*Isla*
The first night of the trials went well, all things considered. A large banquet was held in our honor, and the camp outside the stadium had been full to the brim with people from all over the pack lands.
But I am quickly realizing how little I actually know about the lands in which Maddox’s title encompasses.
“I’ve never talked so much in my life,” I say, my voice hoarse and cracking like gravel as I reach for a bottle of water. Trinity shifts her weight in her chair, the white canvas of what Ben calls “The Luna’s Royal Tent” billowing over our heads.
“Well, I’d say you met everyone and their mothers, grandmothers, great aunts and weird cousins,” Trinity chuckles before sipping from her own water bottle. She isn’t wrong. The field in the stadium had been filled with tables and chairs, live music blasting, and food and drinks flowing freely for hours and hours. I’d walked around with Isaac and Maddox, formally introducing myself to Alphas of both large, well established and powerful packs as well as the smaller, more traditional packs who banded in small villages on the outskirts of the main territories. “You did a good job, you know.”
“Thanks,” I reply, and mean it. I meet Trinity’s eyes and give her a warm smile, which makes her cheeks turn rosy. I’m trying to be as nice as possible to Trinity. Maybe it’s because I feel sorry for her. I understand what it feels like to be secondary.
Or maybe it’s because I know the importance of keeping my enemies close.
I still don’t fully trust her, but I’m willing to give her a chance to redeem herself, at least for now.
“How long until the first trial?”
“Hmm…” Trinity glances down at her phone. “We’d better head to the stadium soon.”
I rise from my chair, blinking into the morning light now filtering through the open flap of the tent. Leo had personally driven us from the castle to the camp before sunrise only an hour ago to start preparing for the day. It’s already stifling hot, and the emerald green jumpsuit with a heavy gold studded belt I’m wearing is unforgiving. Trinity, dressed in a stiff blue gown and blazer, looks equally uncomfortable as we chug water and try to fix our sweaty appearance in the mirror in the corner of the tent.
“What I’d give for shorts and a tank top right now,” Trinity sighs, patting her face with a paper towel.
“Same,” I say with a laugh, tucking my hair behind my ears. I was told there would be air conditioning inside the royal box at the stadium, but it is the walk to the stadium I’m worried about. Isaac, that lucky boy, would get a ride right to the stadium from the castle after his morning nap.
Trinity and I will have to suffer in the heat like everyone else.
Leo is waiting for us outside the tent when we exit. I sigh heavily as I trudge behind him, but wave and smile at the people we pass. Most of them gawk at me; some bow their heads. Trinity walks a pace behind me, her chin held high and her eyes alert on everyone who even thinks about approaching their Luna.
“Oh, look,” I say over my shoulder as I discreetly point in the distance. A lake is just visible through the rows and rows of tents, and people have already started jumping in. “That looks incredible.”
“Maybe Maddox will let us go down there once the trials are over,” Trinity says longingly, sweat already beginning to bead along her brow.
“Two days from now,” I say wistfully as we walk into the stadium.
* * *
“What exactly are they going to do?” I ask Maddox, who is standing by my side with his arms crossed over his chest, his face drawn in a very, very serious expression. I fan myself with a booklet pertaining to the last sporting event that took place here, the air conditioning barely cutting through the heat.
“This is the agility portion of the trials,” Maddox says without a shred of emotion in his voice. He’s all business right now.
“So you’re going to make them run around in a circle and throw heavy objects? In this heat?”
“Yes, that’s the way of things.” Maddox turns to Ben, who is watching what’s taking place outside with an equally critical expression. We have a full view of the field in the royal box, which has a balcony that stretches over the stands below. Maddox suddenly goes rigid, confusion flashing in his eyes as he watches the three men, one of them his future Beta, gather on the field to await instructions.
I follow Maddox outside onto the balcony, wondering what he’s so concerned about and notice a fourth man is walking across the field despite the attempts of several of our warriors from stopping his progress.
“Who is that?” I ask, but Maddox ignores me and instead whispers frantically to Ben, who seems just as confused as he is. “Trinity?” I ask, turning to face her as she follows us out onto the balcony. “Do you know who that is?”
“Elijah,” she says, her voice trembling. “Of Moorn. His brother–”
“He’s the twin brother of Alpha Hunter of Moorn,” Maddox finishes, turning to face us. He looks at Trinity, searching her face for something. “Did you know he was coming? Why is he here?”
“How would I know?” she snaps, then swallows hard, casting her eyes on the floor. Maddox grits his teeth as he continues to look at Trinity, and I feel a sudden pang of unease twist in my stomach.
“The pack that lives right next to the river you had to cross?”
“Yes,” Maddox answers, his eyes meeting mine.
“Why–”
Elijah’s voice booms across the stadium, and we all turn to look as he fights off two warriors to join the ranks of the three other competitors.
