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trial is . . . Sasha Abakumov.”
    My heart sank in my chest to the point that I wanted to vomit. Not her. Anyone but her. Surely to God, Sasha didn't score high in the intelligence portion. She seemed more like an animal than a person capable of thought.
    I grimaced as she whizzed past me, jogging to the front of the room with her hands thrown high into the air, her long wavy blonde hair bouncing behind her. My hands clapped together so hard that they hurt. Despite my new-found dislike of this woman, I could not give my true feelings about her away. Sasha was the new female alpha now, and I'd have to treat her with respect and kindness.
    “ Alphas get to live in the houses on the outskirts of the housing community. They enjoy all the luxury items and get thirty free job points a month,” John announced while the woman in the gray jumpsuit placed a rhinestone tiara on Sasha's head.
    “ I want yours.” She turned to Emmett, snatching his crown from his head and putting it on while shoving her tiara into his hands.
    The crowd guffawed at her bravery, and Emmett only laughed nervously, allowing Sasha her way to keep the peace. His disturbed expression quickly faded in camaraderie as he grabbed her by the hand and held both of their fists in the air to show their victory. Another round of applause surged through the crowd, and John found himself having a hard time breaking through it to speak again.
    “ We also have an honorable mention,” he said, raising his voice to demand the silence of the crowd. When all was near quiet, John cleared his throat and continued, “Ms. Taya Raveen, who participated in the hierarchy trials out of sport. You placed second in the hierarchy trials.” For a brief moment, I thought that was a good thing, but then all the werewolves looked at me and began laughing. When John began speaking again, I wanted to crawl under the table and die. “You're lucky you're not a werewolf, Ms. Raveen. You were one place away from being omega. Let's give Ms. Raveen a round of applause for being a good sport, shall we.”
    Everyone clapped, but all I could think about was how I wanted to run away—didn't want their eyes upon me. I was so embarrassed, and now they all thought I was weak, or stupid, or a combination of both. If this is what it felt like to be an omega, then I would rather die than ever be one. Poor Devon. Now I really felt for him.
    “ As usual, refreshments and food are being served in the recreation room. Results for the hierarchy trials are posted on all four walls in the recreation room for those of you who are curious about how you placed. This concludes our thirty-fifth hierarchy trials. You guys don't get too rowdy now.” John smiled before stepping away from the microphone.
    “ Are you ready?” Chris asked, but at the same time I saw John approaching.
    “ I'll be along in a while,” I told him, trying to force a smile.
    While he might have stayed with me if food wasn't involved, thoughts of the feast carried him on through the crowd to join the other werewolves in the recreation room. To be honest, I was kind of glad. It would probably take a few minutes for me to lick my wounds and mentally prepare myself for the derisive stares that I was sure I'd receive from some of the werewolves for my poor performance.
    “ Well that was fun, now wasn't it?” John said as he stopped in front of me.
    “ Perhaps if I wasn't on the bottom,” I replied.
    “ Ah well, it just happens like that sometimes.” He brushed it off.
    “ I suppose.”
    “ Are things still treating you well here?”
    “ Yep.”
    “ And how about Chris, how's he getting along? I hear that you two have been spending quite a bit of time together.” There was a strange tone to John's voice, something speculative that I didn't like.
    “ He's doing well.”
    “ I hope he doesn't get too attached to you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, averting my eyes. “I wouldn't want it to be hard on him when you