Page 86 of Gift from the Stone

Holding a shifter’s eye, well, anyone’s really, isn’t an issue for me. I had to get used to staring men in their eyes, and if he’d been anyone else, I wouldn’t have looked away first.

For him, though, I’m too afraid he’ll see my worry bleeding through. He has no clue who I am, but I don’t want my look to give anything away. I really have to concentrate to hide my emotions. I don’t have a poker face, so he’d see I fear for him.

“Mid-day, all of them, thin.” The guys all turn their heads at the same time and look at the group of eight or so shifters to the right of us. Six have their shirts off and I can see the thinly sliced Ms carved on their chest, the other two with shirts I obviously can’t tell, but they’re being pretty chummy.

“May I have your attention, please,” a voice booms across the center. Our whole group turns to face the voice and see all the Elders have joined the finalist on the platform.

“Terravile Pack today is both a day of remembrance and celebration as we host the first Alpha Trials in nearly five hundred years. We are thankful for the work and leadership of late Alpha Jarod Teri and know that Elementra is blessing him in the beyond.”

Doubtful.

As the elder continues to talk about Jarod and introduce the finalists, I tune him out since I know all I needed to know about them, and I lean into Oakly.

“How is it they haven’t had an Alpha trial in so long and Jarod didn’t have any heirs?”

“Well, his father won the last Alpha trial they had to host. Jarod just inherited the role. He didn’t have to compete for it. Plus, he wasn’t at baby-making age yet. And from what I’ve heard, he and his Nexus didn’t have a Primary. They preferred the company of multiple women, and they didn’t really like to share. Odd fucking balls,” she informs me.

“Talk about going against the grain. Don’t want to share a Primary and are fucking scum,” I murmur, rolling my eyes. I’m sure, just by the way he spoke to me, Jarod would’ve been a shit Nexus member anyway.

“Please make your way to the arena. The trials will begin soon.” The cheering from the crowd draws my attention back to the platform as the Elder finishes off his speech.

The scents from the crowd are overwhelming me as we walk with the large number of shifters to the arena, and I lean my face into Draken’s arm to breathe him in to block it out. The wet dog smell that was so potent to me when I first shifted has dimmed a little, but the smell of wolves is still very unpleasant. And there’s a number of other shifters here, so I’m getting whiffs of multiple different species, all smelling foul to me.

“Just wait till you see the arena, little wanderer, you’ll be too distracted to notice the stench,” Draken whispers.

“How have you all seen the arena if there hasn’t been a trial in so long and they don’t let people in here?” I ask curiously. I know for a fact they weren’t alive then.

“We came for E.F. recruitment one time with one of Corentin and Caspian’s dads. The pack uses it for training and ceremonies as well.”

“Holy shit…” I breathe as the arena comes into view.

It’s massive, at least as big as the Coliseum. The architecture seamlessly blends with nature, almost as if the mountain stretched itself out to create it. There’s no roof, just an open dome that allows the morning rays to shine over the center that’s nothing but a plateau of sand.

The seating sections are constructed from a combination of weathered stone and sturdy timber, with greenery from the forest flowing all over the walls. And as we take our seats in the section marked with the Vito name, I swear center stage, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread bubbling in my stomach. Like from my seat, I’ll be the one giving Lyker a thumbs-up or down, deciding his fate.

We’re completely secluded in our section with just our group but directly across the arena is a group of people, about fifty or so, who I can tell are separated from the rest. They’re not mingling or laughing with the rest of the pack, and my senses instantly alert to them.

“Do you all notice the group across from us?” I ask low enough my words don’t travel, but loud enough they can hear me.

“What about them?” Tillman asks.

“There sitting with the other shifters, but not talking or interacting with them at all. They’re all tense, like they’re waiting in anticipation. I think those are all the M shifter recruits.”

All my men continue talking amongst themselves, but I can see each of them glance over there at the group casually as if they’re just scanning the arena.

Simultaneously, Tillman leans back to draw Ry’s attention, while Corentin leans forward to get Rhett’s, both murmuring quickly then righting themselves, tossing their arms over the back of my seat.

“Good eye, Will,” Tillman whispers, then kisses the soft skin behind my ear, making me squirm and the others laugh.

Tease.

The sound of iron gates creaking open draws everyone’s attention to the far end of the arena where the ten finalists walk in single file, followed by the Elders. Their faces are masks of fierce determination, ready to begin this battle.

An Elder steps up and raises his hands to silence the roaring cheers from the crowd and as the noise dies down, his voice booms.

“Esteemed members of the pack and honored guests from the realm far and wide, welcome to the arena where Elementra herself will hold court! Today, we gather to witness a trial of dominance, strength, and unyielding resolve of our wolf. For on this momentous day, the time has come to determine the rightful heir to the mantle of Alpha. In this challenge, these men shall prove their mettle, for only one among them shall emerge as the chosen leader, the alpha who will guide our pack into a new era.

“As we embark upon this trial, let the echoes of howls and the whispers of the wind bear witness to the strength, ability, and courage that shall unfold. May Elementra guide and judge, and may the Alpha destined by her rise triumphantly. Let the Trial of Terravile begin!”

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