Boris had gone over to the Blood Hound Pack House where the Luna Guard selection trial was going to be held.
He had taken Axel's healing kit with him, and dropped the liquid suppressants at Axel's place first since this was clearly more of a top priority. Axel had already called the Healing House on his behalf to let them know he wouldn't be around, and that made Boris feel better. At least that was one thing off his back.
He was dressed in nothing serious. Just a pair of jeans and a blue polo shirt, not even in his fur healer coat. He didn't want to be too obvious.
He found a small table in a corner near the outer part of the hall—not quite inside the ceremonial area, but not completely outside either—and began arranging the instruments from the kit.
His hands worked automatically while his mind wandered. "Is it just she-wolves that would participate? Or could other supernaturals join the selection too? If so… and if something happened, and somehow I end up treating someone important, another supernatural even, wouldn't that earn me something? Maybe even a promotion?"
"Maybe they'd stop whispering "omega" behind my back like it was a sickness."
The idea lit something in his chest. He chuckled to himself. He was looking forward to chaos. What kind of healer was he?
Just then, two women strolled past him toward the hall's entrance, chatting in that high, excited tone he usually heard during festivals.
"Oh my goddess, do you think he'll be shirtless again?" one said, fanning herself with her hands like the air had suddenly gone hot.
"Ugh, I hope so. He wore that robe last time, the black one with the red thread on the shoulder? I swear, I almost fainted," the second replied, swinging her hips a little more as they walked.
Boris blinked.
Then another group of women passed, whispering fast.
"Do you think he'll be the one doing the final selection?"
"I hope not… my wolf will faint if he looks me in the eyes," one of them said, gripping her friend's arm like she needed the support already.
"And imagine if he touches someone during the trial. Instant mark. I'd die on the spot."
They laughed, light and dramatic, like girls in a beauty pageant greenroom.
Boris was starting to roll his eyes when another trio came along, but this set wasn't strolling. They were running.
"Shit, it's starting!" one shouted.
"Did you hear? Alpha Quinn's already in the building!"
That caught Boris' attention. Someone's different to talk about than Alpha Malakai.
"The Alpha Quinn?" the smallest one gasped, panting. "The one whose pack Malakai took over?"
"Yes! And he has the list!"
With that, they disappeared into the hall, giggling and almost tripping over each other in their rush.
Boris blinked again, a little thrown off guard. His chest had gone tight without him realizing it. He was giddy. No, nervous. Or Anxious. The kind of anxiety that prickled your skin. Was it about to begin? Would Alpha Malakai show up soon too?
Then, click, the main entrance door opened.
In walked an older man, tall and broad, silver hair tied neatly at the back. His long coat swung behind him like it had weight, and he was reading a wrapped file as he moved. Four men followed, silent and alert.
When he passed Boris' side, Boris bowed quickly. That was Alpha Quinn, the Alpha of one of the sub-Packs Malakai had authority over aside Blood Hound Pack.
Even though Alpha Malakai had taken over his pack, it didn't mean Quinn wasn't powerful. The man aged like fine blood kissed by moonlight too.
Malakai's intervention wasn't a challenge but it was a strategy. The Crescent Fall Pack had gone into a frenzy, attacking smaller packs with vampire aid, trying to dominate the region. Malakai had to step in. That was how he ended up with three packs under his leadership.
And just recently, Crescent Fall had attacked the Western Wind Pack. Boris would bet Malakai would support them next, just right after they signed themselves under him too.
"You!"
Boris snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. "Sir?"
It was Alpha Quinn. He was standing right in front of Boris now, file in hand, those silver eyes sharp on his unmatchable ones.
"Stand upright," the Alpha said, and Boris obeyed. "You are joining the Luna Guard selection trial too."
Boris frowned. "What?" Wait, was that a question? A request?
It was neither. It was a command.
"Aren't you Boris Langston? an omega?" Alpha Quinn asked, looking back into the file where there was a list of names and then up again at Boris' face.
"I-I am. But I didn't come here to join any selection trial actually," Boris said carefully, trying to explain. "In fact I am a hea—"
But Alpha Quinn had already walked past him before Boris couldn't even make out the last word completely. Two of his men followed behind, but two others remained behind, standing close to Boris.
Boris stared at them. "Was that a mistake? I'm not part of this. I'm a healer and I am here in the position of my healer friend, just in case there would be any emergency."
One of the men looked at him and said plainly, "The Alpha never makes mistakes."
The second added, "If he said you're in as one of the Trial Train, then your name's on that list."
Boris turned back slowly, watching the silver flash of Alpha Quinn disappear down the corridor.
His heart pounded in his chest. "No.. you're getting it wrong. See… listen…"
**
Meanwhile, in a van, Beta Ralph tapped on the laptop and suddenly clicked his tongue. "Oh no."
"What?" Alpha Malakai sitting beside him asked.
Beta Ralph shook his head nervously. "Ah nothing." Only, the compiled list of names for those ladies who were had filled the forms for the selection trial, he had mistakenly added a certain detail:
'Boris Langston
Omega
23 years old
White skinned
xxx height
xxx weight.'
..and clicked send to Alpha Quinn.
"Oh, bloody moon, I'm in big trouble!" He thought. And how did this happen? He was supposed to actually use those details of Boris Langston to find out for Alpha Malakai what his mate was doing last night and who he was with.
Well…. at least he's the Alpha's mate. What could possibly go wrong?