Shattered and Saved (Ashen Wolves #2)

23

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A V R I L

The next month passed in calm, a rare stillness we all desperately needed to catch our breath. It was also the best time for me and Koen. Since the pack learned about us, I could spend more time with him. Our dates grew more frequent, each ending in the same heated haze. His cottage stood empty most nights as he shared the bed of the alpha chambers with me.

For the first time, our differences didn’t matter. Our constant arguments ceased, replaced by lust, passion, and fleeting moments of pure bliss. It felt like I was living the teenage summer dream I thought I’d never get to experience. I knew perfection was a fragile illusion, and challenges would come, but for once, I let myself live in the moment, unburdened by the weight of tomorrow.

Like me, Koen seemed content with savoring the now. He never pushed me to label what we had, so I decided not to worry about it. Instead of overthinking whether or not he could actually become the king of the Ashen Wolves, I decided to let time tell.

Thankfully, Waylon seemed to have also left me alone for good. It was impossible not to bump into him every now and then, but he always kept his distance. As expected, he didn’t try to intimidate my former mate or prove why he was more deserving of my attention.

I suspected everything would improve after Koen faced the trials in a few days - if I decided he was ready. Today would be his final test, a sparring match where I’d evaluate his skills. But first, he’d witness the process firsthand.

After a month in the Azure Smoke Pack, Oliver was undergoing our sacred tradition for a chance to earn the recognition of the other Ashen Wolves.

As I stood beside the young man in the center of the training grounds, I raised my voice. “Members of the Azure Smoke Pack, we are gathered here today to witness our newest family member, Oliver, participate in the trials,” I announced. “Not long ago, he joined us, but he has yet to prove that he has what it takes to remain. Today, he will rise as a true Ashen Wolf!”

Loud cheers erupted, their intensity echoing through the enclosed space, shaking the walls. But Oliver didn’t tremble. He stood tall, stoic, and focused. Gone was the lost, frightened boy we had rescued. In his place stood someone who had found his true strength, and a home with us. I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride.

Placing my hand on his shoulder, I lowered my voice and asked, “Are you ready, Oliver?”

“Yes, Alpha,” he answered, his voice steady with determination.

I nodded. “Good luck.”

Leaving him behind, I joined Koen, Theo, Elijah, and Rhea on the viewing deck that overlooked the arena. Normally quiet and empty, today it was alive with the rest of the pack, all of them tense and eager for the trials to begin. Though no Ashen Wolf was quite as attentive as the sole regular wolf present.

As soon as the spotlight illuminating Oliver was turned off, the crowd went silent. Only the sounds of the shifting arena filled the expansive area, dying down in a matter of seconds. Dim lights flickered across the ceiling, allowing everyone to see the metal maze that now covered the entire arena, with the young Ashen Wolf standing at its center.

The trials consisted of a series of meticulously designed tests to evaluate an Ashen Wolf’s abilities, assessing both their strength and their potential as soldiers. The first challenge, known as The Maze, required participants to navigate a labyrinth of shifting metal walls to capture a rabbit - all while avoiding hidden traps. Triggering a trap would unleash a burst of flames, testing the wolf’s natural resistance to fire. With their prey in hand, they then had to find their way out.

Oliver passed the first test with flying colors, triggering only four traps and dashing through the flames without hesitation. As the maze walls disappeared into the ground, smoke clouds engulfed the arena, transforming the terrain for the next challenge. This time, the participant had to demonstrate their skill in blinking between shadows to cross the arena while dodging a hail of bullets. Although the bullets were non-lethal, taking too many hits could make completing the test impossible. The objective was to capture a flag and return safely to the starting point.

Once again, Oliver’s skills proved sufficient to see him through, and the third test began. Our shaman, Vereya, played a vital role in this trial, casting a spell tailored to each participant. The spell conjured an illusion designed to mimic their greatest fear. To pass, they had to maintain control of their emotions and fight through the ordeal

Despite being the most difficult test - one that often caused even seasoned shifters to falter - Oliver persevered. He hesitated briefly when the illusion placed him alone in the woods, facing a pack of rogues. But he refused to back down, slaying each one until the vision dissolved into nothingness.

With that, it was time for the final test: going up against the second strongest wolf in our pack - Theo. To succeed and win the trials, the challenger had to stand their ground against the beta for five minutes. It wasn’t necessary to defeat him, only to stay inside the ring and not be forced into submission.

Fortunately, Oliver didn’t become the first Ashen Wolf to fail the trials. When the timer was up, he was still standing strong. Recognizing his win, Theo stepped back, nodding at him. The gesture made the young man widen his eyes, a proud smile flashing across his face. Still in wolf form, he howled joyfully, and the whole pack was soon to follow.

As everyone rushed down the stairs to congratulate and celebrate with Oliver, Rhea’s voice broke through beside me, accompanied by a playful nudge to Koen’s side. “Ready to do the same in two days, outsider?”

