That made us laugh even harder.
Leave it in Ryder to remember the exact price of his shoes in a moment like this
A lead crackle filled the air as speakers around the competition grounds came to life.
“Attention all participants. The third trial has concluded. All empetitors must gather at the main stage immediately”
Our laughter died as reality set in. We’d survived, but we still didn’t know if we’d advanced to the finals. We weren’t allowed to bring watches i competition, and in the maze, there had been no sense of real time.
We made our way back to the main yes, join the cd of wolves gathering before the elevated stage. Elder Selene stood at the center, her siber catching the afternoon ligt. Her expression remained neutral as she surveyed the assembled parks.
“The third trial tested your ability to overcome illusion and deception,” she began, “Only those who could see through the maze’s tricks and maintain their true purpose could succeed.”
She paused, then announced:
ロー
“Five packs have proven worthy to advance to the final round of the Alpha King Election.” Her voice took on a formal tone. Alpha Rodrigo of fromwater
Pack.”
Applause erupted from one section of the crowd. Rodrigo stepped forward. If I didn’t know he was the one who had hurt Lydia, I might have been fooled by his serious and dignified appearance.
Alpha Leon of Frostshadow Park”
More applause, Lean moved with confident grace, every inch the alpha prince he’d been raised to be.
Alpha Maxwell of Stormhoul Pack”
My jaw tightened as my uncle’s name was called. He smirked in my direction before taking his place.
Alpha Xavier of Silverscreen Pack”
The youngest section of the crowd went wild. Xavier waved like the celebrity he fashioned himself to be..
Elder Selene’s eyes found mine across the crowd. My team and I were still making our way through the mass of wolves, having arrived last from our position
near the maze exit.
And finally, she announced as we reached the stage area, “Alpha Adrian of Oasisbon Pack.”
The silence was deafening.
Then the whispers started, rippling through the crowd like wind through Iravens,
“Gasshom Pack? How is this possible?
“Must have been pure luck. No way they beat exjablished parka on merit,”
I heard they’ve only been established for two years. This has to be a mistake,”
“Desert wolves in the Alpha King competition? What’s best,
I kept my expression neutral, but I could feel the weight of hundreds of skeptical stares
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The other advancing alphas studied me with varying expressions.
Xavier clapped loudly for me, calling mit “Well done, Alpha Adelant
But Leon, Mayer, and Rodrigo looked at me like 1 was prry that had somehow escaped the hunt. Their eyes promised that wouldn’t happen resin
Maxwell gate was particularly venomous. My uncle had clearly not expected me in
Elder Selene raised her band, and the whispers died instantly,
this far,
“Silence,” she commanded. The trials judge worthiness, not reputation. These five
or packs have earned their place.”
She continued. “The Alpha King has ranged for all advancing packs to enjoy the Spirit Spring. This is no onlinary hot spring. Its waters carry ancient healing properties that will restore your wounds and replenish your strength for next week’s final trial.”
Excited mums replaced the earlier skepticians..
The Spirit Spring was legendary, available only during Alpha King competitions. Its waters could heal even serious injuries overnight.
Elder Selene turned to leave the stage, her duty done. But Ryder’s voice stopped her.
Tider Selene!”
he paused, turning back with raised eyebrows. The crowd’s attention shifted to my young warrior.
She
“My shoe,” Ryder said with complete seriousness. “I lost it in the maze. I need the Council to retum it to me.”
The silence this time was different. Shocked. Incredulous. In this formal setting, with the weight of the Alpha King Election hanging over us, Ryder was worried about footwear.
Several alphas actually laughed. Not kind laughter, but the mocking kind that said we didn’t belong here.
How could we be serious competition if our warrior’s biggest concern was a missing shoe?.
Elder Selene’s expression didn’t change, but I caught the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. “I will have someone search for your shoe, young warrior.”
“Thank you, Elder.” Ryder said with obvious relief.
As the crowd began to disperse, I noticed a familiar figure approaching. My mother moved through the crowd with the grace that had made her a respected Luna in two different packs.
Her eyes found mine, and for the first time in years, I saw genuine pride there.
“Adrian,” she said softly when she reached us. “Congratulations. You’ve done well.”
The sincerity in her voice caught me off guard. Since I’d left Stormbowl Peck, our communications had been mi
mal and strained.
“Thank you,” I managed
She glanced at my team, her gaze lingering on Skye, I was hoping we could talk tomorrow. All of us.” She looked between Skye and me meaningfully. There are things that should be discussed.”
The nightmare from the maze mashed through my mind. My mother’s tears. Her helplessness. The fear that I was walking the same path as my father.
“Alright.” I agreed. “Tontorrow”
She led, a real sulle that reminded me of better time, then disappeared hack into the crowd.
As we made our way toward the hotel, the weight of what had just happened settled over me. We made it to the finals, but barely-
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“Thank you,” I said suddenly, stopping in the middle of the path. My team turned to look at me. “I mean it. If you hadn’t come for me in that me, I don’t think I would have made it through “
“That’s what pack does,” Lydia said simply.
Still, I insisted. Thank you”
We resumed walking, and curiosity got the better of me. “Ime
dal you two break free from the illations? Ryder? Lyda?
“What about you, Ryder?” I asked.
Ivdia spoke first. “My witch bloodline gives me some resistance to mental manipulation. Once I recognited the pattern, I realized the pollen from those flowers and the powder on the butterfly wings had hallucinogenic properties. After that, beecking free was simply a matter of will “
He
e shrugged, suddenly locking embarrassed. “My illusion was But then Lydia woke me up.”
bad. I was just back at Danishorn Park, training with everyone. It felt so mal, so happy.
His simple words hit harder than he probably intended. For Ryder, paradise wasn’t glory or power or escape. It was home, with his park
Finally, I turned to Skye, She’d been quiet since we’d left the stage, and I’d been
“What about you? How did you break free from the maze’s illusion?”
She
n avoiding asking her about her experience. But I needed to know.
e met my eyes, and something flickered in those green depths. An emotion I couldn’t quite read.
“Leon woke me up,” she said simply.
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