A Tale of Two Lives (BurningWillows & Rskde)

Kayden scoffed at him, stepping back to start closing the door, "I don't know what manners you practise in the Western Pack but female wolves are not wooed by any man who comes off needy and pathetic. Strength is the only virtue in the north. Besides, your asking me to commit treason against my sister and father. No candidate can have relations with another wolf. Read a history book."

She was talking about the last Alpha ceremonies of course. One of the candidates for her father had indeed been in love with another and they had been caught in the woods. Of course it was nothing more than kissing and groping that got caught, sex was the ultimate act of bonding. Nevertheless both the candidate and her forbidden love were executed. This was the ways of the wolves.

"I need sleep. Katerina needs me in the morning. She has quite the trial planned tomorrow," Kayden lied, closing the door more, "goodnight Dominik. And good luck."

She gave him a last second smile the warmed her cheeks before shutting the door completely, knowing she had much to plan before she'd get any sleep.

~

"I'm eighteen," she lied, staring up at him suddenly defiantly, "I can do as I like. And that's my brother your talking about. Don't dare underestimate is fire wolves."

She grabbed her meal and skirted past him, brushing her shoulder into his elbow, "we have a lot more spunk and sass than you think."

Strutting away, she didn't like back till she was at the door, stealing a last glance at the wolf named Flynn, enjoying the back few as much as she'd enjoyed the front. why can't we have wolves like him in my pack?

Dominik furrows his eyebrows.. Had he sounded needy? Maybe he was going soft.. He catches her smile before walking away, going back go his quarters while thinking to himself.. Maybe he would settle down with Kayden once Stephen was chosen to be Katerina's, after all, the West would not be pleased if Dominik won.

He returns to his quarters and closes his door, searching around the room before digging through his things, finding a small handbook. 'The Way of the Wolf', a very old book form the Old World. He sits on his bed and reads it, picking up on as much information as he could.. Reading this book, he had sounded needy, hadn't he?

~

Flynn laughs, she was definitely not eighteen. "Whatever you say princess." He says before watching her walk past, her arm against his sends an odd electric shock through him that he hadn't felt since.. He pushes his mind away from the awful thought.

He goes back to the buffet and makes small talk with one of his buddies for a little while before going to his quarters to sleep.

She'd never had someone speak back to her before. In the south they all either kept clear of her or held their tongues at her sarcastic words. It was fresh and somewhat welcoming to have someone talk back, and it left a smile on her face the rest of the night.

~

Morning came and for once Kayden woke herself up. Flynn would be looking for her within the hour and she didn't need to be found within her own quarters when she was supposed to be in Katerinas. Slipping out of her room she snuck into Ninas and changed into fighting gear, simple green tights a loose white shirt she could breath in. Tying her hair in a quick ponytail she ran the rest of the way to the Pit.

The pit was a giant cavern at the very back of their den, with a giant gaping pit in the middle. When they had first found it they had left it be, being so deep and ominous and seeming entirely useless. But Issac had seen potential and they had built a wide set of stone stairs leading down, built from the rock wall itself. Below had been smoothed and cleared out for an arena, with stone benches built around the walls like long bleachers for spectators. Above at the top of the cavern was a gaping hole in the rock and crystal, streaming light in from the sun outside, illuminating the massive pit.

The Pit was where most training lessons were had, as it was private and no one ventured in without reason. It was also where most of the trials would probably be had. When she'd been getting dressed Kayden had found Katerinas notes on the trials under a pile of other sheets on her desk. Katerina was outlining the trials she had created, each one designed to test a different virtue in the men: strength, honesty, loyalty... Kayden liked the theme and had one in mind when she entered the Pit that morning for training. She had an hour long lesson with Flynn before she'd get another hour to read herself for the first trial, including changing and eating.

"I'm here," Kayden called out as she entered the Pit and started down the stairs, her voice echoing, "Flynn?"

Flynn sits in the center of the Pit, his leathe armor clings to him, a sword hangs from his belt. While werewolves do enjoy traditional hand to hand, it's often that engagements would be settled with steel. He stands and looks her over, nodding to her gear.

