James' POV

I groan in frustration as I pace in he bathroom, the contest only ten minutes from starting and Sloan was freaking out.

'What if my hair is ugly? What if I butchered my make up? Oh Goddess, James what if dad actually shows up?!'

     'Well if you refuse to come out, then you'll never win Sloan! I let you put make up on our face and put on heels for this! You better not flake on me!' I tell him angrily looking at myself in the mirror to glare knowing he could see it.

     'Do you think I could win?' He asks, and my heart melt a little bit because Sloan has always been the more confident of us throughout my life, this ninth  grade year being no different. So to see him so nervous was a bit nerve wracking for me but I try to help in any way I can.

     'There's no one in this school that could ever beat you in a pageant not even Suzi Marcus. You wouldn't let her win because your too scared would you?' I ask, playing dirty as I bring up his arch nemesis and he immediately growls.

      'That girl wouldn't beat me in her best day. And I won't let her beat me today so she can brag to the whole school.' He snarls and I smile in pride as he finally starts to regain the confidence I love and sometimes hate him for.

     'So you're ready?' I ask him, giving him an encouraging smile in the mirror. I feel him take in a deep breath before he judges forward lightly letting me know he's ready to take over.

     'I'm ready.' He assures me and I let myself fall back and let Sloan take over.

✨✨✨

Sloan's POV

     I take a deep breath as my shoes click down the hallway, letting my walk change from the lazed on of James into the smooth glide that is mine. I set my shoulders back and my head high, remembering all the tips I've gotten from magazines and youtube about how a model should walk.

     I stop outside the back door of the auditorium to steady myself before my manicured nails wrap around the door before I'm pulling it open. There's a line of girls and a handful of boys as they all line up for a chance to win the Misses Pageant. I weave my way through them until I reach my spot in line.

     I pull out a pocket mirror and double check that my makeup and hair are perfect before I put it away, tucking it back into my back pocket. I wait nervously as we wait and begin to prepare myself for potential questions they may ask.

     There's three tiers to the Misses Pageant, Little Miss, Princess Miss and Queen Miss, one for each level of school. The Little Miss competition just ended about thirty minutes ago and any second now they're going to be starting our show. I had to beg James for two months to let us sign up, though his reasoning was a fair one in why he was reluctant. He's trying to protect ourselves from our dad, and I know I should listen, but I won't let this man control every inch of my life even if I have to suffer for it. Thankfully James understood enough to let me partake in the competition.

     "Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, to the tenth anual Princess Miss Pageant where lovely ladies and gents from the seventh through ninth grade compete for the title of Princess Miss. Please welcome our twenty contestants for this years."

     Following our cue from the announcer, the line starts moving towards the stage, staring from the back to circle in front of the fake tanned woman to disappear back behind the curtains as they call out names.

     As the small line starts entering the stage I let a small simple smile paint my lips and make sure my shoulders are straight and perfect before I'm waking out onto the stage. The lights are bright and hot as I begin to walk behind the girl in front of me with long straight hair. Boring.

     'Stop being rude and listen out for your name.' James tries to chastise me but I only roll my eyes at him as I come along the side, beaming as the crowd claps loudly.

     'James shut the fuck up nicely before I dye our hair pink." I tell him, my light steps and smile never faltering, the glitter on my nails and surely my eyes catching the light perfectly.

     'Why, you little..' Whatever he was going to say is cut off by the announcer.

     "James and Sloan Woods. Future Alpha of the Autumn Falls Pack, an A+ student with a 4.0 GPA." The crowd cheers for me and it boosts my confidence enough to wink at the crowd sending them a kiss, especially to the boy Jacob in the second row that I've had a crush on all year. I search the crowd as I pass through the front of the stage and my smile doubles when I see my mom towards the back with the parents beaming proudly as she claps for me. I wave to her before I'm walking behind the curtain once more.

     'She made it, James!' I exclaim in excitement as we line back up to start our questioning.

     'Lets hope she's the only one that did.' He says quietly and I try to not let the words effect my good mood. I don't bother to listen to the questions being  asks on stage in front of me as each contestant gets five minutes on stage. That is until little slut of the year, Suzi sits down for her turn, my position from five people behind her letting me hear and see the exchange nicely.

     "Hello, Suzi, welcome. How are you feeling today?" The host asks and Suzi gives her a pretty perfect fake smile.

     "Hey, I'm feeling wonderful thank you." She answers. Gag.

     "So tell me Suzi, what's you're favorite thing about being a Faerie?"

    She crosses her ankles and tucks her hair out of the way, her rain droplet earrings shining in the light at the calculated move. "Being a Faerie isn't just about having powers, like most people think. It's about finding yourself in nature and being able to bond with it. My favorite thing about what I am and being able to see the past through the water." She gushes and I can't quiet keep the sneer off my face at the act.

     "See the past through the water? Are you an oracle? Are you sure you're not a Demigod?" The announcer asks and the crowd laughs right along with her. I look over and see the panel of judges and my head does flips because right there is Suzi's sister-in-law at the table. That just made winning a little bit harder.

     Turning my attention back to the interview I smirk at the obvious annoyance in Suzi's face before she able to mask it. "All water hold memory, Ma'am. We can not create new matter, so all the water on this earth has been around for millions of years and if you get trained by a Water Master like I did, you'll be lucky enough to experience it as well." The timer buzzed and the crowd claps for her and like the little shit she is, the annoying brat curtsies to the crowd.

