“She’s with us. With the pack,” Amber said, stepping closer to the witch. “I’m not leaving her behind.”
“It’s Amber’s choice,” Shane said, waving away the other beta’s objection. “Let’s go.”
They were ushered outside and piled into a van that Shane was driving. She crawled to the very back seat and squeezed into a corner. Shane stopped Thallan before he climbed in.
“No smoking in my car,” he said, pointing at the smoldering cigarette in the elf’s hand.
Thallan rolled his eyes and took a long drag before flicking it to the ground and snuffing it out with the toe of his leather shoe. He blew the smoke in Shane’s face and climbed in.
A muscle in Shane’s jaw jumped as he glared at the elf, but he didn’t say anything. The blond werewolf joined them, sitting in the front seat, while the rest of the betas followed in a different car.
Amber sat in front of her, eyes fixed on a distant point. She was tense and it was making Genevieve anxious. She wanted to reassure her but she couldn’t in front of these strangers.
These other wolves, even Shane, felt like a threat. Every instinct she had was screaming at her to fight and run. Instead, they were walking into even more danger. Willingly. Well…sort of willingly.
Shane drove them away from Portland. The woods grew deeper and darker as the sun slipped lower in the sky and the minutes ticked by. The only sound was the rumble of tires on asphalt.
She sighed in relief as as he turned down a long driveway. Crammed between Tommy and Ceri in the back of the van was an uncomfortable spot.
“This property is owned by the regional council,” Shane said, breaking the silence. “It’s used for events like this one, or for celebrations.”
“That’s useful,” Amber replied.
“How long has the council owned it?” Genevieve asked, desperate to keep the conversation going. Silence wasn’t really her thing. Especially tense, awkward silences.
“Since Portland was founded, but they’ve been using it since long before that,” Shane said.
“This will only be the third time a bitten wolf has been tested here,” Blondie said, glancing at them in the rearview mirror. She couldn’t quite tell from his tone if he was happy about that or not. Shane had a good poker face, but this guy was completely unreadable.
The driveway forked off in two directions. Shane took the left path, and they arrived in a small clearing already packed with other vehicles. There must have been hundreds of people there. They parked near the front in a spot that must have been reserved for them.
Shane put the van in park and looked back. “Amber should answer any questions directed at your pack. Since you’re bitten wolves, I’d like to remind your pack not to make eye contact with the other alphas. It could be taken as a challenge, and that’s the last thing you need to deal with today.”
Everyone nodded. She clasped her hand together anxiously. There was so much to remember. So many ways to screw up. Maybe they’d let her stay in the van.
They climbed out, and she stuck to Tommy and Ceri, taking comfort in their closeness. Before them was a wooden wall at least thirty feet high. The area felt a little like The Market, full of magic, and old.
They were escorted by the group of betas to the wide door in the center of the wall. Passing over the threshold, she suppressed a shiver as magical wards tingled over her skin.
She had to suppress another shiver when she saw the group of alphas gathered in front of them. The urge to challenge them was just as strong as the urge to roll over and show her belly. Behind them were dozens of packs. This must have attracted every werewolf in the area.
Ceri stiffened beside her. She followed her line of sight off to the side and found herself looking at the last person she expected to see there: Selena Blackwood. She’d managed to get off all the slime she’d been drenched in last time they saw her.
Chapter 39
AMBER
Shane gave Amber one last glance before leading the other betas to the side. She and her pack were left standing before the alphas, and that witch.
Selena only had eyes for Ceri. The witch’s expression was cold and blank, but nothing could hide the rage in her eyes. Amber curled her hand into a fist and stepped in front of her pack, shielding them.
A grizzled, old alpha she assumed was Jameson stepped forward from the group. His gray hair was streaked with white, as was his thick beard. Three old scars stretched from his temple to his jaw where he must have been clawed years ago. Most injuries didn’t cause scars on a werewolf; the cuts must have been deep.
“Amber Hale, before we begin the Trials, you have one last chance to consider the offer from Alpha Donovan Lockhart to admit you into his pack. If you accept, your alpha powers will be stripped from you and given to him, strengthening your new pack,” he explained, his deep voice filling the space.
She ground her teeth together, refusing to acknowledge Donovan. “I decline.”
A murmur went through the gathered crowd, but none of the alphas looked surprised.
Jameson accepted her statement with a nod. “So be it.”
“What is she doing here?” she asked, pointing at Selena. The witch’s presence was gnawing at her. This was bad enough with one person here who wanted her to fail.
The old alpha’s brows furrowed. “A member of a local coven assists with the Trials. Is that a problem?”
She didn’t like the sound of that, but there wasn’t much she could do to object. The only reason Selena had to hate her was because of what happened on Halloween, which wasn’t exactly something she wanted to explain.
“I guess we’ll find out,” she said finally.
Jameson pursed his lips, looking annoyed by her response. He sighed and turned his attention to the elf standing to her right. “Thallan Firedale, as the sponsor for Amber Hale, do you swear that she has maintained conduct becoming an alpha through the waning and the waxing of the moon?”
