Chapter 34 The First Trial
The meeting ended but nobody left.
Wolves clustered in small groups. Whispering. Staring. Some looked at me with new respect. Others still seemed doubtful. A few were openly hostile.
Elena pushed through the crowd. Pulled me into a tight hug. “You did it. You actually did it.”
“I didn’t do anything. Sienna did.”
“You showed up. Stood there while they tore into you. Didn’t run. Didn’t break.” She pulled back. Gripped my shoulders. “That takes courage.”
Garrett appeared next. Nodded at me. “The trials are tough. But fair. You’ll do fine.”
“What exactly are they?”
“Can’t tell you. Part of the test is figuring it out.” He glanced at Lycian. “And he can’t help. That’s against the rules.”
My stomach twisted. “So I’m on my own?”
“Not completely. You can have a mentor. Someone to guide you through the customs. Answer questions.” Elena smiled. “I volunteer.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Someone needs to make sure you don’t accidentally insult an elder or break some ancient rule.”
Relief flooded through me. “Thank you.”
Thaddeus approached. The crowd parted for him instantly. He looked tired. Older than he had been an hour ago.
“Walk with me,” he said. Not a request.
Lycian moved to follow. Thaddeus held up a hand. “Just her.”
Through the bond, I felt Lycian’s reluctance. His need to protect. But he nodded. Stepped back.
I followed Thaddeus out a side door. Down a hallway that smelled like old wood and furniture polish. We ended up in a small library. Books floor to ceiling. A fireplace crackling in the corner.
“Sit,” he said.
I sat in a leather chair that was probably older than me. He took the one across. Firelight played across his face. Made the lines deeper. The shadows darker.
“You surprised me tonight,” he said.
“How?”
“You didn’t cry. Didn’t beg. Didn’t ask Lycian to save you.” He leaned forward. Elbows on his knees. “You stood there and took it. Then accepted the trials without hesitation. Why?”
“Because I love him. And because I’m tired of people telling me where I don’t belong.”
“Love isn’t always enough. The trials will test you in ways you can’t imagine. Physical pain. Mental exhaustion. Social humiliation.” His eyes were hard. Assessing. “Most humans quit by the second trial.”
“I’m not most humans.”
“No. I’m starting to see that.” He stood. Walked to a cabinet. Pulled out an old leather journal. “This belonged to my mate. Lycian’s mother. She wrote about her trials. About what they meant to her.”
He held it out. I took it carefully. The leather was worn smooth. Pages yellowed with age.
“Read it. Learn from her experience. She was human too.” His voice softened. Just barely. “She passed all three trials. Became one of the strongest Lunas this pack has ever known.”
“What happened to her?” I asked quietly.
“She died protecting our pack. Rogue attack when Lycian was fifteen.” Pain flashed across his face. Quick. Hidden. “She was brave. Fierce. Everything a Luna should be. I see pieces of her in you.”
My throat felt tight. “I’ll do my best. To honor her memory.”
“See that you do.” He moved toward the door. Stopped. “The first trial begins Monday. Dawn. Be at the training grounds. Don’t be late.”
He left me alone with the journal and the crackling fire.
I opened it carefully. Her handwriting was neat. Precise. The first entry was dated twenty-five years ago.
Day one of trials. I’m terrified. Everyone keeps telling me I’ll fail. That humans can’t survive pack. Maybe they’re right. But I love Thaddeus. And love makes you do crazy things. Like agree to be thrown into a fighting ring with wolves twice your size.
I kept reading. Entry after entry. Her fears. Her struggles. Her small victories. By the time Lycian found me an hour later, I’d read half the journal.
“There you are,” he said. Worry was clear in his voice. Through the bond. In his eyes. “What did my father want?”
I showed him the journal. “He gave me this. Your mother’s account of her trials.”
Lycian’s expression changed. Softened. “I didn’t know he still had that. He never talks about her.”
