THE LYCAN KING’S SECOND CHANCE MATE

ASHANTI'S POV.

"Why do these judges look so serious?" Ryan, who's sitting by my side, whispers in my ears and I give him a curious stare.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." he's still whispering. "Just take a look at their dead pan looks and listen to how stiff their voices sound. They need not be so serious!"

"They are the judges for the competition, Ryan. Those people you see seated on that high table are tasked with choosing the next fashion King. You don't expect them to sit there and open their teeth with us."

"Even so!"

"Shut up, Ryan. If you're going to keep complaining about how the judges look, I won't bring you along for these meetings next time." I threaten and he seals his lips and looks ahead.

We're in a banquet hall that has been turned into a fashion and design hall and now we are receiving welcome speeches from the judges in charge and tobe honest, I'm bored out of my mind. I left home this morning with high spirits, hoping we'd start some real competition today, but we're here, listening to some men talking and it's annoying.

"The competition starts tomorrow." The judge on the stage continues. "As you can already see, this hall will be your workshop from now on. Your work spaces have been allocated, you can walk around and locate your spots and also take some time to go around the hall and why not the entire building so you can be versed with it. This will be your home for the next six months. Once more, I wish you all luck in this competition. May the best designer win!"

A round of applause explodes throughout the room as the judges rise and leave the high table. Murmurs break out as the various competitors start greeting each other again.

"Can we leave now?" A very impatient Ryan asks by side. I shoot him a scowl.

"No we can't. We have to go around and greet the others so they don't see us as snobs."

"What if they see us as snobs?"

"Ryan." I call strenly, rising to my feet. "Not now."

"Fine. But you go ahead and do all the greetings, I need some air." He turns and starts walking towards the door before I can say anything else. He's never going to change!

“Ashanti!" A familiar voice calls from behind. My mouth drops to the floor when I see who it is.

Leonard Kirk.

The guy I met on my way into the restaurant the other night.

The current fashion King.

"Leonard!" I call, shocked to the core. "Hi."

"Hello, Ashanti." His formal tone makes my cheeks flush. He looke

handsome and smells so

just

like the other time. "Hope you had a great weekend."

My weekend was nothing close to great but nodded my head in

agreement. There's no way I cal

start telling him about my problems with Alpha Reagan.

"Well... I had enough time to rest, that's all."

"Are you alright though? I tried reaching your cell phone all day yesterday to no avail. Is everything alright?"

Guilt strikes me like a bolt of lightning.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

I had my phone switched off all day because my mum kept calling. That's why your calls didn't go through.

е

"Oh Leonard, I'm really sorry about that. I was trying to avoid someone, so I switched it off. I completely forgot you had to reach me. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. He says with an easy smile. "That was yesterday. I'll try again today, hopefully the phone will go through."

"Oh it will. It certainly will!"

"Alright then. Expect my call."

Before I know it, he has pecked me on my cheek and he's walking towards the door just like Ryan did and I'm standing here, completely dumbfounded.

What was that about?

"Did you hear?" A sharp whisper reaches my ears.

"Hear what?"

"Alpha Reagan prepared a mansion for Ashnati. She will not be living in the apartment that was prepared for her. The favouritism has begun!"

Shit!

And here I thought I was going to live here free of any sort of gossip. This is where it begins!