Chapter 15

Nova walked into Murphy’s tavern twenty minutes later, completely preoccupied. Amara wasn’t the only one nervous about what the rest of the Trials would bring. Sure, Nemoy and his mother had said she was brave, but did that mean she was brave enough to be Pack? Or did her seduction of the Valley Clan’s Beta mean she was no longer suitable to be part of the Mountain Clan? He couldn’t believe his brother would hold it against her, not since she used the seduction as a weapon to get out of that room, but what about his mother? It wasn’t as if she actually liked Amara.

No, that wasn’t true. She didn’t like that Amara was human, but she had definitely come to respect her. They wouldn’t tell them no. They wouldn’t force him to choose between the woman he loved and the family he belonged to. Would they?

Laughter made Nova turn, relieving him of his dark, worried thoughts. Amara, her sister, and surprisingly Zoe, were all sitting at the bar, talking and joking about something or another. He was glad to see she was still able to laugh after the events of the last few nights. He wasn’t so sure he could yet, but there was no need for her to know that.

Mitch stopped him as he walked in. He stuck out his hand. “Hey, Nova, how’s it going? You here for a drink?”
Nova took the hand Mitch offered and the two men shook. “No, not tonight, Mitch, but thanks for asking. I’m actually just here to pick up Amara. We’re heading out to my parent’s place tonight.” He sighed. “Wedding stuff.”

“Oh. Right.” Was it his imagination, or did Mitch sound upset? “Wedding stuff.” There was definitely a vein throbbing at his temple. Did Mitch have a problem with Nova and Amara getting married? Nova wondered.

Then Mitch clapped him on the back with a grin. “Well, congratulations, man. Marriage. You got yourself a catch with that one.” He nodded his head to indicate Amara.

“Yeah, thanks.” Maybe he’d just imagined Mitch’s discomfort, Nova conceded. Maybe there was nothing to worry about at all.

“But all that planning. Whew. That’s all those girls have been talking about all night. Wedding this, wedding that. I think Zoe’s even going to be your caterer. Something about France? I don’t know. Better you than me, right?” He laughed again. “Best get back to the bar. You have a good night now, you hear?”

“You too.” Still shaken, Nova made his way over to the girls. He pressed a kiss into Amara’s hair when he reached her. “Good evening, ladies,” he crooned, unnerved by the way they all looked at him—as if he were a thing, a pawn on a chessboard that they were deciding where to place. Thank goodness they weren’t actually going to be talking wedding plans tonight. That almost made the Trials look good.

Nova glanced down at Amara. “Are you about ready? It’s nearly seven and you know how my mother gets. She doesn’t like to be kept waiting when there’s food on the table.”

Amara forced a small laugh. “Sure. Ladies,” she said with narrowed eyes. The other two resumed their giggles.

“What was all that about?” he asked her quietly as they walked away.

“Oh, nothing,” she replied. “Just talking about how you and your brother would look in a tux.”

Heat rushed to Nova’s face. They had been talking about him. Looked like his pawn assumption had been right on the money. And the thought of being discussed like a piece of meat made him feel slightly ill. “I see.”

Taking her hand, Nova led her out of the bar. It wasn’t until they were both settled in his truck however, and on the road, that he broached the sticky subject that was bothering him. “So you and Mitch. Were you ever, you know, an item or anything?”

Amara raised a brow. “An item?”

“Did you ever date?”

“What? Mitch? No. No,” she repeated firmly, a smile curving her lips. “We’ve only ever been just friends. Why do you ask?”

Nova stared out the front windshield. “Just wondering.”

Amara frowned. “You’re kidding me, right? You can’t possibly be jealous of Mitchell, can you? Please, tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m not jealous.” But he could see why she would think that. How did he phrase it so he didn’t appear to be nothing more than a jealous boyfriend? “It’s just…look, there’s just something about him lately. Something, I don’t know, off.”

“He’s been stressed,” Amara insisted. “I barely work at Murphy’s anymore and with the wolf attacks finally under control, it’s not like business is slowing down. If anything, it’s picking up, and he’s only got Zoe as an extra hand most nights. And from what I’ve heard, working so close with someone you’re also sleeping with can be just a little bit taxing. Combine all of that together, and yeah, I would say that was enough to make a person seem ‘off.’”

“I also caught his scent around your house,” Nova told her. “Barely more than a few hours old. It was mixed in with the sheriff’s scent, but it was still there.”

