Chapter Thirty
Skylar Cathal
“Submit!” I roared, stepping closer. My power blazed with the magnificence of a blinding sunrise. “You will submit to me, Gilen Warrick.”
For a moment, I was afraid this wouldn’t work, and I would have to kill Gilen to complete this task. But then… his gaze dropped. His shoulder slacked, and his animal’s magic began to dissipate.
“Kneel,” I commanded.
Gilen followed.
Gilen and every shifter surrounding us in the field.
I cautiously approached my childhood friend, waiting to see what would happen next. I swallowed heavily, not from fear but from the pang of sorrow that barreled through my heart. I took no pleasure in doing this to Gilen. I never wanted to hurt him like this.
“Gilen,” I whispered.
He refused to look me in the eye, keeping his gaze cast down, drowning in a sea of shame.
“Gilen?” I said again.
“What does our alpha command of me?” he asked, throwing the dagger at my feet, his voice sounding broken. “Kill me and be done with it. Don’t drag this out longer than it needs to.”
My stomach dropped at the thought… I could kill Gilen. Any victor in a challenge would. Gods above, he would have killed me if the roles were reversed.
But I knew what was coming.
We were on the brink of another war with the humans. Battles and the promise of bloodshed were at our doorstep. I couldn’t justify eradicating one of our strongest warriors simply out of spite or because of some bullshit politics.
Blame it on my human nature running interference, but I saw value in keeping Gilen alive. And as alpha, I could make my own rules.
Ignoring the dagger, I crossed the distance between us and called my healing magic as I gently placed my palm to his eye before seeking the wound in his shoulder. My power sought what was broken, mending what it could. I released my hand from his face and stepped back to give him space.
Gilen’s fingers reached up to trace his injury. His brows shot upward in surprise as his chest heaved, a sea of questions swirling around him as he remained kneeling in the frozen grass, staring at me in awe.
My healing magic held limitations, but I was able to restore his vision. His eye, however, would forever hold a discoloration compared to the other. A lighter milky hue now clung to his iris.
“Why?” Gilen asked.
“I won’t end the life of one of our strongest warriors when we’re on the brink of war,” I said, praying he would listen. “We need you, Gilen.”
“I would’ve killed you, Skylar.”
“Oh, trust me, I know. You sure as hell tried to.” I winked, giving him a half-smile. “I’m looking toward the future of our pack, Gilen. We need strong warriors to defend our people and lands.”
I was trying my best to appeal to his logic, hoping his pride would not force my hand yet again.
“Gilen!” Alistar’s voice boomed as the crowds parted to allow the former alpha through.
“Father…” he rasped, biting his lip and looking down at the earth with a cloud of shame.
Alistar raced to Gilen’s side, knelt beside him in the grass, threw a cloak around his shoulders, and wrapped his arms securely around his son.
Gilen gripped his father tightly. “I’m so sorry I failed you.”
Alistar pulled back and sighed. “You didn’t!” he exclaimed.
The two of them dropped their heads together, brows touching as their shoulders slackened, giving in to the weight of their reservations and accepting their pain.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to guide you when you needed me, son. But… I’m here now.”
“I-I lost. Skylar is—” Gilen began.
“Skylar is finally accepting the mantle of her father,” Alistar said in an even tone, holding his son. “Emery was alpha before I stepped into the role. And I knew,” Alistar said, looking at me. “I knew his heir would eventually rise to take his place.”
I stepped backward, genuinely surprised by what I was hearing. “You knew.” I didn’t form it as a question.
Alistar nodded, the creased lines on his face deepening.
“At first, I thought your rise in power meant you would become a mated partner with Gilen, but…” He paused, standing to meet my stare.
“It has far exceeded what I had imagined. And there isn’t a soul present here today who would deny your victory. ”
Alistar turned and gave his son a nod, a loving look full of pride despite his defeat, before returning to me.
“When I learned that you could ignore my commands at will, it was a clear sign of your true power. You were never meant to follow. You, Skylar, were meant to lead. As our alpha.”
He knew.
“Yes, I knew.” Alistar chuckled, watching my brows raise with surprise.
“The strength of our pack lies within the alpha. To deny you this right would go against everything we stand for. Your strength becomes our strength and vice versa. This is why the shifter with the most power holds the title. It is a responsibility that only the alpha can carry.”
I couldn’t believe it. This whole time, Alistar knew I was able to ignore his commands. This realization shook me.
I had underestimated his depth of understanding and compassion as our alpha. He didn’t see me as a threat. All these years… he saw me as the Solace pack’s future alpha. A part of me wished he had told Gilen all this, but a part of me also understood why he hadn’t.
