Cassy’s stomach dropped, everything slowing down around her as she tipped backwards. She couldn’t believe she had allowed Katie so close after seeing what she did to Emily, and now the bitch smirked with a triumph that made her blood boil. Cassy’s arms reached out, but no one was close enough to grab, no one even noticed she’d been pushed, the scream to warn them caught in shocked lungs. Only one wolf was turned towards her, his eyes widening with horror.
She locked eyes with Alpha Jason just as she passed the point of recovery, where any semblance of balance or core muscles could’ve saved her. He reac
“I’m never going to make the mistake of trusting you again.” Cassy eyed Zac, but curiosity outweighed her unease. She’d never love him again, but she wasn’t lying when she said she thought he wasn’t evil. He was just a man whose loyalty wavered when a pack of women were suddenly competing to be his mate. An asshole but harmless. “But, you can tell me what’s going on.”Relief crossed the Beta wolf’s expression, before his eyes turned to the scenery. “It feels too exposed here. We should go somewhere else.”
As soon as the official part of the choosing ceremony was over, Cassy fled. The pack cheered for the newly agreed upon mates and wagered bets on who would be their next Luna; Roan or Sarah. Most wanted Sarah. She was a clear favourite among warriors and civilians alike, and with her ruthlessness Cassy was sure she would win. Then, she’d be Jace’s mate and the Ash Mount Luna. Cassy’s inside’s boiled with frustration, anger and betrayal. How could Jace cast her away like that? How could he stand by while Zac claimed her as his mate in front of the pack? How could he give into the King like that and kick her out of the Trials?She knew the answer of course. Because he was the King, with a Kingdom of wolves at his back. To anger him would be to put the pack in danger. Pushing to keep Cassy in the Trials also ran the risk of exposing her as his mateand
There was an odd feeling in the hall and Cassy couldn’t shake the notion that everyone kept glancing her way. Maybe it was the huge cast on her arm running from her bicep to her forearm, or maybe it was the blatant rule twisting that had her up on the stage alongside a pissed off Sarah that had them throwing doubt her way. Though Cassy was hopefully Jace could spin the results, so she progressed to the finals instead of Sarah, she didn’t see how that was possible. Sarah had beat her, there was no question she had. After Cheryl forfeited, it should’ve been a clear win for Sarah, and the pack were left confused why it wasn’t.Sweat beaded at her neck, her stomach rolling with every passing minute the King and Jace kept the room waiting. She felt like she was under a magnifying glass, each eye turned in her direction a beam of sunlight, scorching her throug
In a sea of black, Cassy’s mind replayed her match against Cheryl and Sarah again and again. Each time, though she strained to change her decision and warn herself of the warrior charging her down, she still didn’t notice Sarah until she was already on top of her and slashing her chances of remaining in the trial. Each time, white hot pain sparked down her arm, the snap of her elbow reverberated through her body and a thunderous growl joined her screams as everything faded to black. It was a relief when the dream finally stopped plaguing her. Finally, everything stayed black, letting her rest in her swell of self-pity, pain and grief.“She’s moving.” “She’s probably just dreami
Cassy didn’t dare look towards the stands at the King’s announcement. She could feel the stares of her mates and friends burrowing into her, but if she looked at them now, she knew she’d crumple. Jace’s plan to put her in the two-woman group with Jodie had been torn to shreds by her father’s intervention, leaving her to the mercy of Sarah and Cheryl – one of which hated her guts. Both were strong warriors, highly trained and determined. Against them, she had no hope. Hell, even if it had been Katie or Alex facing them instead, they would’ve struggled too.What the hell am I going to do? She asked herself, pushing away the probing mindlinks trying to connect to her.There was nothing her friends or mates could
Alex POVThe excited buzz of the crowd added to the buzz of nerves thumping in Alex’s veins. She stood in the quickly constructed arena, that the warriors had been building since last night when the King had demanded the Trials continue that afternoon, watching the wolves around her. Most were blissfully ignorant of the tension awash in the pack. They filed into their seats, sitting on a platform 2 meters above the training ground in a large oval shape that allowed for a fighting space at the centre. They chatted and laughed about the Trial to come, excitement brewing for who their Luna would be.Others were sneaking looks towards the guests sitting in a separate part of the stands. Allied packs had come to witness the last rounds of the Trial and King William was at the