BOUND TO THREE ALPHAS Chapter 16: THE TRIAL BEGINS

Chapter 16: The Trial Begins

Liana crushed the bloody note in her hand and grabbed the silver dagger. The dead raven’s glassy eyes seed to follow her as she slipped the weapon into her boot. Trust no one, the note had warned. But she had no choice. The Trial had to happen—for Rowan, for the pack, for herself. When she returned to the preparation room, Elder Mira wasn’t alone. Alpha Thorne stood waiting, his massive fra blocking the entry. "It’s ti," he said, his voice like grit. Hundreds of pack mbers had gathered in a circle around the Sacred Grove. Torches glowed against the night sky. The full moon hung overhead, bright and harsh. Liana spotted the triplets standing together. Rowan looked worse, the black lines now crawling across his face. Jace fidgeted nervously. Kael’s eyes never left her. Alpha Thorne raised his hands for quiet. "The Trial of the Moon has not been perford in two centuries," he revealed. "For three days, the candidate will face trials of body, mind, and spirit. If she passes, she will be known as worthy of her bloodline and her mate." Whispers spread through the crowd. "If she fails," Thorne added, "the Goddess will reject her, and so will we." Elder Mira led Liana to the center of the circle. The silver marks on her skin glowed brightly under the moonlight. "The first test begins now," Elder Mira declared. "The Test of Strength. An oga against our best warriors." Liana’s heart sank. She wasn’t a fighter. Four muscular wolves stepped forward, their eyes sparkling with challenge. Beta Marcus—Celeste’s father—stood among them, a cruel smile on his face. "She’ll be dead before the second trial," soone muttered. "First blood ends each match," Elder Mira explained. "You must defeat all four opponents." The first warrior charged without warning. He was twice Liana’s size, all muscle and rage. She dodged awkwardly, barely missing his massive fist. You have more than you know, a voice whispered in her mind. It wasn’t her wolf—it was sothing older, sothing powerful. The fighter struck again. This ti, instead of escaping, Liana moved toward him. Her body felt different—lighter, faster. She ducked under his arm and spun around, her elbow connecting with his kidney. The crowd gasped. The warrior grunted in pain but recovered quickly. He lunged again, grabbing her arm. Liana twisted free with amazing strength, then swept his legs from under him. As he fell, she pulled the silver knife from her boot and pressed it against his throat. A tiny drop of blood appeared on his skin. "First blood," Elder Mira announced. "Victory to Liana." Shocked whispers spread through the crowd. Ogas weren’t ant to move like that. Ogas weren’t ant to win fights. The second warrior approached more carefully. He circled Liana, trying her defenses with quick jabs. She matched his movents exactly, as if she’d been training all her life. When he struck, Liana was ready. She dodged, struck, and darted away with impossible speed. Her silver markings glowed brighter with each step. Minutes later, the second warrior joined the first in loss. Kael and Jace shared bewildered glances. Even Rowan, despite his pain, watched in wonder. The third warrior—a female with fast reflexes—almost caught Liana with a surprise attack. But Liana’s body reacted before her mind could understand the danger. She flipped backwards, landing in a crouch that no oga should have been able to manage. "What is happening to ?" Liana wondered as her body moved with ease she’d never possessed. Rember, the strange voice whispered. Your blood knows the way. The third fighter fell, bleeding from a small cut on her cheek. Only Beta Marcus left. His face twisted with hate as he stepped into the circle. "This is impossible," he growled. "You’re cheating." "The Goddess guides her hand," Elder Mira answered calmly. Marcus struck with brutal force. Unlike the others, he wasn’t holding back. He wanted to hurt her—to kill her. Liana parried his strikes, moving with that sa uncanny ease. But Marcus was bigger, more experienced. He drove her back toward the edge of the circle. "You’ll never replace my daughter," he hissed, too low for others to hear. "I’ll see you dead first." A flash of movent at the edge of the crowd caught Liana’s attention. A hooded figure slipped between the onlookers. That mont of distraction cost her. Marcus’s fist connected with her jaw, sending her falling. The crowd gasped as he lood over her, ready to give a finishing blow. Get up! the voice in her head ordered. Liana rolled away just as Marcus’s boot stomped where her head had been. She sprang to her feet and responded with a flurry of strikes so fast they blurred. Marcus stumbled back, blood trickling from his nose. "First blood," Elder Mira called. "The first trial is complete." The crowd broke in shocked applause. Alpha Thorne’s expression stayed unreadable, but sothing like respect flickered in his eyes. Liana stood in the middle of the circle, breathing hard but barely winded. The silver marks on her skin pulsed with light. As the pack mbers discussed the shocking result, the hooded figure Liana had noticed stepped forward. Small, delicate hands reached up and pulled back the hood. Celeste stood exposed, her blonde hair now streaked with white, her blue eyes clear and calm. Gone was the jealous girl who had tortured Liana. This Celeste looked like she had aged years in just days. "I’ve returned from my spiritual journey," she announced, her voice carrying across the suddenly silent grove. "The Goddess has shown the truth." Beta Marcus stared at his daughter in shock. "Celeste? Where have you been?" She ignored him, going straight to Liana. "I was wrong about you," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. "The Goddess has shown your value. I’ve co to help you through the trials." Whispers exploded around them. Was this a trick? A trap? "The second trial begins at dawn," Elder Mira declared. "The Test of Wisdom. Rest while you can." As the crowd scattered, Celeste touched Liana’s arm. "We should talk privately. I have information about the Heart of the Moon." Liana paused, rembering the note. Trust no one. But Celeste already knew about the Heart. That ant Alpha Thorne had told her—or she had other sources. "Alright," Liana agreed carefully. They walked to a quiet area of the grove. Celeste pulled out a water flask. "Drink," she offered. "You need to recover your strength. The next trial is harder." Liana sniffed the water suspiciously. "It’s just water," Celeste laughed. "Look." She took a small sip herself. Reassured, Liana drank heavily. The cool drink soothed her parched throat. "How did you know about the Heart?" she asked, giving back the flask. Celeste’s smile changed slightly. "My father told everything. About the Silverbloods. About your true power." Sothing wasn’t right. Liana’s vision began to blur. Her legs felt weak. "What did you—" she began, but her tongue felt too heavy to form words. "Poor little oga," Celeste whispered, her kind mask slipping away. "Did you really think I’d help you steal my destiny?" Liana fell to her knees. The flask rolled from her nerveless fingers. "The water in the flask was clean," Celeste explained softly. "The poison was on the rim. I wiped it off before I drank." Black veins—just like Rowan’s—began spreading across Liana’s arms. Pain shot through her body like fire. "HELP!" Celeste suddenly scread, her face transforming into a mask of worry. "Sothing’s wrong with Liana!" As darkness closed in, Liana saw the triplets running toward her. Celeste knelt beside her, playing the worried friend perfectly while slipping the tainted flask into her pocket. The last thing Liana heard before awareness fled was Rowan’s anguished cry and Celeste’s whispered words: "Sweet dreams, Silverblood. The curse looks so much better on you than it did on him."