Chapter 24 The Three trials 1

Chapter 24: Chapter 24 The Three trials 1

Talia’s POV

When I woke up, the fire had died, and the room was cold. Kaelen was gone as usual, and his blanket was folded on the floor, just like every morning.

I lay there for a moment longer, staring at the ceiling. My body was heavy, but my mind was already racing, as last night’s conversation echoed in my head.

’I am not your enemy. Then stay, and find out.’

I did not know what he wanted from me, and I did not know why he cared.

But I did not have time to think about it.

I sat up and saw a tray of food on the desk, and I moved towards it. There was the regular bread, cheese, and cup of water. But I saw another cup that was steaming with something hot, and when I looked into it, I saw that it contained hot chocolate.

My eyes became teary, because I had only ever seen Celeste drink hot chocolate tea, but I had never tasted it, even though we had the same father.

Those words, the same father, tasted bitter in my mouth. He had given Celeste everything, from warm drinks to soft beds to a future. But he gave me nothing but silence, and a storage room.

Now I was drinking hot chocolate in an Alpha’s room. Life was strange, and cruel, and sometimes, a little kind.

Before I ate breakfast, I took a quick shower and changed into one of the new dresses. It was another gray one, because it was simple and did not draw attention.

I sat at the desk and ate slowly, staring at the wall. The bread was fresh, and the cheese was soft, and I thought about how I had never eaten so well before coming here.

When I finished eating, I thought about going out and exploring a new part of the pack land. But my feet felt heavy, and my chest felt tight because the whispers would be waiting for me, the stares would resume, and the judgment would continue.

But even with all of that, I knew I could not stay in this room forever.

I took a breath and walked to the door.

But before I could open it, a knock came.

"Miss, are you awake?" a servant’s voice called. "Alpha Aldric requests your presence. He will see you in his study."

My stomach clenched, and I opened the door.

"Now?" I asked.

"Yes, miss," the servant answered.

I took a silent breath and followed her through the hallways. We went left, then right, then up a flight of stairs. I had walked this path before, but my feet still felt heavy.

The servant stopped in front of the large wooden doors.

"He is inside," she said.

She opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

Aldric was sitting behind his desk when I walked in.

The fire was burning in the hearth, and the room was warm. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with old scrolls and leather-bound books, and the smell of paper and wood filled the air.

He looked up when I entered. His gray eyes were sharp, but his face was calm.

"Talia," he said. "Sit."

"Good morning, sir," I greeted.

"Hmmm," was all he answered, as he sat down.

I sat in the chair across from his desk, and my hands were shaking, but I pressed them flat against my thighs.

"You are wondering why I called you here," he said.

"Yes, sir," I answered.

He leaned back in his chair and studied me for a long moment.

"The Luna Trials," he said. "It is time you understood what they are."

My heart pounded, but I kept my face still and said nothing.

"There are three trials," Aldric said. "The Trial of the Mind. The Trial of the Heart. And the Trial of the Wolf."

He held up one finger.

"The Trial of the Mind will test your intelligence, your strategy, and your ability to think under pressure."

He held up a second finger.

"The Trial of the Heart will test your loyalty, your courage, and your willingness to sacrifice for the pack."

He held up a third finger.

"And the Trial of the Wolf will test your strength, your power, and your ability to shift and control your wolf."

I swallowed hard, and thought about shifting.

I could not shift while wearing the glamour charm.

If the charm broke, or I took it off, everything would change. They would see my real face, they would see my mother’s face, and they would ask questions I could not answer.

’What was I hiding? Why was I hiding it? Who was I really?’

I did not know if I was ready for those questions. But the trials would not wait.

Aldric was watching me. "Do you understand so far, child?"

"Yes, sir," I said. "I understand all three trials."

"The first trial begins in one month," he said. "You will have one year to complete all three."

One month to start, and one year to complete all, I repeated in my mind.

I did not know if that was enough time, and I did not know if I was ready.