A determined smile spread across his face as he met her teasing tone. “Absolutely.”

“Only if he passes his final test,” I reminded, keeping my excitement masked behind a serious expression.

Koen turned toward me, but I stepped away from the railings, glancing at him from the corner of my eye as I prepared to join my pack. “I’ll be waiting for you here at six p.m. sharp,” I said, a hint of playfulness sneaking into my tone as I continued, “Try not to party too hard.”

With that, I descended to the arena to officially get the celebration started.

I didn’t see Koen anymore after the trials. While the pack enjoyed a relaxing day of partying, a tradition that followed the successful initiation of a new member, I spent most of the time at my office, resolving issues that required my attention. I assumed he must have been having fun with them.

By the time I arrived at the indoor arena to evaluate Koen’s sparring match, my suspicions changed. He was already there, even though I was a few minutes early. The sweat glistening on his exposed upper body suggested he had been training in here for some time. It made me question whether he’d spent any time with my friends at all. I knew he was determined to earn the right to face the trials, but I hadn’t realized just how serious he was about it.

For some reason, it made me proud.

“Avril,” he called, finally noticing me. His chest rose and fell with exertion, each breath causing his muscles to ripple, leaving me momentarily breathless.

Damn, he looks delicious , I thought before scolding myself. This wasn’t the time to get distracted. I needed to stay focused to test him properly.

Raising my head and clearing my throat, I assumed the stoic posture of an alpha. “You shouldn’t overexert yourself right before our match.”

He grinned, a spark of confidence lighting his expression. “Just warming up.”

Turning fully toward me, he squared his shoulders, his gaze locking onto mine with unwavering intensity. “I’m ready when you are.”

I stood still, silent, my eyes never breaking away from his. Before our match even began, I decided to test his reflexes by shifting without warning. Attentive, he transformed almost immediately.

“Not bad,” Kea cooed as she started moving slowly. Columbus didn’t hesitate to mirror her, both of them circling each other patiently.

“Don’t take it easy on him,” I warned her. While I would hate to break his heart by prohibiting him from taking the trials, it would be far worse if I let him get hurt if he truly wasn’t capable of going through it safely.

She didn’t bother replying. In a second, she was bolting toward the white wolf. A spontaneous quick attack, yet he still managed to escape it. He had definitely grown stronger thanks to his daily training with Theo. Adrenaline shot through my veins, the thrill of a good combat settling in.

Picking up the pace, Kea started using her abilities to camouflage in the shadows of the dimly-lit arena. Disappearing into a patch of darkness and reappearing behind him, my jaws snapping just inches from his hind leg. He leapt away with a speed that surprised me, twisting mid-air to face me before darting toward the center of the arena.

Clever. He wanted to keep me in the open, away from the shadows where I could blink.

The muffled sounds of partying could be heard beyond the walls of the training grounds as Kea prowled after him, circling and feinting to test his reactions. Columbus didn’t fall for any of my tricks, keeping his posture low and defensive, his emerald eyes locked on me. His focus was sharp, his every move calculated. It was a pleasant surprise.

When my wolf surged forward again, aiming to knock him off balance, he ducked beneath me, using my momentum to his advantage. His teeth grazed my shoulder - not enough to harm, just to show me he could fight back.

Shaking off my amusement, I regained my focus, pulling back and melding into the shadows once more, reappearing at his flank. This time, Kea struck hard, her paws slamming into his side. He staggered but didn’t fall, rolling away just before she could pin him.

Perhaps I underestimated him too much to understand his plan. He wasn’t just reacting to my attacks - he was studying them, learning my patterns. But I didn’t realize it until it was too late.

When I lunged a final time, he was ready. Columbus shifted his weight at the last second, sidestepping my charge. Before I could blink to safety, he spun, his powerful jaws locking onto the scruff of my neck. Using his weight and leverage, he slammed me onto my side, pinning me firmly beneath him.

After bracing for the impact and Kea reopened her eyes, they were wide with shock. A hint of disbelief also permeated Col’s features, as if he struggled to realize he had actually beat me. Of course, in a real fight Kea would have been much deadlier and played safer. However, that didn’t diminish how impressive our former mate’s performance had been.

Either way, the truth remained - Koen had learned and was prepared to use his cleverness to deal with our superior power.

Pride surged through me, along with a different feeling. My heart was racing, though not because of the battle. I felt hot even without sweating. As I stared into his eyes, I didn’t see a pupil I was supposed to evaluate, but a partner whose strength had grown significantly. An equal. Koen’s power excited me - no, I lusted for it.

For him .

Moved by the shift in atmosphere, no words were exchanged as we both transformed back in unison. Without the fur of our animal counterparts covering our skins, we were completely naked. Koen lay on top of me, his bare chest meeting mine as we panted, our breaths synchronized.

He was the first one to break the silence, his voice husky as he asked, “How’d I do, Alpha?”

“You passed,” I whispered, my hands reaching for his face as I pulled him into an urgent, passionate kiss.