"I'm just going to teach you the basics, fighting first, leadership later, a leader needs to be fierce, able to kill at a moments notice." He explains. He grabs a small wooden sword and hands it to her. "You'll be starting with this." He explains.

He grabs his own wooden sword, showing her some techniques and ensuring that she has mastered them before nodding. "Alright, attack me." He says while holding his sword at a defensive angle.

Kayden had never touched a sword in her life. When she was just a mere pup she had play wrestled with Katerina and Christian but lost every time, and soon sat out while they played. Now he wanted her to learn to fight with a sword, and she didn't even know how to fight with her hands.

"I thought hand to hand combat came first," she commented as she followed his smooth movements, hers being jerky and unbalanced, "a wolf always fights tooth and nail before using any weapon. Father told me that."

He didn't seem to care but she knew he was going about it wrong, and it came true when he asked her to attack him. She ran at him as asked but at the last second her confidence broke and she ducked and rolled, skidding out of the way as his wooden sword swung. Her heart hammered as she looked up at him, the fear in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she fumbled, standing up quickly, "I just. I'll try again."

She swung at him but her balance was off and she quickly ended on her back, his sword pointing at her neck. She dropped her head into the dirt in defeat, wiping sweat from her forehead.

Flynn had easily beaten her with the sword. "While Isaac suggests tooth and nail to be superior, steel will end a conflict smoother and quicker than any tooth or nail." He explains, grabbing her hand and helping her up. "However, as you aren't exactly a sword fighter, you will be coming across them if you're in combat."

"So your next lesson, instead of continuing with the useless charade of teaching you sword combat first, will be to learn how to disarm a swordsman." He says. He shows her how to do it, where to place her hands on the sword, along with several pressure points on the arm that could be used to an advantage, he also explains where these points are in wolf form, how the weakest point is behind the ear, any slash there would cause massive bloodflow.

"Now c'mon, disarm me and shove me back, then act as if you're going for the wolf's weak point." He says before getting into defensive stance again, this time believing that she could easily finish this exercise, and that would be a good start for someone who has never fought before.

She gets into stance, feeling a bit for confident in this maneuver. She knew the hand to hand combat would come soon. If war broke out wolves would be fighting wolves, not man fighting man. But she needed to know how to protect herself from other beings out in the world and not just weres. A wolf with only their teeth attacking a vampire with a sword would be a disadvantage.

She rushed him, then disarmed him as her teeth lunged for his neck at the spot near the back spot behind his ear. To anyone not a wolf this would look odd to see a girl disarm and try to bite him, but for Kayden it was natural. Her teeth were sharper than her human nails, and if she were wolf her muzzle held more force than her paws.

Instead of biting though she bumped her nose on the spot and jumped off, landing ungracefully a few feet away.

"Better?"

Flynn feels the power behind her disarm technique, immediately dropping his weapon, he feels her nose hit against the weak point behind his ear, and then she's landing. "We'll work on the landing, but other than that, good." He says.

"Now keep doing it until you've really got it." He says, after she has done it a few times he teaches her some more hand to hand techniques, showing her weak points and other useful areas that could disable a wolf, each time allowing her to master it.

By the end of their session he puts his arm over her shoulder and shakes her lightly. "Good job today, I expect the same of you tomorrow, now run along and get ready for the ceremonies." He says with a grin on his face.

Kayden hadn't expected the compliment. Sweat beaded her brow as she hadn't done that much of a work out in her lifetime. But it felt good. Felt empowering. Smiling back to him she jogged up the stone steps and out of the Pit, wanting to grab a quick snack for breakfast before needing to change and head right back, this time for the first trial.

~

Hayley was a nosy one. She had been up early after Daerk and her father had ordered her to bed early, much to her dismay as the party continued well past midnight. But now she was up and wandering, and as she did her ears had caught the sound of fighting. Intrigued she'd followed the noise to a massive cavern, a wonder to her eyes. Speechless at its enormity and beauty she'd almost missed the two fighting below, one of them easily recognizable as the Alpha princess. The other must have been her trainer, and it made her smile to see Flynn. She quickly ducked out though, knowing better than to barge in to a training session. Instead she waited to see the white haired beauty jog out, obviously rushing to some other princess duty, and then Hayley slipped back in. She didn't go down the stairs though, instead sitting on the edge of the platform between the wide arch that led into the halls and the stone steps. Her feet dangled in the air as she leaned forward, watching him clean up.

