He’s ready. So am I.
Leader Aldrich is seated on the king’s other side. He’ll be the master of ceremonies today. In the row behind them are all the instructors. Even from here, I can see that Stark is wound as tightly as usual.
Clenching my jaw, I look away. He’s not going to distract me from my purpose right now.
A horn blasts, and all the direwolves enter the arena, padding over to their riders. Anassa bares her fangs at me when she approaches. I’ve kept the mental wall intact and her message is clear—she’spissedat me.
Sighing, I lift it now. I’ll need her cooperation for this. Quickly, I let my plan flow to her: when I get close to the king for my blessing, I’m going to strike.
I expect her to rebuke me, to tell me the plan is too dangerous or that I haven’t thought things through, or to chide me for getting Killian involved.
Instead, she merely growls, “Make it quick.”
A surprised laugh escapes me, and then she lowers her neck. I lace my fingers in her dense silver-white fur and haul myself onto her back like the other riders.
Once all the Rawbonds are mounted, Leader Aldrich rises and lifts a voice amplifier.
“Today is the formal end of the Bonding Trials. It marks the culmination of the incredible hard work that you all have exhibited over the past four months. Nearly a thousand soldiers attempted the Ascent. Ninety-eight direwolves chose ninety-eight riders. And today, seventy-six Rawbonds officially take their place in their packs as Bonded.”
The other Rawbonds around me are lifting their heads in pride. We, the chosen few, have made it.
Twenty-two riders did not. Three of them died at my hands. All of this bloodshed that I’ve participated in—all because ofhim.
King Cyril stands, pulling the amplifier from Leader Aldrich’s hands. Aldrich seems flustered by the move, but hands the amplifier over and steps back.
“Yes, thank you, Leader Aldrich, and thank you, Rawbonds!” His eerie light blue gaze darts over all of us, and a strange little smile spreads across his face. “This graduation ceremonyis part of centuries of tradition. And as tradition, you will all come before me and receive my blessing to go forth and fight in my military as our most elite warriors. However, even the best traditions need updating sometimes…”
A bolt of panic shoots through me, hot and urgent. What does that mean? I glance around quickly and everyone else looks just as confused as I do.
“The Unity Trial showed impressive coordination, but I was disappointed by your performance. More Rawbonds should have been culled. Some Trials, you know, we only have fifty survivors!” He lets out a cheery laugh at this.
My stomach turns over in unease and my gaze catches on Stark standing behind the king. His brow is furrowed in concern. Great, so the instructors don’t know where this is going, either.
“Because I am a just and fair king, I have decided to give you one additional chance to rid yourselves of unnecessary baggage or unworthy pack members. And I don’t want anyone to hold back! So before we proceed to the blessing, we will have a final free-for-all battle.”
No.
Does he know what I had planned? Did he somehow find out? Killian stands and catches my eyes, his own widened with fear.
King Cyril slams the wolf pommel sword into the platform at his feet. “Begin.”
And chaos breaks loose.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
The instant it begins, I visualize my pack’s connection exploding from my body. A flood of a powerful river. A crackle of branching lightning, my energy at its epicenter. I expand my consciousness in a violent burst through our pack unity, touching each of my packmates’ minds simultaneously.
The initial impact of their joint experiences briefly overwhelms me, but Anassa protects me. I feel every heartbeat, every surge of adrenaline, every flash of fear and anger—all of it in the space of a handful of seconds. And then I master it.
What concerns me most is the powerful urge thrumming through each and every one of them.
Kill.
Whatever the king unleashed with that sword, it’s as deadly as an arrow at their throats. They’re compelled to attack each other, to betray our bond and tear each other apart.
ButIam their Alpha. And I won’t let the bastard on that throne take anything or anyone else from me.
With the king’s order, the arena immediately turned into a gruesome battle. All the direwolves are attacking each other. Ican see Tomison and Kristof’s wolves snapping at each other as if their riders were enemies instead of close friends.
