The Luna Trials by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 75

Petra ran between the ancient pine trees of the Forbidden Forest like a flash of lightning. She may not have been the best warrior out there, but her speed was always impressive. This was one time when her small size was an advantage. It was much harder for the bear that followed her to keep up, but the beast was stubborn, and that was becoming a problem. She knew that bear. She recognised his scent at once when he got close to her on the battlefield because he was the one who kept visiting her while she was captive and swore that he would be the one to own her in the end. It seemed like he intended to keep his word even though the auction never happened. He was also the one Petra liked the least, not that she liked any of them. But there was something about this one… something that made her stomach churn in the worst of ways. She knew she’d better die than get into his paws..

However, that other scent that was now reaching her nostrils gave her hope. She dreamed of being enveloped in this pleasant earthy scent for the rest of her life. A part of her worried that he was chasing the bear because those beasts were much bigger and more dangerous now than ever before. The whispers travelled fast among the werewolves and lycans about their enemies changing into something else. Now everyone got a taste of that change. They should have already won by now but were still struggling in reality. Their plan failed.

Petra thought of luring the bear into the Forgotten city. If she managed to get him into the tiles area, she could lead him into a trap. However, the problem was that they were now on the wrong side of the battlefield.

Something shifted before her in the darkness of the woods; at first, she did not know what that was. A chill soon ran down her spine when she saw another three bears walking out of thick shadows. The realisation made her stop, trying to change the direction.

A trap! It was a trap!

Her pursuer charged at her, knocking a few trees out of his way and breaking them into chips. He covered Petra with his heavy paw, and she found herself pinned to the ground just like that. She struggled desperately, trying to bite him, but that only amused him. That cruel glint in his eyes she noticed back at the bear castle was back, and it made her nauseous.

That did not last long, though, as a black wolf pounced at the beast on top of her, canines digging into his fur as deep as they could go and claws leaving their bloody marks on his back.

However, the bear managed to shake the werewolf off right in time for his comrades to catch up with them. Petra jumped in front of her mate, baring her teeth, her primal instincts were kicking in. Ash was next to her instantly, trying to push her behind them as the beasts surrounded them.

Four. There were four bears against the two of them. Enhanced, blessed, mutated… whatever it was called, they were simply stronger.

A loud growl emerged as one of the bears was attacked by an elegant chocolate wolf who tore a piece of flesh from his leg. Followed by a lycan who leapt at another monster.

It did not make Petra feel any better because she recognised her mentor, Evelyn and her suitor Kyle at once. Two more people she cared about were at risk now because of her. Sometimes she wished that Lyn did not care about her so much. Her life would be so much easier without Petra, who was always in need of saving. Even now, when she was putting up a fight for the first time in her life.

They stood back to back as the bears regrouped too. If they were regular white bears, the wolves would have a chance. A slim one, but it would be there. Right now… all they could do was pray and not give up. Because their powers were not equal, and surrendering would be so much worse than dying. They would have to fight until the last drop of blood if they had to.

Brigit had a hard time dodging attack after attack, slaughtering her own kind as she went through the battlefield, technically making a path for two armies to meet each other and separate Bjorn’s lines.

Just that night, she reached her pack’s camp and challenged her cousin, who was the new Alpha, for his position. The warriors at the Camp laughed at her and called her names that weren’t new to her, only fuelling the flames of her anger more. They did not know how much she needed their insults to keep going, to fight, to change the order that was so wrong and unfair. They did not scare her off. They didn’t change her mind. They only reminded her of why she was doing this.

She was underestimated since birth. A girl. A thing to exchange for something more valuable.

Enough was enough. If the man of her kind we’re not capable of change, she would make that step for them whether they wanted it or not. Bridgit killed her cousin quickly. Well, he was showing off, thinking she was out of her mind when she looked him into a death grip and bit through the most crucial artery on his neck, dyeing the ground with his crimson blood.

She did not experience relief though because she knew that the men wouldn’t be happy about her victory. This wouldn’t be enough for them. They would think it was beginners’ luck and nothing else, and they would challenge her again.

Her prediction was correct, and her dead cousin’s Beta challenged her mere seconds after his Alpha’s death. She took her time with this one, making it a spectacle this time but also ensuring that they all knew she wasn’t lucky. She was plain good. So good that when she was done, they finally bowed their heads to her.

She, never an heir, became the Alpha of her clan overnight and promised to lead them into a better future. She did not lie.

When it was their time to take their positions at the back according to Bjorn’s plan, after he found out that she was the new Alpha, she informed them of her real plan. The plan where they would strike their own kind at the back at the most crucial moment and change the game. She could feel how men hesitated, but also she could feel how women were on her side, even if slightly wary. This was when she simply had to hope that they would follow her, that they would believe in what she was offering them.

And luckily, most of them did.

Her warriors took care of the ones who disobeyed her first, proving their loyalty to their female Alpha. And then they waited just like she ordered them, which was another strike of luck because they were blessed by Joran like all the other bears and foxes. If she did not want to wait, this brilliant opportunity would have been missed.