“She was strong. Brave. Everything I’m not.”
“Stop.” He knelt in front of my chair. Took my hands. “You’re all those things and more. You just don’t see it yet.”
“I’m scared, Lycian. What if I fail? What if I’m not enough?”
“Then we leave. Together. Like I said.” He kissed my knuckles. Soft. Sweet. “But you won’t fail. Because you’re stubborn and competitive and you hate losing more than anything.”
I laughed. It came out shaky. “You know me too well.”
“That’s kind of the point of the bond.” He pulled me up. Into his arms. “Come on. Let’s go home. You need rest before Monday.”
We said goodbye to Elena and the others. Drove home in comfortable silence. His hand on my thigh. My hand is covering his. The bond humming between us.
Aunt Clara was still awake when we got back. Sitting in the living room with tea and a book.
“How did it go?” she asked. Setting down her book immediately.
I told her everything. About Marcus. The evidence. The trials.
Her face went through several emotions. Anger. Pride. Worry. Finally settling on determination.
“You’ll pass,” she said firmly. “Because you’re my girl. And my girls don’t quit.”
“What if it’s too hard?”
“Then you get back up and try again.” She reached for my hand. “You’ve survived worse than some pack trials. Remember that.”
I hugged her goodnight. Tight. Grateful.
In Lycian’s room, I changed into one of his shirts. Brushed my teeth. Washed my face. Normal routine. Grounding.
He was already in bed when I came out. Shirtless. Reading something on his phone. The sight still made my stomach flip. Probably always would.
“Stop staring,” he said without looking up.
“Can’t help it. You’re distracting.”
“Good.” He set down his phone. Held out his arms. “Come here.”
I climbed into bed. Into his embrace. His warmth surrounded me. Safe. Secure. Home.
“I can’t help you with the trials,” he said quietly. “It’s against the rules. But I can be there. Supporting you. Believing in you.”
“That’s enough.”
“Is it though?” His hand traced patterns on my back. “I hate that I can’t protect you from this.”
“I don’t need protecting. I need someone who believes I can do hard things.” I tilted my head back. Met his eyes. “You do believe that, right?”
“I know you can. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.” He kissed me. Deep. Thorough. “And after you pass all three trials, I’m going to marry you properly. Human ceremony and everything.”
My heart stuttered. “Marry me?”
“Obviously. You’re my mate. My bond. My forever.” He kissed me again. “But first, you need to survive Monday.”
“What’s the first trial?”
“Can’t tell you. Rules.” He pulled me closer. “But I will tell you this. It’s physical. And it’s going to hurt. A lot.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“Not trying to comfort. Trying to prepare.” His hand slid under my shirt. Warm against my skin. “Now stop thinking about Monday. Focus on right now.”
“What’s right now?”
“Me. You. This bed. Several hours before dawn.” His eyes darkened. Turned gold at the edges. “I want to make sure you remember exactly why you’re fighting so hard to stay.”
“I remember just fine.”
“Humor me anyway.”
He kissed me until thinking became impossible. Until the only thing that existed was us. The bond. The heat is building between us.
We made love slowly. Thoroughly. Like we had all the time in the world. Like Monday wasn’t coming. Like nothing could touch us here.
After, I lay against his chest. Listening to his heartbeat. Feeling his fingers trail through my hair.
“I love you,” I whispered. “No matter what happens on Monday.”
“I love you too. Always.” He kissed the top of my head. “Now sleep. You need strength.”
I closed my eyes. Let exhaustion pull me under. The bond wrapped around me like a blanket. Warm. Constant. Perfect.
My last thought before sleep claimed me was simple.
Monday was going to hurt.
But I’d survive it.
I survived everything else.
This would be no different.
I woke to my phone buzzing. Five AM. Message from an unknown number.
Training grounds. One hour. Come alone. Wear clothes you don’t mind destroying.
My stomach dropped.
The first trial had begun.