The Alpha Selection (Original)

Chapter 19

♡ Deianira ♡

"Deianira, I'm usually a very patient guy but I am really anxious to end this conversation; I have things to do. Are you going to answer me or do you want me to choose for you?" He crossed his arms and stood up straight, a strong stance that showed just how serious he was.

I sighed and looked away from him. Franco had his head down making sure not to look at Adrian and I. It was to show Adrian respect since he was exerting his authority over me as a subject and guest and not as an informal argument.

 "I'll stay." I said softly.

Adrian cupped his ear dramatically and leaned in as if he didn't hear me which was stupid because as werewolves we could hear the faintest sounds from a almost a mile away, and as an Alpha he could hear even better. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that?"

"I'll stay," I answered louder. I tried my best to hide the annoyance.

"And are you going to try your best in this Selection and give me a chance to get to know you?" He asked. I kicked the rooted tree trunk and shrugged.

"Yeah," I answered gently.

"Look at me!" He demanded. 

I looked at him and tried to hold back the tears. I was already being torn apart by this decision. I wanted to flip him off, have him send me home, and run away to find Liam. I wished he could be here now, and it hurt to know that Liam was no longer mine and that he had given up on us. "I'll stay, Adrian." I repeated. 

"Then you better get your act together. I like you Deianira, but at the end of the day I'm going to choose the best person, and that's not gonna be someone who isn't going to invest their time and effort into building a relationship with me. Right now there is nothing that separates you from the rest of the girls and you need to prove to me that you're the best just like everyone else. Is that clear?"

"Yes Adrian."

"Then, I'll see you later." He opened his arms then quickly dropped them to his side. Was he going to hug me?

I watched as Adrian exchanged looks with Franco and grabbed his bag. Once he left, I dropped to the ground and burried my face in my hands. Soon enough Franco, put a gentle hand on my shoulder. I started to cry and rock back in forth as I tried to suppress the heart ache. It was Liam was breaking up with me all over again. I felt the same intense throbbing sensation in the center of my chest, and the sharp pains in both my lungs and my head.

"Deianira, I know he didn't mean to come off so harsh. He just really likes you, and he's frustrated." He said. He rubbed my back gently and sighed.

"I'm in so much pain, Franco." I cried.

"Why are you in so much pain? Did Adrian hurt your feelings that bad?"

"It's not Adrian. Well not really." I started. Franco sat down next to me and looked at me with concern.

"Then what is it? You can trust me. I'm here to protect you." He squeezed my hand and gave me a genuine smile. I knew I could trust Franco, I felt it. I saw it in the way he looked at me, and I heard his concern in the way he was talking to me.

So I told him everything, well relatively everything. I told him about how my mate didn't claim me right away since he had some old business to take care of first. I told him about how I was treated once I turned 18 and became an Omega. I told him about my hopes and dreams of being reunited with my mate and then I finished with the terrible breakup that was crushing me.

"I can't tell you how much that sucks. And I can only imagine how hard this must be for you," he said.
I rubbed my arm and sniffed. "Should I have just gone home?"

"No, I think this might be the best thing for you. You have a chance to find love again with Adrian. And even if you don't win, being in the Selection is the first step towards your journey to finding happiness."

"Will he even want me? I'm so...damaged, and as much as I want to try and win this, my heart and soul is wanting something or should I say someone else."

"I think he'll understand. He will work with whatever you give him, as long as it's everything you can give him. Besides, he knows what it's like to be without a mate." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Yeah, right. Pretty boy probably dissed his mate to pick up some super model he deems worthy of his eyes and the little boy downstairs.

"I know Adrian, seems like he is ..." His voice trailed off as he was seraching for the right words.

"A forever horny man whore? Or an insensitive jerk?" I filled in. Franco laughed and shook his head.

"I was going to say he seems like a self-concerned rich boy who doesn't care about others. But he has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen. If you give him a chance, he'll give you one too."
I sighed and wiped the last tear from my eye. "Do you think..." I looked at Franco who raised his brown brow in curiousity. "Never mind. I've cried to you enough. We should just get going."

"Come on Deianira. Don't be like that. What were you going to ask me?" He got up to his feet and held out his hand to me.

"Seriously Franco, call me Nira. I don't like when people call me Deianira." I grabbed his hand and allowed him to pull me up to my feet.

"Okay, Nira. Can you tell me what you were going to ask me?" He asked gently. Man, he really wanted to know...

"I was going to ask you...Well, do you think I could win this thing. I'm not like these other girls. I don't even feel like I belong in the same room with them."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Franco I know you see it. All the other girls look perfect with their slim bodies, and flawless hair and makeup. And the other girls look like professional athletes and freak geniuses. I can't compete with that."

"First, I think you are very beautiful without all the makeup and all that superficial crap. Second, this competition isn't just about looks, physical strength, and brains. You've been Selected, that means Adrian was already attracted to you in the first place. One thing you haven't noticed is that most of these girls have one great strength, instead of a balance of skills." I squinted my eyes at Franco as if his face was hard to see.

"How is that supposed to help me? I have no great strength." We started walking back to the car and my body was finally starting to relax and cool down from both the run and the run in with Adrian.

"Deianira I doubt that you're stupid, if you were we wouldn't be able to really keep up this conversation. Besides, you're athletic. Didn't you tell me you played sports before? You already have an advantage over the girls here that have never worked out or played a sport in their life. And I can tell you have heart, which is something that Adrian is looking for." Franco patted me on my back and I give him a small smile.

"Dude, where have you been all my life?" I asked playfully.

He laughed and wrapped an arm over my shoulder."Here."

Yeah, this really did seem like the place to be. People seemed happy here. Everyone had equal opportunities to make a better life themselves. In my mind I already knew what I wanted, and that was a new life.

Now all I had to do was get my heart and soul on board.