"Don't forget to sheath those. Wood is offly sharp I'm sure," she teased loudly, startling him, "don't drop them! They may just cut your foot off!"

Flynn turns to see the redhead sitting on the edge of the Pit, her feet dangling down. He raises his eyebrows and laughs, shaking his head at her comment. He drops the sword on his foot, collapsing and holding it. "Dear God! My foot's been stabbed!" He yells before standing and laughing, putting the swords away.

He looks up at her. "You gonna come down here and talk or are you just going to leave me to my peace little girl?" He calls up teasingly, turning his back for a moment in order to finish cleaning up. He takes a rag from a chest and wipes it across his face, making sure to get rid of all of the sweat that had come on to his skin.

"See that? I knew it wasnt me who was the klutz last night and split that wine. You can't even keep a sword in hand," she mocked, kicking her feet back and forth, "And I believe we are talking sir, so why should I move?"

She wiggled in her seat, dangerously close to falling off if she wiggled forward at all.

"So do you teach anyone or only white haired princesses?"

Flynn shakes his head. "You spilled the wine you're too young to be drinking." He says with a chuckle, sitting down and rolling his shoulder, it had become a little sore from a mode he had taught Kaden.

He watches her wiggle, making him raise his eyebrows. "That depends on if that anyone happens to be a red haired princess Wolf." He says while leaning against one of the walls of the Pit.

"I told you I'm eighteen!" She shot back, lying flawlessly, "besides I didn't drink. Your clothing took it all from me."

She watched him from above smiling sweetly, "if only. My father would kill me if I took sparing lessons. He believes he has me figured out. I don't need to be a hunter or a fighter. I should stay within pack sight and raise children or such nonsense."

She sounded a little peeved over it and she was. It was entirely unfair, but she had asked for different reasons, "I was actually asking as a favor for my brother. Father thinks his training is good enough but he never trained with the eastern pack and I think he might get hurt. Would you do me the favor of testing his skill? I don't want my brother ending broken and bleeding over a girl."

She was leaning forward as she spoke, watching him intently and not paying attention to her seating. The fabric of her tights held no traction to the rock and she's been inching forward unaware until suddenly she felt the shift and she tilted forward. Hayley let out a scream as she fell, the Pits floor below rushing up to meet her.

Flynn shakes his head, still not believing that she is eighteen. "So you're asking me to train a candidate to fight when the ceremonies are starting? Isaac wouldn't allow it." He says. "But if you ever wanted to take lessons, I'm sure your father wouldn't mind a move or two to defend yourself." He comments.

"A lot of the candidates are going to get hurt, believe me, I've seen some of them fight, they're all ruthless and they all want victory, but that's a part of the ceremony.." He says. "Traditions and whatnot."

He watches her fall, the ear piercing scream hits him and he's flashing forward, catching her in bridal position, in both of his arms. "I told you you're a klutz." He says with the shake of his head before beginning to place her down on her own feet.

Sure enough only feet from becoming roadkill his arms scoop her up, saving her life. Heart in her throat she stares at him with giant chocolate eyes, her cheeks turning red for a second time in front of him. Her breath shook, but it wasn't from the fall. When his arms had hit her his hands had touched her arm and she had felt an electric shock, like a spark that drove through her whole body, stunning her. However even as he was placing her back on her feet she was regaining her composure, hiding the fear and surprise she'd shown minutes before.

"Your right," she nodded shuffling back to the steps, "I uh, should go find my brother and wish him luck. Yeah. Uh, see you around."

Hayley bolted out, making a quick mistake. It wasn't until she was lost in the halls that she had realized she'd actually agreed with him, with none of her usual sass. What was that? she thought, then shook it off. She needed to find her brother and father before they sent out a search party.

Flynn just watches her go, nodding. "Seeya around!" He calls out. He finishes cleaning up the training equipment before walking to the ceremony hall where the first of the trials would soon begin.

~

Dominik stands with the rest of the candidates, waiting for Isaac to appear and announced what the first trial would be, at the end there would only be a few candidates for Katerina to choose from, as the trials are dangerous and involve acts of courage, strength, and leadership.

