Chapter 19 019
Dimitri’s POV
The heavy wooden door of the chamber groaned open and fresh air rushed in like a blessing after days of being trapped with Seraphina's intoxicating scent.
My wolf immediately rebelled at the thought of leaving her, but I forced myself to step through the doorway where one of the elders waited with his perpetual look of disapproval on his face.
"You survived," He said simply, though I could hear the surprise in his voice. "Most pairs don't make it past the first night."
"We're stronger than you think," I replied, turning back to watch Seraphina emerge from the chamber supported by Natasha.
She looked exhausted but beautiful, her hair tangled. Her dress was wrinkled from our three days of torment.
Our eyes met across the courtyard and I saw my own longing reflected there. Three days of being so close but unable to fully claim each other had been the sweetest form of torture I had ever experienced.
Every instinct screamed at me to go to her but Viktor's hand on my shoulder held me in place.
"You need to prepare," My beta reminded me quietly. "The alphas arrive at dawn."
The second test. Combat for the right to court Seraphina openly. My hands clenched at the thought of other alphas thinking they had any claim to her, but this was the path the Elders had chosen and I would walk it if it meant being with her properly.
I moved toward Seraphina despite Viktor's protest, needing to say goodbye properly.
Natasha stepped aside as I approached and I noticed how she kept her distance, probably still able to smell the mating fever on both of us.
"Seraphina," I said softly, fighting the urge to touch her. After three days of limited contact, even standing this close without pulling her into my arms took enormous effort.
"You're leaving." She said and it wasn't a question. I could see the understanding in her eyes even as her body swayed toward mine.
"Just to prepare for tomorrow," I assured her while my wolf paced anxiously at the thought of being separated again. "The combat trial won't take long and then I'll come find you."
"Promise?" She asked and the vulnerability in her voice nearly broke my resolve to leave.
"I promise," I said firmly. "No force on earth could keep me from you, little wolf. Not the Elders, not other alphas, not even death itself."
She smiled at the nickname I'd given her during our second night in the chamber when moonlight had streamed through the small window and made her skin glow like silver.
"Be careful tomorrow. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."
"Nothing will happen," I said with more confidence than I felt. "I have never lost a combat trial and I don't intend to start now when the stakes are this high."
Elder Ruth approached then, her expression softer than usual. "It's time, Dimitri. You need rest before tomorrow and Seraphina needs to recover from her heat."
I nodded but didn't move yet, memorizing Seraphina's face in case things went wrong tomorrow. Three alphas against one weren't good odds even for someone with my reputation, but I had faced worse and survived, and now I had something worth fighting for.
"I'll see you soon." I promised one more time before forcing myself to turn away.
Viktor fell into step beside me as we walked toward my chambers and I could feel his concern radiating through our pack bond. He had been my beta for five years and he knew me better than anyone except maybe Seraphina now.
"Three alphas is unprecedented," He said once we were out of earshot of the others. "The Elders are really trying to prevent this match."
"They can try," I growled while my wolf bristled at the challenge. "But they'll learn that some bonds can't be broken by politics or tradition."
"I've never seen you like this with anyone," Viktor observed as we climbed the stairs to my quarters. "Even with Vivian, you weren't this..."
"Desperate? Possessive? Completely out of my mind?" I supplied with a harsh laugh.
"Committed," He corrected. "You're actually willing to die for this girl."
"She's not just some girl," I said sharply.
"She's my mate. My true mate. Do you have any idea how rare that is? Most wolves go their entire lives without finding their perfect match and I'm not going to let mine slip away because the Elders think she's too young or too innocent for me or because she is my ward."
Viktor was quiet as we reached my chambers and I could tell he was processing this information.
True mates were something of legend in our world, pairs so perfectly matched that their souls recognized each other instantly.
It explained the intensity of our connection and why being apart felt like dying.
"Then we better make sure you win tomorrow," He said finally while pushing open my door. "I had them prepare everything you'll need."
