Adrian’s arm remained firmly send my waist as we swam toward the shore where Ryder and Lydia waited terious expressions.
“Thirty seconds remaining Elder Selene anniminced, her voice carrying across the water.
Adrian summoned his remaining strength and propelled us forward with powerful kicks. As we reached the shallows, <b>Ryder </b>rushed in, helping ding te onda drynd just as the final countdown began.
Thu.. nine… right…
Adrian fumbled with his wetsuit, extracting the gold coin and raising in triumphantly as his chest heaved with exertion.
Three…two on The Trial of Strength ispletel
Elder Selene stepped forward, her white robes billowing in the breeze. “Candidates who have sessfully retried a coin, please present them the
I copsed onto the grass<b>, </b>coughing upke water as lydia knelt beside me, draping a nket over my shoulders. What were you thinking?” the hissed, though concern softened her rebuke. You could have drowned!”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.” I replied, my voice still raspy from theke water. “I was just so worried about him. My gaze followed Adrian as he joined the line of sessful candidates.
Amotion near the verification table drew everyone’s attention. Leon stood before the Council Elders, his expression cool andposed as he ced not one, but five golden coins in front of them. Shocked whispers spread through the crowd.
“Five coins?” Ryder muttered beside me. “How <b>is </b>that <b>even </b>possible?”
Eider Selene examined the coins carefully before addressing the gathered crowd. “Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Pack has presented five coins. ording to rules, while each candidate needed only one <b>coin </b><b>to </b><b>advance</b><b>, </b>there was no limit set on how many could be retrieved.”
Another Alpha, a <b>broad</b>–shouldered man with copper skin and intricate tribal tattoos, stepped forward. “Alpha Rodrigo of Ironwater Pack,” Elder Selene announced, “The <b>first </b><b>to </b><b>surface </b>with a coin, advancing to the next <b>trial</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
My attention returned to Adn <b>as </b>he presented his single coin. Though <b>his </b>achievement should have been celebrated, I noticed how Leon’s unprecedented haul had stolen most of the attention.
Only twenty Alphas had sessfullypleted the trial. Elder Selene s face <b>grew </b>somber as she addressed the remaining candidates. Two Alphas have lost their lives in pursuit of the crown. Twenty others failed to retrieve coins <b>within </b>the allotted time and are thus eliminated from thepetition.‘
Her p
pronouncement seemed callous, two <b>deaths </b>treated <b>as </b>mere statistics rather than lives lost. But nobody else appeared troubled by this. The remaining candidates <b>nodded </b>solemnly, epting the dangers as part of their chosen path.
“The second trial willmence one <b>week </b>from today,” Elder Selene continued. “Use <b>this </b>time <b>wisely </b>to recover <b>your </b>strength and prepare yourselves. The Trial of Wisdom will test not just the candidate, but the entire pack.”
As the ceremony concluded, I noticed <b>a </b>group of female werewolves gathering near Alpha Rodrigo, wearing matching shirts with his name emzoned across them. They cheered <b>and </b>performed a choreographed dance routine that drew appreciative whistles from onlookers.
Not to be outdone, another <b>group </b>wearing Leon’s pack colors assembled nearby, their routine considerably more provocative.
“<b>Looks </b>like the Alpha King candidates already have fan clubs,” Lydia remarked dryly.
I nced at Lydia and noticed her gaze lingering on Alpha Rodrigs. There was an odd expression on her face–something between recognition and unease Her fingers tightened slightly on the nket <b>she’d </b><b>wrapped </b><b>around </b>my shoulder
“<b>You </b>recognize that Alpha?” I <b>asked</b>, curious about her reaction.
Alpha, Bát something in her manner made me wonder if she was telling the truth.
“They more quickly, I noted, unable to keep the distante from my yoire as I watched the women fawning iner Lein. I knew it shouldn’t nothing to <b>me </b>anymore, yet the right still caused an ufortable twist in my chelt.
The town transformed as night fell, streets filling with celebrating werewolves, Music poured from every bar and restaurant, the almosphere eledile wil extent. Nobody seemed to spare a thought for the two Alphas who would never return to their pa?ky,
We made our way to a small pih several blocks from the main festivities, seeking a quieter ce to dpress after the day’s events. Adrian had changed into dry clothes, but I noticed he moved stiffly, wincing slightly when he thunght no one was watching.<fn7dac> Fresh chapters posted on find?novel</fn7dac>
“Alpha Adriant” a familiar voice called as we entered the establishment. Xavier waved from <b>a </b>corner booth, his signature white attire somehow immacte despite the <b>day’s </b>challenges. “Join me! I’ve been waiting for you.”
As we approached, Xavier stood and sped Adrian’s forearm is a warrior a greeting. “I owe you my life, friend. If not for you, I be one of the cities they’re so casually dismissing
Adrian shook his head modestly. “You would have done the same.
“Not everyone would.” Xavier replied, his usual carefree demeanor reced by something more serious. <b>That </b>bastard Leon certainly wouldn’t.”
We settled into the booth as Xavier ordered <b>drinks </b>for everyone. Once the server departed, his expression darkened.
“I still can’t believe what he <b>did </b>down there,” Xavier continued, his voice low with anger. “What kind of Alpha Meals from his fellow wolves when they’re fighting for their lives?”
I leaned forward, curiosity burning. “What exactly happened underwater? The cameras went out for nearly twenty minutes.”
Xavier took a long sip of his drink before answering. “We’d all reached the central chamber, grabbed our coins, and were preparing to leave when the <b>four </b>Direwolves converged on the <b>only </b>exit. We were trapped<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“So what did you <b>do</b><b>?</b>”
<b>7</b><b>” </b>Ryder <b>asked</b>, captivated
“The logical thing, we formed a n to work together. Xavier’s eyes found Adrian’s with genuine respect. “Your Alpha suggested we coordinate our movements to confuse the beasts, create <b>an </b>opening for escape. It was working too.”
ancient s <b>structural </b><b>failure</b>. In the chaos that followed, Leon used the
His expression hardened. Then there was that explosion–probably from some opportunity to grab coins from stunnedpetitors. He even tried to take mine.”
“And that’s when Adrian intervened?” I guessed.
Xavier nodded. “Adrian blocked him, gave me time to recover. I certainly wasn’t the only one Leon robbed down there, but thanks to your Alpha, I still had my coin when the dust settled.”
Anger bubbled in my chest. <b>“</b><b>Thats </b>despicable! We <b>should </b>report him to the Council.”
“For what?” Xavier shrugged helplessly. As Elder Selene <b>said</b>, there was no rule against taking multiple coins. He <b>was </b>technically within his rights, justpletely without honor.”
We continued discussing the day’s events, but my mind kept returning to the reality that I was still bound to Leon. The thought <b>that </b>such a dishonorable wolf was my mate–whether by fates cruel joke og some Second Chance bond–filled me with revulsion.
Crowned by Fote