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A very wise strategy and probably one I’ll adopt going forward. An empty belly is a far better fate than being poisoned.
We join the group waiting to be admitted. Everyone seems to have made some sort of effort tonight, although some far more than others. I don’t see any of the other female competitors, and I wonder if they have been knocked out of the trials. This is the first time I’ve seen us all together since the opening ball, so it’s shocking to see how few of us are left in comparison.
Someone calls out, and I glance up to find Joel’s cousin, who walks over to stand with us. Wearing his usual grin, he wiggles his eyebrows as he takes me in. He whistles, grinning as he playfully nudges a growling Joel with his elbow. “You’re looking lovely, as always, Laelia.”
I’m unable to stop my smile, his enthusiasm infectious. “You too, Jackson. You scrub up well!”
Joel growls again, louder this time, his hand resting on the small of my back as if to remind me he’s still there. That growl isn’t aimed at me though, and Jackson, seeing that he might be pushing his alpha too far, holds up both hands and dips his head to show he’s going to back off.
“Sorry, Alpha.” He grins. “But you have to admit your mate is gorgeous.”
“Yes, she is.” He wraps a possessive arm around me, pulling me up against him. “She’s also mine.”
My bond is practically swooning at his behaviour, our baser instincts telling me that he’s a strong male who will protect and provide for us. We all know full well that Jackson has no real desire for me, and even if he did, his cousin would beat it out of him. However, our bond heightens certain emotions, pushing Joel’s alpha instincts to protect what’s his. If it were anyone else, I’d be fuming that they thought they could ever call me theirs, like I was a possession to be owned without my own thoughts and feelings. My hormones must be filling my brain though, as it only turns me on.
“Any news from the pack?” Joel asks, trying to change the subject and move away from any topics that might cause him to want to tear into his cousin.
The two of them talk pack business, and I let my gaze and mind wander. I don’t see Grove’s champions or Alpha Bates. Were they eliminated, or are they just not here? While I love the idea that they might have been kicked out of the trials, I seriously doubt they have, my luck just isn’t good enough and my instincts are warning me to be on my guard.
There’s a shift in the atmosphere, and voices around us change. Then, as if by some unspoken command, the others begin to file into the town hall. With Joel on my left, Scott on my right, and Jackson protecting my back, we follow the others. As before, all the packs are waiting for us, lining the walls as they watch us enter. With annoyance, I see Bates and one of Grove’s champions already in the hall, along with a brute of a male who must be at least three times bigger than me. I don’t remember seeing him before, but if he’s a champion, then I must have. Why are they in here already when everyone else was made to wait outside? Another sign of the council’s outright favouritism I suppose.
The space for us in the centre of the hall is large enough that we can spread out, and I make note of who chooses to stand together and who gives everyone a wide berth. I don’t have long to ponder, though, because the five council members stand from their throne-like chairs. Before now, I didn’t even notice they were here, their absolute stillness keeping them off my radar.
As usual, none of them move save for Councilman Ruby, who takes a step forward, clasping his hands before him.
“Welcome.” His voice echoes around the room, and everyone is so silent you could hear a pin drop. “Tonight, we celebrate the halfway point through the trials,” he begins, nodding towards the group of us gathered in the middle. “We are down to sixteen competitors, and in tomorrow’s trial, that number will be halved.”
I’m shocked at how many champions we’ve lost since the scavenger hunt. There were over eighty of us to start. I suppose they must have failed in the maze or been injured and unable to take part like Nicolai. The first trial would have culled at least twenty, given the last ten pairs to make it to the centre were out, but even so, the numbers have thinned significantly.
Clearing his throat to bring everyone’s attention back to him, Councilman Ruby continues. “With only three challenges left, it’s going to be an interesting contest.” He sounds like he’s talking about a sporting event, not something that will cost many their lives or cause a serious injury.
“Many packs will be taking part in a run through the forest tonight, so feel free to join them. It’s not often you get to run among so many wolves, so make the most of it. Enjoy the celebration.”
Despite the fact Ruby wears a mask, I swear I can feel his gaze on me.Make the most of it. The words twist over in my mind, and I find myself shaking my head as everyone breaks off into small groups. He’s trying to get in my head and make me doubt myself and my place among them, as though I won’t have a chance to run with werewolves again. I’m sure I’m thinking way too far into it, but I can’t seem to stop myself, and it’s only when Joel takes my hand in his that I force myself back into the present.
Scott is looking at me expectantly, and I realise he must have asked me a question. Grimacing, I pull an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
His brows rise, but he doesn’t question it. “How are you feeling about tomorrow? Any ideas what the trial might be?”
Feeling like an idiot, I press my hand to my head. “Oh shit, I forgot to tell you.” Huffing out a breath of frustration, I relay the information about the trial that Syn told me earlier. When I mention the fights and how we would secure our position in the next round, the two of them and Jackson share a look.
Immediately offended and indignant, I place my hands on my hips. “I can fight.”
Sure, I’ve only just begun to learn, but their lack of faith in me only makes me want to prove myself more.
“You can, but you’ve not been doing it for long, and we’ve mostly been covering self-defence,” Jackson comments, and I can see he’s trying to be as kind as possible with his words. “To win one of those rounds, you’re going to have to attack. You won’t win on defence alone.”
Jackson’s been helping me train since I met him, and he has no motivations to do so other than he’s a nice guy and he wants his alpha’s mate to succeed. So if he’s telling me this, it’s not because he’s trying to get in my pants, and I’ve never found him to be anything but honest, which means he’s telling the truth.
Scott makes a noise of agreement in the back of his throat. “Most of these guys could have you on the ground in a second.”
Joel frowns, glancing around the room as he takes in the remaining competitors. “If you’re paired with one of us, we’ll let you win, but I’m sure the council plans to keep us separated.”
My hands drop from my hips, and my earlier bravado vanishes, their words sinking in. They are right. I’m going to get myself killed. My vision narrows as I begin to spiral into a silent panic, only to be pulled from it when hands land on my shoulder and my mate’s face appears in front of me.
“Laelia, listen to me,” Joel coaxes. “You just need to be smart about it and use your instincts.”
Slowly, and with more conviction than I feel, I nod. My instincts have not led me wrong so far, I just have to trust in them and myself. “The goddess will guide me,” I say aloud, but I’m repeating it over and over in my mind, hoping she won’t forsake me now.
