People grabbed my hand in congratulations, words and phrases of excitement, yet I barely even registered it. It almost felt like the whole world was moving in slow motion. Except it wasn't.

Alpha Montgomery welcomed me forward, and I took my place on stage next to him. He grasped my hand and raised it higher in the air, causing more cheers to erupt, even louder than before. It was like the sound caused me to snap back into reality. And I was back, eyes wide as I smiled victoriously, holding my hand up higher.

"Cassandra Verano will be representing The Werewolves in this year's upcoming games!" He announced, "This decision has been made for many reasons, though if you disagree, feel free to take it up with me. Or just watch the video evidence." He ended with a chuckle. He said more, but I didn't hear it, too focused on everything happening around me.

As soon as it had happened, it was over. The other representatives were walking to the side and moving out of the way, as if not to take my spotlight as Alphas from the stands slowly made their way down to the fields. Each Alpha and Beta pairing moved toward their representatives. Most looked fine, some disappointed. But for a select few, I could sense the anger from here. I noticed the camera whirring, closing up on my face as it clicked, taking photos before changing angles once again.

Before I knew it, Alexander was at one side with Vance and Harmony on the other. My heart fluttered in pride.

I had won.

I had beat everyone.

Before I knew it, Alpha and Luna Montgomery had moved themselves off the stage, making way for two familiar figures. One dressed in a dark navy suit while the other wore a neon pink blouse and skirt. John and Tilly. The reporters that had outed the information about Alexander and I. About our relationship.

The camera whizzed away before settling, a few clicks in a countdown as Tilly smoothed her hair and John prepared his microphone. In a split second, large phony smiles covered their faces as they began to speak.

"We are here in the centre fields of Desert Sun, right after the announcement came through that one Cassandra Verano has been announced as this year's Werewolf Representative! While it's certainly an exciting tidbit of information, it's rather a confirmation than actual news, Tilly wouldn't you agree?" John started off strong. I already knew the camera was solely focusing on them.

"I certainly would John, no one is really surprised, in fact, it really was quite predictable. And for good reason too. After speaking with some other representatives over these trials, we've found out that most came in already prepared for lost due to the stunning admission of the mystery girl from Bloodlust." Tilly squealed. "After a fantastic display of ability during her pack trials, only to come here and show off her own fighting skills against other representatives. Well, the deal was set."

John laughed, "I'm not too sure what we expected, of course, coming from Bloodlust. Ms Verano is currently the 23rd successful Bloodlust representative over a course of 236 games! Out of those 24 other competitors, 2 have been successful in winning the game overall, so let us see if Ms Verano can be the third! Now, I do believe it's time we speak to the woman herself! Ms Verano, can I call you Cassandra? How are you feeling."

I leaned into the mic, "On top of the world John."

"Oh, I'm sure you are!" Tilly squealed. "Anyone would be! But first, let's address the elephant in the room. While an official statement has been released from Alpha Montgomery, we want to hear it live from you. What's the deal with you and Alpha Cain?"

I pushed my shoulders back. "He's my mate. Simple and plain. Of course, in normal situations, I wouldn't be allowed to compete, however, I'm not the Bloodlust Luna. The rule only applies to someone in a leadership position, not a mate."

"Most do agree with you, but some don't. They argue that being a mate to an Alpha automatically makes you a Luna, care to answer?" John prompted.

I batted my lashes. "Of course. Alexander and I's relationship isn't like that. We've been taking it slow and honestly, quite un-traditional. I'm not marked, we haven't had sex, I haven't done the ceremony or taken the oaths. You can say whatever you want, but I'm certainly not a Luna. Not right now."

Tilly and John shared a glance. "How very brash- Cassandra, you are aware that this is being filmed live?"

I shrugged. "If people disagree with me being here, I don't want to leave anything open to discussion or interpretation."

And the tension was cleared almost immediately and John shoved his microphone forward again, this time in a different direction.

"Alpha Cain, do you have anything to say about your Representative's performance?"

Alexander smiled. "Of course. I'm immensely proud of Cassandra. But as you said before, I'm not surprised. She's an extremely talented individual who could win this whole thing three times over." Short and sweet, perfectly on-brand.

"And Beta Emerson? Beta James?" Tilly prompted.

"It's always nice being the winning pack, and as you mentioned, something we've done a few times." Vance joked. "Many know my love for the Games, I'm just glad that I have a legitimate reason to scream so loudly in the audience!"

"We're confident in Cassandra and so is everyone at home, so I guess all we can do now is wait." Harmony finished, smiling brightly as the sun hit her fine hair.

Tilly and John turned and faced the camera. "And that's it folks you've heard it live straight from the representative and winning pack themselves! Tune in tomorrow for the official welcome ceremony!" A few moments of silence and the camera clicked. It was like everything returned back to normal. Faces fell and I finally let my shoulders fall.

Tilly held up a hand, "Thanks for cooperating guys, made this whole thing so much easier." before moving off the stage, John following while rattling on behind her about something completely irrelevant.

I felt an arm sneak around my waist, lying carefully on the end of my back. I leaned my head against Alexander's shoulder.

"So, what's next?"

