Page 8 of A Trial of Fate

“And have you thought about what else occurs when we shift for the first time? When our animals emerge, and we are able to find and feel our mate bond?”

“I…”To be honest, I hadn’t thought about that part. Gods be damned… Why hadn’t I thought about that?

“The scent that Gilen has faintly marked on you is a warning to all other shifters to basicallyback off. It is a clear sign that he intends to claim you as his mate… Nothing in an official capacity, but—”

“But one that is pretty damn close to official.” I angrily sank my teeth into my bread and allowed the delicious buttery crisp crust to bring a hint of goodness into my life. “I didn’t… We didn’t.” I was beginning to panic as my cheeks flushed a dark crimson color.

“I know,” Julia blurted, almost laughing to herself. “Trust me… ifthathad happened, I wouldn’t have to kiss your cheek to smell him on you. I would have sensed it before you opened the door.”

I sighed with relief—I think.

I would be lying to myself if I said I never secretly hoped that maybe, just maybe, Gilen and I were mates. It made no logical sense due to the fact that I was a half-breed, and Gilen was the heir of our alpha. But then again, my father had been an alpha. My most recent love affair, I thought, could have been the one until he shifted and then promptly dumped me, never really giving me a reason why.

“So stay out until… Is there a time frame I should stick to?”

Julia put a hand on her chin to think. “Tomorrow, you should be fine. Gilen’s scent should be gone by the morning.”

“It’s notthatstrong, is it?” I asked with uneasiness.

“No, only a full shifter with close proximity to you would be able to detect it.” Now Talon’s reaction on the cliffs made sense.

I nodded and quickly devoured the rest of my bowl before using the bread to wipe up the yummy bits hidden at the bottom. “Right, so don’t run into Magnus until tomorrow morning. You are sure, that no one else would be able to smell this marking Gilen put on me?”

“Again, only adult shifters, and they would have to be very close to you. It is faint, but it is still there,” Julia warned.

“Good. I never asked him… I mean, ugh. This is—”

“I know.” Julia’s kind smile somehow made it feel like everything would be all right.

I placed my bowl in the sink and washed it before returning it to the cupboard. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Try not to make too much noise when you stumble back home,” Julia teased.

“Can’t make any promises.” I laughed. “I swear to the gods I am as quiet as a mouse!”

“No, my dear Skylar. You are most certainly not. The more you try to be quiet, the louder you are. You’re just as bad as your father and Magnus. I wouldn’t be surprised if your animal turned out to be a bear, just like them.”

There was no guarantee for what type of animal we wouldeventually shift into. It was a special secret, the hidden truth to a piece of your identity. Even if both parents were hawks or bears, there was no promise the offspring would follow suit. There were trends, of course. Wolves were the primary animal, followed by other large predators of the land and sky. When we were kids, we used to love guessing what type of animals lived within our souls.

I couldn’t help but grin. “Are you saying I lack your grace and elegance? That I won’t be shifting into a type of predatory cat?”

Julia’s animal was a large, deadly mountain lion. She might be small and seem docile in her human form, cooking up a storm in the kitchen like a tamed housewife, but when she needed to… Julia unleashed hell itself. Her animal form was utterly terrifying if you crossed her. It was enough to even force Magnus, who, by the way, was a giant grizzly bear standing taller than a horse on all fours, to bend to her will.

“Not a chance.” Julia grinned with a feline glimmer in her dark, predatory eyes. “Now hurry along. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

I turned on my heels and left the same way I came in. Julia’s uneasiness was nothing to be taken lightly, and now my head was spinning again with all kinds of questions. What was Gilen thinking? What in the gods’ names did this mean? He was an alpha’s heir, and I was a nerdy, impatient, at times reckless… half-human shifter.

In shifter mating rituals, males physically marked their intended females with a bite mark at the base of their neck, but it was mutual with the female doing the same. Their scents also combining, intertwining as one. Sure, I dabbled in romantic relationships with other males in our pack, but nothing ever lasted.

But Gilen and me had never even kissed.

I decided to take the scenic route to the tavern to meet Rhea. The main street was paved with cobblestone, while other pathways off to the side leading to smaller cottages and shops were packed down with dirt. The thick collection of white spruce and birch trees outlining the pathways provided cover, and the smell of wild nature surrounding me softened my anxiety.

The fewer shifters I interacted with, the better. Since our pack’s alpha, Alistar, called Magnus and likely other leaders to his home, that meant our tavern’s typical attendees would be absent.

I stepped out of the woods and walked the dirt pathway toward my destination. The tavern’s heavy wooden door swung open, and I ducked quickly inside to inspect who was there. Luckily, it was early, and the normal occupants seemed to be absent. In the oil lamps andcandles on various tables, I spotted Rhea off in the corner, waving her arm to get my attention. She already had multiple drinks sitting on the table in front of her, waiting for us to enjoy. I sank into the wooden corner bench and eagerly reached for the cup of wine she coaxed in my direction.

“All right… spill. What happened?” Rhea sighed, swallowing a hefty swig out of her own glass.

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