Chapter 16

Stacy’s POV

The day had turned to night before I left my room again. Everything my mother and her friends had said swam through my mind constantly, and it wasn’t about to stop any time soon.

The idea of being Mason’s fated mate was doing all kinds of crazy things to my mind. Yes, I knew I wouldn’t truly be his fated mate, but he wouldn’t know that; plus, I’d get to rule the pack alongside him and get my way when it came to many things. Maybe the last few weeks would have been worth it after all if this actually pans out.

“Mother”, I call as I descend the stairs. But I was greeted with nothing but silence. Everyone had left hours ago, and it seemed like my mother had gone with them. I didn’t expect my father to be here; he was always out in the evening doing goddess knows what, and I didn’t care to find out either.

Strutting into the kitchen, the intent of fixing myself something to eat without prying eyes watching every tiny morsel I put in my mouth, a happy little hum left my lips. It felt like the world was turning back in my favour. I just had to find out what the tests were all about and how I was to pass them.

Just as I had stuffed the last couple of French fries in my mouth, the back door swung open, and my brother Jaxon and his best friend walked in. My stomach lurched, and I instantly regretted the fries. Jacob stood mere feet from me, and I sat there with ketchup still around my mouth – I was mortified. I didn’t even know why I cared. After all, he was my ex, and I was now dating the Alpha’s son, soon to be the Luna in waiting. So why did it bother me so much to lock eyes with my ex?

“All right, Stace” Jaxon’s voice was tense, filled with fake cheeriness.

“Uhuh, just leaving, actually” I pushed my stool back to get up and leave.

“Oh, mum said to ask you to meet her at the third bench in the park at nine pm tonight,” Jaxon told me just before I managed to escape.

“Really? Why so late?”

“Dunno, I just said I’d give the message; she seemed serious, Stace, so I wouldn’t be late, okay” he answered as he shuffled past me. I had no choice but to be nose to nose with Jacob; he was right behind my brother and about to shuffle past me too.

I held my breath, not wanting to take his scent in; it still bugged me that I missed him, and I didn’t want that constant reminder of him stuck up my nose for the rest of the night. Looking anywhere but at Jacob, I waited for him to pass me, but our hand touched at the last moment as I went to move out the way. His eyes locked on mine, and the pain he hid within them, shone through like two of the brightest stars I had ever seen.

“Great, now I feel guilty,” I thought as I forced myself away and glanced at the clock in the kitchen on the far wall.

“Shit, it’s eight-thirty, I better go, or I will be late”, I mutter as I grab my jacket and shove my feet in my black dolly flats.

The park was about a fifteen-minute walk from our house, so I would have plenty of time If I left now. Luckily for me, it was still light outside at night. No one had liked walking around solo since the Sun Valley attack. The Alpha had insisted all wolfs not trained by his enforcers were to walk in pairs at least. My mother knew this, so it must be serious for her to break one of his rules; she was always strict about abiding by Alpha Michael’s rules.

As I walked, my mind wandered back over what my mother had said today and the profound sadness she carried when she spoke. I knew she had dated the Alpha when she was young until he was fated with Laura. I guess maybe she was reliving that pain. But it felt like it was more like she knew exactly what she was talking about.

The image of Michael walking so closely with another woman this morning was seared into my mind. I could see it as clear as day; it wasn’t our Luna. He was so close to her, that I was sure of, and Mason had gotten angry when I spoke about it. Something was up; I didn’t know yet, but I intended to find out.

“Stacy, you made it,” my mother’s voice broke my train of thought.

“What is with the crazy time?” I question her, annoyance covering my words.

“I’m sorry, dear, things have to be done properly if things are to go our way”, she shot me a tight smile.

“What is to be done properly?” I was lost; I had no idea what she was on about.

“Well, your fated mating to Mason, of course”, she chuckled like I was being stupid.

“What! Already? I only found out this was even possible this afternoon,” I all but squealed.

“No time like the present, my dear”, a new but familiar voice answered.

“So, we are doing this right now? I felt lightheaded; my life would change sooner than I thought.

“This is the first test, Stacy; we need to make sure your body is strong enough to cope with the fated mate ritual”, my mother spoke; her voice quivered for a moment, but I heard it.

“Okay, but what do I have to do? I haven’t studied” I spat the words out way too quickly.

“Oh my dear, you are a sweet one,” the other voice said; I still couldn’t see her. “You just have to stand here and not move, shift or use any gifted powers throughout the trial,” she stated plainly, if I could have seen her, I would bet my life on it, that she shrugged after stating that, like it would be easy, and I hoped it was. My mother’s silence told me otherwise.

“Now child, do you wish to stand or sit?” another new voice asked, one I didn’t know. I turned to see who she was but couldn’t find her; I could hear her but not see her.

“Stacy, just look at me, okay, and I suggest you sit”, my mother drew my attention away from searching around us.

“Okay, but what is going to happen? Do you know?” I asked her, desperation quickly creeping throughout my body. My mother nodded but wouldn’t answer. “So, you have done this before too” I couldn’t hide the shock from my voice.

“Enough questions now, we can talk about it some more once we are done here, okay, my dear” she sounded so calm and ready to face anything, but her eyes spoke a different language.

“Deep breath, child, we are about to begin”, that eerie voice spoke again.

