Semua Bab Luna's Calling: Marked Through Trials: Bab 81 - Bab 90

ErsaThe sight of a strange horse tied outside the cottage was the first sign. Then, the undeniable scent hit me: Alpha Sano was inside.Lyanna and I exchanged a reluctant glance and entered. There, seated on the small sofa that looked ridiculously undersized for his large frame, was the Alpha, handsome despite the awkwardness of the setting.“Alpha,” Lyanna greeted, her voice was completely formal.“Don’t be alarmed,” he replied, a hint of dry humor in his voice. “I was merely checking on your accommodations. My primary business is with Ronan. Are you both settling in comfortably here?”“Perfectly,” Lyanna confirmed, her eyes flicking toward me in a silent, urgent demand for agreement.“Yes, absolutely,” I echoed, meeting the Alpha with a deliberately blank expression that seemed to momentarily baffle him.He rose from the small sofa, his height dominating the room, and glanced out the window. “I see you’ve managed to acquire some reliable transportation.”“Yes, the locals were quite

Lyanna“Whatever do you mean by that, Alpha?” I demanded, my voice sharp with sudden fury. I was completely enraged that he had unilaterally made such a massive decision about my life.The Alpha remained unfazed. “Exactly what I mean. You are to finalize your bond with Theo. I will immediately speak with the Duke and Duchess to arrange—”I slammed my hand down on the large wooden table, the loud thwack echoing in the sudden silence. It was absolutely improper for a noble lady, but I didn't care. “By what right are you deciding this for me?”“We are only concerned for your well-being, Lyanna. You have been searching for your mate for years to end the Fading, and now he is right here.”I glanced toward Theo, who sat in stunned silence. An illegitimate son of the Thorne family, and he had the audacity to lie about his wealth. I despised liars.I clenched my jaw, the decision firm in my mind. I would not accept him, not under this pressure, and certainly not through the Alpha's forceful d

ErsaWhen Eve lunged with a kick, I reacted instantly, blocking the strike with my forearm. Using the momentum of her own attack, I twisted and threw her with all my strength. She landed a short distance away with a spectacular splash of mud and water.She was incredibly persistent. She immediately scrambled up, wiping the muck from her face, and prepared to charge again. This time, Lyanna intercepted her, grabbing her arm and twisting it behind her back, then kicking the back of Eve’s knee to force her down.“You seem to be forgetting someone,” Lyanna ground out. But Eve was quick, twisting her body and sharply elbowing Lyanna’s thigh, causing Lyanna to cry out in surprise and release her grip.“Damn,” I muttered, genuinely impressed by Eve’s fighting skill. It made me realize how easily Lyanna had incapacitated her before. Ah, the wine.I glanced toward the Alpha, hoping he would call an end to this vicious exercise, but he watched with a cold, detached stare. I diverted my eyes to

ErsaOnce the Trial concluded, we were ushered back to the receiving room, sitting in a tense, suffocating quiet to await the final pronouncement. Despite my strategic defense, the uncertainty of a Prefect-determined verdict gnawed at me. I told myself I had answered impeccably, but the true stakes were too high for comfort.Lyanna’s failure, however, was a certainty. I glanced at her; her head was bowed, her expression distant, as if already contemplating a life beyond the competition.The waiting finally ended. We were called back into the formal chamber, and the three of us stood facing the Prefects once more. I clenched my jaw, feeling the familiar pressure as Orpheus stepped forward.“I have summoned you to declare the final judgment for today’s Trial,” he announced, his voice imbued with the gravity of a magistrate.“First, Ms. Everine Throne, you are cleared of the charges and successfully completed the Second Trial.”A sharp, almost wounded sigh of relief escaped Eve’s lips.“

Ersa“To what do I owe this honor?” Orpheus asked, aiming a mocking smile at me as he paused securing the last of his luggage.I glared at him. “You lied to me. You claimed you didn't know him.”Rose had just confirmed the Rogue leader's name was Gaven. The idea was almost comical: the well-known Beta Gaven, a figure of high standing, has the same name with the Phantom Alpha.“I’m a well-known liar, Ersa. The baffling part is that you still chose to believe me when my deception suited your survival.” He dismissed my genuine concern with a shrug.I clenched my fists, shaking with frustration. Why were they all playing these cruel, dangerous games with me? Him, Rose, and most infuriatingly, the unseen Phantom Alpha."Who is he, really?" I pressed.“If Rose hasn’t been privileged with that sensitive information, I certainly haven’t,” he drawled, glancing at his wrist. “Anyway, I wish you luck and a fond farewell. Or perhaps, merely a brief intermission?”“Why would you get involved with