-------------------------------------

It was like the moment my body touched the mattress, every ache and sore spot from the day hit me like a freight truck. Alexander had been quick to prop my ankle upon a mountain of pillows, covered it in ice and forced pain meds down my throat to reduce the small amount of swelling.

"It's nothing major." He concluded. "Especially since it got sorted so quickly after happening. You should be nearly a hundred per cent healed by the morning."

I raised an eyebrow, "Since when are you a doctor?"

Alexander huffed as he glared, "Since I took a first aid course during my Leadership training."

I felt my eyes rolling as I leaned back into the pillows behind me, "And when was that again?"

I watched Alexander's eyes swirl as he moved forward up from the end of the bed and came forward up to the top, "Watch your words, Ms Verano."

I grabbed his chin lightly, "Oh you know I won't." I purred. I moved Alexander's body down onto the side of the bed next to me. As I let go, I moved myself slightly to be facing him. "So, the Games are next week, do you want to run through with me about what we're going to be doing during that time in between? I know you already know."

Alexander smirked. "I do. Figures there's no point in telling you until we know that you've won. Perhaps a few promotional things but I doubt it. Quite honestly, you're biggest focus will just be training and preparing, however, it's up to you how you spend your time."

I let myself analyse his face for a moment, "And the thing that you don't want to tell me?"

He sighed. "You never know who the other representatives are until they turn up, just as they don't know who their opponents are. All the videos and interviews, everything is blocked from the Fae and Sirens accessing it, and it's the same basic thing for us. So when they arrive here on Sunday, that night will be a massive welcome ceremony that doubles up as a reveal ceremony. It's a formal event, especially for the Representatives."

I scrunched my nose, "So you're telling me that I have to go dress shopping? Along with spending a million dollars on it?"

"No. Absolutely not," Xander said, disgusted. "You don't really get a choice in colour, it'll be red for Bloodlust. There are a couple of base designs that we use quite often that suit us as a pack. You choose the one you want, we take your measurements and then we send them off and the dress will be completed."

"Well, I certainly prefer that." I agreed. "Come on then, give me the designs then we'll stand up and get my measurements."

Alexander pulled out his phone and within a couple of taps, handed it over to me. I scrolled through the options, furrowing my brows as I tried to picture myself in it.

"Number seven," I said eventually, handing the phone back over. I pulled myself off the bed and stood up straight, "Now come on, measurements."

Alexander leaned his body over and pulled open the drawer beside the bed, pulling out a long, yellow measuring tape.

He danced around the bed and pulled out the notes app on his phone, placing it on the bed as he stretched the tape straight in his hands.

"Alright," Xander started, "Height and Weight, then chest, waist hips. You ready?"

We wrote down the easy ones first, 63 inches and 51.8 kilos. I frowned as I saw my weight, when had I gained those extra kilo's? I never checked how much I weighed before, but I knew that was less than that. Madame Beaudeline had obsessed over being skinny, being small. Perhaps that's just what she liked, perhaps she thought it gave us an advantage. Either way, the idea of the change caused a lump in my throat.

Xander clicked his tongue, "Your weights good for your height now, that's a relief."

I creased my brows, "What do you mean?"

He put his phone down on the bed, preparing himself to actually use the tape. "When you first turned up, you were severely underweight. Like, badly. The doctor advised that we needed to work on that, then you woke up and went through that medical withdrawal and we figured we probably shouldn't say that we were actively going to make you gain weight." He paused, "Hindsight, probably should have said something but hey, at least we've made some substantial progress."

I gulped. "Oh."

We were staring into the mirror, mainly to make sure that we could line up the tape perfectly. Alexander's face suddenly became concerned.

"Are you ok?"

I was suddenly becoming obsessive. "It's weird. This is what I would have looked like my whole life if I ate. I never ate back then, I never took a break from exercising. It's just... weird."

He pressed a kiss to my temple, featherlight. "And yet you're just as beautiful."

I blinked and pulled myself back into my senses. I smacked my hand against his chest. "Stop it. Now come on, let's get these measurements and stop wasting time."

We wrapped the tape quickly around my chest, 29 inches. Then my waist, 22 and finally my hips, 34. I hobbled back over to the bed as Alexander copied the measurements into an email and sent it off.

Soon enough, we were back in our original spots on the bed, like we had never moved in the first place.

I picked up the glass of ice-cold water on my bedside table. "So, tell me, any predictions for the other representatives?"

Xander thought for a second. "Honestly? You can't guess at all. We don't share lists of choir or court representatives so we couldn't even look at that and make a guess of which one will end up with the coveted position."

I blinked, "What about the past representatives?"

He ran his tongue over his teeth, "Quite honestly? Usually female. Then again, we usually have a male representative. The sirens are very matriarchal, and I know that come choirs don't even let tritons compete. And then with Fae, power manifests itself more easily within Female Fae over male fae. Representatives are chosen based on power and ability, so usually, a woman will make the cut over a man. Recently it's been more diverse, but you never know."

"And the games themselves?" I asked again.

"Never know, it's always different. It's always recorded though, do you want to go over the videos from the last couple of years?" Xander offered.

A devious smile, "Hand me the remote and order some room service buddy. We're going to be here for a while."

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