Chapter 25 Trial grounds breached
Chapter 025
RAVENNA
I blinked back in surprise, my heart still racing from whatever had just happened between us.
"What exactly am I supposed to feel?" I shot back, slightly irritated and slightly awed.
Darius's brows raised in confusion. His mouth opened like he was going to say something, but then he stopped himself, closed it again and shook his head.
"Forget about it," he muttered, turning away from me. "Just stay away from me."
I hissed at his sudden change of behaviour. One moment he was asking if I felt something, the next he was telling me to stay away.
The contradiction made me want to go after him. To demand answers. To cause trouble until he told me what the hell was happening.
But I ignored the impulse, and let him walk away with his confusion and his secrets.
Practice came to an end shortly after. Without waiting for the other team members or even bothering to clean myself up properly, I grabbed my water bottle and bag and left the ice.
I needed space and air. Needed to be anywhere that Darius was not.
My phone buzzed as I walked towards the dorms.
A message from an unknown number.
Hey, it's Dorian here. Would you come chill at Angela's place later in the evening?
I paused, staring at the message. After everything that had just happened with Darius, the thought of going somewhere and just relaxing sounded perfect.
I typed back. Yeah, I reckon after the harsh incident with your asshole of a friend, I would need a refreshing place and drink to cool myself.
Three dots appeared almost immediately, and then another message popped up.
Do come with your frowning face friend, Sam.
A smile tugged at my lips despite everything. I typed out, And why should I do that?
Dorian sent a crying emoji. Then another message. Please bring her along.
I chuckled and reacted to his message with a laughing emoji, then immediately sent, No.
I tucked my phone back into my bag and continued walking.
When I got back to the dorm room, I found Sam already dressed. She was wearing a nice top and jeans, her hair done up in a way she only did when she was going out somewhere.
"What is going on?" I asked, dropping my bag on my bed.
"We are going to Angela's," she announced, checking her reflection in the mirror. "We need to catch some fun other than the troubles you've been causing around off lately."
I blinked. "Are you trying to call me a trouble-maker?" I pouted.
"Do I need to call you that before you know?" She shot me a bemused look.
"Guess his wish came through," I muttered with a slight grin, moving towards my closet to find something clean to wear.
I had just pulled out a fresh shirt when the speaker in the hallway blared to life. The sudden noise made both Sam and me jump.
A voice came through sternly.
"Attention all students. Tomorrow is the second round of the Full Moon Trials. All students are expected to remain indoors tonight and get adequate rest. Starting from now, five minutes will be given to each student still outside to return to their rooms. Anyone caught outside after that time will be placed under detention for two weeks. This is not a suggestion. This is a mandate."
The speaker clicked off.
Sam groaned loudly. "You have got to be joking."
But I yelped happily, spinning around to face her. "Yes! This means I can actually sleep tonight instead of going out."
"Raven—"
"Sorry, Sam. But I need rest more than I need drinks right now."
I turned and ran back into the room properly, already pulling off my practice clothes and heading for the shower.
Sam stood there looking disappointed, but she did not argue. She knew how important the trials were to me.
The next morning arrived too quickly.
The second round of the Full Moon Trials was announced over breakfast. A brutal wolf-shift endurance race through the enchanted forest.
The kind of race that was built specifically for werewolves to dominate.
The kind of race that everyone assumed Darius would win easily.
But I was not a wolf. I was human. At least, I was supposed to be human.
The rules stated that I was allowed to race in my human form, which seemed like a death sentence.
"How was I supposed to compete against wolves who could run faster, jump higher, and had natural predatory instincts?"
Well, I should have thought about what the trials would entailed before deciding to participate. This was a wolf trials, so why on earth had I decided to participate?
So I prepared in the most human ways I could and hoped to win.
But then, just before the race began, I felt it again.
My body changed.
Just like in the first round. My eyesight became bright and clear, every detail of the forest sharpening into focus.
My hearing amplified until I could pick out individual sounds from hundreds of metres away.
And strength flooded through my muscles, making me feel powerful in a way that should not have been possible.
I did not understand what was happening to me. Did not understand why my body kept doing this under the full moon.
But I was not about to question it when it gave me the advantage I needed.
The starting horn blew.
The race began.
And it turned savage immediately.
Wolves shifted mid-run, their human forms transforming into massive beasts with teeth and claws and pure predatory power.
Bodies slammed into trees. Teeth snapped at anyone who got too close. It was chaos.
But I kept running. Kept pushing. My enhanced senses helped me dodge obstacles, avoid conflicts, and find the fastest paths through the dense forest.
I could see Darius ahead of me. His massive black wolf form was leading the pack, moving with a grace and speed that should have been impossible.
But I was gaining on him. Slowly but steadily.
The finish line came into view through the trees.
Darius was going to cross first. I could see it. Could see him pushing harder, putting distance between himself and everyone else.
But I was not going to let that happen.
I made a reckless leap, cutting him off at the last possible second. We both skidded to a stop, our momentum carrying us forward until we were practically at the finish line.
But right in front of us was a bloodied rogue carcass lying across the finish line. It was fresh, looks very recent. The blood was still wet.
Everyone behind us came to a halt. Wolves shifted back into human forms, staring at the body with shock and horror.
Someone else had been here. Someone had killed a rogue wolf and left it right where we would find it.
Whispers erupted immediately. Students talking over each other, their voices rising in panic and confusion.
"Rogues breaching Trial grounds?"
"That is unheard of."
"How did they get past the wards?"
"This is not normal."
I turned to look at Darius. He had shifted back to his human form, standing beside me with his chest heaving from the exertion of the race.
But his expression was carefully neutral.
"You know something about this," I accused, my voice cutting through the noise around us.
He did not answer.
"The rogues," I continued, stepping closer to him. "Your family is involved with them. I know they are. I have seen the files. The blood debts. The broken treaties. And now rogues are showing up at the trials? That is not a coincidence."
"You do not know what you are talking about," he replied coldly.
"Then explain it to me. Tell me why rogues keep showing up around you. Tell me why your family has dealings with them."
"I do not owe you any explanations."
His silence made me even more suspicious. More convinced that I was right.
That the Pikes were hiding something dangerous. Something that could destroy them if it ever came to light.
The trial was postponed after the discovery of the rogue body. Security swept the forest. Professors questioned students. But no one had any answers.
I returned to the locker room, my mind spinning with questions and theories. I needed more information.
Now I seriously need to dig deeper into what the Pikes were hiding.
I opened my locker to grab my things, and a piece of paper fell out.
I picked it up, my heart rate spiking as I read the message written in neat, careful handwriting.
You want the truth about PikeCorp? Meet me at midnight. Come alone.