Though we didn't get a chance to speak about what any of this means for us going forward, we barely had time when we spent the whole night making love, and had to wake up early this morning for the last test—I've decided to do things right once we return to Nightmist.
Cecelia deserves more than just an impulsive declaration of my devotion, and I still need to address the past and apologize for it. If I ace today's test, there's no doubt that I'll become the alpha. I'll have all the pull to clear her father's name and change how things work in Lunaris.
We just have to get through today.
“Members of the rank trials,” Alpha Sirius begins. “Today marks the final test in the alpha trials, and we have decided to do something different.”
Alpha Sirius gestures to the bleachers where the werewolves who'd attended last night's ball are seated, and I notice my sister in the crowd. I exchange a confused glance with Cecelia, who shrugs as we turn our attention to the others who gathered here to watch the final test.
Just then, a group of leather-clad men emerges from the tunnel on the side, filing onto the field as they roll over tables that are filled with a variety of apparatuses that look like they belong in a horror movie. Alpha Sirius turns back to us and continues, “For the final test, your fellow pack members will be placed in a simulated situation of danger, while your partners will be taken away as hostages.”
Frowning, I turn to Cecelia as Alpha Sirius continues explaining what the final test will be, my heart pounding as my worry grows.
“All the participants will have to work as a team, mimicking a situation that calls for the teamwork of allies across other packs. You will have thirty minutes to fight through the simulation and ensure that you save your partners who have, up until this point, acted as your imaginary lunas if your rank were of an alpha. The she-wolves will be taken to a secret location, and will be injected with a serum that renders them paralyzed for twenty-four hours if you fail to find them before the timer runs out.”
Blood rushes to my ears as a group of leather-clad men comes over to take the she-wolves away. I grab Cecelia's wrist, my eyes wide with horror at the sheer cruelty of the test.
Cecelia stares at me, offers a reassuring smile, and gives her hand willingly to the alpha's man.
“Do what you need to do, Dominic. I can sacrifice a day of not moving around,” she chuckles nervously.
“No, Cecelia! I'm gonna come get you, I promise!” I call out after her as she and the other she-wolves are taken through the tunnel.
The other members of the pack are taken on the field and huddled together in the center while some of the men prepare machines on the sides to simulate the enemy group of wolves. My sister looks at me nervously as her hands are restrained by a cable tie, and I notice the alpha's men are doing the same to everyone on the field. I turn to the other contenders, exchanging a glance with Simon, who doesn't move and folds his arms.
“We're meant to work in a team, so we need to decide who goes for the pack members, and who goes to save our partners,”I say, hoping to join the group that leads us to the she-wolves. My worry and anxiety are growing by the second, and I wouldn't want Cecelia to be injected with the paralyzing serum, even if she's willingly agreed to take the hit for the sake of this test.
It just doesn't sit right with me or my inner beast, who will do whatever it takes to protect her. No harm should come to the she-wolf I care about, even if it's part of a simulation.
Santo steps forward, patting my shoulder. “I agree. We should split up into two groups.”
Simon snorts. “We need to protect the pack. We can worry about the she-wolves when we know the majority are saved.”
I grunt lowly. “You know how the council feels about protecting our partners. We can't all be on that field. Some of us should go and save them.”
“Did you see how many enemies there are?” Simon says as he points to the field. “There are only six of us, and we need all hands on deck if we want to save the pack.”
Not trusting Simon's word, I turn to see the simulated wolves coming to life on the field. I hate to admit it, but he's right. There are only six of us against at least thirty enemy wolves spread out across the field.
I turn to the others, gauging Nigel, Alex, and Bart's expressions. They all seem to agree with Simon, so I look at Santo, who shrugs.
“He's right. There are too many of them,” Santo reluctantly agrees with a hesitant nod.
I'm left to agree with the others because there's no way only three or four of us can take on that many enemies. AlphaSirius calls us to the field, and I glance at my new teammates and remind them that we have to fight through the enemies quickly.
“We only have thirty minutes, but we need to finish the fight on the field quickly if we’re going to go after the girls in time,” I warn them.
Simon, who still chooses to be a dickhead, grunts and mumbles that he doesn't need the reminder.
Working as a team isn't going to be easy with him around.
We take our positions and shift into wolf form, and the siren rings out to signal the start of the test. The enemy wolves attack, leaping toward us. With nimble moves, I slash my claws through the projected wolves, seeing Nigel being knocked down across the field by one of the enemies.
“They're able to touch us! Look out!”I signal the warning through the mind link, then notice Bart being swarmed by a group of five enemies. I claw through another and race toward him to help, but notice that even Santo is knocked down when a simulated wolf headbutts him in the ribs. Alex and Simon are next to be attacked, and are both too preoccupied to help the others.
Realizing we're becoming overpowered, I turn to Bart just when we've taken care of the group of five, an idea coming to mind.
“Cover me!”I instruct him, and he nods. What I'm about to do wasn't part of the plan, but with our time running out and the contenders heavily outnumbered and overpowered, this is the only thing I can do on a whim.
