This chapter is written from Raelyn's POV

I toss and turn for most of the night, though I'm unsure why I'm so on edge. As Harla promised, Dante doesn't show his face, but I miss Kendrick's warm body beside me. In his presence, I feel safe. He is kind and considerate, and he makes me smile. A plug for the gaping hole in my heart, torn by betrayal and deceit.

Even though most of the days I'm convinced we are true mates, doubt gnaws at me from time to time. Like when I caught him with Rikka in the stream. Sure, he got her off him quite fast, but that didn't erase the brief moment of pleasure I could sense even from a distance. Not sure if he had still been so eager to stop her advances if I wasn't around to discover the truth.

About an hour before dawn, I roll out of bed and stroll into the kitchen. I'm the first one up. Turning on the coffee maker, I watch how the bubbling water runs through the filter. The scent stimulates my taste buds. The dinner portions last night were by far not enough, at least for us females. As the males were grabbing second helpings, we were starting at the empty plates. Another way to keep us down.

"Hey, you're up early."

I spin around, coming face to face with Jos.

"So are you."

"I couldn't sleep." Yawning, he runs his fingers through his hair.

"Are you nervous about the Trials?"

"Terrified is more like it." His smile is slow. "No matter what Dante says, I consider Cassum a real threat. Have you ever seen the size of her wolf? It's massive."

"I know. I trained with her these last few months."

"You know that night—when we came for you. I didn't want to do it, but my father forced me. He was going to banish me if I refused."

"I figured it was something like that."

Awkward silence settles over the kitchen. I avoid his gaze while he keeps staring at me.

"I've had this dream about you. We were in the woods, as wolves, and. . ."

When his words trail off, I look up. Red creeps up his face.

"And what?"

"We—we had relations. As wolves, I mean. Isn't that crazy?"

"No, it's not. I'm not sure what happened to your memory when Adrenior touched you, but that night in the woods, that's real. It was the day before my claiming ceremony with Dante."

"You mean we had sex?"

The words are filled with accusation. "I didn't know that my future mate was your brother."

"Still. You knew you would be claimed not even twenty-four hours after we did it. Doesn't sound right to me."

My gaze cuts into him. "Are you judging me?"

"Sorry, that came out wrong."

His statement doesn't make his earlier words go down any easier. "There is more. Even after Dante claimed me, you continued to pursue me. We used to go to that cabin in the woods."

"I told you I don't remember the cabin."

"You even gave me drops, so I could hide your scent from Dante."

He squints at me. "I did?"

"And you used to be my only friend. When they made me burn my necklace, you pulled it out of the fire before it could be destroyed. You stayed with me when I was banished to the barn, always reassuring me that things will be fine." Sudden tears shoot in my eyes. "It hurt when I lost you." And it hurt when Marco nearly killed me and he stood idly by without doing anything.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember any of that."

I set my hand on his chest, right over his heart. "There was a time I thought you and I were true mates."

"And now?"

"I'm not sure. Kendrick thinks we are true mates—and honestly, I think so, too—but then there are these moments. . ."

Sudden sweat pours down my forehead and into my eyes. I blink. A burst of energy sizzles on my skin as if I were connected to a power outlet. My palm on Jos's chest jerks.

He jumps back. "What the hell are you doing?"

I blink again and the world regains its focus. "I—I don't know."

"You were burning me. Look." He unbuttons his shirt. My hand has left a deep red imprint on his skin.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—"

He raises his hand as if trying to stop me from making excuses. "Those warlocks messed you up. You should tell Kendrick. Maybe he can force them to fix it."

"I'll make sure to talk to him." I sip from my cup to get over the sudden hostility spreading in the kitchen. The coffee has gotten cold and stale. "I should try to get some more rest."

As I take flight, he grumbles a few inaudible words under his breath. Up in my room, I drop on the bed. What the hell is wrong with me? I rub my palms together, but even then, my skin doesn't heat to a point where it could burn someone.

Rummaging through the dresser, I find the pair of socks that hide my necklace. I polish over the gold with a corner of the comforter. The grime from the fire comes right off. The pendant doesn't appear burned at all.

"This is so weird."

Even after I crawl into bed and curl into a ball, sleep evades me. Snippets of long forgotten memories chase around in my head.

My mother clutching me against her chest as my father yells at her that I'm an abomination. The elders of my native pack chanting over me before one of them insists that my dad gets rid of me. My sister Chloe being punished for roughhousing when our play left a scratch mark on her cheek, even though it was clearly my fault.

