious.

"What will you do?" I asked. "If someone catches you tomorrow that you don't want?"

Maya's expression hardened. "Fight like hell. I've been training in combat since I was twelve—secretly, of course. My parents think I'm taking dance lessons." She grinned wickedly. "I might not be as naturally strong as some of these guys, but I'm faster and smarter."

"But what if that's not enough?" I whispered. "What if he's too strong? What if he forces the mark on you?"

Maya was quiet for a moment. "I've thought about that a lot," she admitted. "If the worst happens... I guess I'll have to play the game until I can find a way out. Some females manage to escape bad matings. It's rare, but it happens."

"And if he hurts you?" The words felt thick in my throat. "If he's cruel or... abusive?"

I was thinking of whispered accounts of females trapped with violent males, their wolves too bonded to leave despite the abuse.

Maya looked up, her eyes suddenly vulnerable. "I don't know," she admitted. "That's what scares me the most."

I reached across the bed and took her hand. "If that happens—if you get a bad mate who hurts you—I'll kill him for you."

The words came out fierce and certain. I meant them. I knew I would protect this girl I'd just met.

For a second, Maya looked startled. Then her face softened. "You're kind of adorable. Tiny but fierce." She squeezed my hand. "Same goes for you. Anyone tries to hurt you, they'll have to go through me first."

A warm feeling spread through my chest. For the first time since learning about the hunting party, I didn't feel completely alone.

We fell into comfortable silence. My stomach growled loudly enough to make Maya laugh.

"Hungry?" she asked, producing a slightly squished chocolate protein bar and breaking it in half.

It wasn't much, but I wolfed it down gratefully.

"We should probably get some rest," Maya said, glancing at the clock. "Tomorrow's going to be... intense."

The reminder sent a cold shiver down my spine. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep."

"Me neither," Maya admitted. "But we should at least try. We'll need our strength."

A sharp knock on the door made us both jump. "Maya? Are you in there?"

Maya rolled her eyes. "It's Amara. She's probably doing bed checks like we're at summer camp."

Amara stood in the hallway, looking immaculate. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted me.

"There you are," Amara said to Maya. "It's late, and we need to prepare for tomorrow."

"We were just talking," Maya said defensively.

Amara arched a perfect eyebrow. "Well, you can continue your little chat in the morning. We're sharing a suite, remember?" Her gaze slid to me. "As do others, apparently."

I stared back, refusing to be intimidated.

Maya hugged me quickly. "Remember," she whispered, "we've got each other's backs."

Then she was gone, following Amara down the hallway.

After a hot shower, I crawled into bed, feeling small and vulnerable. I stared at the ceiling, longing for my glow-in-the-dark stars at home.

Would this be my last night as just Lena? By tomorrow, would I be bonded to someone I'd just met? Would I be forced to leave with him, join his pack, share his bed?

My stomach twisted with anxiety. I thought of Maya, probably lying awake in her own bed. At least I wasn't alone in my fear and anger. At least I'd found one person who understood.

As I drifted into uneasy sleep, my last thought was of her laughing face and our promise to protect each other. Whatever happened tomorrow in those woods, I wouldn't face it completely alone.

And that had to count for something.