“No, they are saving that one for you, I was thinking more like Venture or Hunt.”
The fact that he even debates this makes me wonder if priesthood might be in his future? I don’t know, he loves to learn, but he’s got an adventurous soul. Would he be able to stay here all year while others come and go?
“So, this is where you’ve been going every day?”
“And some nights.” He smiles. Roman leans forward, animated now. “I’ve been reading too.”
“Wow, this place has changed you.” I shake my head sarcastically.
He ignores me, continuing, “Did you know in Maine, there’s a pack that lives in treetop villages, high above the ground? And in Michigan, they built cabins around the Great Lakes — a real tourist spot. Wolves can pick off stragglers and lonely visitors without anyone noticing.” His grin falters slightly. “And the Aurora pack? They live in a solid block of ice along the Alaskan coast. Every winter, they hold a ceremony beneath the aurora lights.”
His eyes are shining. Gods, he’s been soaking all this up like a sponge. My little brother has been alone here for only a week, and he’s thrived. Better than I have. Maybe he doesn’t need me as much as I need him. To distract myself, I glance at the stack of books beside the chair.
“So, what are you currently reading?”
He pushes a heavy, coverless tome toward me, the parchment pages yellowed with age. I flip it open, scanning his careful marks in the margins.
Roman clears his throat, then begins to read aloud.
“When the gods first came down to bless the wolves with the Change, this cliff was only a mountain. But their touch split it open, forming the chasm, and from the ground grew a single tree. Its leaves have remained blood red ever since. Some say it’s from the blood of the gods themselves; others say it’s because it drinks the sacrifices made in their name. The tree is autumn eternal, and it’s called sacred.”
He looks up, eyes gleaming, before continuing:
“Around the tree, the priests built a circle. Not of stone, but of themselves. The lives taken while building the steep castle on the cliff, they buried their bones in the soil so the magic of the gods would never fade. That’s why the circle thrums with power still, why those mated pairs stand beneath the tree each season for the gods’ favor.”
A shudder skitters down my spine. “I had no idea. I thought the trials were just…a ploy to ensure mating and a prosperous new generation of wolves.”
“Oh, it’s so much more,” Roman says, eyes bright. “The castle is a realm in itself. The priests here never stop preparing. Every season is part of preparation for the next season.”
“Wow, and yet some people treat it like their own personal dating site.”
Roman nods. “I don’t think we were ever taught this. It’s possible Cullen doesn’t even know. He’s had his mate since before he became Alpha. These traditions get lost the more the younger wolves take over, and word of mouth just isn’t what it used to be. No one sits around a fire anymore telling stories of the gods. It’s becoming…archaic.”
I hug my knees to my chest, suddenly restless. “And here I am just trying to avoid getting mated.”
“Avoiding?” His brows furrow. “That didn’t seem the case with Alpha Thorn last night. Is there something you want to talk about?”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “It’s not really something I can discuss with my little brother.”
He rolls his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me all the dirty parts, Ember. Just the important ones.”
I sigh. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve always had to be strong, always had to know the next move. But now? I don’t. And it terrifies me.”
He tilts his head. “The Ember I know, the Ember who took care of me and kept me safe — always figures it out.”
Before I can answer, a book closes. Wise lifts his head, his voice calm but weighted.
“I don’t mean to pry,” he says, “but I’ll tell you what I’ve heard from the elder priest, when wolves come seeking counsel: Listen to the signs. If the trials showed you someone, don’t ignore it. These traditions aren’t parlor games. They are the will of the gods. Ignore them too long, and the gods will stop offering such blessings. They’ll take them elsewhere — or worse — to another race entirely.”
The fire pops. Roman’s eyes are wide, fixed on me. “See? This guy knows everything.”
I wrap my arms around myself. My chest feels tight. What if he’s right? What if the gods don’t give me a second chance?
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I guess I’ve got some thinking to do.”
“Well, don’t take too long.” Roman smirks faintly. “You’re going to be chased and claimed in about five hours.”
No pressure.
