Chapter#55

Chapter#55
Caden’s POV
The assembly hall was a cauldron of tension. I could smell the sour-salt tang of sweat of a hundred trainees standing at stiff attention. Rowan and I walked in, side by side, as our boots thudded against the stone floor. 
My thoughts churned. Everything was knotted in my stomach so tight it hurt to breathe. We hadn’t been called here for praise. I could feel that as surely as I could feel my pulse.
Leandro was here.
That fact alone set my blood on edge, but that wasn’t what kept me on edge. It wasn’t Leandro I was most worried about. It was Selene. Her wolf was dying, and I didn’t know how to stop it.
I have to find Varian. I have to tell him about Selene’s wolf. I scanned the rows of faces, but there was no sign of him.
Instructors lined the walls with their arms crossed. Captain Torrin stood at the front like a statue carved from stone. His eyes cut over the crowd. “Eyes forward!” he barked. The sound cracked through the murmurs like a whip, and the hall went silent.
Rowan was a wall of tension beside me. His jaw was tight, and his chest rose and fell with barely contained force. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the air itself was holding him in place. But I did know better. This wasn’t discipline… it was barely contained fury.
If we didn’t save Selene tonight, there won’t come another day to save her.
Torrin’s voice boomed over the silence. “We welcome Alpha Leandro of Bloodclaw to The Irongang Academy.” 
There he was. Leandro. That bastard stood tall with pride, smiling like he’d been born to offend me. That grin of his was the kind that made you want to break something… preferably his jaw. 
Beside him stood a woman in fitted armor, her hand resting lazily on the hilt of her sword. Is she his beta? I had heard stories that Lenadro’s beta was a woman. She was the first woman to stand beside an Alpha and be called his beta. But some years ago, I had heard that she had died. There was no news on her. But here she was, standing beside him, ready to shield him.
I kept looking for Varian in the crowd. Varian… where are you? Still nothing.
“To honor his arrival and test the mettle of our finest,” Torrin continued, “there will be a series of daily battles on academy grounds. Each morning, a new battle format will be revealed. Participation is mandatory for all upper-rank trainees.”
The words landed like a blow. Whispers flared through the hall like sparks on dry leaves.
My stomach sank. Rowan didn’t flinch, but I could tell from the set of his shoulders, his mind wasn’t on Leandro or the battles. His mind was on her.
Torrin lifted a hand, and the murmurs died. “This is an opportunity to prove Ironfang’s strength. Show discipline.”
Leandro stepped forward like he owned the floor. His gaze slid over us, pausing just long enough to make it clear he was weighing us like cuts of meat. Then his lips curved into that smirk again.
“Ironfang wolves,” his voice was deep, almost smooth, but the edge in it could cut. “You train to fight, to bleed, and to claim what’s yours. I respect that. But remember, strength isn’t in drills or ranks. It’s in breaking your enemies… and in taking what they love.”
“Fucking bastard!” I muttered under my breath as fists curled up beside me.
Torrin’s face remained stone as he spoke again. “Tonight, a Grand Dinner will be hosted. I expect discipline from you all. Remember, you are representing your packs and this academy.” He gave a final nod. “You’re dismissed.” 
The moment his voice cut off, the hall emptied in a rush. Trainees spilled out like rats from a sinking ship. I caught Rowan’s eye, and we moved together, pushing through the crowd. 
That’s when I saw Varian, standing in the corner at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall like he had all the time in the world… but the way his eyes locked on mine? That wasn’t casual. That was worry.
I didn’t waste time. “Varian!”
He straightened instantly as I closed the gap, grabbing his arm and dragging him into a side corridor. The sound of the hall dulled behind us. I shoved him back against the stone wall.
“Selene’s…”
“Shut it!” he firmly cut in, “Don’t say her name here.” His eyes flicked over my shoulder, scanning for anyone who might have followed.
“What the hell, Caden?” Rowan’s voice snapped from behind.
I ignored him. “She’s dying.” My heart pounded as frustration boiled over. My voice dropped, rough with urgency. “Her wolf is dying.”
Varian’s gaze locked on mine. “What do you mean?”
“He means nothing,” Rowan cut in, stepping closer. He grabbed my arm to pull me back, but I tore free. “We have to tell him. He can help.”