None of these memories make sense. I don't even consciously recall them as being real.

When Harla calls me from downstairs, I jerk up in the bed, rubbing my eyes. Maybe I did go to sleep and those were nightmares. Yet, I feel so exhausted that I couldn't have dozed off for long.

I get dressed and wander downstairs. During breakfast, I push the food around on my plate; my appetite has vanished. The silence is pressing. Dante broods next to his father. Jos didn't even bother to show up. Lance glares at Cassum like he's contemplating tearing out her throat himself.

I jump up as soon as the Alpha declares the meal to be over. Heading outside, the frigid air clears my head. With the necklace clutched in my fist, I head over to the main clearing to find Kendrick. Harla catches up with me just before I turn the last corner.

"Are you feeling alright? You barely ate."

"I guess I'm nervous."

She offers me a fond smile. "Things will work out for Dante in the Trials. You'll see."

I nod absentmindedly, my gaze searching the field for Kendrick. He, Nicollo, and the warlocks have settled at the other end. "I should check on our visitors to ensure they have everything they need."

Harla doesn't look sold on the idea but then agrees with a brief bow of her head. I walk over to them. Kendrick greets me with the biggest grin.

I glance back at Harla who has taken a seat on one of the tree stumps. She's watching us. "Can't stay long, but I convinced Harla that I should check on you to ensure you have everything you need."

Kendrick sniffs me, glaring at my mate mark. It makes me incredibly uncomfortable, as if I should justify myself. It's not my fault that my nature is drawn to her mate. "I didn't share a bed with him."

My words find his approval and he smiles. "How are they treating you?"

"Really odd. Everyone pretends as if nothing happened. They made a big fuss over how I got my tongue back and the Alpha asked me a bunch of questions about the warlocks, but otherwise, it was as if I never left. The Luna even brought all my things down from the attic and helped me put them back into my closet. I think they honestly believe Dante will win the Trials and I'll stay with him."

"I hate being apart from you."

Dark circles under his eyes and the strain in his voice reflect his worry. On one hand, it's comforting that he cares so much, but on the other hand, I sense a good dosage of mistrust. "You do look a little tired." I pull the necklace out of the pocket of my dress. "Here, can you keep this for me? I don't want them to find it."

He stretches out his hand, but Andrenior reaches for it in the next breath. "Where did you get this?"

I frown at him. Why is he always so nosy? "It was a present from my grandma."

Trying to steal it out of his hand, I'm unsuccessful when he holds it up way above his head.

"Rikka, come and look at this."

The witch walks over to inspect the necklace. With her thumb, she cleans the last of the soot residue off the moonstone. "The signs carved into the moon represent the five powers of the Sentinels and the stone looks like it could be one of the sacred ones."

Andrenior shoots me this look as if I were a thief, caught in the act. "She said her grandma gave it to her as a gift."

Rikka's glare mirrors Andrenior's. It's obvious they think I'm lying. "Well, technically, my mother gave it to me on the day of my claiming ceremony with Dante, but she said my grandma had it made for me when I was born."

"Then your mother lied to you. This necklace is thousands of years old and likely belongs to one of the Sentinels. I'm afraid I can't give it back."

I'm about to protest when Kendrick twists Rikka's arm until she drops the necklace. He picks it up. "I'll hold on to this until we can determine proper ownership."

Rikka looks like she's about to attack him, raising her arms to her sides. Before she gets a chance to use her hands as weapons, Andrenior takes control of the situation by stepping in front of her. "Not here and now. I think Kendrick is right—we need to investigate this further." His gaze flicks to me. "Where is your mother now?"

I hesitate, not sure why he wants to know. "Her pack borders with this territory in the South."

"Then lets go and visit her."

Kendrick snorts. "Now? Fuck, no. The Trials are about to start. I can't leave Cassum."

"We don't need you. Raelyn, Rikka, and I will be fine on our own."

My smile is crooked. No way I'm going to take off with them without backup.

Kendrick flashes his teeth at Andrenior. "We can go once the Trials are over. I'm sure a few days won't make a difference."

The tension sits heavy in the air. The young warlock's glare runs over Kendrick's frame, undoubtedly to determine the strength of his opponent. This will turn ugly. I saw with Jos what he is capable of, and Kendrick will be better fared to avoid a confrontation. Maybe I should just offer to go with him and visit my mom to avoid a huge fight.

