Ryder ~ Wolf Dominion

Volume 2 Chapter 6

After receiving my ID tagging chip in my arm, the assessors are reading my bloodwork behind the set up curtain. They're silenced while I remain seated on the table. Three of them are trying to place me in a category but can't.

I keep quiet as I swing my legs and I wait and keep calm. I would keep the adrenalin for when it really mattered.

Not too long later, the drawn curtain is pulled back by an impatient soldier, awaiting to escort the Shades back to Cracklen. He snaps out, "What's taking so long with the last girl?"

"We're sorry for the delay but we are... well, we will be keeping this one, from her unusual readings –" the lead doctor tries to explain, but immediately gets cut off.

"We have explicit orders from Princess Tyre to return all today," the irate soldier overrides this discussion. With my assessors silent, the anxious soldier stomps forward and grabs my arm – pulling me from the table, "You're done here," he ends this, ready to escort me away.

"Wait, wait please, we don't understand what we're seeing!" the head doctor quickly stands back up for herself, deciding she can't lose me that easy.

The soldier halts to turn around, calming himself.

"Fine. If it's so important, you take it up with Tyra, and quickly, you'll have a few minutes," the solider pulls me aside to dare the doctor forward.

I watch her approach Tyra.

I stand with the soldier, while he taps his foot impatiently, keeping me aside and at a distance from the princess as the doctor approaches with timid steps.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" the soldier murmurs underneath his breath.

"They – no one actually – seems to believe I am a Luna," I state, smug and unafraid.

He immediately scoffs, "...that's actually funny... ha."

"Yeah, hilarious."

After a few moments of awkward silence, we get our answer.

"Damion! Bring her over!" Tyra commands.

"For fucks sake," Damion has to look down at me twice. I just shrug.

It's then that I notice his eyes.

Fuck, fuck, fuck – bright gold irises. He wasn't just anybody. He was a part of the royals, I thought he was just a soldier – he was wearing their uniform? I expect Damion's knowing look to develop into something nasty. Instead, he's lightly humoured by the possibility I might be a Luna, "Luna? Howl and prove it," he challenges me.

I don't know what that means, but I just ignore it as he pulls me along with him to meet the princess.

I'm wearing my white tank and cameo pants and sturdy boots – plus I'm well-kept and have eaten a lot more in 3 months than I've ever eaten my whole life. I wonder if Skye will even recognise my filled-out face, vs the skin and bone I used to be, even under Jawkin's training program. I had been living on IVs and drips and their serum's – and what tasted like salads made from protein rocks. I loved real Cracklen food – and it helped changed my whole appearance.

I walk up with my eyes now heavily focused on Tyra – I do have an objective in mind with this attention.

"What is the problem?" Tyra asks calmly, flanked by her guards – with Skye shoved behind all of them, out of full frontal view, right out of the way. I can't see him as I focus on Trya, but I know he'll see me first.

"We don't know what she is," the doctor claims, standing by Tyra's side.

"Did you think to ask her?" Tyra's brow twitches up in exasperation.