bChapter /b149

You need a stic surgeon for what?” Kasier hanked me up and down, then added with characteristic fair, “You’re already

Pefore I could answer, Xavier seemed to pit it together himself.

” fordia, isnt it?” His voice turned teríZUL.

I nodded, relief flooding through me that I didnt have to exin.

“Can you help me find one? Especially someone who specialiers in note reconstruction

edy beautiful

“Cider it done” Xavier waved his hand dismissively, Il arranging world–ss medical care was as simple as ordering coffee “Leme this

I nced between Adrian and Navier, choosing my words carefully.

Please keep this between us for now. Until we’re one hundred percent certain a surgeon can restore her note, I don’t cant to say anything. This in my iden— I haven’t even asked her yet. And 1… My voice bcaught /bslightly.

don’t want to give her hope only to disappoint her.”

Both men nodded solemnly, Adnan’s amber eyes held understanding, while bXavier /bmade ba /bripping motion across his lips.

“Not a word.”“” Adrian promised.

“My lips are bsealed/b,” bXavier /bagreed.

[ byou/b.”

Thank you. Both of y

1 bid them goodnight and headed toward my room, my heart feeling lighter than it had in days.

Behind me, I heard Xavier’s voice drop to a bteasing /bwhisper. “So, still in the doghouse?”

99

Adrian growled response bwas /bbtoo /blow to catch, but I didn’t need to hear it. I kept walking, a small smile tugging at my lips despite everything.

The thought of doing something meaningful for Lydia lifted the bdark /bcloud bthat /bhad hung over me since my fight with bAdrian/b.

Maybe I couldn’t fix my ownplicated mess, but I could try to help heat someone else’s wounds.

The third trial arrived with all the pomp and ceremony the Council could muster.

Thepeting packs bhad /bdwindled significantly, but the audience seats remained packed to capacity. Even eliminated Alphas lingered with their teams, studying every detail for future reference, bPride /band strategy kept them watching–already nning for the next election cycle.

bOur /bbpack /bstood nearest the stage in matching team uniforms, the fabric bearing the bOasishorn /bstem across our backs. The unity felt good, solid. bLike /bwe belonged together.

1 heard there’s a fifty–year–old Alpha whospeting for the fourth time, Ryder murmured beside me. “He was eliminated in the previous round.”

There’s nothing shameful about that. 1 kept my eyes forward, watching for Elder Selene’s arrival. “I think maintaining that fighting spirit at his age is

admirable.”

“Skyr’s right.” A

Adrian said from my other side. I wonder if any of us will have that kind of fire when were fifty”

“I just hope when I’m fifty, I’m still with all of your bRyder /bgrinned bat /bAdrian, bhis /byouth shining through despite the tension in the ait,

vile stood to my left, but chli talved high, defence rédulting from every line of her body. Following |

matross the field.

The bastard:

I met his eyes and let a slow, contemptunus smile curve my lips. Let him see we weren’t afraid. Let him know Lydia had bpack /bbnew/b–people- between her and anyone who tried to hari her again.

As 1 tumed my attention hack to the stage, my gate collided with another pair of ice–lilue eye.

Leon stood with his team, looking energized and ready.

Our eyes met briefly,

His bgaze /bwas bas /bcold as ever. Looking at him now, you’d never imagine that three nights. he’d kissed me with desperate hunger. I supposed it really was just the alcohol. The thought brought me relief.

I looked away first, focusing on the stage as Elder Selene began her ascent.

Elder Selene swept onto the tform, nked by the other Council elders. Unlike her usual stren demeanor from the previous trials, today she seemed unusually enthusiastic

“Congrattions on reaching the third trial–the bTrial /bof Will Her voice carried beasily /bacross the gathered wolves. “Last year’s theme was the Purple Mist. This year, we present the Butterfly Dream bMaze/b.”

She paused dramatically, clearly savoring the moment,

“Doesn’t it sound romantic? Poetic, even? The elders band /b1 designed every element ourselves.” Pride dripped from every wordb, /bher beyes /bpractically glowing with delight.

“I think Elder Selene is like one of those anime viins,” Ryder whispered. “What’s romantic about a death trap?”

Adrian shot him a sharp look. Ryder immediately fell silent, though I caught the ghost of agreement in Adrian’s eyes.

Elder Selene continued, oblivious bto /bor uncaring of the orman rippling through the crowd. “The rules are simple, Each team will enter through one of twelve different entrance into the maze. You bhave /bone hour to find your bway /bout. Those who seed advance to the next roundb./b”

Her smile turned sharp, predatory

“But the Butterfly Dream Maze is special. To escape, you must rely on your heart, not your mind.”

She paused briefly before continuing.

“Unlike the previous trials, you cannot forfeit bonce /binside. Or rather, I should say you won’t have the ability to forfeit.”

My father’s words echoed in my mind:

The third trial tests mental fortitude above all else. If someone’s mind shattered inside that maze, if they lost themselves to madness or despair, they wouldn’t even remember how to quit.

“Since this is a team trial, pack members may help each other,” Elder Selene continued. “Of course, opposing teams may also… interact. The pause before “Interact” sent another wave of unease through the frowd. “Use whatever methods you deem necessary.”fnd3ba Fresh chapters posted on Find~Novel/fnd3ba

She surveyed the assembled wolves like a general reviewing troops before battle.

“Now then let the e third trial begin!”

The crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and anxious murmurs. Teams began moving toward their assigned entrances, and I felt my wolf stir uneasily beneath my bskin/b.

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