Page 84 of Gift from the Stone

I have to hold back a sneer as the other Elders look at the rest of us like a group of rag-tag miscreants that are going to desecrate their pack lands.

Despite their complete dismissal and rude attitudes toward the lot of us, the scenery is stunning. There are multiple mountain peaks stretching far into the distance, creating a beautiful backdrop around the land. I can tell by the lack of homes or even people, they keep the outsiders farther apart from the pack members.

We’re in a more secluded area of the land, where the trees continue to stretch for miles, breaking apart for small blooming meadows, and judging by the low sound of running water, there are streams somewhere hidden within the forest.

I swear we walk a mile before finally coming up to a huge dwelling standing alone in a small clearing. For some reason, in my mind, I was picturing we’d be staying in a small mountain cottage, not a mansion. It’s not as large as our mansion, which is way too big, but it’s still huge.

“Headmaster Vito, you and your guests will be in the east wing. Gloria’s inside and can escort everyone to their rooms, and the trials will begin in one hour. You all can transport to the center instead of walking,” Sawyer speaks for the first time.

“Thanks, kid,” Corentin grunts, roughing up his hair as he walks by him.

“I hope our rooms are close to one another’s. This place is huge,” Oakly says as she walks up beside me, taking in every detail of the house as we follow a very stoic, meanly looking Gloria.

“I was thinking the same thing. I thought we’d be staying in a cottage or cabin you know?”

“Nothing but the best for the Vito family. These two-faced shits have to keep up appearances,” she whispers low, causing my laugh to echo in the eerily quiet hall.

Luckily, we’re in fact right next door to one another. Our two rooms are the only ones on this hall and they’re massive. A replica of one another, with large Nexus beds, as I’ve dubbed calling them, and a bathroom each. Ry and San drop all their bags in their Nexus’s room before converging into ours, shrinking the space completely. These eight massive-ass men make any room feel small.

“Are we staying here for the hour or going to the center?” I ask Tillman as I lean my head back on his chest.

Wrapping his arm around me, he pulls me back until I’m flush with his front, and I soak in the protective, safe feeling.

“Go to the center and meet up with Rhett and his guys. Scout out what we can before the trials begin.”

“And there are three trials, each one eliminating a finalist, until the Alpha challenge, right?” I ask.

They warned me that these trials would be brutal, bloody, and possibly deadly if the finalists took it too far, and no one would step in to stop it. Shifter culture, especially Alpha trials, is cutthroat as shit apparently.

“Yes. The first trial will test their level of dominance. The second will be hand-to-hand combat with elements, and the third, their animals will fight. The Alpha challenge will be a combination of them all between the two finalists.”

“Stay close to us, Willow, and don’t wander off. We don’t know if anyone else here was given a picture of you like Jarod was, so we aren’t taking any risk. And go ahead and conceal your necklace. The palace team will be spread out in other positions, but the rest of us will stay together,” Corentin orders as he pushes his communicator back into his pocket, extending his hand out for me to hold.

Doing as I’m told, I conceal my necklace, then go straight into his arms. The rest of the guys surround me once again, and I watch as Oakly does the same, the two of us nodding at one another. Our silent way of saying everything’s going to be okay.

I know it’s judgmental of me, but I honestly assumed and have been expecting the absolute worst at every turn. Granted, we’ve been here less than an hour, but that’s just not the case, aside from the asshole Elders.

As I look out over all the people buzzing with activity, running all around in preparation for the trials to start, they all seem normal. There are homes, shops, restaurants, children running around playing. Nothing here screams evil cult. It’s a community, a beautiful one.

I swallow roughly as we make our way to the farthest point in the center that backs to the forest at the base of the mountain. Standing shirtless in front of an enormous house are the ten finalists. The Alpha’s house. I know it’s the Alpha’s house because I’ve seen it in my dreams, multiple times.

“It’s impossible. How do none of them bear the mark? We thought for sure at least half of them would,” Caspian murmurs, stepping up beside me and speaking over my head to Corentin.

“Maybe this will be more than just an Alpha trial. Maybe it’s their trial to get into the society as well,” Corentin grunts.

My Memoria stone begins blazing against my chest as soon as the words leave his mouth. It’s so hot, there’s no ignoring it. Turning my body so I’m directly in front of Caspian, he looks down at me questioningly. I give a slight shake of my head and slowly reach up to grip my stone. He works out immediately what’s happening, pulling me into his chest, shrouding us in his shadows.

“What makes you think my gift will be the sight? I’ve had my elements for two years now and nothing’s happened.”

“I have my ways of knowing, Willow, you know this. And if I’m wrong, there’s nothing you’ve got to lose when learning about a gift that rare,” my stranger tells sixteen-year-old me.

“Do you even know anyone with that gift?”

“I’m very close to someone with that gift, thank you very much, Miss Priss. Are you ready to learn or would you rather continue to ask questions?”

“Well, if you’re open to answering them, I got a list.” I smirk, knowing I’m pushing my luck.

“Nice try. Now listen. Someone with the sight has far more abilities than just seeing the future or diverging paths of the future and there are three very important abilities I want to tell you about for now.

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