Alistar nodded, the creased lines on his face deepening. “At first, I thought your rise in power meant you would become a mated partner with Gilen, but…” He paused, standing to meet my stare. “It has far exceeded what I had imagined. And there isn’t a soul present here today who would deny your victory.”
Alistar turned and gave his son a nod, a loving look full of pride despite his defeat, before returning to me.
“When I learned that you could ignore my commands at will, it was a clear sign of your true power. You were never meant to follow. You, Skylar, were meant to lead. As our alpha.”
He knew.
“Yes, I knew.” Alistar chuckled, watching my brows raise with surprise. “The strength of our pack lies within the alpha. To deny you this right would go against everything we stand for. Your strength becomesourstrength and vice versa. This is why the shifter with the most power holds the title. It is a responsibility that only the alpha can carry.”
I couldn’t believe it. This whole time, Alistar knew I was able to ignore his commands. This realization shook me.
I had underestimated his depth of understanding and compassion as our alpha. He didn’t see me as a threat. All these years… he saw me as the Solace pack’s future alpha. A part of me wished he had told Gilen all this, but a part of me also understood why he hadn’t.
Gasps echoed around me as Xander raced to Gilen’s side. Gilen refused to look at him, but Xander remained where he was, silently giving his support. It was clear that the bond forged between them while Gilen was alpha still linked them to one another on a subconscious level.
Xander then turned to look at me. “Remember when I told you my animal was drawn to you? That your power exceeded the bullshit politics of our elders?”
“Yes,” I answered, recalling our rendezvous before I was marked as the champion.
“It all makes sense. My bear was following an alpha. Even if she wasn’t ready to reveal herself just yet,” Xander said, looking at me.
“I remember feeling the same calling,” Shaw announced, stepping to my side with the others not far behind. “In the meadow, when you didn’t shift, my animal followed your lead.”
I looked at Shaw, and something seemed to click. Like a turning of a lock, finally breaking free.
“We follow you,” Shaw said with a curt nod.
“Told you,” Rhea interjected with a smirk. “I told you that you were meant for more, Skylar. Why the fuck did you ever doubt me?”
Talon clicked his tongue and shook his head, wrapping an arm around his mate.
“What?” Rhea snapped.
“You have such a way with words, love,” Talon answered.
“Skylar Cathal,” Alistar said, standing to address the pack, “is our alpha!”He cheered, with everyone in attendance following his lead.
“Alpha,” my pack whispered in a trickling pattern that echoed through the roots of the trees and the melody of the forest. “Alpha.” The title rang more clearly. “Alpha!” The chant roared as the forest itself seemed to hum with magic.
On cue, the gathering clouds overhead cracked with thunder and a flash of lightning, draping over the sky as the rains began to fall. Hard, yet soft as it melted on my skin. The cold mixed with the falling waters, freezing the droplets as they fluttered to the ground, covering the earth in a pure blanket of fresh snow.
A new beginning.
Silently, I bent to take hold of the alpha’s dagger. A strange silence engulfed me, with my focus solely locked on the third key in the trials of the Heart of Valdor.
The weapon hummed with a familiar magic that sang to my soul and my animal. As my fingers curled around the hilt, the cold kiss of the metal feltperfect. Like this weapon was crafted for me to wield.
I hoisted the dagger upward, stretching to the sky, yelling out a roar of victory to the Gods themselves.
My pack joined me, shifting into their animal forms, filling the night with roaring songs and calls. I closed my eyes. The snowflakes melted as they fell onto my cheeks, cleansing my soul and welcoming me into my new role. Magic trickled over my skin, and I felt threads of power reach out and connect me to each member of the Solace pack, linking them to me and me to them.
My power surging—growing.
I stilled with the dagger outstretched in my arm, realizing this trial of the soul was only a piece of my victory. I was meant to discover the truth about who I was. Who I was meant to be.
I lowered my arm, admiring the weapon my ancestors carried—that my father carried. I was honored that fate had brought me here. Honored that I was strong enough to hold this mantle.
“My people,” I said for the first time as their leader, “with this dagger, I have completed the third trial, but now…I must leave.”
