Page 86 of A Trial of Fate

Good luck.

“Where are they now?”

Magnus rolled his eyes and grunted with annoyance before answering me. “Alistar wisely took my advice and immediately left with Gilen to visit the eastern region shifters. If Gilen is going to be our next alpha, he needs to be presented to the Satellite regions and sub-alpha leaders.”

“Do you agree with that decision?” I asked my uncle.

“It was my advice that they leave.”

“No, no. Not that.” I shook my head. “About Gilen being Solace pack’s next alpha.”

“I’m more curious to know whatyouthink about this decision, Skylar?” Magnus countered.

To which I very bluntly replied, “I think that’s a bullshit question to ask me right now.”

“But I’m still asking it.” Magnus looked at me sternly, making me curl my toes.

“Are you seriously asking me to be the bigger person right now? Really, Magnus?” I could feel my amber eyes ignite with a red-tinted glow. Magnus crossed his thick arms in front of his chest and patiently waited. I knew he was not going to let this one go. “Ugh!” I groaned as I stood up and paced back and forth. “Can I decline to answer?”

“No,” he stated plainly, never once changing his expression.

“Then I say screw Gilen. He can go jump off the cliffs and smash his brains on the rocks for all I care.” Magnus glared at me, but I didn’t budge.

“Come on, Father, that is a lot to ask of Sky.”

“It’s really not,” he answered. “If Skylar is willing to test herself in the Inner Kingdom to determine whether she is worthy of unlocking a magical heart stone that can heal our land, then, no. This is not too much to ask her.”

Curse you, Magnus, and your logic.

“The dynamic of our people is delicate yet strong at its core. The alpha is our leader—our protector. We respect power and the ability to use that power for the good of our people.” I was stating the obvious, but sometimes it helped to begin with what you already knew as fact.

“So, you believe Gilen should be our alpha?” Magnus asked again.

“Does he not possess all the necessary attributes of an alpha?”I countered. “His father, Alistar, trained him since he was born to take this role. He is the heir… And his animal is a mythical roc. No one can dispute Gilen’s power, which is why Alistar is abdicating to avoid a challenge to the death and passing the role to him. He sees and recognizes Gilen as the strongest among us. He is the best person to lead our pack and keep us all safe.”

“You believe these traits are enough?”

“Gods, enough with the questions, Magnus,” I yelled with frustration. Didn’t my uncle realize what kind of internal torment this was putting me through? I hated Gilen for what he had done to me. His betrayal of our friendship and my feelings hurt almost more than Blade’s whip. I trusted Gilen like a naive fool and fell for his bait, hook, line, and sinker.

“Do you know all the details about what Gilen did to Skylar yesterday, Father?” Neera asked as I turned my back on them both.

“Your mother told me, and I assumed the rest from the meeting… But Skylar is a grown female, and she can handle herself. I raised you both to be strong and independent. Always learn from your mistakes so you become wiser from them. Sky doesn’t need someone rushing in to fight her battles for her. She needs someone to stand beside her.”

I internalized what Magnus was saying, and as much as I hated this situation, I was also grateful for the freedom he was giving me. “Gilen will be a strong alpha for Solace.” The words fell like stones from my mouth.Sometimes, I hated being the better person.

“Is that what you truly believe?”

“Yes. I don’t like to admit it for my own personal reasons… but yes.” I shifted uneasily, playing with a nearby flower. “Even though his betrayal of my feelings was hurtful, he wanted to keep my powers to help protect the pack. His intentions for me were shit, and his execution was far below acceptable. But he could successfully fill the role as alpha for our people.”

Magnus stood up, and I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Not many could have spoken so honestly about this as you just did, Skylar. I will honor your decision.”

“Would you not accept Gilen as the alpha if I had said otherwise?”

“No, I would not.”

My brows raised, and I felt my jaw drop as I swiveled to face him. “What the fuck, Magnus? Why would you… What?” Confusion would not accurately describe the state of mind I was in.

My uncle casually smirked and gazed off into the garden with a soft, glossed-over expression. “You will understand someday.”

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