Page 10 of The Alpha's Temptation

I shrieked and jumped around, spotting Caelan behind me. “Lycos, you scared me!”

“What’re you doing out of your room?” he asked.

“What were you doing with that bitch at the bar?”

“I’d ask you the same, but I knew you went to see him to piss me off.”

I crossed my arms. “Is that what you were doing with her?”

“No, I’m not that childish.”

“You sure about that?”

A low growl left his mouth, his canines extending from his teeth. “You should be preparing your gown for tomorrow. There are several meetings you will attend with me and your father. Don’t be late to any of them.”

After gritting his teeth, he stepped into his room and slammed the door. I balled my hands into tight fists and glared at the wall.

Fuck this wedding. Fuck those meetings. And fuck Caelan.

I was going to the Mortal Combat games tomorrow instead of doing whatever he wanted me to do. And I wasn’t going to watch. No, I planned on competing.

CHAPTER 7

LIVIA

“I’mgonna go grab a glass of wine,” I murmured to Dad and Caelan, walking away from them during the pre-wedding festivities. We had been attending meeting after meeting after meeting with people throughout the lands, and I hadn’t gotten time to sneak away.

Until now.

After bunching up my dress, I walked toward the bar, glancing over my shoulder every so often to make sure Caelan wasn’t watching. The Mortal Combat games had already begun, and I needed to be there three hours ago.

Once Caelan and Dad finally turned away, I jogged toward the door and slipped out of it before either of them could see me. I was wearing a stupid dress that Caelan had forced me to put on, and I was one hundred percent regretting it now.

After tearing it halfway up my thigh so I could walk—and fight—I stuffed the torn part in the trash and headed toward the games. My heart thumped loudly, my blood pumping. I hoped I hadn’t missed my chance to compete.

Outside the main building was a blur of people, talking and chatting and laughing with each other. I followed the signs forthe games and found myself standing at the entrance of the arena in front of a man who looked of high importance.

“I’m Colson, Chamberlain of Pridehaven Palace. How can I help you?”

“I signed up for the Mortal Combat games last night. I want to fight.”

“What’s your name?”

“Livia. Daughter of Beta Marcus from the Whitecrown Pack.”

“Livia… Livia, Livia, Livia.” He scanned the papers in front of him, looking for my name, then he nodded. “Perfect, you’ve arrived just in time. Once you’re ready, I will lead you down to the holding cells, where you will wait for your name to be called.”

“I’m ready,” I said, straightening my shoulders.

He eyed my pink dress for a moment, his brow arching. “You’re going to fight in that?”

“Yes, I’m going to fight in this.”

I didn’t have any other change of clothes, and I wasn’t going to go buy some. Caelan had bought this stupid dress for me to wear, and I was going to wear it to do what I wanted—not to go to those stupid meetings with him.

Especiallynot to watch him flirt with other women either.

“That’s no problem,” he said. “Please, follow me.”

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