Adrian’s POV
-1 pressed my palm against the ghee reprinting ni, hudration and fear battling within the
-If Maya changed the messige, 11 never goes the right code.”
“Jest Try one more time, Skye pleaded. Please
I shook my head, my decision already made. I’m not risking
Despite her continord protests, 1 strode to the red button on the wall, My heart thundered in my chest an I slammed door to immediately swing open
Nothing happened.
I pressed it again. Then again. The door remained sealed tight, with Skye still trapped inside.
tagainst It, expecting the oven.
“What the hell” Confusion washed over me as I glanced between the button and the oven. The countdown timer continned its merciless descent; thirty seconds remaining.
Skye’s expression shifted from p
panic to curiosity. “Maybe it unlocks automatically when the trial ends?”
My wolf bristled beneath my skin, instincts screaming that something was very wrong. “No. This isn’t right.”
I rushed back to the oven, pressing my face close to the glass. “Im not waiting another second with you in that damn oven!”
I gestured for her to move back, and once she’d pressed herself against the far wall, I threw my shoulder against the door. The impact sent shockwaves through my body, but the door didn’t budge. I tried again, then again, each attempt more desperate than the last.
The room offered nothing I could use as a tool–no chair, no metal object, nothing to break the glass. Ten seconds remained on the timer.
“Stand back,” I growled, no longer caring about the rules.
My massive gray wolf lunged at the door, expecting the glass to shatter under my weight..
Instead, I bounced off, the impact jarring my skull. The glass clearly not ordinary glass remained intact without even a crack
The timer on the wall froze at zero, and in that same moment, the lights inside the oven flickered to life with an ominous orange glow. Heat. The oven was activating.
No!
Skye’s hands flew to her head as the temperature began to rise. I could see beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. Terror unlike anything I’d ever known gripped me. I threw myself against the door again and again, my wolf howling in desperation as blood from my injuries smeared the glass.
The door to the room burst open, and Ryder rushed in, his eyes widening at the scene before him.
Without besitation, Ryder joined me, and together we slammed into the oven door. The reinforced glass finally gave way with a shattering crack, and I rushed forward to pull Skye from the heat.
Her skin fell hot to the touch, and angry red buchs marked her exposed arms. My wolf whimpered at the sight of her injuries, the scent of burned flesh making my stomach turn.
I shifted back to human form, heedless of my nakedness, and immediately mind–linked our pack healer.
Lydia, Skye’s injured, Barne
1/3
Chapter 1919
De meticubes, I barked at Ryder, who redded
When be returned moments later with a spare shirt and pants, I dressed quickly, then gathered thye bile my ama
“letting her go.
I’m taking you to Lydia,” I told ri, my velce leaving on room the argument. Her skin was still too hot against mine, and I could feel hel trevoding d
By the time we reached the main hall, tron’s team was already there, clustered together in apparent celebration.
Uron’s eyes widened when he saw Skye in my arms, her burned skin visible despite my attempts in shield her from view
“What happened to her?” he demanded, striding toward un.
ignoring him completely, I manched directly to the host, who stand at the center of the hall with his clipboard
“Why the hell didn’t that forfeit button wink?” 1 maled, fury lately contained. “You nearly killed her!
The host’s expression remained neutral, almost bored. “Vini’ne certain you pressed the button? I received no forfeit signal from your team”
I pressed it. Multiple times.” My voice dropped dangerously low. “And now my Beta is injured because of your malfunction.”
“I regret the injury to your Beta,” he replied, not sounding regretful at all, but I received no forfeit signal. You were all informed before participating that Injuries and even death are possible outcomes in these trials. We bear no responsibility.
My wall surged forward, demanding retribution, and I barely kept him contained. Skye’s hand tightened on my arm, grounding me.
“He’s right,” Leon interjected, his tone dripping with mockery. “But why would you peed to forfeit anyway? I specifically told Maya not to tamper with the message before the trial.” He turned to me with an arrogant smirk, “Couldn’t figure out your own pack member’s code?
Maya stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. I just delivered it a few minutes late to make you sweat. I never touched what was inside the envelope. If you’re too stupid to solve a simple puzzle, that’s hardly my fault.”
I stared at her in disbelief “That’s impossible.”
Shifting Skye carefully in my arms, I pulled the crumpled paper from my pocket and handed it to Ryder. “Is this your musical notation? Was the code
Ryder examined the paper, his brow furrowed. “Yes, absolutely. That’s exactly what I drew, and that’s the correct code.”
1 turned back to the host. “Something isn’t right. If the code was correct, I should have been able to open the oven. And when I tried to forfeit, the button didn’t work. I want answers.
For the first time, the host looked troubled. Tll have someone investigate mediately.”
Before he could say more, Elder Selene’s voice echoed through the hall over the speaker system. “All participants, please gather in the main auditorium. The results of the Wisdom Trial will be announced shortly.”
“Go.” Skye whispered, her voice pained. Tll be fine with Lydia.”
her to Lydia’s care. I pressed my lips against her forehead. “This isn t over”
“Ill be back for you as soon as I can, I promised, reluctantly transferring her to
Ryder and I made our way to the auditorium, my mind racing with suspicions. Something had gone very wrong in that trial room–something that felt deliberate rather than accidental.
The auditorium buzzed with tension as Elder Selene took the stage. Her ancient eyes swept petoss the gathered Alpha before she unfolded a stroll
“The following eleven Alphas have successfully completed the Wisdom Trial and will advance to the next stage of the Alpha King Election,” she announced, her voice carrying throughout the hall.
Name after name was
ne was called, each met with cheers from their supporters. I waited, my hands clenching into fists.
2/3
Chapter 131
When the eleventh and final name was called -and it an 1 mine – I them with rold certainty that we had heen sabotaged.
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