I swallow hard.
I have no idea what they're talking about, but it sounds like they are happy about it. All I can think about is that whatever is on that screen is probably not helping me earn my ticket out of this awful place.
Dr Elira Queen puts the wand down, clicks off the machine, pulls out a few photographs she's apparently printed, and turns to me as Nurse Fenna wipes the gel off of my skin. "Have you ever had an exam like this before, dear?"
I shake my head. No words are coming out of my mouth.
"Well, you have a very unusual anatomical trait that most women do not have. You have two uterine horns, dear. Like a wolf. Most shifters only have one uterus, like a human."
"Ookay," I mutter. "So… what does that mean?"
"It means your chances of conceiving are very, very good," she says with a wide smile.
I can only stare at her.
Selfishly, this is terrible news for me.
There's a bustle around me as they discuss what to do. I am in a trance, wondering exactly what this means for me.
"Get dressed, dear," Dr Elira Queen tells me, and then they both leave.
And I am alone.
With my two uterine horns….
I pull myself up from the table and get dressed, then sit back down to put on my shoes. A few moments later, Dr Elira Queen calls, "Are you dressed, dear?"
"Yes," I tell her, and she pulls the curtain open.
"The king would like to see you immediately, honey. I will walk with you."
My head rocks back and forth, and I press my feet to start moving like I'm some sort of automaton or zombie.
Dr Elira Queen is overjoyed as she walks down the hallway with me. She is practically humming with excitement. I'm unsure about what to think of any of this. Perhaps King Malric will think I am some sort of abomination from how I'm walking and send me straight home.
We do not enter the king's office as I expected. Instead, we head towards a large auditorium, and Dr Elira Queen walks me up on stage.
Bright lights shine into my eyes, but as I look out at the crowd, I can tell that there are dozens, maybe hundreds of people out there. I can't see many faces, but I can see the front row.
I recognise the red-headed girl I spoke to before, and that blonde who was so stuck up.
Why are all of these people here? Why am I here?
"This is her?" King Gene says to the doctor as we walk over to him. He looks shocked to see me again so soon.
"Yes, Your Majesty," she says and hands him the pictures.
He looks at them and makes the Same annoying 'ahh' sound like the doctor and nurse had done. "Very well," he says. "Thank you, Doctor."
Dr Elira Queen nods her head and then steps back beside me as King Malric quiets the crowd.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and all citizens of the kingdom," he begins as the crowd quiets to a hum, and I find myself looking out at the audience as well. "It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that our Breeder has been found!"
I look around. Is there another woman on the stage? Who is she?
Then… he answers the question for me. "Liora Vale of Elm pack!" He is gesturing at me!
I'm the Breeder? Because of my stupid, abnormal uterus? That's all it takes? Really?!
I don't even know how to react. My knees are threatening to give way. All I want to do is run off the stage and hide somewhere– anywhere.
But I'm here, and I can't. There are guards for one thing. Also, my parents would murder me if I came home now. News travels fast here, and when they found out I had been selected and had managed to outrun the king's guard, they wouldn't accept me back in their house. They would beat me out in the streets like a stray dog caught stealing food.
I try to refocus my attention on the room around me. Many people in the crowd are clapping and cheering, but on some of the other girls' faces, I see outrage.
"What?" I hear a voice shriek, and I look out to see that it is the blonde from before. "No fucking way!" she screams.
"Calm down, Talia," a brunette next to her says, looking around to see if the guards are moving in on Talia. The brunette has to rub Kerry's back to stop the girl from hyperventilating.
I know who she is now. Talia Hill. From the Brush pack. Her father, Alpha Robert, is one of the most powerful Alphas in the kingdom.
It's no wonder she's mad. She probably feels she deserves to be the one to carry the future heir and maybe even marry the next king.
They won't expect me to do that, will they?
I can't even think about what all of this means!
Talia is escorted from the auditorium, along with a few other angry girls who are interrupting the king. I wonder if they will be punished for getting out of line, but I doubt it. They should be given some leniency for coming all this way and not getting what they'd hoped for. Like some sort of participation award that says, 'Breeder Tournament: Runner-Up.'
Now that's something tangible I can brag about. Not two uterine horns….
"Thank you all for coming," King Malric continues. "Now… you may all go!"
For a moment, I hope that I am somehow included in that statement.
But it doesn't last. He turns to me and says, "Except for you, of course."
A wicked smile pulls back his parted lips, and panic washes over me.
What have I gotten myself into?