Kendrick is all smiles. "Look, you said you wanted to be by Cassum's side through the Trials. Are you going back on your word after she saved your life?"

I let out a shaky breath. Luckily, he knows how to defuse a situation.

Andrenior rolls his eyes. "I guess we can visit Raelyn's mother after this is over."

Proud that Kendrick stuck to his guns without the need of a big fight, I brush a kiss on his cheek. "Please, just hold on to the necklace and watch out. I don't trust the warlocks, especially Rikka."

She's ruthless and has yet to miss an opportunity to steal Kendrick from me. Not sure if he's ignorant of her advances or has some ulterior motive for keeping her around.

"Don't worry. I'll keep a close eye on them."

I head back to Harla who cuts into me as soon as I drop next to her on the tree stump.

"Unacceptable. As future Luna, you can't go around and kiss a wolf who is not your mate. What were you thinking?"

I drop my gaze. No matter what I say, it won't justify my actions.

"The next time, consider appearances. And I feel it's best if you have no more contact with our visitors. This is a difficult time for Dante and he doesn't need the added worry of an unfaithful mate."

I bite back a sharp reply that would remind her that I'm constantly measured by a different standard. It took ages before she complained to the Alpha when Dante was cheating on me.

As soon as the Alpha walks up, silence settles over the pack. His sons are graced with a rare smile. Turning, his glare cuts into Cassum. He would probably kill her on the spot if the rules allowed it. "Cassum Raynes has rightfully called for Trials and challenged the leadership of this pack. As the first task, all three candidates will hunt to prove that they can provide for this pack. Go now."

Dante, Jos and Cassum disappear in the woods. Minutes turn into half an hour, then an hour. There is nothing to do but wait, and every time I divert my gaze to the other end of the clearing, Kendrick is staring at me. I'm tempted to walk over to him to ask him to stop, but I'm afraid of what Harla might do if I disobey her. Sitting rigid on the stump and looking at the trees where my mate has vanished is all I can do.

Dante is the first to return. He brings back a huge deer and my wolf hums with pride. Her victory is cut short when Jos steps out of the woods, tossing an elk at the Alpha's feet. It's bigger than Dante's prey, so he's in the lead. When Harla gasps, I raise my head to find Cassum dragging a moose behind her. She's the winner of this initial test, and the grin on her blood smudged face leaves no doubt that she expected it.

The Alpha turns to the pack. "Cassum Raynes will be allowed to choose whom of my sons she'll challenge first."

Cassum only needs a couple of breaths to decide. "I'll take Jos." She shifts and bares her fangs.

I tighten my fists, leaning closer not to miss a second of the fight. I didn't want Jos to go first. Though if I'm truthful, I didn't want him to go at all. He isn't ready and he wouldn't have chosen to enter the Trials if his father hadn't pressured him. Being an Alpha was never important to him. And the one time he mentioned he'd challenge Dante was nothing but rebellious talk.

Blood floods my mouth and I gag. Crap, I chewed my lip raw. It's the only thing I can do to stop me from screaming. Jos is not a bad male. Not standing up to his father and fighting his ridiculous demands is his one fault, and now, it'll cost him his life. It's not fair.

Jos frowns at Cassum's wolf but doesn't shift. She snaps at him, missing his leg by mere inches. She's crouched low, ready for the attack. My stomach cramps. He doesn't stand a chance.

All of a sudden, he drops down on one knee in front of his father. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to fight her. Trying to become the Alpha of this pack is not worth my life."

The Alpha glares at him. "Coward."

Jos snorts, rising to his feet. "You are the coward. Not only did you cheat on your mate, but you killed my mother just after giving birth, not even affording her a chance to defend herself. I don't owe you any loyalty." He scans over the faces of the gathered wolves. "This is not my pack."

Shifting, he dives into the forest. I blink, uncertain what to do. A part of me wants to follow him, the part that feels an obligation to him for a time he has long forgotten. My wolf roars loudly in my chest—she insists on staying with her mate. I glance at Kendrick. Except for my human boyfriend Eric, he's the only male who has ever respected me for who I am. Not once has he pressured me to change. For that alone, I owe him my loyalty, even if I'm still not certain we are true mates.

Snow flurries brush across my face; they are like a wake-up call. My focus shifts to my mate. Dante has transformed into his black wolf, facing Cassum with bared fangs. The danger to his life burns on my tongue like salt in an open wound. Howling, my wolf rises to stand with her mate—and when she breaks through my skins, there's no longer a way of stopping her.

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© Sally Mason 2018

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