My chambers had been transformed into a preparation room with weapons laid out on every surface and medical supplies stocked in the corner.
Someone had even brought up extra food and water, knowing I would need to fuel up before the fight.
"Who are the three alphas?" I asked while examining the weapons. Most combat trials were fought in wolf form but weapons were allowed if both parties agreed.
"Garrett from the Northern Pack, Mark from the Eastern territory, and..." Viktor hesitated which made me look up.
"Who?" I demanded though I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
"Kane," He confirmed and my wolf snarled at the name. "He volunteered the moment he heard about the trial."
Kane. Of course. He'd been circling Seraphina like a vulture since she'd turned eighteen, waiting for an opportunity to claim her.
He was strong, ruthless, and had been looking for an excuse to challenge me for years. This trial would give him the perfect opportunity to kill me legally.
"He doesn't want her," I said while testing the balance of a blade. "He just wants to hurt me and thinks taking my mate is the perfect way to do it."
"I know," Viktor agreed. "Which makes him more dangerous because he has nothing to lose. The other two at least would treat Seraphina well if they won, but Kane—"
He didn't need to finish. We both knew what Kane would do to her just to spite me. The thought made my blood boil and my wolf push against my control, demanding we hunt him down now before he became a threat.
"I need to rest," I said even though sleep seemed impossible with tomorrow looming. "Wake me in four hours for training."
Viktor nodded, but didn't leave immediately. "Dimitri, I know you don't want to hear this but you should consider what happens if you lose. Seraphina would be-"
"I won't lose," I interrupted with absolute certainty. "Not when it comes to her."
He left then and I collapsed on my bed still fully clothed. Every muscle ached from three days of fighting my instincts and my wolf was restless knowing our mate was somewhere in the pack house without us.
But I forced myself to close my eyes and rest because tomorrow I would need every ounce of strength I possessed.
Four hours passed in a blink and Viktor was shaking me awake with an urgency that had me on my feet instantly.
"What's wrong?" I demanded while automatically reaching for a weapon.
"Nothing yet," he assured me. "But you need to see something."
I followed him out to the training grounds where a crowd had already gathered despite the late hour.
In the center of the ring stood Kane with two other wolves, all of them in fighting form and clearly preparing for tomorrow.
"They're practicing together," Viktor said quietly. "Planning to coordinate their attacks."
I watched them move and noticed how they worked in sync, covering each other's weaknesses and creating openings for combined strikes.
It was smart and completely within the rules since the trial was technically three separate challenges that just happened to occur simultaneously.
"Let them plan," I said loud enough for my voice to echo around the area. "It won't matter when they're bleeding out in the dirt."
Kane's head snapped toward me and his eyes flashed with hatred. "Big words for a dead man walking. Tomorrow you finally pay for everything you've taken from me."
"I've taken nothing that was yours," I replied calmly though my wolf was already sizing him up as prey. "And Seraphina was never yours to begin with."
"We'll see about that when I'm claiming her over your corpse." He snarled before turning back to his partners.
Viktor pulled me toward our own section of the training ground where he had set up equipment. "Don't let him get in your head. That's what he wants."
"He's not in my head," I said while stripping off my shirt to begin warming up. "He's already dead, he just doesn't know it yet."
We trained for three hours straight, Viktor pushing me harder than he had in years. We worked through every possible scenario and combination of attacks the three alphas might use.
By the time we finished, I was drenched in sweat but felt more prepared than I had before.
"You're still the strongest alpha I've ever seen," Viktor said as we headed back to my chambers. "But promise me you'll be smart tomorrow. Don't let your anger make you reckless."
"I promise." I said though we both knew that when it came to Seraphina, rational thought went out the window.
As dawn approached, I stood at my window looking out over the pack lands and thinking about the girl who had changed everything.
Tomorrow would determine our fate and I was ready to paint the earth red with blood to ensure we had a future together.