"You are as tough as Bear or Lukai. You can win as much as they can, if you give the effort."
She looked over his shoulder to where Stephen had disappeared to, "I need to speak to Stephen about what he heard. I will see you in two days time Dominik. Good luck."
She excused herself and left, following Stephen's trail to his room. She found him there, catching him off guard as all her daily training lessons came into effect, shoving him into the ground and pinning him, then wrenching back his arms till it hurt.
"What did you hear?" she growled, "tell me or I'll kill you here and now."
It was an empty threat but he didn't need to know that."
"I know who you are," he laughed, then cried in pain when she pulled harder, "I know who you really are. Who you are pretending to be."
Kayden's face went dark, "I wouldn't be laughing if I were you."
~
Kayden had no choice but to bring him to Issac. Christian and Gareth weren't called for, just Issac. Her father promised to handle it, and that she should be more careful, then dismissed her. From all Kayden could guess, Issac would either swear him to secrecy, or worse make him forget. To change any wolf's memory was a power only Alpha's held, but it took immense amounts of time and strength. He couldn't just erase it. He had to order Stephen to remember every second of the memory differently, which meant sitting through and analyzing every inch of the memory.
As for Kayden she decided it was best to stay hidden. Dominik was confused about her, Stephen was in more trouble than ever, and the last thing she needed was for "Katerina" to make matter worse. Kayden didn't surface till the day of the Trial, when the pack began to filter into the Pit, and Katerina was already there on the throne seat, alone. The candidates were there too, waiting.
Once everyone had settled her voice boomed through the room, "The third Trial shall be of strength. This is a combat Trial, but one of mercy. Should anyone die, the challenger is eliminated. The winner will be the last one standing, when the other three are unconscious or unwilling to stand up. Only two will continue from this Trial. If any man wishes to turn into a wolf, they may do so without interruption. A man who attacks a wolf in Change is weak and cowardly."
The crowd all nodded in agreement so Katerina stood and walked to each challenger, kissing them on the cheek and whispering a final word. To Bear she simply said good luck, to Lukai she winked and hoped him the best. To Stephen she did not kiss him as much as the air near his face, whispering he was lucky to be alive. And to Dominik, who at this point took her breath away.
"Be careful," she whispered in his ear as she kissed his cheek, "I hope you win."
She pressed another note in his hand then moved away, giving him a second to look at it by distracting the crowd, "Are you ready everyone?"
The crowd roared, giving him seconds to read the note. Kayden had been thinking for two days over it, and it had caused her great pain to write it, but she knew...she knew he needed to know.
Dominik, You need to know this before the Trial. I am Kayden. There is no Katerina. And I do want you. I just don't want to see you dead. Win, and I'll explain all. -K
As she moved away Stephen leaned over to whisper to Dominik, just low enough for him to hear like Katerina had used her voice, "Remember the plan. You take out Bear and then let me take you out. My father has your money waiting, and you can be done with all this."
"Men," Katerina turned, "Let the Trial...began!"