"...you have to focus..." his attention waned in and out, Ivory's voice lecturing him on the do's and don'ts. The other candidate, Troy, sat beside him pale faced with a bucket in his arms, the product of too much partying the night before. Lukai however felt great, he just wasn't interested in another lecture from their two Beta's, Christian had already had his say.

Lukai knew he held a few cards in his hands; his looks for one had gotten the heart of the young Alpha-to-be to flutter as well as almost every woman in that room the night before. He was also one of the best fighters for the Eastern Pack, an easy pick for Ivory and Christian to put in as candidate. And to boot he'd made a good first impression of Katerina, not something Troy would be able to say when she saw the condition he was in.

"Luke! Luke!" a young girl of maybe ten with brown braided pigtails burst into the room, "Everyone is going to the Throne Room. They say it's starting!"

He caught his baby sister mid-air, pulling her into a tight hug as she bounced and wiggled in his arms, "Come on Luke-y! You can't be tardy!"

Ivory laughed, "She's right. Off you go boys. Good luck Troy."


Her eyes were glued to Dominik as the guards closed in, and for a second it looked as if they were going to grab him before they jumped Abe beside him, dragging him to the front. There was a cry in the back of the crowd as more guards dragged a woman up and Kayden winced. She had warned Dominik of this, and now he was about to see first hand.

"We have evidence proving these two are in relations, and Abe had plans to lose purposefully in the Trials, in order to mate with this woman. The law states no candidate can be fraternizing with a woman outside the Trials, and yet we find him guilty."

Issac stepped forward and Kayden could not watch, her eyes instead combing the candidates, watching the horror fill most of their faces as Issac exacted his punishment by beheading both Abe and the woman, their heads rolling to the floor.

"It is done," Kayden announced, sick to her stomach as she caught Dominik's eye and looked away before he got suspicious, "The Trial will commence in the Pits in ten minutes. There it will be revealed what the first task shall be."

The doors opened and everyone hastily filed out. Leaving the White Guards to clean up Issac escorted his daughter to the Pits, both of them silent as they thought of what had just happened.

Dominik~

Dominik sees the Guard moving in out of the corner of his eye, but he doesn't move a muscle. He lets out a breath when they grab Abe, it's less competition for him any way. But that doesn't mean he watches, his eyes flick down to the floor when the blade comes down on to Abe's neck.

The society he stands within is harsh, nobody seemed to care that Isaac ruled with an iron fist, why was breaking the law punishable by death? Surely there must be better ways to enforce things.. He takes his mind off of it as he walks with the crowd.

The benches circling the Pit's walls fill up as Issac find his seat, another throne like chair apart from the benches but still along the wall, with one beside his for "Katerina". Kayden stands in the middle of the Pit as the candidates slowly branch away from the crowd, one by one kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to announce the Trial. It was custom for the Alpha-to-be to choose their own trials in order to best pick. Her father and her grandfather had chosen a lot of bloodshed, that resulted in the Trials being seen as something harsh and cruel. But Kayden had read Katerina's notes, and they had taken a different turn. Her sister wanted to focus on the virtues she found essential in a partner. Each Trial she wanted to encompass that, so that she could see who fit best.

So for the first Trial it would not be Strength. She could easily tell all these men could rip each other apart, but then how would she know who held loyalty, or bravery? Katerina had devised to whittle down the choices through other means, and have the last Trial be combat.

"This Trial will be not be of combat," she begun, already hearing the whispers in the crowd, "That will come later. For your first Trial, each of you must present me with a gift. You all had plenty of time to talk to me last night, and some did, while others didn't. Now I want to see who can remember the hints I dropped about what I like. The first eight to bring me gifts that resemble what I like will pass on. The last three will be disqualified. And you cannot leave the Pit."

Now the whispering was really going, as everyone wondered how these men could find gifts within an empty arena. But it wasn't empty. The benches were brimming with people watching, all wearing things. As well Kayden had asked a few to bring in things she liked and disliked, letting them sit in their laps as they sat at the front benches in clear view. It might take the men a few minutes to realize but once they did she was assured they get the trick. The second part of this Trial that she did not explain was how they'd acquire the gifts. Kayden wanted to see if they asked politely or rudely, if they bartered or negotiated, blackmailed or threatened. It would reveal much to her.