No one expected this and the changes that were happening to their bodies were scary at first. Bridget could feel her muscles. growing, her claws getting longer and changing their shape, her teeth becoming sharper. She could hear sounds at a longer distance, see further than she ever did, and was afraid to think what other abilities she had now. She also was not stupid and knew that this was changing the balance of power, meaning that even with her betrayal of the bears, the wolves could still lose the battle and the war. The -reasonable thing would have been to take a step back and abort her plan. Play nice and follow Bjorn until the day she died.

logical way out and not the one that her heart desired. Each time she regretted her choice. She regretted staying in Castiel’s harem for so long. She regretted pushing

slightest possibility of having a happy ending was better

hint of her scent now. They were recognisable, and soon every white bear knew who the traitors were.

the bears were the same. Some of them could still be

crowd too. That aura of power was impossible to hide, not that she

releasing his frustration on him and watched Bridget being attacked again and again by her own kind. He had to give it to her, she managed to impress him. Never in a million years had he expected something like this. She arranged a coupe in the middle

This was also

through this challenge during the Luna Trials. But they had yet to learn if the bears who tried to take them into a ring knew about the secret passages and tiles. Some of them did because Bjorn used that place a lot in the past. At least the catacombs

going to help

time and threw its body at one of the bigger beasts to try and distract it. He then injected himself between Brigit and another bear, cursing himself under

searched for at least a glimpse of his gaze, but he was avoiding her like the plague even though he was so close. That stubborn lycan shouldn’t have been there at all, and yet… yet he was defending her time after time, after time. She prayed to all the gods she knew for them to get out of this. The bear Alpha

did not notice another fox monster created by Joran jumping at her and biting through a tendon on her Jeg. Am angry snarl escaped her. Her leg hurt like hell and made her pause… Enough for one of the bears to get close enough for that final blow of his claws. Those long sharp claws looked like talons now and were supposed to pierce through her like a knife through butter. Brigit closed

Only to feel nothing.

she was still alive. And Brigit finally got to see his eyes too, as Aspen stood

and full of pain that

his end. Aspen… he deserved so much better than

did this to her mate. Even if

next, followed by another bear. And then one more. She felt like she could kill them

in a pool of his own blood. The battle went on, but Brigit found herself back next to

down her face against her will. “Open your eyes, Aspen! Do you

She asked Savannah to take care of her little sister when she passed the message, knowing that the Queen would stay alive either way. Neither Bjorn nor Kai would let anything happen to her. This was her only request when she sent

the new order any more. She did not want her Alpha title. All Brigit wanted was her mate alive and well, even if it was without her. It seemed like a little price

his body quivering in her hands, pushing the rest of his blood out. And there was nothing she could do about it. Everything

her face into his soft fur

love you, I love you! Just stay with me! Stay without me! Do whatever you want, but please

in her arms whimpered softly, licking the tears off her cheeks

deserve you! Just stay alive, and you will meet your second chance! I swear, she will be great, and she will make you happy! Please!

her bears stood behind her back, covering her and not letting anyone reach their Alpha. She did not care. Not if this was

seized his body like a chain. Each movement only tightened it and prolonged the torture. That she bear was trouble, and he had to push her away. Only that he did not want to. He had to admit it, at least to himself in his final moments, that this was probably the

loved each other and simply knowing that he

bits of his strength to shift into his human form because he wanted to taste her lips one last time. He did not care about his legs anymore. He did not care about revenge at all. He only cared about this beautiful woman who betrayed him once, whom he couldn’t trust and with whom he would do the same things all over again if he was to ever repeat this life. There was only one regret on his mind now. He wished they had more

sadly, life was slipping

and this was making her angry. Deep inside, she wished naively that she would be able to bring all of them back alive. However, that plan was not destined to come true and just by throwing a quick glance around the field below the mountain she stood on, she knew that the losses were terrible. And she

the corner of her eye, she noticed a group of white bears climbing up to where she was standing now. The Luna of the North had no doubts that Bjorn was the one at the very front of them, and she could already feel his scent of Wintergreen. She also saw Amarok and a few of his loyal northern warriors following the enemies, and her lips almost curled into a smile. She

she sprinted away

with the snow, but her black ears were giving her location away. He knew very well that she was playing a game with him, and he was in. Whatever it took,

to the top with ease, but it took him longer, and he couldn’t ignore Amarok’s growls behind his back. His rival would be here soon, and Bjorn had no illusions about that.

had no problem with that. If he had to prove his

into her assistant just for a second to pass her a shawl to wrap around her body. The girl with short black hair glared at him, but after a few

was in her human form, and it meant that she wanted

kiss her, to finally take her. He couldn’t wait any longer; this time, he would play his cards differently

on. He knew he did not have to be embarrassed about his body and hoped to notice at least one appreciative glance from her, one hint… a

at once, even though