Chapter 18 -Your mother's condition has worsened . The words hit like a blade between my ribs . I went completely still . Do as you're told , or she won't get the care she needs . My hands trembled with barely restrained rage . Seriously ? We had a deal , Alpha . Henry didn't even bother denying it . I'm ensuring you don't waste this opportunity . This is bigger than you , Lila . No , do as you're told . The mind link cut off abruptly , leaving me in the silence of my room , shaking with the urge to destroy something . Or someone . Lila ? My wolf's voice was a whisper in the back of my mind . He must want something , she murmured , sounding just as shaken as I felt . That royal seat Damon mentioned . Henry never cared about us . He's just using you as a pawn . A numbness spread through me . Of course he was . And yet … I closed my eyes , swallowing the lump in my throat . I had no choice . I had to win . The thought distracted me until Beta Ronan's voice boomed through the halls , calling us to gather downstairs . He stood at the front of the room , holding a small wooden box . " It's time to draw lots for the combat selection challenge . " I exhaled slowly . My luck had always been terrible . No matter what I drew , and I sent a quick prayer to the Goddess that it wasn't the Lycan King's Insignia , I had to win . My pulse thundered as I stepped forward . Damon The image of Elena lingered . The way her hand fit into mine , warm and delicate yet steady . The way her body moved under my touch , hesitant but unwilling to yield . The fire in her eyes when she spoke to me , as if she were daring me to look deeper , daring me to see her . I clenched my jaw , irritated by my own thoughts . I never let a woman occupy my mind like this . She was just another candidate , just another name in the selection yet she refused to act like one . I should have forgotten her the moment she stepped away from me . Instead , her absence clawed at me . With a frustrated sigh , I pushed back from my desk , my chair scraping against the floor . My body was tense , my wolf restless beneath my skin . This was ridiculous . There were at least ten women in the harem , all more than eager to warm my bed tonight . I should take one +15 Bonus of them , clear my mind the way I always did . But the thought of any of them left me cold . I exhaled sharply and called Helen to my rooms . The housekeeper arrived quickly , her expression composed as always . " Yes , Your Majesty ? " I turned to face her , my voice lowered in thought . " Tell me about Elena Ashford . " Helen's lips pressed into a thin line , her disapproval evident before she even spoke . " That girl is trouble , " she said curtly . " She doesn't dress properly and refuses to present herself well . It's clear she doesn't respect the selection . If I may speak plainly , Your Majesty , she should have been expelled long ago . " I folded my arms , listening in silence . " She is ungrateful , " Helen continued , sniffing . " Any other woman would be honored to be here , yet she behaves as if she despises it . It's disgraceful . " I tapped my fingers against my arm , considering her words . Disgraceful ? No. Elena's defiance was something else . A challenge , deliberate and sharp - edged . Zane scoffed in my mind . Maybe she was forced to come here , he mused . Not every pack is eager to send their daughters into the hands of a tyrant . His tone was teasing , but something about the words grated against me and I tensed . We don't actually know what kind of woman Elena is . And she was the only one I had been paying attention to . But she had made it painfully clear she wanted nothing to do with me .