Chapter Five: The King’s Test

Kaelen led me into a private room deep inside the castle. The walls were lined with heavy wood, old books, and a massive fireplace that crackled with orange flames.

As soon as the door clicked shut, he turned around to face me. The calm, bored look on his face was completely gone.

"Explain that mark," he demanded, his voice thick with authority. "The crescent moon wrapped in silver flame. Only my fated mate can carry that crest."

"I don't know any more than you do," I said, stepping back until my lower back hit the edge of his big desk. "I didn't choose this. I came here to trade maps, not to find a mate."

Kaelen crossed his broad arms, his dark eyes dropping to my neck where the golden light was slowly fading. "Omegas don't mate with Lycan Kings. It doesn't work like that."

"Good. Then let's pretend it never happened," I snapped, glaring right back at him. "You keep your kingdom safe, and I get my little brother back. That was our deal."

He stared at me for a long, quiet moment. A small, dangerous smirk touched the corner of his lips. "You have a big mouth for someone who was bleeding in the snow an hour ago."

"Bleeding or not, I survive," I replied.

Before he could answer, a loud knock rattled the wooden door. A tall female warrior stepped inside, her sharp eyes sweeping over my ripped clothes with pure disgust. She wore silver-trimmed armor and carried herself like royalty.

"Your Highness," she said, bowing her head slightly to Kaelen. "The court is already talking about the rogue girl. Lady Rebecca and the elder council want to know why an outsider is being given protection."

Kaelen sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Lady Lyra, this is Valeria. She will be staying in the West Wing under guard."

Lyra looked at me like I was trash off the street. "An Omega in the West Wing? Your Highness, the Trial of Mates starts in three days. The high-born ladies of the court are getting ready. Letting a rogue stay in royal rooms will cause a riot."

"Let them riot," Kaelen said coldly.

"Wait," I interrupted, looking between the two of them. "What is the Trial of Mates?"

Lyra turned to me, her top lip curling into a sneer. "An old tradition. High-ranking females fight in tests of strength, hunting, and skill to win a spot as the King's personal guard and potential wife. Not that an Omega like you would last five minutes in our cold forests."

A hot spark of anger lit up in my chest. Everyone in this castle thought I was weak just because I was an Omega. They had no idea what I had to do to stay alive on the run.

"If I win a spot in the trials, do I get full protection under your laws?" I asked Kaelen directly, completely ignoring Lyra. "Permanent asylum, so nobody can ever kick me out?"

Kaelen’s dark eyes flashed with sudden interest. "Yes. Any female who passes the first round earns permanent legal protection in the North."

"Then put my name on the list," I said, leaning back against the desk with a cool smile.

Lyra laughed out loud, a mean, sharp sound. "Is this a joke? You'll die in the very first test!"

"Then you won't have to worry about me taking your spot, will you?" I shot back.

Kaelen let out a low laugh, the sound deep and smooth. "She stays in the West Wing, Lyra. Put her name on the roster."

Lyra glared at me, her fists tight at her sides, before giving a quick bow and marching out of the room.

I turned back to Kaelen. "I need a bath, clean clothes, and real food."

"You'll get all three," Kaelen said, walking toward the door. "But don't get comfortable, Valeria. The trials aren't a game. My court will try to break you."

"Let them try," I muttered, pulling my thin coat tighter around my shoulders. "I've been broken by worse people than them."

Two hours later, after a long bath, I was sitting on the bed in my new room when a servant brought in a tray of hot soup and fresh bread. My stomach rumbled loudly, but as I reached for the spoon, my nose caught a strange, sweet scent hiding under the smell of the meat.

Sweet-root. A dangerous poison that paralyzed a wolf's muscles for days.

My heart dropped into my stomach. Someone was trying to stop me before the trials even started. But before I could throw the bowl away, the heavy oak door of my room swung open, and three tall guards stepped inside with their swords already drawn.

"Valeria of the Bloodmoon Pack," the lead guard barked, his face pale and serious. "By order of the Elder Council, you are under arrest for the murder of Lady Lyra."