Gasps echoed around me as Xander raced to Gilen’s side. Gilen refused to look at him, but Xander remained where he was, silently giving his support. It was clear that the bond forged between them while Gilen was alpha still linked them to one another on a subconscious level.
Xander then turned to look at me. “Remember when I told you my animal was drawn to you? That your power exceeded the bullshit politics of our elders?”
“Yes,” I answered, recalling our rendezvous before I was marked as the champion.
“It all makes sense. My bear was following an alpha. Even if she wasn’t ready to reveal herself just yet,” Xander said, looking at me.
“I remember feeling the same calling,” Shaw announced, stepping to my side with the others not far behind. “In the meadow, when you didn’t shift, my animal followed your lead.”
I looked at Shaw, and something seemed to click. Like a turning of a lock, finally breaking free.
“We follow you,” Shaw said with a curt nod.
“Told you,” Rhea interjected with a smirk. “I told you that you were meant for more, Skylar. Why the fuck did you ever doubt me?”
Talon clicked his tongue and shook his head, wrapping an arm around his mate.
“What?” Rhea snapped.
“You have such a way with words, love,” Talon answered.
“Skylar Cathal,” Alistar said, standing to address the pack, “is our alpha!” He cheered, with everyone in attendance following his lead.
“Alpha,” my pack whispered in a trickling pattern that echoed through the roots of the trees and the melody of the forest. “Alpha.” The title rang more clearly. “Alpha!” The chant roared as the forest itself seemed to hum with magic.
On cue, the gathering clouds overhead cracked with thunder and a flash of lightning, draping over the sky as the rains began to fall.
Hard, yet soft as it melted on my skin. The cold mixed with the falling waters, freezing the droplets as they fluttered to the ground, covering the earth in a pure blanket of fresh snow.
A new beginning.
Silently, I bent to take hold of the alpha’s dagger. A strange silence engulfed me, with my focus solely locked on the third key in the trials of the Heart of Valdor.
The weapon hummed with a familiar magic that sang to my soul and my animal. As my fingers curled around the hilt, the cold kiss of the metal felt perfect. Like this weapon was crafted for me to wield.
I hoisted the dagger upward, stretching to the sky, yelling out a roar of victory to the Gods themselves.
My pack joined me, shifting into their animal forms, filling the night with roaring songs and calls.
I closed my eyes. The snowflakes melted as they fell onto my cheeks, cleansing my soul and welcoming me into my new role.
Magic trickled over my skin, and I felt threads of power reach out and connect me to each member of the Solace pack, linking them to me and me to them.
My power surging—growing.
I stilled with the dagger outstretched in my arm, realizing this trial of the soul was only a piece of my victory. I was meant to discover the truth about who I was. Who I was meant to be.
I lowered my arm, admiring the weapon my ancestors carried—that my father carried. I was honored that fate had brought me here. Honored that I was strong enough to hold this mantle.
“My people,” I said for the first time as their leader, “with this dagger, I have completed the third trial, but now… I must leave.”
“What?” a voice shouted.
“We’re on the brink of war!” another declared.
“We need our alpha!”
“Settle down,” I said inside their minds. “I would never leave without leadership to guide you. But I must return to the Inner Kingdom. If I don’t, then the wilt will ravage our home and destroy us all.”
I waited, trying to assess the reactions of my pack, wishing there was a better way to ease their fears.
This was why I didn’t kill Gilen. Why I cherished Alistar and Xander’s support. If I had to leave, then I knew I needed to supply our pack with the very best.
I turned to look at Shaw. “Up for a run?” I asked.
“A run?” Neera questioned at his side.
But Shaw… Oh, Shaw. He knew exactly what I was planning.
“You up for this?” Shaw asked.
“I don’t have a choice,” I said, readying myself.
“Where are you going?” Neera asked, stepping in my path. “You’re hurt, Sky.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Besides, this new job as alpha comes with some perks. I’m now linked to everyone, and I think it’s boosting my healing abilities.
” I lifted my leg, bending my knee that thankfully was already on the mend.
“See?” I said with a grin. “The swelling on my eye has also stopped. It’s almost like it never happened. ”
Neera pursed her lips, unconvinced by my attempt to reassure her.
“I’m going to find Magnus,” I said.
Her eyes widened with a gasp. The light jade tint of her irises shimmered against a streak of tears she fought to keep at bay from her freckled face. “I’m coming.”
“Good,” I replied before turning to the pack. “I’m going to find Magnus. And I’m going to bring him back.”