Chapter 26: Trial of Heart

We didn't have to wait long.

My mother arrived thirty minutes later.

She walked into the clearing. Blood on her clothes. Eyes glowing red.

The wolves moved back. Made room.

She smiled when she saw me. But it wasn't her smile.

"Hello, daughter," she said. Multiple voices together. "Miss me?"

"Let her go," I said. "This is between us."

"Is it? I rather like this body. Your mother has such delicious memories. Such guilt." The demon laughed. "Did you know she dreamed of you every night after James died? Pathetic."

My hands clenched. "What do you want?"

"You. Your power. Your body." The demon circled me. "But I've learned. Can't just possess you. You're too strong."

She pointed to the pendant. "That thing won't let me in. So I need you to invite me. Willingly."

"Never."

"No? What if I offer a trade?" The demon stopped. "Your mother's life for your body. Let me in and I'll leave her. Let her live."

"She doesn't deserve to live."

"Maybe not. But she's still your mother." The demon smiled. "Can you really let her die?"

I looked at The Elder. "Is this the trial?"

The Elder nodded. "The trial tests your heart. What you value. What you'll sacrifice."

"So if I save my mother, I fail? I lose to a demon?"

"If you let the demon in willingly, yes. You'd be lost. And the demon would have a Luna Alpha body." The Elder's face was serious. "But if you let your mother die, you prove you can make hard choices. The heart to lead."

"That's not a choice. That's a nightmare."

"Leadership often is."

I looked at my mother's body. At the demon wearing her face.

Somewhere inside, my mother was still there. Trapped.

She'd done terrible things. Killed James. Tried to kill me.

But she was still my mother.

"There has to be another way," I said.

"There isn't," the demon said. "Choose. Your body or her life. One minute."

The crowd was silent.

Cole stepped forward. "Lita, don't."

"She's my mother."

"She killed James. She tortured you."

"Maybe. But I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing it because it's right." I looked at him. "If I let her die without trying, I'm no better than she is."

"Then we fight. We exorcise the demon."

"And risk killing her? Risk the demon escaping?" I shook my head. "No. There's only one way."

"What way?"

I turned to The Elder. "You said I can't let the demon in. That I'd be lost."

"Yes."

"But what if I let it in on my terms? What if I trap it inside me?"

The Elder's eyes widened. "That's never been done."

"I know. But I'm a Luna Alpha. I'm stronger than any demon. If I can hold it. Contain it. Then I save my mother and keep my body."

"Or you lose everything," Andres said.

"Thirty seconds," the demon said.

I looked at Cole. "Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Then trust me now." I turned to the demon. "I accept. But one condition."

"What?"

"You leave my mother first. Show me you'll keep your word. Then I'll let you in."

The demon laughed. "You think I'm stupid? The moment I leave, you'll attack."

"Then we have a problem. I don't trust you either." I crossed my arms. "So you leave her body. The Elder puts you in a binding circle. Holds you for sixty seconds. Enough time for me to check my mother. Then I let you in."

The demon considered. "And if you don't keep your word?"

"Then The Elder releases you." I looked at The Elder. "Can you do that?"

"Yes. But Lita..."

"Please. Trust me."

The Elder hesitated. Then nodded. She drew symbols in the dirt. They glowed silver.

"Fine," the demon said.

Black smoke poured from my mother's mouth. Her body collapsed.

The smoke formed a shape. Tried to escape.

But The Elder's circle trapped it.

"Sixty seconds," The Elder said. "Starting now."

I ran to my mother. Checked her pulse. Still alive.

"Mom?" I shook her gently.

Her eyes opened. Brown. Not red. "Lita?"

"I'm here."

"I'm sorry. So sorry. For everything. For James. For you." Tears fell. "I don't deserve forgiveness."

"No. You don't. But I'm giving it anyway." I touched her face. "Because holding hate only hurts me."

"Thirty seconds," The Elder said.

My mother grabbed my hand. "Don't do this. I'm not worth it."

"Maybe not. But I am."

I stood. Walked to the circle.

"Ten seconds," The Elder said.

Cole grabbed my arm. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't. But I'll be okay."

"How do you know?"

"Because I have you. I have the pack." I touched the pendant. "And I have faith."

"Time," The Elder said.

The circle faded. The demon was free.

It rushed at me.

But I opened myself. Invited it. On my terms.

The demon entered. Filled my body.

Pain exploded. Worse than anything.

The demon tried to take control.

But I held on. Used my Luna power. Used the pendant.

Created a cage inside my mind. Trapped the demon there.

"What are you doing?" the demon screamed inside me.

"Keeping my promise. You're in. But not in control."

"This isn't possible!"

"Watch me."

I opened my eyes. They glowed silver. Not red.

The crowd gasped.

"She did it," Sage whispered.

I walked to The Elder. The demon raged inside. Screamed. Fought.

But I held it.

"I've passed the trial," I said. My voice was steady. "I chose to save my mother knowing the cost. I risked everything because it was right. That's heart."

The Elder stared. Then smiled. "Yes. That is heart." She raised her voice. "Lita Dillard has passed all three trials. She is Luna Alpha. Leader of all packs."

The crowd erupted. Cheering. Howling.

But I barely heard. The demon was getting stronger.

I didn't know how long I could hold it.

Cole came to me. Saw the strain. "How long?"

"I don't know. Hours. Maybe less." I looked at him. "We need to remove it. Before it breaks free."

"We will. I promise."

But I felt the demon's laugh in my mind.

"You can't hold me forever, little Luna. Eventually you'll weaken. And when you do, I'll be waiting. This body will be mine."