I woke to the gentle sound of a tray being set down beside my bed. Blinking away sleep. I found Adrian arranging breakfart–dech di Steaming coffee on the nightstand
The aroma of freshly brewed roller filled the mom, enticing me to sit up.
“Gand morning.” he said, his voice warm as he noticed me stirring. “Sleep well?”
Glancing at the clock. I bolted upright. Nine thirty? Why did you take me? I was supposed to train with Ryder and Lydia this morning
Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, pour coller in
iwio a mug beloste handing it evident in his eyes. “1 thought you needed the rest moir than
que. You were having nightmares last night,” he explained, concem
I accepted the coffee gratefully, trying to recall the dreams that had apparently disturbed my sleep. Only fragments remained–water, darkness, and of desperate searching. The allermath of our underwater trial, in doubt.
“Did I say anything?” I asked, reaching for a pastry-
Adrian shook his head: “Just thrashing and mumbling. You calmed down when I held you,”
The thought of Adrian watching over me through the night brought warmth to my checks.
sly finished my breakfast when my phone rang, an unknown mumber flashing on the screen, with slight hesitation, I answered.
Td barely
“Hello!”
Hello, little warrior
My heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice and nickname that only one person had ever used.
“Dad?” I whispered, hardly believing my ears.
“The one and only,” he replied, his deep voice filled with a warmth I’d missed desperately. “Your mother told me you called. I had to hear your voice for
Tears pricked my eyes as I gripped the phone tighter. “It’s so good to hear you.”
“Look at you now,” he continued, pride evident in his tome. A true warrior after all. My daughter, the Beta of Oasisbon Pack. I always knew you had it in
you.”
1 still carry Tink everywhere,” I told him, referring to the dagger hed gifted m flute–1 handy ever play it. Guess I don’t have much musical talent.”
birthday. “It’s saved my life more than once. Unlike Ethan’s bone
My father’s chuckle rumbled through the phone. “You always were more warrior than musician. His voice softened. “These past years, they must have been difficult for you.”
“I managed,” I said, not wanting to worry him with details of my struggles
“Do you remember what I told you when I gave you Tink?” he asked.
I smiled at the memory. “You said you hoped I never need to use it. But Dad, I couldn’t live under your protection forever. I needed to find my own way.” I glanced at Adrian, who was quietly gathering the breakfast dishes. “I’m doing well now, I promise.”
“Whatever path you chose, I respect it, my father said solemnly. “But I cant help worrying about this Alpha days…”
a King election. The second
trial is in tw
You participated in the Alpha King election with Alpha James, didn’t you?” I ended him. “You made it through the second trial.
1/3
Chapter 124
There was a hay pause before he triponded, “We did, but it war.
on speakri.
Bad, can you tell us about this Seesaw game? My trom is here listening
taking
The setup is deceptively simple, my father began,
it is a lent bram with metal boxes – about four square meters each
mum quality. “A mantive stone be edge of a cliff acts as a fulcrums. attached to either end. Each team is locked inside one of the frees.
Texchanged concrined glaners with Adrian as my father continued
The floor of each box is made of wir meth – not tight enough in prmida talid fasting, but enough to hold your weight. Through it, you can and nothing but wir beneath you and the deadly drop to the torks belme,”
Ryder let out a low whistle, but remained silent as my father describied the challenge.
“A clock starts ticking. Survive balanced the seesaw for ten minutes, and your tram pautes the trial. But immediately, our box begin to tip downwind.”
What happened?” Lydia asked, her eyes named in concentration.
“The opposing team was shedding weight,” my
my father explained. “They w clothes. To counter, we had to do the same.”
were dropping everything through the meth floor–equipment, weapons, even their
His voice grew heavier. In the final minutes, one of our warriors. he tore off his own arm and dropped it through the mesh to Tighten our side. We won the narrowest margin. The other team all fell, suffering severe injuries.”
A horrified silence filled the room. Ryder’s face had paled, while Adrian’s jaw tightened with tension.
“It seems victory demands a terrible price, Ryder finally said, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by somber realization.
My father’s heavy sigh came through the speaker. “That’s just it–there was no need for any price at all.”
We all leaned forward in surprise.
“What do you mean?” Lasked.
“If both teams had simply remained still–if no one had panicked and started dropping items–both boses would have stayed perfectly balanced for the entire ten minutes. Both teams would have passed.
The revelation hit us like a physical blow, So simple, yet so easily merlooked when fear takes hold.
But in that moment of crisis, with the timer counting down and your life seemingly hanging in the hullance, cooperation is the last thing on anyone’s mind,”
father continued. “Fear makes enemies of potential allies. Panic clouds judgment.”
Adrian nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. “The trial isn’t testing physical strength at all”
“Exactly,” my father confirmed. ‘Calm minds and cooperation–thats the true key to the wisdom trial. But competition and fear make people lose their ability to think clearly and trust others.”
Thank you for this insight, Adrian said earnestly. “It could save lives. I promise you, no matter what happens, I’ll protect Skye with my
“Not with your life, young Alpha,” my father corrected gently. “With your wisdom. That will serve her far better.”
