Moon Valley's Chosen Mate

The thin blanket was scratchy against Naomi's skin as she pulled it higher, trying to find a comfortable position. Sleep eluded her, the loud conversation from the next bed echoing in the dark room. "There might be some alphas coming," a girl giggled.
"Doubtful. Most don't go to group homes - only the really desperate ones. If they can choose anybody, why would it be us?" another scoffed.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and the room fell silent as everyone scrambled to pretend to be asleep. Naomi finally closed her eyes, exhaustion a heavy weight on her small frame. At nineteen, she was the smallest girl at the home, and the others often targeted her, their empty threats usually ending with her doing their chores. Her birthday was weeks away, and the thought of aging out with nowhere to go, no family, and no money, was a constant, terrifying knot in her stomach.
