Alpha Adonis

Chapter Four

"Come with me," one of the soldiers announced. We were led to the backyard, where a helicopter waited. It was almost nine-thirty, and the night had fully set in.

This was real. I had to pinch myself to confirm that I wasn't dreaming. The helicopter's blades were whirring as the pilot completed some final checks. Natalia placed her arm on my shoulder, and I offered her a tight smile.

“You look tense, Iris. Are you okay?”

“I…um…Did you bring some extra clothes? I didn't because I thought the pageant was only a one-day event, and I think I'm experiencing premenstrual cramps.”

She swallowed my lies. “That sucks. Didn't pack a thing. They must have everything we need."

The helicopter doors opened, and the pilot greeted us. Natalia dragged me to a spot in the back with a nice view.

"You're so chaotic," I joked, and she flung her head back and laughed loudly. At the sanctuary, everyone was depressed and hopeless, with no desire to interact. Having a friend felt good and unusual.

As the helicopter lifted off, the city lights below faded away, leaving only the night sky's darkness. "I have to be honest, Natalia,” I whispered. "I have no business entering this beauty contest. I'm only five feet four, I don't care for my skin, and let's not even get started on catwalks and makeup. I'm clumsy and dislike public speaking.”

Natalia gave me an amused look. "Why are you so paranoid? Do you think I'm cut out for this?”

"Of course," I rolled my eyes. "You're flawless."

"Yeah, right," she smirked. "That’s exactly the purpose of the fifteen-day training. They will teach us everything we need to know. Even if we don't win, we'll get to pamper our skin, eat delicious food, and enjoy ourselves. What's the worst that could happen?"

The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, announcing our arrival on the island. We touched down on a helipad and disembarked.

Ruin Island was the complete opposite of its name. It was utterly breathtaking. A large mansion stood majestically, and its surroundings were illuminated by halogen lamps that reflected light onto the massive pool.

We arrived at the mansion and were greeted by a middle-aged woman with her hair in a tight bun. I felt sorry for her hair's edges and wondered if she had a headache.

"Hello, contestants. I'm Mrs.Muffinbutton."

Natalia raised an eyebrow, and I pressed my lips together to hide my laughter.

Mrs. Muffinbutton issued a warning."You're not here for a vacation.”

The harshness in her tone made the girls silent.

“Ugh, she's no fun,” Natalia whispered, and I agreed. The woman reminded me of the matrons at the sanctuary who never smiled.

"You will spend the next round in the hall upstairs. There are five bunks and ten-bed spaces.”

"Why can't we get private rooms?" one of the girls whined. She was ignored.

The mansion was impressive, with a living room downstairs where crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling and reflected light off the polished marble floors.

We walked through the halls decorated with carvings and artwork before heading upstairs to the hall they had set up for us. The narrow beds were neatly arranged. Natalia drew me to the third bunk on the left, where we claimed our spots, and I shook my head, amused by her inability to let go of me.

Each bunk had a night lamp and a mini-fridge neatly tucked away in a corner and storage containers. There were five bathrooms, all clean and well-maintained, with a steady hot water supply.

The bell rang for dinner. Downstairs, a chef introduced himself.

"Tonight, feel free to satisfy your cravings and eat as much junk food as you want. But be prepared because your diet will consist entirely of healthy foods starting tomorrow."

The girls murmured among themselves, and Natalia, who sat next to me, rolled her eyes so dramatically at the news that I had to suppress a laugh.

"Watch out. She whispered with mock horror, "They’ll start serving us grass tomorrow as if we're f*****g goats."

Because of the warning, I chose a burger and milkshake as my guilty pleasure. We chatted amongst ourselves, getting to know each other.

With a severe tone, Mrs. Muffinbutton announced in our room that there was a strict curfew.

"Anyone who leaves their room after the lights are out is in serious trouble."

She walked away, leaving me wondering why there were such strict rules. After brushing my teeth, I lay in bed smiling.

I awoke around midnight, restless. Everyone else was sleeping, but I was itching to go outside. Despite the rules against going out after curfew, I wanted to visit the garden at night.

This place was just as restrictive as the sanctuary, and I despised the feeling of being trapped. I carefully got out of bed, trying not to wake anyone, and tiptoed downstairs.

I went straight to the garden, which looked fantastic under the moonlight. I picked up a rose petal, inhaled deeply, and smiled. Then I lay down on the grass and let the cool night air surround me.

When I started dozing off, something I hadn’t felt in years washed over me: happiness.

I wish it could last forever.

My eyes widened when I heard a low growl. I sniffed the air and realized there was a wolf nearby. My aunt warned me not to reveal my Omega status by shifting.

Two red eyes emerged from the shadows. My thoughts were disorganized, and I was nervous. I gasped, realizing with a shiver of fear that the wolf was abnormal; it appeared to be a maniac. It pushed forward, sending my nerves tingling. Its frantic, staring eyes signaled that I was in danger.

Fear gripped me as I realized I couldn't outrun the wolf in my human form. Still, I attempted to cover several feet and cry out.

My instinct told me to stop running. "Turn around and face the wolf."

It was very close to me when my neck snapped, and my legs buckled.

When I fell, the wolf jumped over me and nearly choked me with its black fur. Then, an unexpected desire to pet the wolf arose.

I began stroking its fur, and to my surprise, its growling subsided.

I went on, puzzled, but I sensed trouble. If the wolf turned back into a human, it would reveal my secret of sneaking outside. I kept petting it and wondering who was behind it.

Almost immediately, it fell asleep in my arms. I kept my gaze fixed on its nose. Even though it was sleeping, it seemed restless. I slid away slowly, trying not to startle it awake. When free, I turned around and dashed back to the mansion, pushing my legs as hard as possible.