“Maybe he was helping Mac search.”
“Did Mac tell you he’d enlisted Mitch’s help?”

The crease between Amara’s brows deepened. “Well, no, but maybe he came to see me when I wasn’t home or something. That does happen, you know.”

“And maybe he left rotten flowers on your porch and put a rock through my window.”

“Are you seriously accusing Mitchell of being my stalker right now? Are you that insecure about our relationship that you would resent my friendship with him?”

“No, of course not.”

“He’s my best friend.”

“I know.”

Stubbornly, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window. “It wasn’t him, Nova.”

“Okay.” He heaved a deep breath. “Okay. I was wrong. I’m just worried about you is all. I guess I’m seeing enemies everywhere.” Taking her hand, he pressed it to his lips. He kept kissing her until the frown disappeared and the hint of a smile took its place. “Forgive me?” he asked.

She glanced at him sideways and her lips twitched up at the corners. “I suppose I forgive you,” she told him. “But you have to promise me that you won’t go accusing any more of my friends.”

For a moment, he raised his hands in surrender before placing them back on the wheel. “I promise.”

“Good.”

When they parked in front of the Council Chamber, Nova went around to help her down from the truck. “It’s the last one,” he said. “Are you ready for this?”

Amara just sighed and shook her head. “Let’s just get this over with, okay? I’m just ready for this to be over.”

“Sure.” But he couldn’t stop chancing glances at her when she wasn’t looking as the made their way in. He knew she could make it through this. She was strong enough. They were strong enough together. But would she forgive herself for the choices she had made during the Trials? Even if they weren’t real? Of that he wasn’t so certain.

“Welcome,” Nemoy greeted them. Once again, he was standing next to the Shaman amidst the circle of elders. “Tonight, you enter into the third and final Trial. The decision at the end will be final. You will be accepted as a couple and part of this Pack, or you may choose exile, but you may not choose both. Do you accept the terms?” He looked to Nova.

Nova nodded at this brother. “I accept.”

“And you, Amara?”

“I accept.”

“Wonderful. Now, if you will both step this way, we will begin.” He led them in the chamber and directed them on more to their beds of pillows. “Take your seats,” he instructed. Then he handed them both steaming cups of brew.

Nova and Amara raised their glasses. “Cheers,” she said.

“Cheers.” And then he drank.

Nova woke on the grimy floor of his cell, the cold, hard concrete pressed against his cheek. His muscles were still trembling from the Taser, but he was able to push himself forward up onto his hands and knees. It was a slow, painful process, and he shook the entire way up. Somehow, he managed to get himself perched on the edge of the metal slab that passed for a bed. Aching and breathing hard, he gripped his ribs, trying to stem the pain, but nothing helped. It sliced through him like a sword’s edge, cutting deeper with every pass.

The handle to his cell moved and Nova’s head snapped up. If Kal was coming to finish him off, he wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight. But he could try. With a grimace, Nova forced himself into a standing position, gritting his teeth to stop the scream. The handle turned again, and this time it opened. Nova clenched his fists.

The door creaked open wider, opening enough to let in a human body. Amara stepped through. Instant relief flooded through him and Nova slumped back down on the bed with a groan.

Amara rushed to his side, her clothes in disarray. “Nova. Oh my god, Nova. Are you okay? That stun gun…I thought…but you’re alright.” With her hands on either side of his face, she pressed her lips to his. “We need to get out of here,” she told him. “Can you walk?”

“I don’t know,” he huffed. Even talking hurt. “Maybe.”

“Try.” She wedged her shoulder under his arm and heaved him to his feet. Even in his weakened state, he was surprised she was able to carry him.

“Tougher than you look, aren’t you?” He knew what he was trying to say, but it came out a garbled mess. Had they drugged him as well?

“Sshh. Don’t talk. Let’s just get you out of here.”

Every step was labored, and there were a few moments when he was convinced neither of them were going to make it, but they finally reached the door.

And then Nova woke up.

Looking around, he spotted Amara coming to across from him. She was just as surprised as he was. His gaze went to the grave faces of his Alpha and the elders. “That’s it? That was the entire third Trial?”

Nemoy nodded. “That was it.”

“Did we pass?” Amara asked. For the first time in days, she actually looked excited. But that excitement was short-lived.

“I’m afraid not.”