Chapter 57 - Lycan Trials

"You said it yourself, Ms Naomi. We need you as much as you need us. Here we have a basis for negotiations. I have heard and accepted your conditions, so you must now hear my wishes as well" he said smugly.

"And what are these conditions?"

He put one finger up, imitating me.

"Just one. That you participate in the Lycan Trials" he said. The Lycan Trials, that took me back. If I remember correctly, it was a set of tests to prove your combat ability to the Upper Echelon of the pack. Different from the rite of passage of foundlings to Warriors, which I took and breezed easily, the Lycan trials were a much more senior initiation into the pack.

I was promoted immediately from Warrior to Gamma without taking the tests, however, because of several witnesses to my raw aptitude and skill in combat.

"What is this? I thought we agreed I was being restored to my station" I blew hot.

"You are. This isn't dependent on your station by any means. It's for your re-entry into the pack." I paused to scowl at him.

"Come on. It's just a show of confidence to everyone what I believe. That you're more than competent to return to us. It'll be a breeze. Or-" He widened his grin sinisterly. "Don't tell me. You aren't scared, are you?"

"I'm not afraid," I said, only partially believing the words myself. What was there to fear? Yes, I had been out of practice, but thanks to the whole debate with Vincent, I stepped into combat once more and didn't do too badly. Yes, I might've gotten killed if not for Vincent, and gotten subdued back at the university if I hadn't been carrying the silver dagger, but my skill level was still nothing to sneeze at.

I would practice my skills a bit with Mom, or Catherina if she was in a good mood, before the trials, and sharpen them even more. I would be fine.

"Good. And don't you think, compared to what you asked, this is a pretty good deal for you?" he asked.

"Can we just move this along?"

"So, you accept?"

"Whatever. I accept."

"Great. You are scheduled with the next batch of Omegas to take their Lycan Trials. In two days."

"What?!" I wouldn't be able to get any decent training in that short amount of time!

"Is there a problem?"

"The problem is that I need time to prepare"

"Prepare? You have to be battle-ready every day, Naomi. Plus, you can't prepare for the trials. It's more than just a physical exam, it tests more of your inner will and desperation" Desperation? Was he fucking with me?

"Even so, I still have my job at the University. Next tomorrow is a Weekday, and I have classes from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM" I stressed, and he shook his head.

"Of course, I understand that. Which is why we will be holding the trials at night," he said.

"Huh?"

"This year, we will be having the participants take advantage of their keen werewolf senses. Some of us have adapted to daylight too dangerously. So you will be in the clear. Clever, right?"

Alpha Harris certainly did not understand the mental toll of lecturing a full class of adolescents and sometimes adults for 9 hours straight. Maybe they thought it was just all about sitting and talking. Should I have brought it up?

"Alpha Harris, even with all of that, I still don't feel comfortable with the date. Isn't there another batch I can join?"

Harris's look faded from moderate amusement to disappointment. "No, Naomi. I'm afraid there isn't. We are not many like we once were. These trials are limited to only one batch per year, and it has already been scheduled for months. And you were the one that took your sweet time in deciding to re-join" he reminded me.

I sighed. "I would've liked at least a heads up"

"I just gave you one. You are the only participant aware that the trials will be taking place at night, this year."

Fair enough.

"Well, I believe that's enough post-beating. As you saw outside, we have on our hands a little problem" he started. I catwalked back to the guest seat by the desk.

"A little is the greatest Understatement of the year" I replied.

"What do you think?" he asked me.

"I think If you don't want to kill any humans, or worse, police officers, you guys have to leave this place, like yesterday" He played with a small office pen on the table.

"What is it?" I asked.

"And say, we had no choice but to stay" he mused.

"No, the only choice is to move," I replied.

"But say we had no choice. That we absolutely could not leave under any circumstances. What then?" he stressed his words differently this time.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" I asked.

"All in due time, Naomi. Now..." he strayed off. Secrets, already? That's not good. But I guess I had no right to complain, I was still an acting Gamma after all. I rested my chin on my left hand.

"There is one other way." I started.

"Carry on" he motioned.

"Buying the houses. Outright."

Harris nodded. "I thought that might be the case. You don't happen to know how much?"

I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Sorry, it's just that, I don't think you have a million dollars to spare."

"A million?!" jerked Harris.

"I already asked her outside. 800,000, plus we have to include things like insurance and property taxes what not. So for the two houses, would be in the million dollar line." I said, amused with the idea.

"That sounds like a lot of human money," said Harris.

Again, I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, it is. It's so much that most of them can't even buy it outright. They have to take a loan against a bank." I explained. Harris leaned in at the mention of a loan.

"Don't even go there. It gets even more complicated. There are these things called credit scores that prequalify for your loans like that. Now, unless you have anyone here that uses credit cards, or has bought a car or a house before, or sons of some rich business mogul, you can forget about that." I explained.