Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth

1 had the same thought cross my mind," she admitted. "But I didn't want to sound-

*-Ladies! If I could have you join the others, we're about to begin!"

The announcement cut me off, and Zoe and I both

T

directors waving us towards center stage, startled, whipping around to see one of the assistant

With a resigned look, Zoe tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and strode off toward Drake. I did the same, avoiding Noah's gaze as I walked up to join him.

No sooner had the final couple taken their place on the field than a hush fell over the space. The camera panned over to a platform off to the side, where a lone figure stood holding a microphone. Luna Alanna. "Alphas, Lunas... welcome," the Luna Queen announced. "You have all been gathered here today to prove your worth-to show the people which is truly the best couple to represent the Lunar Festival this year." Her piercing gaze swept over the contestants, seeming to linger just a fraction longer on me, Noah, Zoe, and Drake before moving on. "We will start with a game of agility and coordination," she stated, then paused for dramatic effect. "The egg pass."

A low murmur rippled through the contestants, broken only as a pair of attendants emerged carrying baskets of eggs, which they passed out to each couple. As the rules were explained, I felt Noah shift ever so slightly next to me.

I glanced up at him, taking in the clench of his jaw and the tense set of his shoulders, and felt a spark of my own competitive spirit inside of me. Noah seemed to be laser-focused on this; utterly determined to

win.

I admired that about him.

The egg pass commenced, each couple passing the egg back and forth and taking one step back. Soon, the eggs were no longer being passed, but tossed-and couple after couple was eliminated when their egg would fall and crack on the ground. But not us. Not Drake and Zoe, either.

Finally, the buzzer went off, leaving just a handful of couples still in the game. The crowd cheered for that round's winners, and then the Luna Queen announced the next round; the staring contest.

Each couple had to hold hands and sit cross-legged in front of each other, holding one another's stares for a full five minutes. Contestants could blink, but they could not look away, laugh, or fully shut their eyes.This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

I cursed inwardly as I sat down, feeling Noah's warm hands wrap around mine and our knees brush as we settled across from one another. Holding his green-eyed stare was difficult, especially as other couples broke out into laughter around us, eliciting more laughter from the audience. But once again, not us. I wasn't sure how I did it, but I held Noah's stare easily, my hands steady in his palms, I breathed slowly, steadying myself, and lost myself in those green depths.

He seemed to do the same. Not a single flicker of amusement passed over his chiseled face as he stared

at me.

I couldn't decide whether it was a lack of interest in me that made this challenge so easy on his end, perhaps he was in another place in his mind, or perhaps he was simply that comfortable with me.

It was just as I was going for the second option that the buzzer went off.

Blinking against the sting in my eyes, I quickly released Noah's hands and looked around. There were only four couples left: us, two couples from neighboring packs, and... Drake and Zoe.

How? How the hell had they made it this far? How the hell had they even been allowed to make it this far for people who weren't supposed to be competing? My gaze slid over to the Luna Queen, who was still sitting in her plush chair on the platform, and her face was inscrutable-although I still had the inkling that she wanted this, that she wanted Drake and Zoe to compete just long enough to rekindle their love. I could just feel it.

But before I could dwell too long on that thought, Luna Alanna stood, raising the microphone to her lips

once more.

""Now," she announced, "for the final round... The race!"