The Alpha Twins' Lottery Mate

The street outside Starlight’s home had transformed into absolute chaos.

Reporters crowded the walkway shoulder to shoulder, microphones raised high above their heads. Cameramen stood balanced on crates and vehicles to get a better angle. Neighbors filled every available space behind them, stretching down the street in a sea of curious faces. Some had climbed onto fences. Others leaned out of windows. More people were still arriving, pushing through the crowd in hopes of catching a glimpse of this year’s newest lottery winner.

The moment they spotted her, the entire crowd erupted as though someone had flipped a switch.

”THAT’S HER!”

”STARLIGHT!”

”MISS DAWSON, OVER HERE!”

”LOOK THIS WAY!”

Camera flashes erupted in rapid succession, nearly blinding her as microphones were thrust toward her from every direction.

”What in the hell...” she whispered.

”Stay close,” Vanessa said sharply.

Two security guards Starlight hadn’t noticed before immediately moved in front of them, while another two positioned themselves behind them.

The crowd surged forward.

”How does it feel to be selected as one of this year’s Lunar Mating Lottery winners?”

”Do you believe this is destiny?”

”Did you ever imagine your name would be chosen?”

”Why do you think the Moon Goddess chose you?”

”What are your thoughts on attending Asterion Academy?”

Questions came from every direction so quickly that Starlight couldn’t tell who was speaking anymore. The crowd pressed closer.

The guards pushed back. People kept shouting her name.

”STARLIGHT!”

”LOOK OVER HERE!”

”STARLIGHT, JUST ONE PHOTO!”

”PLEASE LOOK THIS WAY!”

The flashes became unbearable. She instinctively lowered her head and tried to follow the guards.

This was insane.

How had things turned out this way? A few hours ago, she had been forcing herself to sit through that rubbish lottery show because she knew skipping it would upset Aiden.

The boy loved the Lunar Lottery every year, and it wasn’t as though she had anything better to do. Now look at her. A bunch of werewolf fanatics were screaming her name, shoving microphones in her face, and acting as though she were some kind of celebrity.

What would they do if they found out she wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of this? I bet they’d eat me alive.

Vanessa clicked her tongue. ”Move.”

When they couldn’t get through the crowd easily, the security guards stepped forward, forming a tighter protective barrier around them.

”Make way.”

”Back up.”

The crowd ignored them as people continued surging forward. A woman nearly shoved a microphone into Starlight’s mouth.

A teenage girl pushed through the crowd, practically vibrating with excitement.

”Starlight! Can I take a picture with you? It’s me, Emily! You work with my sister at the bakery!”

”Please move back,” a guard barked.

More people began shouting her name. The noise became overwhelming. Her head spun. She could barely hear herself think as security pushed her toward a sleek black vehicle waiting at the curb. The crowd pressed closer. Someone accidentally stepped on the back of her shoe. Combined with the relentless camera flashes blurring her vision, it was enough to throw her completely off balance.

Starlight stumbled. A startled gasp escaped her as the pavement rushed toward her.

She hit the ground hard. Pain exploded across her forehead. A sharp groan tore from her throat as the entire world spun. The taste of copper flooded her mouth as her teeth cut into the inside of her cheek. For a moment, all she could hear was a high-pitched ringing while the cameras clicked even faster—more frantic and merciless than before.

”Step away from her!”

”Oh my God!”

”She fell!”

”Move back!”

”Give her space!”

”Get a picture!”

”I said move away from her!”

Starlight couldn’t tell who was shouting and who was screaming questions anymore as the chaos intensified around her. People were practically climbing over one another for a better view. A stabbing pain shot through her forehead as someone hauled her upright. Warm liquid trickled down the side of her face.

Blood.

”Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Vanessa hissed. The woman’s calm, polished demeanor finally cracked. ”Get them out of the way!”

The guards reacted immediately.

They began physically shoving people back, forcing a path through the crowd as angry protests erupted from every direction.

”Back up!”

”Move!”

Several reporters nearly lost their footing as the guards drove forward, creating a temporary opening.

Vanessa grabbed Starlight by the arm and practically dragged her toward the waiting vehicle. The world continued tilting beneath her feet. She barely felt herself moving as the guards closed ranks around them, shielding her from the sea of cameras and grasping hands. The rear door flew open.

Vanessa shoved her inside.

A second later, she climbed in after her and slammed the door shut. The muffled roar of the crowd continued outside as fists pounded against the windows and reporters rushed after the vehicle.

”Drive,” Vanessa snapped. ”Get us out of this shithole.” The car lurched forward.

That was the last thing Starlight heard before darkness swallowed her whole.

The first thing she felt was a dull throbbing pulsing through her forehead.

”Rise and shine, beauty.”

Vanessa’s cheerful voice cut through the fog in Starlight’s head as a hand settled on her shoulder and gently helped her sit upright.

She blinked several times, her vision swimming for a moment before finally settling on the woman seated beside her.

Vanessa smiled brightly. ”Welcome back.”

Starlight frowned and instinctively raised a hand to her forehead. It was completely wrapped in bandages.

Strangely, she wasn’t feeling nearly as much pain as she expected. There was only a persistent throbbing pressure beneath the bandages, more irritating than agonizing.

”You’re lucky. The first-aid kit in the vehicle happened to contain an injectable analgesic,” Vanessa said, leaning back comfortably in her seat. ”I gave you a shot, cleaned the wound, and patched you up real nice. You’ll survive.”

Starlight stared at her. The woman sounded entirely too casual about the whole thing.

”From the way you’re taking this,” Starlight said slowly, ”it sounds like things like this happen often.”

Vanessa snorted. ”Every single year. One time, we had to physically pull a crowd off a Lunar Mate after the announcement ceremony,” she said. ”The poor thing ended up with two broken ribs and a fractured wrist before security got the situation under control.”

A shiver crawled down Starlight’s spine.

How could anyone hear stories like that and still willingly sign up for this madness?

Vanessa waved a dismissive hand.

”Though yours isn’t nearly that bad. The Academy medics will take a proper look at it once we arrive. I bet they’re already looking forward to seeing you.”

Starlight frowned. ”Looking forward to seeing me?”

Vanessa opened her mouth to answer, but her phone began ringing, cutting her off.

She glanced at the screen and immediately smiled. ”Well, hello there.”

Vanessa answered the call and listened for several seconds. ”Roger that,” she replied in a playful sing-song voice before ending the call.

Then she leaned forward toward the driver.

”We’re making a stop at the facility first.”

”Understood, ma’am,” the driver replied immediately.

”The facility?” Starlight asked. ”I thought we were going straight to Asterion Academy.”

Vanessa’s smile widened. ”There has been a slight change of plans, so sit back and enjoy the ride.”

A slight change of plans?

Starlight didn’t like the sound of those words. For some reason, they made her far more worried than the injury on her forhead.