“I swear it,” Thallan said drily.
Jameson motioned at Selena, who followed him as he walked toward the stone set in the center of the open area. He stopped in front of it and folded his hands in front of him, an air of ritual and formality settling over him. “Amber Hale, please come forward.”
She took a steadying breath and joined them, standing on the opposite side of the stone. The top was discolored as if it had rusted. However, the old lingering scent of blood made it clear what had caused the discoloration.
“Once the Trials have begun, they cannot be stopped. Do you understand?” Jameson asked.
She looked up to his grizzled face and nodded. “I understand.”
He pulled a small knife from his waistband. The handle was wooden, but the blade gleamed in the setting sun. “By the Moon, who gives us strength. By the Night, who gives us sight. By the Wolf, who gives us life. Let the candidate’s worthiness be measured.” He held his hand over the stone and drew the blade across his palm without flinching. Smoke curled up from the wound. The blade must have been silver.
He curled his hand into a fist and squeezed. Blood dripped onto the stone, and magic rose around them. It was invisible, but she could feel it like a cool breeze. Goosebumps erupted on her arms.
He handed the knife to her. She took it, willing her hands not to shake. Before she could think too hard about what she had to do, she extended her hand over the stone and cut her palm. There was no turning back.
It hurt more than she expected, but she kept the hiss of pain from escaping. As her blood hit the stone, the magic in the air shifted. It seeped inside her, and the clouds parted above them. Moonlight fell on them, and she turned her eyes to the sky. The moon was full and bright.
Just like that first night it sung to her, but she felt its call even deeper than before. She wanted to change. Run. Hunt. But first, she had to pass the Trials.
Chapter 40
AMBER
“The Trials test both your skills and your worthiness as a leader. You must display s
peed, cunning, strength, resolve, and control,” Jameson said.
Amber nodded. They’d read that much, but that didn’t actually explain what the trials were.
“The first trial is timed.” Jameson stepped aside. “You will have four minutes to get through the obstacle course. You may use whatever form you prefer, shifting at any point throughout the course. We will watch from above, but no one is permitted to interfere or assist you,” he said, casting a warning look at her pack. “Please strip down, then you can begin whenever you’re ready.”
She looked at the alpha, confused. “Strip down?”
Amusement flitted across his face before he schooled his features back to a neutral expression. “Nudity is a human concern. You’ll become comfortable with it in time. If you prefer to shred your clothes during the shift, that is your choice. However, it might slow you down.”
This was worse than those nightmares where you’re naked in front of everyone you know…because it was real. A guy must have thought this up, because only a guy would insist you prove your worth by running naked through an obstacle course.
She yanked her shirt off angrily. No one reacted to the nudity except for Tommy, who turned his head away. He wasn’t so embarrassed this time, just doing his best to be polite, which she appreciated.
Jameson took her crumpled bundle of clothes. She shivered in the cool night air. Not because she was cold, just out of sheer nervousness.
“The timer will begin as soon as you touch the wall,” he said, pointing at the start of the course.
The first obstacle hid the rest. The wall was twenty feet tall. A rope hung down from the top, but she’d have to jump high enough to grab it without help. There wasn’t a single handhold to grab and climb up.
Waiting any longer would just make the nerves worse. With one last glance at her pack, she took off at a run. Strength pumped through her as the wolf urged her on. She knew she shouldn't shift yet, but the wolf was eager to break free.
She jumped, weightless for a brief second before her hands wrapped around the thick rope. Her bare feet scraped against the wood as she hauled herself toward the top. She swung her right leg over first, then her left. From her perch, she took in the rest of the course. From here she had to jump across a small mud pit followed by a tunnel. It was hard to see what came after that.
Gritting her teeth, she braced her feet against the wall and launched herself forward. She flailed, trying to stay upright, then hit the ground. She landed on her feet. Barely.
The top of the tunnel came up chest high, but there was no way she could run through it without shifting. The change rolled over her as she ran toward the tunnel, completing just in time for her to duck inside.
It smelled like dirt and old moss. She’d expected a trap or a trick, but there was nothing special about this part of the obstacle course so far. It was a basic test. It proved she could shift, and that she was a werewolf, but that was it.
She darted into the tunnel entrance. The close quarters pressed in around her but her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. After a few turns, she reached the end. Slowing to a walk she stepped out cautiously.
The next obstacle was going to be a little trickier. She shifted back to her human form and looked up at the tall wooden posts that stood over the pit of spikes.
She’d already hesitated for too long. With a deep breath she ran for the first post, launching herself at it. She wrapped her arms around it and braced her feet against the rough wood. One step at a time she worked her way to the top.
The posts were spaced fairly close together. It was obvious the intention was for her to hop from one to the other. She could feel her pack. They were just behind her with the others, watching intently.
She jumped to the next post, wobbling slightly as she landed. Without pausing, she jumped to the next and the next, a wild thrill running through her. Maybe she could do this. Pass the Trials. Keep her pack.
