Chapter 6 Unexpected Rules

I felt Kane's cold stare on me. Was he trying to intimidate me into leaving? But with Alpha's instructions in mind, I couldn't risk the consequences of disobeying.

Alpha stepped aside, and his Beta, Marcus, took center stage.

"I will now explain the rules," Marcus announced.

The room fell silent. I held Elva a little tighter against my hip.

"These rules are serious, ladies," Marcus continued. "Those who cannot abide by them will be expelled from the selection. In certain instances, those who break the rules could face the Moonlight Trial."

The atmosphere grew tense. No one spoke; no one moved. Every woman stood perfectly still, watching and listening with rapt attention.

Then a small voice broke the silence. "What's that mean?" Elva whispered, looking up at me with wide, innocent eyes.

"It's a punishment," I replied softly, squeezing her hand. "When someone does something bad."

"It’s like a permanent nap," muttered a nearby contestant.

I shot her an annoyed glance. The last thing I needed was to have the death conversation with my three-year-old niece in the middle of this nightmare situation.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Kane calling Marcus over. Although I couldn't hear their conversation, I noticed both men looking at Elva.

"I need to stress the severe consequences of breaking the rules," Marcus argued, just loud enough for me to hear from where I stood near the stage.

"Then do so without frightening the child," Kane replied, his jaw tightening.

Marcus began to protest, "If she's forced to witness—"

"We would never force a child to—" Kane's brow lowered in annoyance.

"Marcus," Alpha cut in, silencing them both. "Continue."

Marcus cleared his throat. "Serious offenses include having secret relations with anyone other than the Sterling heirs, covertly maintaining contact with the outside world, or revealing any werewolf secrets either on or off live broadcast."

He waved toward the back of the room, and a group of security personnel stepped forward.

"You will now be divided and searched," Marcus continued. "Any communication devices will be seized. That includes your phones."

This was all news to me. The other women didn't seem particularly alarmed—they must have actually read the application materials. I silently cursed Amber for submitting my name without telling me the details.

The security team divided us into groups. I followed mine into an adjoining room where each contestant was thoroughly searched.

As I surrendered my phone, I noticed Vanessa and Sophia Maxwell glaring at us from across the room.

When all the groups reconvened in the grand hall, Marcus reclaimed our attention. The Sterling family had left.

"I will now give you a tour," Marcus announced, gesturing for us to follow.

He led us through the elaborate Sterling Estate, showcasing a dining hall with a massive table that could seat fifty people, a ballroom with a vaulted painted ceiling depicting scenes of wolves running beneath a full moon.

"Each of you will have a private room and be attended by two servants," Marcus explained as we walked down a corridor lined with identical doors.

In the west wing, he pointed out the ornate doors belonging to the Sterling family, each embedded with moonlight crystals.

Each of the Sterling heirs' doors featured the same size and design but displayed different colored crystals. Kane's crystals were a deep emerald green, Julian's a vibrant red, and Mason's a soft lilac.

"Pretty," Elva murmured, her eyes wide with wonder.

I found myself staring at Kane's door, wondering if he was inside. Where had he disappeared to after the introduction?

I wasn't the only one looking with interest. Several other contestants gazed longingly at the heirs' doors, particularly Vanessa, who seemed to be mentally measuring the distance to Kane's room.

"I will remind you, ladies, that you are strictly forbidden from seeking out the Sterling heirs on your own," Marcus said firmly. "Any inappropriate advances will have you expelled immediately."

As we continued the tour, Marcus deliberately passed by several corridors without explanation. When one curious contestant asked what lay down one of these hallways, Marcus shook his head sternly.

"Moonlight Restricted Area," he said, his voice dropping to a severe tone. "Absolutely do not enter here. Or face the worst consequences."

The curious woman fell silent immediately.

Marcus led us down the grand staircase to where a line of servants waited patiently. Regina stood ahead of the rest.

"This," Marcus said, gesturing to her, "is the head housekeeper here, Regina Morrison."

Regina glanced in our direction, her cold glare directly at me, sending a chill down my spine.

Marcus and Regina then introduced each contestant to the pair of servants who would be assisting them during their stay. When it came to my turn, the two young women assigned to me looked disappointed, frowning as Marcus made the introductions. I was the last one left in the hall.

"You don't need them yet, do you?" Regina asked, her falsely cheerful tone contrasting sharply with the glower in her eyes. "I need to brief them on one more task. You can find your way back on your own, I'm sure."

Marcus looked at Regina curiously but didn't contradict her. I didn't know how to stand up for myself in this place where I so clearly didn't belong. A wolfless woman in a sea of werewolf elites—what was I supposed to say?

"Of course. I'll see you both later, then," I agreed quietly.

With that, they all left.

I stood holding Elva in the hallway for a long moment, wondering what the hell I was doing here. How could a woman who had lost her inner wolf possibly compete in a selection designed for elite werewolf females? I knew the answer, though—I was here for Elva.

Eventually, I made my way back toward the east wing. I got turned around only once, nearly walking down a restricted corridor before Elva stopped me.

Oddly, I thought I caught a glimpse of Regina disappearing down the stairs as I turned, but I might have imagined it. Still, the prickling sensation on the back of my neck made me walk faster.

In the east wing, all the other contestants had already gone back to their rooms. I couldn't quite recall which one was mine, but after checking, the last open door was the only option left.

I pushed it open, relieved to see our suitcases at the foot of a large four-poster bed.

But my relief lasted only a moment. I froze in the doorway as I realized someone else was already in the room—a man.

My heart raced, thudding almost painfully in my chest.

Was it Kane?