Chapter 12: ; Joining The Pack

Cheska quickly pushed Matthew away, catching sight of her mother making her way into the room.

"What a delightful scene," her mother remarked, gently shutting the door behind her. "I'm overjoyed to see my daughter and son bonding as siblings."

Cheska put on a forced smile and offered her greetings to her mother. "Mom, I'm ecstatic! I'm finally going to become an official member of the Thunder pack!" She shot a warning glance at Matthew, silently urging him to keep his distance.

"Is that so? That's wonderful news, my dear. But do bear in mind that there is an initiation process that you must complete to be fully accepted," her mother responded with a hint of caution in her tone.

Cheska's smile faltered, and she turned to Matthew with a look of horror etched on her face. "Initiation? What does that entail?" she inquired, her voice trembling slightly.

"Every prospective member must pass a test to be accepted into the pack. But fear not, my dear. With some hard work and dedication, I'm certain you'll ace it," Matthew replied, settling into his seat.

Cheska furrowed her brows in frustration, feeling as though Matthew was dodging her question. "Matthew, it'd be more helpful if you could show Cheska the test she needs to take," she interjected, hoping to get a clearer answer.

Cheska felt her mother's gentle touch on her shoulder, accompanied by a suggestion. "Mom, he's too busy to show me around... Why don't you come with me instead?" she proposed, wrapping her arms around her mother's arm.

"Cheska, I can't... I just came here to inform Matthew that the date for the annual gathering has been finalized," her mother replied with a gentle smile.

"I hope I'm not causing you too much trouble with my requests," Matthew interjected as he handed a folder to Cheska's mother.

"No need to worry, this is the least I can do for you," her mother replied, accepting the folder with a broad smile. "I'll leave Cheska in your care... Please make sure she doesn't give you any trouble."

Cheska's eyes widened, but her mother simply chuckled before leaving the room. "Is she really my mother?" Cheska muttered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Hmm, it seems like she doesn't know what happened earlier," Matthew remarked.

"I sometimes feel like you're her actual child, not me," Cheska exclaimed, pounding her fist in frustration.

——*——

As they made their way to the rear part of the terrain, Cheska felt the nick on her forehead deepen with each step, but Matthew continued to stride ahead without slowing down.

"Hey, we've been walking for a while now and the sounds of the bustling compound are slowly fading away. Could you please tell me where we're heading?" Cheska couldn't help but ask.

"Didn't you hear what your mother said?" Matthew replied, still maintaining his brisk pace.

"I distinctly remember my mother telling you to show me around the manor. She didn't say anything about trekking through the thick forest!" Cheska exclaimed, feeling a tinge of disappointment. Thankfully, her mother had advised her to change into her rubber shoes before they began their walk.

Matthew came to a sudden stop and turned to face her. "This is still part of the mansion, and the central forest is where the trial for new pack members takes place," he explained with a frown.

As Cheska gazed around the vast expanse of lush greenery, her eyes widened in awe. The forest seemed to stretch on for at least ten kilometers in every direction.

Doubt crept into her mind, and she couldn't resist asking Matthew, "Are you absolutely sure that this land belongs to the Thunder Pack?"

Matthew stopped in his tracks and turned to face Cheska. "Your mother fought tooth and nail with the council to claim this forest for our pack," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "So, yes, Cheska. This land is rightfully ours now." He resumed his stroll, and Cheska followed, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that her mother had secured such a vast expanse of wilderness for their pack.

Cheska couldn't contain her amazement as she followed Matyhew through the sprawling forest. "So, my mother was the one who claimed this land? That's incredible," she exclaimed, her heart swelling with pride.

The previous exhaustion and distress she had felt were all but forgotten as she took in the breathtaking scenery and the sweet fragrance of the air. It was hard to believe that her mother had accomplished such a remarkable feat.

As they walked, Matthew pointed out the center of the forest - a glistening stream that flowed from the nearby mountain.

Cheska gasped in awe. "I used to live in Sapphire City, but I had no idea that such a place existed," she remarked, marveling at the sheer beauty of the surroundings. It was a surreal experience for Cheska, who had never seen anything quite like it before.

My attempt at paraphrasing and proofreading:

"The trial consists of three parts," Matthew explained, his voice low and measured. "The first involves testing your human endurance. The second part is focused on assessing the strength of your wolf, and the third part evaluates the coordination between you and your wolf."

Cheska's heart sank as she realized the enormity of the task before her. "You're not saying that I need to pass the tree test to join your pack, are you?" she asked, her normally sweet voice taking on a shrill tone that betrayed her fear. Despite her trepidation, she knew that she needed to be brave and face the challenge head-on.

"You only have two chances," he said, his tone serious. "Given your human form's limitations, your wolf and your coordination are your only hope."

Cheska's heart sank as she realized the enormity of the task ahead of her. With a heavy sigh, she sat down on a large boulder and began to ponder her situation. "My wolf is incredible, and I'm confident she can pass this trial," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"But I'm worried about the first and third parts of the test. Those are my weak spots," she added, fidgeting with her snout as she spoke. Despite her reservations, Cheska knew that she had to persevere if she wanted to prove herself and join the pack.

"At least you're confident in your wolf. That's a good start," Matthew said, his voice firm and reassuring.

Cheska's bitterness towards herself was palpable as she muttered, "My wolf is amazing, but I'm the problem. I suck at everything." Her self-deprecation was evident, and Bradley could sense her frustration.

However, his expression softened as he leaned in closer to Cheska. "There's no need to worry," he said, his voice now gentle and reassuring. "Just trust in your wolf, and everything will fall into place."

Cheska's frustration boiled over as she retorted, "It's easy for you to say that when you've never experienced the pain of being alone and different! I've wanted to be a part of this pack for so long, and if I fail the trial, my dreams will be shattered in an instant." She hurled a stone into the stream, her disappointment was palpable.

Matthew's expression softened as he approached Cheska. "Perhaps you've forgotten that I've been living alone for the past five years," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "If not for Aunt Maurice, Liam, and you, I would be an orphan," he added, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"You have the entire Thunder Pack under your command. They respect and follow you," Cheska argued.

As Cheska gazed into Matthew De Silva's eyes, she sensed an inexplicable sorrow. Despite having everything a person could desire, including the adoration of the people in Thunder City and the infatuation of women in neighboring towns, Matthew seemed burdened by an unknown weight.

"The beloved of the family possesses a unique charisma. While our pack is loyal to me, they have the freedom to leave if they wish," Matthew explained, coming to a halt in front of Cheska.

Cheska couldn't decipher the meaning behind the look Matthew gave her. Suddenly, his hand reached out to caress her cheek.

"Matthew, please don't start," Cheska protested, uncertain why she had uttered those words.