The Luna Trials Begin
The council chamber was tense, every elder seated around the long, dark table studying Isla with cold eyes. She tried not to fidget, but her hands trembled slightly at her sides. Their stares felt heavy, judging her before she’d even said a word. Draven stood beside her, his presence as steady as a stone wall.
“This is Isla,” Draven said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “My chosen Luna.”
A ripple of whispers spread through the room. Isla felt her chest tighten. She knew what they were thinking—a rogue, standing before them, claiming a place that should belong to one of their own. The doubt was clear in their eyes, and it made her stomach churn.
One of the elders, an older man with sharp features and a thin frame, leaned forward. His green eyes glittered like glass in the dim light. “Chosen?” he asked, his tone thick with skepticism. “A rogue as Luna? How do we know she’s even worthy of such a position?”
Draven’s jaw tightened, and he gave the elder a sharp look. “She’ll prove herself,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Through the Luna Trials.”
The whispers grew louder now, the elders exchanging glances. Isla swallowed hard, her nails digging into her palms. She had heard of the Luna Trials before, though the details were often shrouded in mystery. They were said to test not only strength but the very essence of a wolf’s worthiness to lead. They were dangerous—and failure wasn’t just a possibility; it was an expectation.
The elder folded his hands in front of him, his thin lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. “The Luna Trials haven’t been completed in years. Do you truly believe she’s capable?”
“I do,” Draven said firmly.
His words made Isla’s heart race, but she couldn’t decide if it was from pride or fear. The elder’s gaze shifted to her, his expression hard and calculating. “Then we’ll see if she can endure them. If she survives, perhaps she’s worth more than we assume.”
The word “survive” echoed in Isla’s mind long after the meeting ended.
***
The following morning, Isla found herself standing in the training yard with the other contenders. The air was cool and crisp, but tension hung over the gathered wolves. Dozens of pack members watched from the sidelines, murmuring quietly as they studied the group of would-be Lunas. Isla felt their eyes on her like needles, pricking at her already fragile confidence.
Susan, the Beta, stepped forward. Her sharp gaze swept over the contenders like a hawk assessing prey. “The Luna Trials are designed to test more than just strength,” she began. “They will push your loyalty, intelligence, and endurance. Fail any part, and you’re out. Succeed, and you prove you’re fit to stand beside the Alpha.”
Beside Susan, Draven stood with his arms crossed. He wasn’t looking at Isla, but she could feel his presence like a looming shadow. She wanted to meet his gaze, to see if there was any encouragement in his expression, but fear of what she might find kept her eyes focused ahead.
“The first trial,” Susan continued, motioning toward the forest at the edge of the yard, “is a test of endurance and awareness. You’ll face an obstacle course designed to challenge your body and mind. It won’t be easy.”
Isla’s stomach tightened as she glanced toward the dense trees. The other contenders shifted almost immediately, their wolves emerging in graceful, powerful motions. Isla held her ground, knowing she couldn’t do the same. Not yet. Not here.
“Is she not shifting?” someone whispered from the crowd.
“She won’t last five minutes,” another voice muttered.
The signal to begin came with a sharp whistle, and the contenders surged forward into the forest. Isla ran after them, her human legs struggling to keep up with the wolves who darted ahead with ease. The ground was rough, the path littered with roots and sharp rocks that tore at her boots. She pushed herself harder, her breaths coming in sharp gasps.
The first obstacle was a towering wall of stone. Isla gritted her teeth as she reached it, her fingers scraping against the jagged surface. The wolves ahead of her leaped over with ease, their claws finding purchase on the slick rock. She started climbing, her muscles burning with the effort. Her palms bled from the rough edges, but she didn’t stop.
You can do this, Lira’s voice urged in her mind. Keep moving.
The second obstacle was a series of narrow tunnels carved into the earth. Isla dropped to her hands and knees, crawling through the damp, claustrophobic spaces. Mud clung to her clothes, and the stench of the earth filled her nose. She could hear the snarls and growls of the other contenders echoing ahead, but she forced herself forward, one agonizing inch at a time.
By the time she emerged from the tunnels, her body ached in ways she didn’t think possible. Her legs wobbled as she stood, but she didn’t stop. The final stretch of the course loomed ahead—a gauntlet of swinging traps and hidden pitfalls. Isla’s heart pounded as she dodged a cluster of sharp spikes that shot out from the ground, her reflexes barely saving her from disaster.
When she finally crossed the finish line, she collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. The other contenders had finished long before her, their fur slick with sweat but their movements strong. Isla lay there, her chest heaving, as the crowd murmured around her.
“She didn’t even shift,” someone said.
“She’s slow. Weak,” another voice added.
Draven’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. “She didn’t give up,” he said sharply. “That counts for something.”
Isla pushed herself up, her arms shaking as she stood. She met Draven’s gaze for a brief moment, and in his eyes, she saw something she hadn’t expected: a flicker of approval. It was fleeting, but it was enough.
Her legs trembled as she walked away, her head held high despite the bruises and blood. She wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.
