#Chapter 16 – Plans Change

Lila The moment Damon spoke, the room erupted in shock. Gasps, whispers, and even a few barely concealed curses filled the air. A one-on-one match with the Lycan King was unheard of. At least surviving one was unheard of. I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes snapping to me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and, in some cases, satisfaction. Some of the girls were already celebrating my defeat in their minds. Who here could possibly best Damon in combat? No one. That meant elimination, I was sure. Beta Ronan, now standing beside Damon, lifted a hand for silence. "This segment of the selection is meant to test stamina and combat ability," Ronan announced. "After each battle, every participant will receive a score. The bottom twenty will be eliminated." A ripple of unease passed through the room. That was nearly half of the remaining candidates. "But," Ronan continued, his mouth curving into something like amusement, "fighting the King doesn’t necessarily mean eli