"You have fifteen minutes," she finished, stepping away, "Began."

Turning she took her seat beside her father who said nothing. He wasn't impressed by the look on his face, but he understand the game Kayden was playing and he respected the choice of Trial.

The candidates all look among each other as if confused, but something catches Dominik's eye. He jumps up and grabs the book off of a Wolf's lap.. The Art of War, the book he had told Katerina about last night.

Stephen approaches Dominik, his hands outreached. Dominik's eyes flick to the Alpha of the west, who motions for Dominik to give him the book. Instead Dominik shoves the klutz down. "Fuck you." He spits before walking to Katerina and handing her the book.

Stephen, red faced and very obviously annoyed jumps up and runs at Dominik, but he is stopped by a member of the Guard, who gives the boy a brief lecture on how the Alpha had said this is not a combat trial.

A few of the candidates who hadn't given her much attention presented her with things like gold and jewlery, others discovered books and other things they realized Katerina had told them about.

By the end of the gift giving, three had given jewels and gold, and then of course, Stephen had been escorted out by the Guard, to God knows where. Dominik can see the disapproving glare being shot at him by the West Alpha.

Kayden was watching it out, frowning at Dominik's actions. As each man picked something she told them to hold on to it and remain in line in the middle of the Pit until they were all ready. The Guards were ready to take Stephen away but she stopped them with a gesture, motioning one guard to step up to her.

"Allow him to finish the Trial," she whispered, looking at the Guard. She kept her voice low enough for only Issac and those immediatly beside them on the benches, "Keep a guard on him though."

They did as they were told and Stephen took the last remaining minutes to kindly as one of the women on the bench holding a flower if he could have it. When he joined the others she stood, while they all watched. She stepped up to each man who presented her with a gift, either receiving it with or without comment or turning them away. The first two were gold from the Grey wolf twins as she shook her head, thanking them for her time. Next came Stephen, and she smiled at the flower.

"I was telling you how I love the outdoors, and wish I could spend more time in the woods than in the caves," she commented, receiving the flower, "You passed the Trial, but you tried to fight another candidate. You will proceed to the next Trial, but be warned you are on thin ice."

The next was Troy, who looked sicker than ever and presented her with a necklace before promptly throwing up on the ground, just narrowly missing Kayden.

"Out," she ordered, and two Guards stepped up and escorted him.

Next was Bear, who had brought her an empty journal. She had spoken about her passion to write. She thanked him, telling him he'd be proceeding. Then came Daerk, who like Bear held an empty journal and a book. He too proceeded. Kale and Urick, the winter wolf candidates both presented her with fresh furs, and barely passed due to her need for them, not want. Finally it was Lukai and Dominik, and she turned to the Western Wolf candidate first.

"You have the right gift, but you received it poorly," she spoke calmly, "You too pass, but alike Stephen you are walking on thin ice. Be aware of that Dominik."

She turned to Lukai, noticing her favorite fictional book in his hand, and couldn't help when her heart stuttered as he flashed her a smile, "You had kind words for the woman holding this for me. You were the only one who asked about my interest in literature, and you used that wisely here. Thank you Lukai for not only engaging in conversation, but hearing my words."

"The Trial is done," issac announced, "The second Trial shall commence tomorrow at noon."

With guards in tow he left and the crowd began to dissipate, many of the candidates going too. Kayden stopped Lukai from disappearing though, and noticed Dominik was lingering as was Stephen.

"I reward those who win the Trial," she smiled, trying to encompass her brave sister even as her heart hammered in her chest, "Tonight you and I may dine alone, as a sort of...date. A guard will come and escort you there at six sharp."

"Very well princess," he grinned, leaning down and kissing her cheek. She blushed as he loped off, waiting until he was no longer in sight to follow, leaving Stephen and Dominik to hash whatever they needed to out.

Dominik sees Lukai kiss Katerina's cheek, he feels his hand clench.. But why? He only felt something for Kayden.. He watches the princess leave, turning to Stephen and shaking his head. "You're a fucking idiot." He says to him, shoving him back.

