Skye’s POV


    Elder Selene stepped faward, tabing her hands free


    “Please, themanded, her voice carrying no The mygen supply in their equipment willst few


    What happened down their? somerine


    prone shouted from the cam


    Elder Selene’s expression remained carefully neutral. “We believe there was an underwater rockslide. Such events are end like the fortress. Our underwater cameras were damaged, but the trial continuet.”


    minutes ticked by with


    We fell silent again, watching theke’s unface for any sign of returningpetitor. The m


    A ripple disturbed the water, and a chret went up as the first Alpha since the explosion torfand, followed in quick session, each emergence met with relieved eries from their respective pat


    ing a podden enim in His t


    Then I saw him–Maywell, Adrian’s scle, cutting through the water with powerful strokes. As he reached the shore, he held up not one but the golden


    ins, his smile smug as Council members nished to verily his haul:


    My stomach twisted as Maxwell’s gaze found mine. He sauntered over, water streaming from his wetsuit, his expression of mork con


    “Still waiting for your Alpha?” he asked, making a show of checking the time. “The <b>trial </b>ends in five minutes. Perhaps you should consider your


    “What are you talking about? Lasked.


    “Stormbowl Pack is always looking for fresh talent. A pretty little thing like you would make an excellent housemaid.”


    gare traveled down my body <b>in </b>a way that made my skin crawl. Before I could respond, Ryder lunged forward, grabbing Marwell’s wetsuit cor.


    What did you do to him? Ryder growled. If you hurt Alpha Adrian—”


    Maxwe movement <b>was </b>blindingly fast. His fist connected with Ryder’s jaw. Lydia rushed to <b>Ryder’s </b>side as he struggled to rise, blood trickling from his


    “You should teach your pups better manners,” Maxwell said, brushing off his wetsuit as if Ryder’s touch had contaminated it. “If Adrian doesn’t return, because hecked the strength and cunning necessary for thispetition. Natural selection at its finest.”


    My eyes darted to the massive clock <b>disyed </b>at the edge of theke. Three minutes


    1 kicked off my shoes and stripped off my jacket in one fluid motion.


    “Skye, what are you doing?” Lydia gasped, her eyes widening <b>as </b>she realized my intent.


    “I’m going after him,” I stated, already moving toward the waters edge.


    Are


    <b>you</b><b>. </b>


    <b>insane</b>?” Ryder called, scrambling to his feet. “You don’t have diving equipment The


    | There are monsters down there!”


    “I don’t care,” I replied.


    I didn’t <b>wait </b>for further protests. <b>Taking </b>a deep breath, I dove into the icy waters of Silvercrest Lake


    The cold hit me <b>like </b>a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. For <b>an </b>instant, I regretted my impulsive decision. lending me strength as I forced my eyes open in the murky depths<ol><li>But it</li></ol>


    then my wolf started within me.


    Visibility was pour, but I <b>could </b>make out the looming shape of the underwater fortress below.


    Alphas were emerging from various exits, all heading toward the surface with their prec<fnb741> Follow current nov?ls on FιndNovel</fnb741>


    Where was het


    A shadow moved to my right, and I turned, hope ting in my chest. But it was just anotherpetitor, a female Alpha I didn startled as she saw me swimming Without equipment. She gestured upward, clearly suggesting I return in the mofarm, but I shook my warch.


    The pressere <b>in </b>my lungs became unbearable. I had no choice–I needed to surface or tisk drowning: With a final, desperate look armind, my movements bing shipwith as mypris deprivation took its toll.<ol start="4"><li>still patelling its teritory</li></ol>


    A flicker of monument caught my eye somethingrge and predatory gluding through a distant corridor tine of the Direwolves, still. froze, pressing myself against a wall, hoping my silver hair wouldn’t catch its attention in the murky water.


    Just as I was about to admit defeat and return to the sce, a sh of midnight blue appeared in my peripheral vision. I turned, limpe sorging arms, there he was. Adrian, swimming through a hall colligord cmiider, a golden ruin clutched in his band


    I kicked toward him, my heart pounding with equal parts and the desperate


    Rebel hit me so powerfully that I nearly exhaled my precious remaining need for oxygen. His head turned at my approach, and his eyes widened in shock at he recognized me


    Without besitation, he pulled the regtor from his mouth and offered it to me. I took a grateful breath of air, the dizziness receding an oxygen flowed into my s starving lungs. Adrian’s eyes never left mine, a thousand questions in their amber depths.


    I returned the regtor to him, pointing urgently toward the surface. We needed to get <b>out </b>of here. Adrian nodded, but before


    shape loomed behind him–one of the Direwolves<b>, </b>its blind eyes swiveling as it detected our presence.


    Adrian pushed me behind him, his body positioning protectively between me and the creature. The beast lunged forward, jaws snapping Adrian barely vaded the attack, pulling me with him as we darted through a narrow opening in the stonework


    We swam frantically, Adrian passing me the regtor every few seconds so I could take another breath. The Direwall pursued us relentlessly, its massivVE. body somehow squeezing through passages that should have been too small for it


    I spotted a ray of light from above<b>, </b>an exit. We kicked hard, racing toward the surface with thest of our strength.


    The Direwolf abandoned its chase as we neared the exit, retreating back into the darkness of the fortress.


    Relief washed over me, but exhaustion was quickly taking its toll. My limbs felt leaden, my movements growing sluggish despite my best efforts. <b>Adrian </b>noticed immediately, wrapping a strong arm around my waist to help propel me upward.


    Underwater, our eyes locked. His were full of worry, thanks, and something more that made my pulse race. He pulled me closer, took out his regtor, and Lissed me.


    Adrian’s kiss gave me a surge of energy, but I suddenly remembered thepetition time was almost up. I quickly pulled away. “Hurry! We need to get the gold coin to the Council!”


    Adrian modded, understanding my urgency. As we began swimming toward the surface, I nced behind us


    When I turned, I saw Leon staring at me with eyes sharp as knives.


    Chapter Comments


    Jamie DeWitt


    aaahhh.. no I need more!!! lol update please!!!?