Page 21 of The Hidden Guardian

Zev rises and paces before me. “You are walking on dangerous ground. How does this look, one of my ancients, the last of the Warrior Clan, becoming mush at the hands of some human Guardian outsider? Others have already begun to speak. They call me weak. You disobeyed an Alpha order and were allowed to leave.”

There’s a pause as Zev’s eyes meet mine intensely, sizing me up. We have been friends for a long time, but we both know the Warrior Clan blood in me is blessed by the Gods themselves. I’m lethal. I trained the last four Alphas, including Zev. Even though he’s bigger than me. There is no competition, and we both know it. Zev’s glare softens.

“No oneallowedme to leave,” I finally state. “I don’t even understand how I did it.”

“Exactly, but they don’t know that. All they see is that you have left and returned withher,” Zev spits that last word out venomously.

I growl and my fangs extend. No one talks about my Guardian that way. I lean forward slowly, still gripping the balcony, keeping myself from jumping on my pack Alpha and starting an all-out clan war. “Rawe-tum is my everything. If you talk about her with that tone again, I will rip your throat out and feed it to Lupe.”

There’s a pause as we both stare silently at each other. This is it. Is it my time to finally become the Alpha? Is Rawe-tum ready for that? Will it protect her or make her a higher target? Worse, will she hate me for forcing this upon her? No. Rawe-tum doesn’t need more change. Not now.

Zev laughs, a deep, throaty laugh, breaking the tension. “Wow, she does have her claws in you if you threaten to rip the Alpha’s throat out. That’s treason, you know.” Then Zev smirks. “I had to make sure it was real my friend, you understand.”

“This was a test?” There’s no way he was sizing me up. But that’s what I would do.

“That was, yes, you are my oldest friend. The leader of my warriors. If something were to happen to you, the clan would be at a great loss. That’s why I couldn’t grant you that request. I didn’t want you to leave for a Guardian who was so far away. It was too dangerous.”

“I could do it. I did do it.”

“I know, I see that now. But I made it an Alpha order. If there are no consequences, others will deem me a weak Alpha. That is the last thing we need at this time.”

Fear floods my veins because this is it. This is the fate I made for myself. I risked everything for Rawe-tum, and now I will not truly bond with her.What have I done?“I understand.”

“It needs to be public, so my opinion and our friendship aren’t questioned.”

“A Clan Trial?”

Zev nods. “A trial is our best option. You have many friends who would vote for you. Many others understand the pain of being unable to leave and find their Guardian. I think a trial is our best option here to maintain peace and show that an Alpha order shall not be disobeyed.”

There are many who would understand, of that I have no doubt. But there are others who have wanted me dead since Zev became Alpha and named me Clan Warrior over someone older. Our friendship has always been called into question. Our motives as well. I know deep down that the trial itself makes Zev appear weak. He should have ripped me to shreds as soon as I walked back through the waterfall. Truth is, Zev is weak. They know it. I’ve always known it. But because of my past, I could never have been Alpha without a fight and without a Guardian. A fight to the death with my oldest friend to prove my worth serves no one.

“A trial, it is.” I nod in acceptance and hold out my hand.

Zev shakes it once and pulls me into a bear hug. “Now, tell me about your journey and this Rawe-tum who is worth losing your life over.”

“Gladly.”

Rawe-tum is a subject I will always be happy to discuss. Plus, my Alpha needs to be aware of how close the hunters are growing and the tactics they are using. Because in my heart I know that war is coming, and we must be prepared.

That is, if I survive the trial.

ChapterFifteen

AUTUMN

It seems like hours have passed where Lupe and I sit at the long table and talk before I feel a heated stare on me. My cheeks flush as my eyes gravitate to the doorway. The green eyes of Renall watch me as he leans against the far wall. Zev is somber beside him. Renall eyes me curiously from the hallway, as if trying to read my mind before starting toward us. Lupe says something to him in their language before he smiles and replies animatedly, holding his hand out for mine.

“I told him you have agreed to stay,” Lupe translates.

“He looks surprised.” I shrug, taking his hand and rising to my feet. “It’s not like I have anywhere else to go.”

“Renall is … many things,” Lupe hints. “But he would never have made you stay against your will. No matter what he risked saving you.”

“Risked?” I catch and my palms grow sweaty remembering his fear earlier.

Lupe nods. “Renall was told not to leave the cave. We do not allow unmated wolves to leave the cavern unaccompanied, especially not so close to Summer Solstice.”

“Summer Solstice? The longest day of the year?” We used to celebrate that day when Mother was alive. We’d have a bonfire and dance all night.

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