The fire still clung to Lyra's skin as she stumbled from the ash ring, her breath ragged, her body slick with sweat. Every muscle trembled, but she stood tall, refusing to bow her head. The whispers had tried to break her. They hadn't.
But as the torches dimmed, and the hall fell silent, she realized the first trial had only been a doorway.
Kaelen's storm-gray gaze found her again. His voice rolled through the hall, steady and merciless.
"She has endured fire. Now let her face fang."
A ripple of anticipation surged through the warriors. Some grinned, others whispered. Lyra's stomach clenched, but her fire pulsed inside her like a heartbeat, steady, fierce.
Two massive iron gates groaned open at the far end of the hall. The stench of blood and fur hit her nose before she even saw what lay within.
A wolf stepped out.
No, not just a wolf.
This one was enormous, larger than any she had seen in Eldermere. Its black fur shimmered with a faint sheen, its eyes glowing red, its fangs bared. Its shoulders rippled with unnatural muscle, and scars crisscrossed its hide like battle trophies.
Gasps rose from the crowd.
"A Bloodfang," someone whispered.
Lyra's chest tightened. She had heard the stories-wolves bred in the shadows, half-mad with rage, used only for battle or punishment. They fought until death, their minds twisted to know nothing but blood.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
The guards shoved her toward the center of the ring. The Bloodfang snarled, saliva dripping from its teeth, its claws gouging the stone floor.
"You can't be serious," Lyra hissed, turning toward Kaelen.
But the Alpha's face was stone, unreadable.
"This is the trial," he said simply. "No fire. No tricks. Face the fang with fang."
Her stomach dropped. He was forbidding her Moonfire. He wanted her to fight with nothing but her wolf-her wolf she had barely even touched.
"That thing will kill her," Veyra muttered, frowning.
Kaelen's gaze flicked to her, sharp as a blade. "If it does, then she was never meant to stand here."
The crowd roared in approval.
The gates slammed shut. Lyra stood alone in the ring, her pulse hammering in her ears.
The Bloodfang growled, low and deep, its eyes burning into her.
Her wolf stirred within her, restless, agitated.
Shift, it whispered.
Lyra's throat tightened. She had never shifted before-not fully. She had felt her wolf's presence, its voice, its fire-but the change had always hovered just out of reach, terrifying and wild.
And now she was supposed to do it, here, in front of everyone, while death stalked her with glowing eyes.
The Bloodfang lowered its head, muscles coiling.
It charged.
Lyra dove aside just as its massive body barreled past, the wind of its speed nearly knocking her over. The crowd shouted. The beast whirled, foam spraying from its jaws, and lunged again.
She rolled across the stone, her shoulder slamming into the ground. Pain flared. She scrambled to her feet, her breaths ragged.
Shift, her wolf urged again, fiercer this time. Stop running. Fight.
"I can't," Lyra gasped aloud, ducking another swipe of claws. "I don't know how!"
The Bloodfang snapped at her, teeth grazing her arm. Pain seared, blood welling. She cried out, stumbling back.
The warriors jeered, some chanting for blood.
Kaelen didn't move. His arms were crossed, his gaze fixed on her, sharp and unyielding.
The Bloodfang stalked closer, its eyes glowing brighter. Its growl vibrated in her bones.
Lyra's chest heaved. Fear clawed at her throat. She couldn't outrun it. She couldn't outfight it.
But maybe she didn't need to.
Her fire pulsed, steady, insistent. Not to burn. To awaken.
She closed her eyes, blocking out the shouts, the snarls, the fear. She reached inward, deeper than she ever had before.
And there-her wolf. Waiting. Fierce. Blazing.
Let me in, it whispered. Stop fearing me. I am you. You are me. Together, we fight.
The Bloodfang lunged.
Lyra roared.
Her bones cracked, reshaping. Her skin burned, fur rippling across her arms, her back. Her senses exploded-the scent of blood, the scrape of claws on stone, the taste of iron on her tongue.
Her vision sharpened. The world came alive in silver and shadow.
She hit the ground on four paws.
Gasps filled the hall.
Where Lyra had stood, a wolf now crouched. Her fur shimmered with streaks of silver fire, her eyes glowing brighter than the torches. Smaller than the Bloodfang, but lean, fast, burning with untamed energy.
The beast snarled and lunged.
This time, Lyra met it head-on.
Their bodies crashed together, claws and fangs clashing. Pain flared as its teeth scraped her shoulder, but she twisted, sinking her own teeth into its leg. Blood filled her mouth, hot and metallic. The Bloodfang howled, thrashing.
The crowd roared.
Lyra darted aside, circling, her tail lashing. Her wolf's instincts surged, guiding her. Don't meet it head-on. Strike where it's weak. Move faster, sharper.
The Bloodfang lunged again, but she slipped under its body, slashing at its belly with her claws. Blood sprayed, the beast stumbling.
Lyra didn't hesitate. She leapt onto its back, her jaws snapping at its neck. The Bloodfang bucked, slamming her into the stone wall. Pain shot through her ribs, but she clung on, her teeth tearing deeper.
At last, with a final, furious snarl, she sank her fangs into its throat. Hot blood gushed, the beast thrashing before collapsing with a heavy thud.
Silence.
Lyra staggered back, panting, her fur matted with blood. Her chest heaved, every muscle trembling, but she stood tall over the fallen beast.
The hall erupted. Warriors shouted, some in awe, others in fury.
Kaelen stepped forward, his gaze locked on her.
She shifted back slowly, collapsing to her knees, naked and trembling, her skin smeared with blood. Her breaths came ragged, but her eyes still burned with silver fire.
Kaelen stopped before her, silent.
Then, softly, so only she could hear:
"You bled, but you didn't break. You fought, but you didn't falter."
He crouched, his storm-gray eyes inches from hers.
"Maybe the Goddess didn't make a mistake after all."