"I don't care how much money you've promised to pay, you pull a stunt like that again and I'll hang your head from the ceiling, you hearing me?" He asks, shoving the boy again.

"That's enough Dominik." He hears behind him, he turns to look over his shoulder, spotting the Alpha of the West.

"Not my fault your son is lame, he couldn't walk on to the stage last night without becoming a bumbling mess, no amount of anything I could possibly do would help this idiot succeed, only one of the trials is combat, I could kill every candidate and she'd still choose me over Stephen!" He says.

"Maybe we should rethink-"

"Go fuck yourself!" Dominik says before storming out, walking to his room and slamming the door shut, running his fingers through his hair as he thinks to himself. He tries to cool down, the smug look Lukai had on his face seared into his mind.

He grabs his book from under his bed, picking up where he had left off, going without food for the meal. He reads all day, finally finishing the book before laying down on his bed, running his hands down his face, thinking about a possible strategy.

The exhaustion of thinking and thinking and reading had worn him out, he slips into a slumber for the remainder of the night.

Hayley spent most of her afternoon hanging with her brother while they talked about the bizarre Trial. Hayley pointed out it seemed to have a strategy, that she was picking out those who'd listen and those who'd ignore.

"If that's how she's doing the Trial, each will be a test for something Daerk. It's not going to be about looks or brawn till the end, she'd going to keep giving you all tricky Trials to whittle down who she likes best. Smart move I say."


Boy did she ever get lectured. Issac spent hours on her ass, lecturing about her Trial, but she stuck to her guns, explaining it wasn't her idea it was Nina's. It didn't stop him from complaining and Kayden did nothing more but lower her head and take it, but at least he didn't forbid her from continuing with her ideas. When she finally was released she only had a little over an hour to return and bath and dress for the date. Another idea of Nina's, one she was regretting using about now. She was just too nervous.

After bathing and changing back into the clothes she'd been wearing she strolled out of Nina's room, making her way to the room she'd mentioned. On her way she passed the other candidates rooms, including Dominik's. He had listened well...but he had a temper she wasn't sure was good. There's still more Trials to come. Maybe he'll adjust himself.

Dominik sits up, getting out of bed in the middle of the night. He knocks on the West Alpha's door, quietly conversing with him. "I'm going for Kale, he's got an appetite for wine.. And Daerk might end up accidentally injuring himself." He says before leaving the Alpha to sleep.

He jiggles the lock of Kale's door, finding it unlocked, he had a few bottles of wine with extra alcohol added tucked into his arm. He leaves them on a small desk before approaching the sleeping werewolf. He places his hands over Kale's ears lightly before sending all of the energy he can into his words.

"You're a mischevious pup again Kale.. Remember, wine isn't for pups.." He says with a wicked smile before leaving the room.

He finds Daerk's room easily, this time he works out a more twisted strategy. He approaches the wolf, wrapping one hand around his neck, the other clamping his eyes shut before choking him. After a few minutes of writhing his body stays cold and still, Dominik's hands heat up, the body is reduced to ash.

He cleans up the ashy mess, it almost seems like the wolf had just disappeared, maybe ran off during the night. He goes to spread the ashes outside, finding an even better way to make sure his story makes sense.

He approaches the guard silently before strangling him, only subduing him though, when the guard is asleep he spreads the ashes and leaves the guard against a wall, almost as if he had fallen asleep on his post, easily allowing Daerk to flee..

Dominik shakes his head before returning to his room, all would be well in the morning.

Her date night with Lukai surprisingly went without a hitch, and the two share a fun dinner date, learning more about each other. It was hard for Kayden to lie about who she is, and often times she found herself meshing her likes with Nina's, wanting to keep some authenticity. When the date was over he escorts her back to her room, and she even dares to loops her arm around his, smiling and laughing as they chat.

"Thank you," Kayden smiled up at him, her heart less fluttery now, "That was a nice night. See you in the morning Lukai."

"In the morning Katerina."

Kissing her cheek a second time that day he made his departure and she pranced into the room, giddy as ever. Kayden had never been on a date, much less fawned over by a man of Lukai's looks and kindness. All she needed now was these Trials to go without any more hitches as she might just have Lukai hanging off her arm.

