Chapter 27: Results

**Rosè**

The SUV turned on a path to the right of the cafeteria and up a hill. That's how I got to see the packhouse for the first time. It was a massive white house with three floors and an attic and a well manicured lawn. I wanted to take it in for a longer amount of time, but a big oak tree blocked my view. Then the vehicle stopped.

In front of us, me in a blue T-shirt and drawstring shorts, stood a wooden building that resembled a large cabin. Lit lanterns hung above the front door. Alpha Christen opened it without knocking.

The interior was lit up like a ballroom with no windows visible. I glanced past the old man sitting behind a receptionist desk, and focused on the rows of bookshelves that made up most of the walls. There was a stairway straight ahead that would take me to the lower floor, where tables and tall cushioned chairs sat upon a green carpet that dissappeared beneath the bookselves.

The old man stepped forward and bowed his head to Denis' father. "Alpha Christen, good to see you again," he said.

Christen nodded to him. "Yeah, Good to see you too, Timberland."

Timberland turned to me. His eyes widened briefly. "Oh, what a pretty girl. Wait..." he squinted. "Ah hah! You're the human girl who-"

"Sorry Timberland," Christen folded his arms. "But we don't have time for chit-chat. I have work in a few hours and these brats won't be missing school on my watch. Give me the key to the sacred room and we'll be on our way."

"Then just go to work and leave the girl here," Timberland grumbled under his breath. He removed a necklace from around his neck and handed it to Christen. A bronze key swung by its string. Of course, the alpha heard him, so he bonked the old man in the head with it. Timberland backed away until his bottom hit the desk. Then he started crying crocodile tears. "Woe is me, woe is me!" Timberland sobbed. "The world has no mercy for an old soul."

"We will be back in twenty minutes or less," Alpha Christen stated.

Timberland waved him off as if his own alpha was a fly. "Shoo, shoo. Good-bye, young miss! Shoo! Get on with it then you scary dictator!"

Malcom chuckled and looked at Denis. Denis didn't show much of a reaction.

"My pleasure. Come, this way."

For a moment, as I strode down the stairs, I wondered if whatever test I had to take would be conducted at one of these tables. Syll never gave me any context of what to expect.

But no. We walked past every table like they weren't there. At the back of what I assumed to be the pack library, Alpha Christen made us stop. I frowned. There was nothing more than a shorter bookshelf than the others braced against the wall. Christen snapped his fingers. "Boys, if you please."

Denis and Malcom understood the signal. They each stationed themselves at either side of the bookself. Malcom pushed while Denis pulled. Soon, an iron vault was exposed.

Christen didn't thank his sons. He walked up to the vault and typed in something I could't see. I mean, the man was taller. Taller than Maclom and Denis put together. Looking over his shoulder on my tippy toes would only make me look like an idiot. Plus, not possible.

I heard a *beep* and he stepped back. He placed one hand on each handle, turning them in a circle until something clicked. Then he pulled it open.

The room inside wasn't as big as I expected. If I were to take ten steps I would reach the other side. Unlike everywhere else in the library, there was no artificial lighting. What took it's place was a thick scroll with a black, wooden handle, elevated by... nothing. It simply floated in mid-air like it was no big deal.

And it glowed a beautiful, iridiscent light. It shifted from sapphire, to ocean green, to violet. Below it was a circle drawn using white chalk.

"Step inside the circle," Christen commanded.

"Simple enough," I replied and headed in without any hesitation. My mother always told me that dogs could smell fear, so walk with confidence even if you have none. I could only hope that Syll did as I requested.

I placed one foot in the circle, then another. My chest was only a few inches away from the scroll. I trid to read it, but the words seemed to fly across the pages, never staying still. I'm not even sure if any of these words were english.

I heard Denis speak up. "Dad, see? It didn't recognise her. I told you you were wrong. Let's just get out of here and have breakfast. She must be starving."

I spun around with the intention of agreeing with Denis when Alpha Christen shut him up with just a palm. "No, I'm not done yet," he muttered. "Place your hand on the sacred scroll. Do it. And don't try any funny business."

Jeez. What a tough guy to convince.

Regardless, I did as he said. None of them explained to me what this was about, but I didn't care enough to ask. As long as they're not setting me up as a sacrifice, I'm dandy.

It felt so soft and feathery under my fingers that it was hard to believe it was real paper. For some reason, I held my breath. Nothing happened.

I stayed glued in that circle for what must have been a whole five minutes. My mind tried to decipher how old the scroll was by analyzing the yellow stains.

Finally, someone set me free. "Fine. You're not the one."

It wouldn't take a genius ten whole minutes to figure that out but OK.

Denis seemed to sigh in relief. "Great. Can we leave now?"

Alpha Christen nodded. "You're both free to go."

He didn't need to hear it twice. Denis held out his arms and I took it,allowing him to lead me out of there. That's one thing settled.

After saying our goodbyes to Timberland, we walked outside and Denis leaned against his dad's car. Suddenly, he started laughing. I smiled. "What's so funny that you ca't sure the joke?"

Denis continued to laugh but calmed down a peg. "I'm sorry, it's silly. I rarely get a chance to say 'you're wrong' to his face. And thanks to you, I got a chance to. Do you want to walk back down the road and have something at the cafeteria? We'll end up being late for school, though."

"Well I didn't plan to go anyway." I started off without him. "So hell yes! When we get back to the house, remind me to call my mom to let her know I'm ok."

"Will do."

A sparrow past overhead, taking in everything below with its dark eyes. It turned around and flew back to the forest. A woman held her arm up, providing a plce for the bird to land. Her hooded coat hid all of her except for her dark green eyes.

"Mistress?" Someone said, also hidden beneath a cloak.

She shook her head. "It isn't time yet. Retreat for now."

The cloaked figure bowed. "Yes, Misress Kara."

Back in the library, Malcom watched as Chrsiten paced back and forth. He sighed. "If she didn't pass, then she didn't pass. No need to beat yourself up about it. This was purely based off an assuption from the start. We'll find the one eventually."

Suddenly, the alpha stopped pacing. He lifted his head to gaze at the lights above him.

"Yes, you're right. But that's not the reason why I'm like this. I don't have that big of an ego that I refuse to acknowledge my faults."

"Then why are you upset? It can't be because seeng Denis with his mate made you remember when you rejected yours for Mom?"

"Don't be stupid," Christen huffed. "I regret nothing. But as I gazed at the sacred scroll, I sensed something. A ominous aura that wasn't there before. Like it had been tainted with an evil being's touch."

Malcom shrugged, not really believeing him since he didn't notice an issue with it. "The scroll can feel itself. I have a lecture to prep for. They probably aren't waiting for us outside, so can you give me a lift home to change and then to the university before going to work?"

"Walking is good for you."

"Alpha!" Malcom exclaimed.

"Fine, fine. But make it fast."

He nodded and hurried to leave the building. Christen stayed back to close the door, took one last look at the scroll, then used the key to lock it shut.

Maybe it's nothing.