Chapter 3: Unexpected Selection
"What a historic day!" the male co-host bellowed, his voice practically vibrating with excitement. "Ten fortunate citizens whose lives have changed forever! Future students of Asterion Academy! Future mates to the prestigious werewolves!"
The crowd roared louder, a deafening wave of applause crashing through the arena. Cameras flashed from every direction. Giant screens surrounding the arena displayed the faces of the twin crown princes as they smiled and waved, acknowledging the cheering audience while making their way toward the backstage exit. To the millions watching across the Empire, they looked every bit the future rulers they had been raised to become, composed, charismatic, and flawless.
The moment they reached the privacy of the green room, Mikhail’s smile vanished completely. "Everybody out!"
The staff practically scattered, hurrying away and clearing the area with remarkable speed. Within seconds, the room was empty. The last staff member pulled the door shut behind them, leaving the twins in silence.
Mikhail rounded on his brother, his posture hardening into a dangerous line.
"Who the hell is Starlight Dawson?"
Nikolai flinched slightly, raising his hands.
"Listen, Mikhail—"
"I said, who the fuck is Starlight Dawson?" Mikhail repeated sharply. "That is not one of the names we prepared. Who is she?"
"Just calm down first and let me explain," Nikolai pleaded.
He really hated it when Mikhail was like this. They might be twins, but Mikhail had always been the more intimidating of the two when he lost his temper. Worse, Nikolai absolutely hated being the source of his brother’s anger.
"You’d better start explaining right now," Mikhail said through clenched teeth, "because I don’t have the patience for any of your games today."
Nikolai rubbed the back of his neck, taking a cautious step back from his brother’s radiating anger.
"I think I may have encountered a slight problem."
"You think?" Mikhail deadpanned.
"When I reached into my sleeve for the second draw, I only found four slips of paper," Nikolai rushed to explain, his voice low and strained. "One must have fallen out somewhere. I don’t know. Not knowing what else to do, since my hand was already in the box, I decided to improvise and draw one of the names from the box since we had already made arrangements for ten candidates."
Mikhail closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. For a brief moment, he genuinely considered strangling his brother. Why was it so hard for Nikolai to go one day without creating problems?
He let out a slow, controlled breath, keeping his eyes shut as he spoke. "Do you have any idea what you’ve just done, Nikolai? There was a reason we selected those specific humans."
"I know, I know, all right? I’m sorry," Nikolai muttered, looking down.
"You knew, and you still went and messed up like that?" Mikhail snapped, staring at him in disbelief. "Do you know how much work it took to source those candidates? Months, even years, of planning and background checks, all to ensure every single one of them met our requirements." His jaw tightened. "What am I supposed to tell Father? You should have just called out the four names you had left instead of dragging some random girl into this."
"I’m really sorry, Mikhail," Nikolai said quietly, shrinking slightly under his brother’s glare. "The slip must have fallen out in that makeup room. If we can just find it and—"
"And just do what, Nikolai?" Mikhail cut in sharply. "The broadcast was live. We can’t exactly replace her without exposing the entire system as a fraud. You know how humans can be when they realize they’re being deceived."
The words drained what little hope remained from Nikolai’s expression. His shoulders slumped.
"I don’t know what else to do," he admitted quietly. "We had the entire nation watching, and... and I panicked."
Mikhail exhaled heavily, the anger slowly draining from his face, replaced by grim exhaustion. "This is exactly why I told you to be careful."
"I’m sorry, Mikhail." Mikhail said nothing.
"I’m really sorry, brother." The guilt in Nikolai’s voice was impossible to miss. Mikhail looked at him for a long moment, then sighed and extended his arms. "Come here."
Nikolai moved instinctively, stepping into his twin’s embrace. Mikhail wrapped him in a firm, warm hug and rubbed his back.
"It’s okay. Stop apologizing."
"I messed up, Mikhail. I ruined everything."
"You didn’t mean for any of this to happen. We’ll figure something out, okay?"
"I’m truly sorry, Mikhail," Nikolai murmured against his shoulder.
"Shh. Is okay" Mikhail gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Everything will be just fine."
Keeping one arm around his brother, Mikhail pulled out his phone with the other hand and dialed a number. The call connected almost immediately. "I want everything on Starlight Dawson before sunset," Mikhail commanded into the receiver without preamble, his voice cold and completely detached from the comfort he was offering his brother.
"Find out who she is. Her family background, education, past relationships, friends, everything."
He ended the call, but before he could slide the device back into his jacket, the phone began to vibrate violently in his palm.
Mikhail’s expression darkened the moment he saw the caller ID flashing across the screen.
"Oh, fuck." He closed his eyes.
Nikolai felt his stomach drop and slowly pulled away from the embrace. "Is that—"
"Yes," Mikhail replied. "That’s Father."
Nikolai looked genuinely alarmed. The phone continued vibrating in Mikhail’s hand.
"What are you going to tell him?" Nikolai asked quietly.
Mikhail stared at the incoming call. His thumb hovered over the accept button while the Emperor’s name glowed across the screen.
"I haven’t the faintest idea."
xxx
Starlight could not believe Aiden had been sneaking out every day to submit her name at every Lunar Lottery registration booth in their district. He had literally admitted that he made sure her name was entered at every booth he could find because he wanted her chances of being chosen to be as high as possible.
"Aiden!" Clara exclaimed, staring at her son in disbelief. "How could you do something like that without your sister’s permission? And how could you be sneaking around the district by yourself? It’s already dangerous enough out there, and for a child your age to be wandering around alone..." She pressed a hand to her forehead. "A lot could have happened to you."
Aiden immediately lowered his head.
"I just wanted Big Sis Star to have a better life," he mumbled, blinking back tears. "My friends at school said the people who win the lottery marry rich werewolves and live happily ever after. I thought if Big Sis got picked, she’d never have to worry about money again."
Starlight groaned and buried her face in her hands. Of course. He was only doing this because he thought he was helping her.
And who the heck had even put that idea into his head? They might live in a poor district, but they had never gone hungry a single day in their lives. Her job at the bakery paid well enough to help support the family, and while they certainly weren’t wealthy, they managed just fine.
Where had he gotten the idea that she was struggling so badly that she needed a bloody werewolf to rescue her?
"I’m so sorry, Star," Clara said quietly. "I should have been paying closer attention. If I’d known he was doing something like this, I would have stopped him immediately."
Starlight didn’t respond. She couldn’t.
She just paced the room, her chest tightening with each step until it felt like she was suffocating. This wasn’t happening.
This couldn’t be happening.
Any second now, she was going to wake up and discover this had all been some horrible nightmare.
Opting out of the Lunar Lottery after being selected was impossible. It wasn’t something you could casually refuse and walk away from. Unless you wanted to face public condemnation and spend the rest of your life as a social outcast. Her family was already dealing with enough hardships as it was. She didn’t want to add to their burdens.
How in the hell am I supposed to survive living among those monsters?
A sharp knock sounded at the front door.
Star and Clara exchanged a look of sheer panic.
"I’ll get it," Clara said, adjusting Angel against her shoulder before making her way toward the entrance.
She pulled the door open and instantly gasped, her entire body locking up at the sheer aura radiating from the figure before her.
The woman standing outside was stunning, impossibly so. She wore a fitted black skirt suit that accentuated her tall, graceful frame, her posture radiating confidence and authority. There was something almost seductive about the way she carried herself. A bright, almost predatory smile stretched across her face.
Behind her stood a crowd of reporters and cameramen. Camera flashes erupted nonstop as journalists jostled for better angles.
"Is this the Dawson residence?" the woman asked brightly. "I’m here to collect Starlight Dawson."