Anassa moves with deadly purpose, carrying us straight toward Henrey. One of the Kryptos wolves yelps as a Daemos maw surges through the Phylax barrier to snap at it. Anassa doesn’t stop.
“Can we approach from the front?” I ask Anassa.
“It wouldn’t be safe. The wolf’s instincts are unpredictable.”
We approach from behind them instead and Anassa skids to a stop, teeth bared, suppressing her growl so that she doesn’t alert Henrey’s wolf to our presence.
Up close, the scene is even more horrific. Henrey’s wolf has him completely pinned, one massive paw on his chest, claws dug into his flesh and slowly pulling him apart. His wolf’s teeth are partially sunk into his throat, and occasional pulses of thick blood are spurting from open wounds.
There is conflict in the wolf’s eyes, in the trembling of its massive body, in the way its tail is tucked so far between its back legs. It’s just holding Henrey there, as if fighting against its own savage instincts.
The Phylax frontline surges closer to us. I can make out flashes of Daemos wolves as the line weakens. A few paws stampede closer as our defenses threaten to dissolve. I don’t have time.
I slip from Anassa’s back and creep closer, animal instinct raging in me as I willingly put myself within Henrey’s direwolf’s range. I draw my sword slowly, approaching as Anassa suggested.
Through our bond, Anassa tells me what I already know. “This will mark you.”
Her words echo strangely in my mind, branding deeper into my soul with each reverberation of sound.
It’s another impossible truth. Because it isn’t self-defense, or an enemy. I’ll be killing a friend. I can’t deny any of it. I can’t escape it. Imustdo this, even if it will irrevocably change me.
As I inch closer, careful not to alert the wolf towering in front me, Henrey’s eyes meet mine again. He’s pale as the winter sky, his eyes starting to glaze over.
Blood bubbles from his lips as he speaks. “Do it,” he chokes out.
I don’t hesitate. The instant I’m close enough, I surge forward beneath the wolf’s powerful front legs and slide on my knees. Trusting my body as I always have, I twist my torso andlash my arm out in a blow as fast and deadly as a snake’s strike. The wolf doesn’t have time to react.
My blade slides home, sinking between Henrey’s ribs.
His body goes slack instantly, the lingering light vanishing from his eyes. The wolf above me releases him with a soul-shaking, mournful howl. The sound is like the sundering of a soul, all the grief and pain in the world gathered up into one long, haunting note.
Then the wolf thunders to the ground, collapsing beside me, jaw slack and eyes staring forward lifelessly. Their broken bond dragged it to death alongside Henrey.
I can’t stay with him. I pull myself to my feet and flee to Anassa’s side, my sword dripping with Henrey’s blood. She turns her head, dipping it low to drape herself over my shoulder briefly. Her warmth pulls me back to myself, and my mind snaps back to the battle.
Jonah. Where is that fucker? I’m going to gut him for what he did.
Anassa senses my intention. “No,” she says. “You are above retribution. You’re an Alpha and your pack needs you. Return to them. Lead them.”
I hate it, but she’s right. Jonah cannot be my focus right now.
I deftly climb Anassa’s side, sliding back into place. Around us, the Trial continues. Daemos forces still attack. Phylax are rebuilding their defensive line. Kryptos dart deftly through the violence to gather intelligence.
My packmates welcome me back into formation seamlessly, sensing my return and pivoting their wolves and their minds to reassert our initial strategy. A hint of relief finds me even through the pain and the noise. Despite what just happened, our unity is unbroken.
The remaining hours of the Trial pass in a blur of violent moves and countermoves. I throw myself into pack unity witha furious intensity, surrendering myself entirely. Through it all, our shared consciousness transforms the battlefield chaos into perfect order, each pack responding to Strategos’ guidance with lethal precision.
If I’m focused on the front lines, I don’t have time to look down and see the blood still clinging to my skin.
When the final horn sounds, our victory over Daemos is almost… anticlimactic.
My ears ring. I’m breathing hard, still hearing the clash of blades as Aldrich mounts the dais. His gaze sweeps over us. Anassa’s sides heave beneath me. She holds her head high even with her pale fur sullied by dirt and blood.
“The Unity Trials are complete,” Aldrich announces loudly through his amplifier.
Wolves shift all around us. My packmates’ minds still linger alongside mine, sparks of electric awareness lighting up my consciousness. Nevah is staring at Henrey’s body.
“Strategos has demonstrated exceptional strategic coordination, even in crisis. Phylax maintained their defensive integrity despite significant loss. Daemos provided a worthy challenge. And Kryptos proved their intelligence network remains unmatched,” Aldrich continues.
