Chapter 12 Chapter 12
Marcus's POV
I stood at the edge of the gathering crowd, watching the circle being prepared for the trial.
Every instinct screamed at me to grab Ava and run, to hell with Lycan law and tradition. But she would never forgive me for taking away her choice.
"You're going to wear a hole in the ground," Rachel said, appearing beside me. "How can you be calm about this?" "I'm not. But showing fear won't help her." She handed me a folder.
"I found something interesting about Nathan's finances. Several large transfers to offshore accounts the day before Sarah died." "He paid Garry to kill her?" "I can't prove it, but the timing is suspicious. Also, there's this." She showed me a photo of Nathan meeting with Elder Thorne years ago.
"They've been in contact long before this trial was announced." "The Elders are corrupt?" "Or Nathan's been playing a longer game than we thought." I cursed under my breath. We were surrounded by enemies, and I couldn't even stand beside my mate during the fight. "Alpha," Beta James approached.
"The Luna requests your presence." I found Ava in our bedroom, standing before the mirror in white fighting clothes that left her arms and legs bare for easier shifting. She was breathtaking and terrifying in equal measure.
"You came," she said without turning.
"You called."
"I need you to promise me something."
"Ava..."
She turned to face me, and I saw she'd been crying. It broke something inside me to see her tears. "Promise me that if I drink the essence and our bond breaks, you won't hate me."
"I could never hate you." I crossed to her, pulling her into my arms.
"I love you."
The words hung between us, heavy with meaning. Her eyes widened.
"Marcus..."
"I know we said this was business. Revenge. But somewhere between the hotel room and now, I fell completely, irrevocably in love with you, Ava Montgomery."
"Stone," she corrected, smiling through her tears.
"Ava Stone."
"My wife. My mate. My Luna." I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips.
"My everything." "If I don't drink it, I might lose," she whispered against my mouth.
"Then we run. Tonight. Leave everything behind and start over somewhere new."
"You'd give up your pack? Your billions?" "I'd give up everything for you."
She kissed me then, deep and desperate. I could taste her fear and determination. Through our bond, I felt her love, as strong as mine. A knock interrupted us.
"It's time," Elder Selene announced through the door. Ava pulled back, her hand going to her pocket where I knew the vial waited.
"Whatever happens, remember I love you." "Ava, wait." But she was already walking away.
The trial circle was lit by hundreds of torches. The crowd had grown to nearly a thousand, wolves from packs I'd never even heard of. In the center stood Nathan, shirtless and smiling.
"Welcome, everyone, to history in the making," he announced. "Tonight, the lost princess of Silvermoon faces the abandoned prince of Moonvalley."
Ava entered the circle, her chin high despite the crowd's whispers. She looked so small compared to Nathan, so fragile. But I knew her strength, had felt it through our bond. Elder Selene raised her hand for silence.
"The rules are simple. Combat continues until one submits or dies. No interference, no weapons, no mercy." She looked between them.
"Do you both consent to these terms?" "I do," Nathan said eagerly. "I do," Ava said quietly. "Then begin." Nathan shifted immediately, his Lycan form massive and silver-furred. He was larger than me in wolf form, pure-blooded and powerful.
The crowd gasped at the sight. Ava remained human for a moment, her hand going to her pocket. Our eyes met across the circle. I saw her decision in that look, felt it through our bond. She pulled out the vial and drank it in one swift motion.
"No!" Nathan roared, even in wolf form the word was clear. Power exploded from Ava, sending ripples through the air. Her shift wasn't like anything I'd ever seen. Light poured from her, silver and gold mixing.
When it cleared, a massive white wolf stood where my mate had been. But this wasn't just any wolf.
This was a Royal Lycan. She was magnificent. Larger than any female wolf I'd seen, her fur seemed to glow with inner light. Her eyes were no longer green but pure gold, ancient and powerful.
Nathan attacked first, going for her throat. But Ava moved like lightning, dodging and counter-attacking in one fluid motion. Her claws raked across his side, drawing blood.
They clashed again and again, two Lycans in their prime fighting with prehistoric fury.
The crowd backed away from the circle as their power shook the ground itself. I felt our bond stretching, changing. The essence was transforming her, and our connection shifted with it. It didn't break, but it was different. Stronger in some ways, stranger in others.
Nathan got his jaws around her shoulder, throwing her across the circle. She rolled, came up snarling, and launched herself at him. This time, she got her teeth in his throat.
"Submit," she growled, the word carrying command that made every wolf present want to bare their throat.
Nathan struggled, but she held firm. Blood ran down his silver fur. His eyes found mine, pleading. But I felt nothing but satisfaction.
"Submit!"
Ava commanded again, power radiating from every word. Nathan's form shuddered.
Slowly, painfully, he went limp. Submission. But as Ava released him, he shifted back to human form, laughing despite his wounds.
"You think you've won?" Elder Thorne stepped forward.
"The trial is not complete. As a full Lycan now, she must choose her mate freely.
The essence broke all previous bonds.
" My heart stopped. The bond. I couldn't feel it anymore. The connection that had hummed between us was gone. "Choose,"
Elder Thorne commanded. "Nathan Stone or Marcus Stone. Or neither. But choose now, as Lycan law demands."