"We can hope," she grinned, giddy with herself.

~

Morning came with that hitch. After her morning training, which was two hours with Flynn doing mostly cardio and weightlifting work outs to build muscle, she got wind of the news that Daerk was missing. Search parties were sent, and the Trials were postponed for the day, then pushed to the end of the week to give everyone time, trying to find out what happened. By noon there was talk of something foul being afoot. No wolf could catch Daerk's trail, his scent ending at the entrance to the caves, where they'd found a guard asleep. The guard swore something had attacked him, and many were divided between believing him and believing it was a lie to cover up what he did to Daerk. Those that did believe him worried there was a murderer in their midst. Unease settled on the wolves as blame started to be thrown around, packs accusing each other, wolves wanting to go home. The whole clan was upset.

"We need to settle this matter swiftly," Issac spoke to Kayden, Gareth and the pack Beta's, "This unease does not bode well. If the boy fled than he has betrayed his clan."

"And if he's dead?"

"Then the clan will kill whatever foe there may be. But we cannot throw speculation around without evidence. We have a means to find out what truly happened. Ven step forward boy."

Issac rarely called upon the child wizard for aid, but Kayden saw his point. Ven could preform a tracking spell and locate Daerk's whereabouts. If he was dead the tracking spell would take them to his body. If he was alive it would show them where he had fled. A lot was riding on the boy, and Kayden felt sympathetic to him. If he messed up or in any way could not preform magic Issac would surely finds means to kill him, and the Beta's looked hungry enough for blood that they wouldn't bat an eye. Daerk hadn't just been a candidate, he was a Beta's son, easily next in line to take over the Southern Pack if he lost to the Trials. That hit hard on his father, as well as his little sister. And it worried the rest of the Beta's, all of them speculating what their candidates might do.


Hayley paced outside the Throne Room, waiting for a verdict. In her heart she already knew, but her head was demanding closure, an absolute truth. Still, she knew what they'd say when they came out. He was dead. She'd known her brother her whole life, raised next to him. She'd always admired him and he'd been so excited for this. There was absolutely no way, no reason to desert his position like this. It's sabotage. It has to be. Someone did this.


Lukai sat in the large library of the Northern Pack, skimming a book. All of the candidates were in here doing some light reading or just chatting, instructed by their Beta's to wait all together for any news. Whatever had happened to Daerk had put even the candidates in an uneasy state, rejudging how badly they wanted this. There was only seven of them left now, and from the whispering Lukai could hear Ulrick didn't want this anymore, and Reagon was agreeing with them. Neither, of course, could or would forfeit. They simply didn't like what was going on.

Looking around he was surprised how fast an entire pack's candidates had been eliminated. There were only the two from the Western and Northern Packs, and Bear, Reagon and Lukai from the Southern, River, and Eastern packs. Out of the last seven Lukai only saw a challenge in Dominik, Bear, and possible the winter wolves. Reagon didn't seem into it and Stephen was barely skating by.

"How was your date last night?" Stephen sat down across from Lukai, looking unpleased he won. The kid looked like a weasel, with an unappealing face and a almost permanent scowl. Everything seemed to annoy him, and they had seen his quick temper with Dominik the day before, although the man had shown a fair amount of temper back.

A few of the others turned to listen so Lukai sat his book down and leaned back in his chair, smiling easily, the kind of smile that made their princess's heart lurch, "Great. She got the chefs to make us a special meal and we spent the whole night together."

"Oh c'mon man, give us some details," Reagon piped up, "You didn't just chat all night."

Stephen's eyes bulged a bit at the thought of what Reagon was suggesting and it satisfied Lukai, "Well I did steal another kiss from her, if that is what you boys are asking about."

"Aw," there was a chorus of them as the guys at the other table jokingly faked heart attacks, "C'mon man, you are totally one of her favorites now."

"Just because he kissed her once doesn't mean he's winning," Stephen shot back, looking annoyed and sounding whiny, "Any of us could get that chance too."

"Not once kid," Lukai stood, giving him a mega watt smile as he enjoyed pissing off the little ugly wolf across from him, "Twice."