“We don’t need his help,” Rowan shot back.
That was all it took for Varian to shove off the wall, close the distance, and slam Rowan back against the opposite side of the corridor. Rowan grunted as his shoulder hit stone.
“Why don’t you let him finish?” Varian’s voice was low, but it was a clear warning.
“I think… I think it’s because of the rejections.” I took the opening and urgently stated. “By Liam… and by you.”
That stopped Varian cold, and his face drained of color. His eyes widened just a fraction. “What?” His voice cracked, not much, but enough for me to hear it. His fists curled tight. “That bastard. Who is he to reject her?”
The corridor seemed smaller now. It felt like the stone walls were closing in. The distant echoes of trainees were a mocking backdrop to our desperation. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
“Her first mate died,” I said, forcing the words out. “Liam rejected her. And now, whatever happened between you two… her wolf feels abandoned.” I let out a quick breath. “It feels unwanted and rejected.”
Varian looked away. His jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack.  “Nothing happened between us.” His voice was a ragged whisper. “Hell, I haven’t even spoken to her since she got here.”
That’s when Rowan’s fist landed hard on Varian’s jaw. Varian’s head jerked back with the impact, and the sound of the hit echoed off the stone.
“She went to see you!” Rowan’s voice was a growl. “Tell me what you did!”
“I don’t know what I did!” Varian snapped back, rubbing his jaw. “She came to see me, but I was with Leandro. I haven’t seen her since.” His voice dropped. “But if… gods she’s dying because of me…”
“It makes sense. Seeing you with him… she thought you betrayed her.” My throat felt tight. “The only way to anchor her wolf now is to give her what’s been denied again and again.” I paused for a moment and then continued as my eyes dropped to the ground. “By both her mates… together.”
“Both?” Rowan stared at me. “You mean Liam and him? Together?”
Varian’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve lost your fucking mind.” But he didn’t say it like he believed it.
“No… but we’re out of time.” My eyes darted between them both. “There’s a legend. I’m sure we’ve all heard of it. It’s called the Moonbinder’s Grave. It’s about Elara, the she-wolf whose mates rejected her. She was an alpha’s daughter. Her wolf started fading after one mate died in a battle, but then she found out she had two more mates. Well, they chose power over her. One rejected her, and the other betrayed her. Her pack took her to the sacred Ashenroot Tree on a full moon, where her mates, both, claimed her beneath its branches. The tree’s power, the moon’s blessing, the dual bonds… it anchored her wolf and gave her life. If we don’t do this tonight...”
“She’s my goddamn sister! Not some… some fuck toy to be shared!” Rowan’s face twisted as he exclaimed. “You think I’ll let them touch her like that after what they’ve done?”
“You think I want this?” Varian’s voice snapped. “But if it saves her, I’ll do it. I’ll take her to that tree and do everything that needs to be done to save her… even if it means sharing her with Liam.”
“I’ve protected her since Silverthorn burned.” Rowan stepped forward until they were chest to chest. “You’ve hurt her enough. You and Liam.” He then turned his face toward me. “Caden, you’re my brother and I know you’ll give your life to save her… but… but I won’t let you gamble her life on some bedtime stories for the cubs.”
“This isn’t a bedtime story,” I steadied my voice, grabbing his arm. “Legend or not, you know it as well that a mating bond revives the wolf. And her story matches the legend. The mating ritual is her only chance at survival. She has hours, Rowan. Hours.”
“Rowan,” Varian steadied his tone, as if he was trying to convenience Rowan. “You’re right. She’s your sister and you have all right to make this choice for her. This is hard for me as well. What do you suggest we do?” 
Rowan had nothing to say. His mouth stayed shut, but his fists told me everything. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. Wouldn’t look at Varian either. His gaze stayed on the floor, and I could almost hear the thought grinding in his skull: praying for another way to appear, some miracle that didn’t come with this price.
“Leandro’s in the academy, and I’m sure he and his wolves are keeping an eye on everyone. That makes this harder than it needs to be.” Varian broke the silence. “But I’ll do this for her. I’ll take her to that tree myself and do whatever needs to be done. Even if it means sharing her with Liam.”