“I’m Elijah of Moorn,” he shouts, shoving one of the warriors so hard the warrior falls to the ground. “I am here to compete for the title of Beta to the Alpha King!”
A ripple of conversation washes like a wave over the spectators in the stadium, every single seat occupied. I look at Maddox, noticing the corner of his mouth twitch as he looks from Elijah to Keenan, the brute of a man standing not two feet from Elijah. Keenan, the son of one of Maddox’s enemies, and the shoo-in for the position based on his strength alone.
Ben looks at Maddox, a phone pressed to his ear.
“Let him compete,” Maddox says with a nod. Trinity makes a noise behind me, a squeak. I look over my shoulder at her, noticing her eyes are locked on Elijah’s, and he’s looking right back at her.
Before I’m able to say anything to her, someone below announces the start of the trials, and the stadium erupts in shouts and applause. Elijah keeps his eyes fixed on Trinity for a moment longer before he turns and takes off his shirt, tanned skin gleaming in the unforgiving sunlight. He throws his shirt at Keenan, who growls, shouting something I can’t hear over the roar of the crowd.
I look to Trinity again, noticing the way she fights to swallow as she watches Elijah begin the first set of trials. I turn away from her eventually, settling against the railing of the balcony to watch the events with Maddox.
Elijah eggs Keenan on the entire time, purposefully getting in his way. Keenan is starting to get agitated, that’s clear. Maddox seems pleased, watching the contestants with a tight, almost invisible smile on his face.
“Elijah was the clear winner of that round,” Ben says as the first trial ends and lunch is served in the royal box. “After the next trial, one contestant will be eliminated, right?”
“Yes,” Maddox replies, cutting into a steak.
I meet Ben’s eyes, noticing the concern flashing behind them.
“Do we like Elijah?” I say, directing my words at Maddox. Trinity shifts her weight in her seat, looking exceedingly comfortable.
“What do you think of him, Trinity?” Maddox asks pointedly, and I can tell he’s just as curious about her odd behavior as I am.
“I don’t think anything of him,” she answers flatly, toying with her salad.
Maddox purses his lips as he catches my gaze. “I thought the two of you hit it off in Moorn–”
“We never spoke to each other, so that wouldn’t have been possible,” she says quickly.
“He seemed… taken by you,” Maddox presses. I slide my foot against his under the table, giving him a little nudge.
‘Leave her alone,’ I say through the mind-link, but Maddox only smiles.
“He tried cutting his brother’s head off when they were younger. He probably just wanted to… eat me, or something,” Trinity replies with effort, struggling to swallow.
“He what?” I say, looking from face to face, willing them to explain.
“What’s the next trial?” Trinity snaps, then coughs, her cheeks flushing.
“Maddox has a series of tests on the history of the pack lands and the laws, which they are taking right now…. And then they break for a while…” Ben flips through the paperwork in front of him, scratching his head. “Then they get into the combat portion of the trials. That will carry over to tomorrow’s events.”
“And that’s when the last two contestants fight to the death?” I ask with a laugh. I’m under the impression that’s not actually how these things go, but Ben looks grave, and Trinity drops her fork on the table with a clang.
“To the death?” Trinity asks, paling significantly.
“If it comes to that,” Maddox replies. “Two males… alpha males, all things considered, likely wouldn’t back out of a fight with stakes this high.”
“But–” Trinity rises from her chair, wringing her hands. I stand as well, concern flooding through me as I see panic flash behind her eyes. I’ve never seen Trinity like this before. She’s frantic.
“Trinity–”
“I don’t feel well. This heat is getting to my head. I’m going to go lay down–” she rushes away, her chair falling over in her haste to get out of the room.
“Trinity!” I call after her, but she closes the door behind her.
“Elijah is her mate, I think,” Maddox says, uninterested. He forks a piece of steak into his mouth as I slowly turn my gaze to him. “What? Isn’t her behavior a dead give away?”
“Is that why he’s here? For her?”
“Well, there are easier ways to get your mates attention,” he replies, shrugging. “If he wins, he’ll have to be my Beta regardless of how Trinity feels about him.”
“She’s obviously terrified of him!”
Ben shifts his weight, uncomfortable sitting right in the middle of what I assume is about to be a fight. Am I really about to stick up for Trinity?
“He isn’t going to come near her–” I say, but Maddox cuts me off, giving me a somewhat teasing look.
“Nothing comes between mates, Isla. You should know that well.”
I open my mouth to say something in protest, but then pause. Maddox is right, unfortunately. If this madman is Trinity’s mate, there’s nothing I can do about it. Unless, of course, she outright rejects him.
But if he wins the competition… and then lives in the castle….
“Tell me everything you know about this man, Maddox,” I demand.