Chapter 5 The Trial Commences

The Approaching Tempest The morning of the Trial came with a profound calmness in the atmosphere. Even the wind appeared to pause, as though anticipating the battle to begin. Aeryn positioned herself in the clearing's center, heart racing, eyes fixed on the three Alphas who would decide her destiny. Kael, Riven, and Talon. The whole pack assembled, creating a broad circle around the battleground. The Elders were positioned on an elevated stone platform, their expressions inscrutable. Their chief, Elder Varian, at last moved ahead, his rough voice slicing through the quiet. "You possess three friends," he remarked, his intense stare fixed on Aeryn. "Nevertheless, you continue to assert your right to lead." Whispers flowed through the audience. Aeryn raised her head. "I take action beyond just asserting it." "I have deserved it." Elder Varian squinted. "Then demonstrate it." With a gesture of his hand, the Trial commenced. The Initial Battle: Flame Kael was the one to move first. Quick. Ruthless. He attacked without pause, causing Aeryn to evade as his fists neared her ribs perilously. He battled with pure strength, every action exuding the undeniable might of an Alpha. The pack inhaled sharply as Kael’s foot swept low, attempting to unsteady Aeryn. She turned just in time to dodge the blow, yet Kael would not relent. He approached her once more—this time with a violent intensity intended to overpower. Aeryn clenched her jaws. He did not view this as merely a straightforward sparring match. He was approaching it like a battle. She would not allow herself to be dominated. As Kael charged, Aeryn dodged to the side and struck his open flank with her elbow. He grumbled, but rather than retreating, he smiled. Not too shabby,” he remarked, his tone shadowed with humor. "However, it’s still insufficient." Aeryn hardly had a moment to respond before he seized her wrist and tugged her ahead. She collided with his chest, breath catching as the mate bond ignited—intense, insistent. Kael's voice lowered to a hush. "Yield, Aeryn." Aeryn's gaze ignited. "Not ever." With a surge of power, she broke loose and unleashed a swift kick to his ribs. Kael tripped backward, chuckling. "She battles with the spirit of a genuine Alpha," he confessed. "I nearly feel pity for the others." However, there was no opportunity to take a break. Riven was already in motion. The Second Conflict: Frost Riven resembled Kael in no way. Where Kael battled with flames, Riven was frozen. Computed. Exact. He didn’t attack—he lingered, compelling Aeryn to take the initial action. Clever. Aeryn lunged, aiming for his ribs, but he evaded just in time, his speed remarkably swift. Before she had a chance to react, he knocked her legs out from beneath her. The audience gasped when Aeryn fell, but she quickly bounced back, landing on her feet. Riven's silver eyes shimmered with what resembled approval. "You're acquiring knowledge," he remarked. Aeryn squinted her eyes. "And you’re restraining yourself." Riven didn't refute it. Instead, he disappeared. For a brief instant, he stood before her. Moments later, he was positioned behind her, his hand gently encircling her throat—not tightly enough to inflict pain, but firmly enough to emphasize his message. "You can't triumph solely with power," he whispered. Aeryn breathed out forcefully. "Then it's fortunate I possess more than just strength." Suddenly, she tossed her head back, colliding with his nose. Riven swore, letting her go. Aeryn twirled, surprising him, and knocked his legs from beneath him just like he had done to her. The group let out a roar. Aeryn gave a sly grin. "You're not the only person capable of adjusting." However, when she took a step back, she sensed it. The change in the atmosphere. The burden of a looming threat. Claw. The Third Battle: Tempest Talon stood out. He didn’t grin like Kael. He didn't challenge her like Riven did. He assaulted. Silently, he charged, compelling Aeryn to react purely on instinct. His strikes were swift, relentless, driven by a dark and untamed force. His wolf was hardly restrained. Aeryn's heart raced as she evaded, parrying a blow directed at her sides. "Talon—" He continued on. He didn't even reduce his speed. His eyes blazed with a green flame, and for the first time, Aeryn sensed the magnitude of his real strength. He was not restraining himself. He was assessing her. She was compelled to battle with all her strength. She retaliated, turned, attacked wherever possible, but Talon absorbed each strike, advancing relentlessly. The group became quiet. They were able to see it as well. Talon was fighting not only for supremacy. He was battling within himself. Aeryn felt a constriction in her chest. She had devoted so much time to resisting fate, attempting to demonstrate that she was in charge. However, Talon was unique. He was not fearful of battling destiny. He feared being defeated by it. In a last, urgent effort, Aeryn avoided his next strike and brought him down to the ground. She sat astride his waist, restraining his wrists, breathing heavily, heart racing. Talon lay motionless beneath her, his chest heaving quickly. For a brief instant, neither of them budged. Then, his voice emerged, unrefined and soft. "You just don't get it, Aeryn," he murmured. “If I succumb to this, I will never release you.” Aeryn's breath hitched. And then—the Elders began to speak. The Ruling Elder Varian advanced, his face showing no discernible emotion. "You have battled bravely, Aeryn." "The Trial has never been about selecting a single partner," Elder Varian continued. "It was about demonstrating if you could manage the weight of three." Quiet. After that— "You are successful." The words hit like thunder. Aeryn's legs almost gave way. The group broke out into turmoil. Some applauded, others murmured in disbelief. However, none of that was significant. At that instant, Aeryn understood. She had triumphed. She had challenged destiny and lived on. And at this moment— She had three friends. The Consequences Later that evening, as the full moon rose high over the woods, Aeryn was positioned at the cliff's brink, struggling to breathe. Three friends. Three wolves bound to her spirit. She had struggled for her right to retain them—but what next? She listened to footsteps. Well-known ones. Kael. Riven. Claw. They remained behind her, quiet, anticipating. Aeryn breathed out, pivoting to look at them. She anticipated confrontation. Stress. Increased conflict. In place of that— Kael grinned. "You truly accomplished it." Riven's silver gaze became gentler. "I always believed in you." And what about Talon? Talon remained silent. He merely observed her, his expression impossible to interpret. However, Aeryn noticed it. The storm was calming down. And for the first time, she understood— Perhaps she no longer needed to struggle against destiny. Perhaps… she could accept it.