At first, nothing happened; I sat still waiting and was about to ask what the hell was happening when the most blood-burning, searing pain ripped through my body, washing its way over the surface of my skin. I wanted to scream, cry, to throw up, but nothing would happen. I was stuck in place, unable to respond.

“Breathe, and we will get through this”, the voice of my wolf rang clear in my mind.

“Athena! What is happening” I screamed silently.

“Breathe, we got this. We have to withstand anything they throw our way. I know we can do it. I’m holding your body still, so you don’t try to bolt; we can’t lose this test.”

“It burns!” I scream at her, but still, I cannot move.

“A true Luna will be able to withstand any pain thrown at her, are you a true Luna Stacy, or are we wasting our time” my wolf growled back at me.

“How much longer can they burn us from the inside out” I hissed as a tear leaked out of my eyes but sizzled into nothing

“Phase one complete”, the female’s voice spoke once again, the one I did not know.

“Phase one! What the hell? How many phases are there?” I internally cried, knowing I wasn’t going to like the answer.

“I don’t know, but hold on Stacy, here comes phase two”, Athena warned me.

The burning subsided to be soothed by blissful coolness; the relief was short-lived though, as the coolness turned into blistering ice-cold and it washed through my body. My veins felt like they were frozen solid, every breath I took was agony freezing the delicate parts of my lungs. I felt my teeth chatter, and my breath created billows of fog from my lips.

“I’m going to die,” I told my wolf; even my voice within my mind shivered as I spoke.

“No, you won’t, trust me”, she gritted her teeth back, feeling every ounce of my pain with me.

“Phase two complete”, that dreaded voice spoke once more.

“I can’t take much more, Athena”, I cried. I searched for my mother’s face for the first time since this began. I was going to have words with her once this was over. I can’t believe she would allow this to happen and not even give me any warning. Her eyes held nothing but fear as she watched me pinned to the spot. My knuckles were white as my fingers gripped the edge of the bench as if my life depended on it.

“Hopefully, this is the last phase” Athena’s voice broke my concentration, bringing me back to the here and now.

Slowly the ice-cold torture disappeared, and nothing followed right away. I panted and relaxed my shoulders, releasing a small amount of the tension I had just built up. Stupidly I allowed myself to let my guard down enough not to be ready for the next onslaught.

The skin on my left arm tore open, and I screamed, instantly followed by the skin on my inner right thigh. Blood flowed down my leg and over my arm. Tears ran freely down my face, as more and more rips and slashes appeared on my skin all over my body.

“What is this? How do I make it stop” I screamed to Athena

“I don’t know; it shouldn’t last long; you must stay awake, don’t pass out. We must show that nothing will break us,” she growled into my mind.

“Bethany, surely that is enough; she has more than proved she is strong enough”, my mother’s voice broke through the haze my mind had plonked itself in for self-protection.

“Fine, yes, this will do, for now”, she answered my mother but continued to attack me for a while longer.

“Bethany!” my mother shouted once more, and my head swam

“End of phase three and test complete”, The person named Bethany called. The pain subsided, and I slumped forward on the bench, blood dripping from my body in every possible place.

“Stacy! Are you okay” my mother rushed to me and gripped my shoulders; my head lulled back, and I looked her in the eye, half dazed and out of it but with it enough to know exactly what had happened and that her mother hadn’t helped.

“Why wouldn’t you warn me about something like this” I snapped at her with every ounce of energy I had left in me.

“I wasn’t allowed to, sweetheart; it’s the rules when it comes to these tests; they need to see that you will be strong enough to withstand the ritual to bond you to Mason as he isn’t your fated mate.

“I want to go home”, I mumbled, having no energy to argue with her. It would take me days to regain my strength now. “This better be worth it in the end.”

Linda’s POV

Watching my daughter go through the same trials I once faced at her age was a new level of torture. I knew exactly how it felt to have your body thrown through such extreme pain without any break. I wasn’t strong enough to make it through. Michael wasn’t mated back then, and his father was growing restless that his only son and heir did not have a Luna yet. He wouldn’t pass his pack on without a mated Alpha to step into the role.

I had been the natural first choice as I was already dating Michael; we had been together for a few years. But I knew I wasn’t the only one interested in him; I was just lucky enough to have been the one to grab his attention. When his father approached my family and me about this ritual and using the dark blood witches to perform it, I wasn’t sure, to begin with, but getting the chance to be with the man I loved for the rest of my life finally won over.

Then I failed my test!

It didn’t take the Alpha long to find a replacement, Laura was her name, and she didn’t fail her test. She passed with flying colours. I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to the Michael I knew; he changed the minute the ritual was complete; as soon as his eyes met with Laura, that was it; he never looked at me twice again.

My heart still broke when I looked back on our past. I would never wish that kind of pain on my daughter; I know how much that Mason boy means to her. she needs to secure him before he finds his true mate or one that beats her in the tests if she was to fail or she will be crestfallen like I was. she is already eighteen. Her fated mate has yet to show himself. Usually, a fated mate will make themselves known by age sixteen, but my babies have not found theirs, and that kills me differently.

I won’t let my daughter live the life I live; she deserves better, and so does our pack; with her as their future Luna and our family finally back in power, things should start to turn in the right direction for all of us, well the ones of us that matter anyway.