The last pillar was a few feet away. She leaped for it, and for one elated moment, she was standing on it. Sudden pain lanced through her ankle, and it forcibly twisted. She pitched forward and fell.
Twisting in the air, she managed to grab the pillar before she hit the ground. Claws from her half-shifted hands dug into the hard wood as she held herself inches above the sharp spikes.
She dragged herself back up, cursing herself for her overconfidence. She’d been sure she’d landed that one. It had felt like something hit her ankle.
Ignoring the pain shooting through her leg, she jumped to the safety of the platform. In front of her was a doorway, and inside, it was pitch black.
She shifted, already feeling the wear of changing forms so many times in a row, and stepped over the threshold. The lack of light shouldn’t have been a problem, but her eyes weren’t adjusting to the darkness. She sniffed the air, and the unmistakeable scent of magic was present. This must be part of the test.
Letting her nose guide her, she took two cautious steps forward. With no idea how much time she had left, every second felt like an eternity. She picked up her pace and trotted forward. Underneath the other smells was the faint scent of Jameson, as if he’d walked this path earlier in the day.
That must be her clue. Nose to the ground, she moved even faster. Her tail hit something and she yelped in surprise but nothing happened. There must be walls around her, perhaps even a maze. The wolf grew impatient and urged her forward. It wasn’t afraid. It had the scent and trusted it to lead them out of this darkness.
Giving in to those instincts, she let the wolf push them onward. The smell of magic grew stronger, almost overpowering Jameson’s scent for a moment. She paused, one paw in the air, then sniffed carefully. Something popped and an awful smell filled the air.
In a panic, she fell backward, shifting to her human form. She covered her nose and mouth with her hands, wishing she had her shirt to breathe through. The smell dissipated almost immediately but the burning in her nose persisted.
She felt around on the ground for whatever had exploded but there was nothing. Reaching tentatively to the side she found a wall, and a foot above her, the ceiling. These tests had seemed simple but a trap made it more complicated. She wished she knew how much time she had left.
Shifting back, she sniffed the ground. The scent she’d been following might as well have been gone. She couldn’t smell anything past the lingering burning in her nose.
With a huff, she rubbed it against her paw but that only made it hurt worse. Her bones ached from the back and forth of the shifts. And she was exhausted already.
“Amber, can you hear me?” Angel hissed in the darkness. “I can help you, if you want.”
She shook her head vehemently, a motion that felt odd as a wolf, and glared in the demon’s general direction. She’d been wondering when he’d show up.
“I could lead you out of here. You’re running out of time,” he said.
Ignoring him, she felt around for the wall, pressed her right side against it, and walked forward tentatively. No one could interfere so she had to get out on her own, no matter what. Making a deal with the demon wasn’t an option.
The place felt like a maze. She ran faster as she started to panic. There couldn’t be much time left. A flash of alarm startled her right before she ran smack into a wall.
“That looked like it hurt,” Angel said. He was hovering close by, his warmth sinking into her fur.
Biting back a snarky response, she shook herself and tried to think through what had just happened. That hadn’t been her emotion. It was from her pack. They must be able to see her still. She’d avoided using that bond because it felt intrusive but she hoped they’d forgive her for using it now.
A little more cautiously this time, she started walking again. As she moved she let the bond grow in her mind. There was worry, fear, and anger. She wasn’t sure what that last one was about, but the others she expected.
She took off at a run again. When the alarm shot through her again, she slid to a halt an
d took a cautious step forward. Her nose bumped against the wall. She felt around until she had a clear path then took off at a run again. It wasn’t as fast as following the scent, but it was all she had.
Chapter 41
GENEVIEVE
It was like Amber had gone blind suddenly. She wasn’t even trying to follow the scent anymore. It didn’t make any sense, unless…
“Are there boobytraps in there?” Ceri demanded, her fingers gripping the wooden railing tightly.
Jameson, who stood a few paces away from her, frowned and shook his head. “The first test is simple. She had to follow the scent but it looks like she lost it.”
She had thought she sensed a flicker of magic when Amber had stumbled on the wooden posts. But she was sure of it now. Someone was sabotaging Amber’s Trials.
It wasn’t a question of who; it was obviously Donovan or Selena, most likely both working together. It was a question of how. Jameson had made it clear he wouldn’t allow interference. She had a good feeling about the old alpha, so she believed him.
Amber’s pack was watching the proceedings intently. She had taken off at a run and it was obvious she was about to smack into a wall again.
“Stop,” Tommy whispered under his breath.
Amber slid to a stop, taking a cautious step forward.
Tommy looked up shocked. “Did she hear me?”
Genevieve shook her head. “No, but I think she can sense our feelings.”
“What?” Tommy looked alarmed.
“We’ll talk about it later. Keep watching. Try to tell her where to go,” Genevieve urged.
Tommy turned back to the course and focused all his attention there. With less than a minute left on the timer, it was looking less and less like she’d complete the first test in time.
Misfit Pack (The Misfit Series) Page 17
