Chapter 37 Bloom

The moment I crossed into pack territory, the familiar scent in the air filled my lungs.

Only now, it felt completely foreign. I walked directly behind Alpha Ronan and Luna Sierra, my steps steady and my spine held perfectly straight. The decision I'd made in my cabin only a few hours earlier had brought me back to these lands—to the mansion where lies seemed to seep from every corner.

But this time, I wasn't prey. I was the hunter returning with her own terms. As we approached the pack house, my steps slowed in the front courtyard. They were there.

Cassian, Ivy, and Kai stood in a small circle, speaking quietly, the heaviness of the previous night still clinging to all three of them.

I was certain they'd sensed me through my scent before they ever saw me.

Three pairs of eyes turned toward me at once.

Alpha Ronan and Luna Sierra continued ahead after telling us they would be waiting in the meeting room.

The instant Ivy saw me, she failed to hide the guilt in her eyes. She instinctively took a small step toward me before stopping herself. "Bloom..." she whispered, lowering her gaze with a deeply ashamed expression.

She sounded so helpless.

"I'm truly sorry. Hiding the legend from you wasn't my decision. Lying to you ate away at me every single day, but..." Her voice broke slightly. "Please try to understand."

Kai drew in a deep breath and stepped beside her. He placed one hand on Ivy's shoulder before looking directly into my eyes.

"We know there isn't anything we can say that would be enough to earn your forgiveness, Bloom," he said, trying to keep his voice sincere and steady. "We care about you. You have a place in this pack that means more to us than you probably realize."

His expression tightened.

"But Ronan is our Alpha. Disobeying his orders would mean betraying our pack bonds. We wanted to protect you, but we ended up hurting you instead."

He gave a small shake of his head. "We really are sorry."

As I watched them struggle to explain themselves, saw the genuine remorse written across their faces, an ache formed behind the hard wall I'd built inside me. I couldn't completely turn my back on them. They had been the first people in this town to reach out to me.

"I am hurt," I said, keeping my voice as even and clear as possible. "You hid something from me that could change my entire life. I'm not going to pretend that didn't hurt."

I looked between them.

"But I'm not angry with you."

Ivy's gaze lifted slightly.

"I understand the position you were in. I understand the pack's rules and your loyalty to your Alpha."

My voice softened just enough. "So stop blaming yourselves."

A faint look of relief crossed Ivy's face. Then I slowly shifted my attention to the man standing silently a few steps behind them. Cassian.

His blue eyes had darkened, and his jaw was locked tight. The relief he felt at seeing me back on pack territory rolled openly from his aura. But I had no intention of letting him enjoy it.

"Your situation is different, Cassian," I said, putting an icy distance into my voice. "So don't get ahead of yourself."

His expression hardened.

"You're the future Alpha of this pack. Your responsibilities, your choices, and the weight of the lies you told me are nothing like theirs."

I started to turn away, then stopped. There was one more blow I needed to land. "And keep your girlfriend away from me."

Cassian went completely still.

"I'm tired of her cornering me at school and saying whatever she wants. I'm done with both of your cheap games—and with your endless fits of jealousy."

I fought to keep my voice strong and my eyes angry. But only I knew how badly I was burning inside. Only I knew how deeply the disappointment in Cassian's blue eyes drove a blade straight through my chest.

I was certain the pain inside me showed. Before any of them could respond, I turned quickly and walked toward the meeting room.

When we gathered around the large, somber wooden table, the tension in the room felt like a powder keg waiting for a spark.

Alpha Ronan and Luna Sierra sat at the head of the table. Beside them were the pack's most experienced leaders—Beta Zane, Beta Nova, and Gamma Carter.

When Ivy, Kai, and Cassian moved to the opposite side, I took the empty chair directly beside them, settling to Ivy's left.

Once everyone had gone silent, Beta Zane straightened the old scrolls and ancient pack records spread across the table. When he looked at me, the seriousness in his eyes made it feel as though the trial had already begun.

"Bloom," Zane said, his deep voice echoing through the room. "We've been informed that you've accepted the offer to join the pack."

He folded his hands in front of him. "But you need to understand that joining this pack isn't as simple as signing your name on a piece of paper or giving your word."

His gaze remained fixed on me. "It's a spiritual and physical bond."

He gestured toward the records in front of him. "And we can't perform the same acceptance ritual we use for an ordinary pack member. Under your agreement with the Alpha, you'll be given access to information normally restricted to the highest-ranking members."

His expression grew more severe. "Because of that, you must complete a two-part examination before you can be fully accepted into the pack."

He paused. "A physical trial and a spiritual trial."

I folded my arms on the table and listened carefully. "You'll complete the physical trial first," Zane continued. "It will measure your endurance, your will, and how far you're willing to go for this pack."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Because you don't have access to a wolf form, the process may be extremely difficult for you. Even damaging."

He leaned back. "But we believe in the potential of the hybrid blood inside you. And in that unshakable will of yours."

His tone softened by the smallest degree. "The pack will support you throughout the process."

"And the second stage?" I asked, keeping my voice firm.

"Once you successfully complete the physical trial, I'll explain everything you need to know about the spiritual examination," Zane replied with a slight nod. "If you pass that stage as well, you'll be required to swear a blood oath to the Alpha."

He glanced briefly toward the other leaders.

"There are additional ancient rituals that must be completed after the oath, but we'll explain those later. There's no reason to overwhelm you with everything at once."

Zane looked back at me, his voice becoming even more serious.

"The moment you take this step, there's no turning back, Bloom."

The room went completely still.

"Once the ritual is complete, you'll be connected to the pack mind—our shared consciousness."

His gaze sharpened. "It won't matter whether or not you have a wolf capable of showing its claws."

He placed one hand on the ancient records. "Because of the Alpha blood running through your veins, the doors to that shared consciousness will open to you."

When Zane finished speaking, a heavy silence settled over the room. Beneath the table, I clenched my hands into fists. Every answer I had been searching for... The secrets Ronan had hidden from me... The locked doors of that library...

They were waiting on the other side of those painful trials.

I looked at every person around the table. Cassian's worried gaze. Ivy's encouraging smile. Ronan's watchful expression.

"I'm ready," I said. My voice cut through the silence like a blade.

"Do whatever you have to do." I lifted my chin.

"I'll pass the trials. I'll connect to that shared consciousness." Then I looked directly at Ronan.

"But don't forget your promise." My voice hardened.

"When those doors open, there won't be a single secret left hidden behind them."