Chapter 6:The First Trial

         The sun rose too early that morning. The sky was still pale when the pack drums started to beat, calling everyone to the training ground. The sound hit my chest like thunder. My body was still weak from the night before, but there was no time to hide. Today was the day.  

My hands shook as I tied my old dress tighter around my waist. It was the only thing I owned, already torn from the sides, but at least it covered me. My hair was messy, my eyes swollen, but who cared? They were not coming to see me shine. They were coming to see me fall.  

When I stepped outside, the whispers started at once.  

“There she is.”  

“Look at her. She can’t even stand straight.”  

“Damien’s mate? More like Damien’s shame.”  

Every step I took was heavy. I wanted the ground to open and swallow me. My chest hurt from the weight of their eyes. I hugged my arms close, trying to shield myself, but nothing worked. Their words crawled into my skin.  

Clara was standing near the gates, her lips already curved in that wicked smile. She was dressed in bright red, like she was the Luna already. Her friends circled her, laughing.  

“Good morning, weakling,” she called, her voice loud so everyone could hear. “Try not to cry before the trial even starts. Tears don’t look good on a Luna.”  

The pack roared with laughter. I kept walking, but my face burned. My heart screamed, *why me? why me?*  

---

The training ground was full. Every wolf in the pack had gathered. Children sat on the shoulders of their parents, warriors stood tall, women whispered into each other’s ears. Their eyes all turned to me. I felt like I was walking into my grave.  

Damien stood near the elders, his arms crossed, his face cold like stone. He didn’t look at me with kindness, not even pity. His eyes were sharp, like he was waiting for me to fail so he could wash his hands of me.  

Elder Rowan raised his hand and the pack fell silent. His voice echoed.  

“Today the trial begins. The mate of our Alpha will prove if she is worthy to stand as Luna. She will fight. She will bleed. She will show if she has strength. If she fails, the bond will be broken and she will leave this pack forever.”  

My knees almost gave way, but I forced myself to stand. My throat was dry. I wanted to scream, to say I was not ready, but my voice was locked inside.  

Rowan turned to me. “Step into the ring, girl.”  

The ring was nothing but a circle marked with stones. I stepped inside, my legs shaking. My heart pounded so loud I thought everyone could hear.  

From the other side, two girls stepped forward. Strong wolves. Their bodies tall, their eyes glowing. I knew them—warriors of the pack, trained since birth. My stomach dropped.  

The whispers started again.  

“She will die in seconds.”  

“This is not even fair.”  

“Damien must want her gone.”  

I looked at Damien, begging with my eyes. *Please. Don’t let them do this.*  

But he turned his face away.  

My breath broke.  

---

The first girl attacked before I could even think. Her hand slammed into my shoulder, throwing me down. My body hit the dirt hard. Pain shot through my arm. Laughter filled the air.  

“Get up, human!” someone shouted.  

“She can’t fight!” another yelled.  

Tears burned my eyes, but I pushed myself up. My knees trembled. My arms felt like sticks. The second girl rushed at me, her leg kicking into my ribs. I fell again, choking on my breath. The crowd cheered.  

Clara’s laugh rose above all.  

“Look at her! She’s crawling like a dog!”  

I wanted to disappear. I wanted to die right there. But something inside me refused. My heart whispered, *don’t give them what they want.*  

I dragged myself up again. My hands shook, blood dripping from my lip. My whole body screamed in pain, but I forced my legs to move.  

The first girl came again, claws out. I ducked without thinking. My body moved on its own. Her hand missed my face. Gasps rose from the crowd.  

I blinked, shocked. I had never moved that fast before.  

The second girl attacked, aiming for my head. I threw my arm up. Her claws scratched deep into my skin, but I managed to block. My scream filled the ring.  

Blood ran down my arm. The crowd cheered louder, smelling it. Wolves loved the scent of blood. They wanted more.  

---

The fight went on. I was beaten again and again, thrown to the dirt, kicked, scratched. My body was burning, bleeding. But every time I fell, I forced myself up. My chest was on fire, my eyes blurry, but something pushed me.  

The whispers started to change.  

“She’s still standing?”  

“How?”  

“She should have given up by now.”  

I could hear Clara screaming from the side. “Fall down, weakling! Stop embarrassing yourself!”  

But I did not fall. Not yet.  

I swung my arm clumsily at one of the girls. My hand hit her shoulder. It was weak, but it made her stumble a step. The crowd gasped again.  

Elder Rowan’s eyes narrowed. Damien’s jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—was it shock? Or anger?  

---

The sun rose higher. My body grew weaker. My legs trembled so much I could barely stand. Sweat mixed with blood on my skin. My breath came out in gasps.  

The girls circled me like wolves around prey. My head spun.  

Then the first one rushed at me again. This time I couldn’t move fast enough. Her claws slashed across my side. Pain exploded through me. I screamed, my knees hitting the dirt.  

The crowd roared. Some cheered, some laughed.  

I tried to rise, but my body wouldn’t listen. My arms shook, my chest heavy. My vision blurred.  

The second girl grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back. My cry tore from my throat. The pack howled with laughter.  

“End it!” someone shouted.  

“She’s finished!”  

I struggled, clawing at the ground, but my strength was gone. My chest felt too tight, my heart beating too fast. The edges of my vision turned black.  

I heard Clara’s laugh, sharp and cruel.  

“She is nothing! She is not our Luna!”  

The girl holding me threw me back into the dirt. My head hit hard. The world spun. My body went numb.  

I tried to rise one last time. My lips whispered, “Moon Goddess… help me.”  

Then everything went dark.  

---

Gasps rose from the crowd. Whispers spread fast.  

“Did she faint?”  

“Is she dead?”  

“Why didn’t her body break?”  

Damien’s eyes locked on me, his face unreadable. Elder Rowan’s frown deepened. Clara’s smile froze for the first time.  

My body lay still in the dirt, blood staining the ground, but the mark on my neck glowed faintly, pulsing like fire under my skin.  

The pack stepped back, murmuring. Fear. Confusion. Suspicion.  

The trial was not over, but something had begun.