Skye’s Pow
<b>lydia’s </b>cool lingits worked methodically mer my burned skin.
These burns are deeper than I’d like,” Lydia murmured. “I’m not sure if they II leave permanent scars.
I wired <b>as </b>the medicine stung my taw flesh. “It’s just a little
more worried about whether well advance to the next round.”
My well paced restlessly beneath my skin, rted by both the pain and the uncertainty. She had been siminually quiet during the trial, but now her anxiety matched my ow
“That over most have been tampered with. How else would the emergency hatton feil? And if your code was correct….
“It was,” I insisted.
The <b>speakers </b>in the corner of the room crackled to life, interrupting our conversation. Elder Selene’s authoritative nice filled the small space.
“The following eleven Alphas <b>have </b>sessfullypleted the Wisdom Trial and will <b>advance </b>to the next stage of the Alpha
a King Election.”
I held my breath as she listed name after name. Alpha Morgan. Alpha <b>Xavier</b>. Alpha Leon. Alpha Rodrigo. More names followed, each one increasing the pressure in my chest.
was called and Adrian’s wasn’t among them, something snapped inside me.
When the eleventh name was
“<b>No</b>“” I leapt from the examination table, ignoring the sharp
pain that s
shot <b>through </b>my arm. “This is wrong! We solved the puzzle!”
“<b>Skye</b><b>, </b>wait!” Lydia called, reaching for my half–<b>bandaged </b>arm. “Let me finish wrapping your burns <b>at </b>least
Grudgingly, I allowed her toplete the <b>bandaging</b>, my foot tapping impatiently against the floor as she wrapped both arms in clean white gauze until they resembled ster casts.
The moment she secured thest bandage, I bolted from the room.
I could hear Elder Sele’s voice growing louder as I approached. “We congratte our finalists and remind all participants that the third trial will
This trial was rigged! I shouted, bursting through the double doors
Every head in the auditorium swiveled toward me.
Elder Selenes <b>ancient </b>disdain
eyes narrowed as she took in my disheveled <b>appearance</b>. Wolves from every <b>pack </b>stared, some with shock, others with amusement or
I caught <b>sight </b>of Adrian standing near the front, his face a mixture of surprise and concern. He moved toward me, but I stepped forward before he could reach me.
“Alpha Adrian solved the puzzle correctly,” I continued, my voice <b>carrying </b>through the stunned silence. The emergency button failed <b>to </b><b>work</b>. Something was deliberately tampered with!!!
Elder Selene’s voice cut through the murmurs that had begun to rise. “Who <b>are </b><b>you </b>to interrupt these proceedings?”
I straightened my spine. “Im Beta Skye of the Oasistom Pack, and I demand justice for
for my Alpha.”
The murmurs grew louder. From the corner of my eye, I saw Leon leaning forward in his seat, watching me with an unreadable expression,
“Oasisbor Pack?” someone neered from the <b>back </b>even heard of int
Another voice joined in: “Losing is losing. Don’t me the equipment when <b>you </b>fail.”
more <b>it </b>with the <b>Council </b>
Adrian reached me then<b>, </b>bls hand waim against my lower back, “kkyr,” he whispered, “ymi should be resting ”
“No, I hime! back. “This isn’t tight, and you know ||
Elder Selene stadjest os for a long moment before addressing the audience. “This session is adjonened. Finalists, please review your Information <b>packett </b>
As the crowd began to disperer, many throwing curious nces out way, Elder Selene hickoned us forward Youn,e with me.
She led us <b>to </b>a private office adorned with ancient wolf artife and genealogy charts. Three other Elders sulted inside, their expressions gre
For the next twenty minutes, we exined everything–the dyed message delivery, the correct code confirmed by Ryder, the malfunctioning forfeit button, the oven activating despite reaching zern.
“Do you have any witnesses besides your men pack members? Elder Selene asked, her fingers steepled beneath her chin.
“Alpha Leon,” I said without hesitation, he was there when Ryder confirmed the code was correct. And you can exantine the oven–it clearly malfunctioned”<fneea8> Fresh chapters posted on find~novel</fneea8>
The Elders exchanged nces before Elder Selene spoke again. “You must understand that we take the integrity of the Alpha King Election very seriously. We will investigate your ims thoroughly and provide a response within three days. However, we’ll need a detailed written ount from both of you by
As we left the office, my mind raced with frustration and determination. “We need to <b>find </b>Leon,” I said. “His testimony could make all the difference.
Adrian’s jaw lightened. “Having you anywhere near Leon is thest thing I want right now,” His <b>eyes </b>softened as they swept over my bandaged arms. “<b>But </b>you’re right. We need him.”
We found Leon at the hotel bar, lounging in a corner booth with a beer in hand. “How amusing,” he drawled as we approached. “Why would I help you?”
I slid into
into the seat across from him, ignoring Adrian’s protective stance beside me. “You should be thrilled, right? One lesspetitor to worry about.”
Lean’s eyes shed. “<b>You </b>think I need Adrian eliminated to win? You’re more naive than I thought.”
Then prove it,” 1 challenged. “Tell the truth <b>about </b>what happened <b>today</b>”
Leon took <b>a </b>slow sip of his beer, <b>studying </b>me over the rim. “You know, if I truly didn’t want Adrianpeting, he <b>wouldn’t </b>have made it past the application
<b>process</b><b>. </b>
Adrian stiffened beside me. “What are you saying?”
The North American Council rejected your application initially,” Leon <b>said </b>casually. “Something about illegitimately iming Cravestone <b>Pack </b>resources. I simply suggested they look more closely <b>at </b>your qualifications.”
“It was you?” <b>Adrian’s </b>voice had dropped dangerously low. “We thought Maxwell was behind that.”
Leon’s hand mmed down on the <b>table</b>, beer sloshing over the rim of his ss. “I was protecting the integrity of the election! I didnpeting!
want a
rule–breaker
Iughed bitterly. “You’re still afraid of <b>losing</b>, just like four years ago.”
<b>His </b>eyes burned into mine for a long moment before he stood, towering over our table. Tine. I’ll give you your statement tonight. But when you advance, I’ll <b>make </b>sure you lose fair and squate in the arena.”