     She disappears onto the other side of the stage and I zone out of the remaining people in front of me until I finally hear my name being call.

     'You got this Sloan good luck.' James encourages as I walk into stage and towards the two chairs that have been set in the middle. I feel the mind of my mom nuzzles sweetly into mine and I feel perfect as I sit down and face the woman with my fate in her hands.

     "Hello, James, welcome." She greets before she glances down at her cards in her hand. "Oh! Or should I say Sloan?" She asks politely glancing back up with me. I smile and nod my head.

     "Sloan is just fine." I answer and she nods before putting the cards down apparently whatever questions she had next no longe applying.

     "So tell me Sloan, what is it like to have a human counterpart that doesn't match your aesthetic or personality?" She asks and I clasp my hands around my knees thats thrown over my leg and grin, this being the easiest question ever.

    "A lot of people assume that it's hard and that James and I fight all the time because we're so different. Its on the contrary actually, we get along perfectly. Think of it as Ying and Yang. He grounds me and makes sure I don't try and beat someone up, and I make sure he knows when to stand up for himself. I'm not just his wolf counterpart, he's my best friend." I answer honestly and I feel James stunned into silence since I've never been the one to get all sappy.

'Shut the fuck up, this better not go to your head.' I warn as the crowd awes and claps, the judges looking quiet impressed as I do say so myself.

'Way to ruin a moment, Sloan.' I chuckle inwardly as my time comes to an end and I exist the stage waving at the still clapping crowd. I head towards my bag in my cubby and slip into the changing room to slip on a blouse and pretty blue skinny jeans. Once I'm dressed and I've changed my make up, I softly bring out the silver box my mom had gifted
me with last night, opening the box as I carefully pull out my silver and pink tiara. I set it on my head not caring how it looks as I stuff everything else in my bag messily, trying to hurry so I don't miss my next cue. Once I'm done I exit the changing room and start back towards the door that leads back to the auditorium before my heart falls.

Just down the hallway turning the corner is my dad walking alongside my mom heading back towards their door that leads back towards their seats. His back is stiff and angry as he walks along side her and the fear I've been trying to shove down escapes and tried to strangle me in it's hold.

'Come on. Breath Sloan. We only have to be on stage in front of him twice more. Each time in a group. Don't focus on him, focus on winning.' James says and I slowly begin to calm. If he doesn't have any fear in his voice then neither should I. I hear the announcers begin to lead the contestants in the stage for the last line up and hurry back stage dropping my bag along side down other before I make it back in line, barely in time to make my cue.

We parade ourselves around the stage once more, each person pausing at the front of the stage in the middle to show off their best lady and princess persona. It's not about who's clothes are expensive or who has the best tiara but about mannerisms and that's something I excel in.

Once everyone is done, the judges take a few moments to converse before the top three contestants are called on stage.

"Ladies and Gentlemen the votes are in. Please have Sloan Woods, Charlie Settles and Suzi Marcus come on to the stage." The three of us come towards the host and stand behind her to the right spaces out about a foot. I glance over at Suzi and see her glare at me before she laughs and rolls her eyes.

We both turn our attention back towards the font just as the results being read. "In third place we have...... Charlie! You're interview was heartfelt and warming and your posture was immaculate but the judges said to work on your walk and your confidence and they have no doubt you'll continue to bloom." The crowd claps and whistles at the results and I can tell Charlie is a bit disappointed but he takes the small trophy and gift basket he's offered and waves to the crowd before he exits.

'This is it, Sloan. The moment you've been waiting for for months.' James says excitement evident in his tone.

"And in second place...... Sloan!" And my heart breaks. Second. All that work for second. And even as James and the crowd cheer for me and express their love it take everything I have not to cry on stage. "The judges loved you. They thought you were well spoken, kind and very lovely. One even complimented your blouse. However the reason you didn't win first place is because your tiara was haphazardly placed on your head, causing you to be two points below Suzi."

I gasp, hand flying up to touch my tiara as I think back to seeing my dad and forgetting completely to fix it. I put on a brave face for the crowd as I take my prizes and walk away towards the curtains. Picking up my bag and walking away, I immediately make a run for the bathroom across the hall paying little attention to whoever else is in the hallway as tears begin to fall.

I cry into my hands as I lean against the walls beside the sink, devastated that I lost over such a small and stupid mistake. I hear the door come open, and I ignore it as I continue to cry, my attention not being caught until I hear the lock on the door. My head flies up and my eyes widen in terror once I see my dad walking towards me his fist balled.

"First," He starts voice low and dangerous as he nears me making me whimper and push against the wall. "You embarrass me by dressing like some fag in front of the whole school and their parents. And then to rub it in my face you get second place. You're a disgusting disgrace." He snarls at me, ripping my tiara off my head and slamming it down into my leg making me cry out. I hear James growl and try to push forward as my sobs echo throughout the bathroom, but I hold him back.

I refuse to let him suffer for the mistakes that I made.

"You're going to pay for what you did to me today." My dad promises, taking off his belt slowly but before he can raise it, I'm forced backwards and put to sleep, James protecting me from yet another beating.

~~~~~~~
SASSY SLOAN, PROTECTIVE JAMES IS AN ART. This is the longest chapter I've written and it was so hard to write in a new POV lmfaoooo.

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