li

st Moon F

the one time of the year that our village loo

l over the place, lighting up the cobblestone path. Cheers and music can be heard in the background. I look around and see dancing bodies, vendors on e

ale vendor, already drinking the night away. Mid-laugh, he turns his head to look at me, and his smile f

and hardworking man fall into

ignoring my presence. I continue down the path, hoping to spot Anice or even Larena, my fr

already start

round. She literally crashes into me, spill

eaves her lips. "L

atter. It'll d

ms. "Anice told me. Is it true? Yo

us. I grab her by the arm and we go to a more secluded area, where we won't be heard

acceptance lett

widen. "I

rrow," I sigh. "I've alread

with both hands. Her eyes are shiny with emotion. "Lili! Im

ing for the opportunity of getting better jobs whe

n my life," she proclaims. "You can't even take orders without ma

s not

is great! You'll...by the goddess, you'll go down in history! The only O

version of c

claims. "Pick up my mug and let's go

Why can't you pick up your own mu

she's getting at. "Look, following orders doesn't mean yo

e months away, after which I'm sure I'll be eliminated with two other girls. Might not seem lik

n mind to celebrate

an't drink because of tomor

gies. The delicious smell makes my mouth water, and I eye the vendor's tent and head toward i

woul

into me, sending me flying. I land heavily on my

rena gasp

ges of my vision, but when he hovers above me, I get a good look at his face. He's wearing a hoo

feel my eyes squintin

sick. Larena, my good old friend, helps me rise. I feel uns

s again, trailing after us

I spit. "Unless your apology i

d to the spot. Larena guides me to one of the wooden benches lini

can find it. Here,

ing my hand down. "I

tow. I narrow my eyes at him, wondering what on earth he wants from me. He stops

down. Something's fishy. He's not dressed like us

The realization h

es, perhaps stunned by my audacity. He can't be ol

talking about?

e not

fing. "What's with you, a

s at him under my breath. "There are guys here that don't

n't seem scared by what I've just told him. He folds his

, wondering if anyone is keeping an eye on them. My heart drops when I see that there's

m him. "You're trespassing, or do you

I don't need

t I lost my appetite a long time ago. If these g

. We respect our Alpha. We respect the system implemented bec

wouldn't lynch a beta or even gamma to get b

efore, and it cou

im through my teeth. "You

ts to decide where I belong, not you. If yo

nd right behind him, and they walk away f