The Lunar Trials Part 3

*NOT EDITED*

I was thankful that it was pretty bright outside. I think this would have been a million times worse if it were dark. I gathered whatever courage I had and started walking away from the crowd and towards my doom. Deeper and deeper through the clearing right before the woods.

When I looked back, I saw that many of the members were off their seats and chatting. Yet, even from afar I could sense the nervousness. Nobody was particularly happy with how things were turning out. The kids were playing, but I am sure they had no idea what was going on. I tried to find Axel, to see him one more time before I left, but I knew that it wasn't in my best interest to waste time.

I pulled out my map and tried to focus. I unfolded it and stared at it. Hard. Well, this is absolute shit. I knew I was bad with directions, but I didn't know I was this clueless even if I were given a map. I rotated it several times, trying to make something out of it. Realizing how frustrated I was becoming, I started running towards the woods. I needed to let some of my anger out before I can focus. Running it off seemed like a good idea. Maybe that was stupid, but once the trees are cloaking me just a little bit, I can get the privacy to think and figure out what my plan is.

It did not take a long time before I was completely surrounded by trees. So, I grabbed the map again and took another go at it. Before, I could really focus, I heard a weird mechanical sound. I immediately got goose bumps and a chill ran down my spine. I just realized that I don't have any weapons on me, and nor was I allowed to shift. The sound paused for a second, then continued. And that is when I realized that this was probably one of the cameras that they planted here so that they can creepily watch everything that was happening. I released a sigh and tried to focus again on the map. Luckily, I noticed that in the bottom left-hand corner, there was a small rectangle with 11 little boxes in it. Was this their way of leaving me a clue?

I grabbed the pictures they gave me and tried to find a similar feature on that as well. I looked very closely, but I just couldn't find anything. I wasn't sure how long I had spent looking at the pictures, but when I looked up, I noticed the shadow on the trees was a little more slanted. I have to think faster! I'm running out of daylight time.

Putting the photo away, I thought about the map a little bit more. There were many symbols of trees, which was pointless to include because I was literally surrounded by about a million. I strained my brain, trying to think. There was also a little 'X' right by a right turn of a stream, and I was assuming that is where I was supposed to find the key. But, why would the little box be there?

Then it hit me: that was the stage! The big rectangle was the stage, and the 11 boxes represent the 11 council members. Ugh, those sons of bitches had to make this about them, didn't they?

Feeling a little triumphant, I figured out that this meant that I will have to tilt that map diagonally, to form a straight line with the 'X'. Perfect!

I started walking towards my destination, making a note of anything I saw, so that I can head back quickly without having to look at the map when I was racing a rogue. There was a huge boulder, that was also present on the map, and that made me feel pretty confident that I was doing this right.

I kept walking for a while, and eventually I started following a stream because that was the best way to stay on track, knowing that this stream was the right by the 'X'. It was very helpful that every curve of the stream was also drawn into the map, so I knew where I was relative to the key by counting turns.

The stream took a sharp right turn, and based on my counting and the map, I knew that I had reached my destination. I stretched my legs a bit and began looking for the treasure chest. It is silver, so I reassured myself that it shouldn't be able to camouflage with anything that was around it. I pulled the picture, to get another mental image of the chest before continuing. I didn't think they would bury it anywhere in the ground. That would have been impossible for me or the rogue to find. I also wasn't given a shovel, so I didn't expect to be doing any digging. So far, this was going well, and fingers crossed it will run this smoothly towards the end.

I heard the mechanical whirring of the camera again, and that reassured me that I was really close. That was when another idea smacked me in the face. Since they wanted to put this all on camera, the box would have been hidden somewhere within the cameras' field of view. They wouldn't want to have all the fun of me finding the chest hidden from the viewers. Looking around, I found four cameras, and they were all pointed in one direction. Bingo!

I went there and started frantically looking around. I wasn't getting any luck, until I suddenly saw something glint as the sun's rays made contact with it. I moved towards it, cleared the leaves off it, and found my treasure chest! Yes! I did it, all I have to do is go home to my mate now.

I grabbed the chest and opened it, making sure that the key was still in there. It wasn't locked, so it was easy to open. The key inside matched the key in the picture. Thank God!

However, I didn't want to leave the key in the chest. I didn't know where that rogue is, and he would possibly want to take the chest out of my hands first.

So, making sure that I wasn't facing the cameras, I took my necklace off and passed the chain through the hole in the key. Now, the key was around my neck, and the chest was in my hands. I thought about returning the chest back to its place, but I didn't want to anger the rogue if he found the empty treasure chest.

So, I started to head back. But, my speed was much faster, mainly because I was excited to go back. I had found the key, and now I can prove that I can be Luna of the pack. Not only to the Council or to the members, but to Axel too. When we first started our 'relationship', he didn't think that I deserved to be Luna, that is why he made me do this in the first place. Now, when I show up and slam the key on the Council's table in front of everyone, I can claim my rightful place, and lead the pack with Axel.

I finally made it out of the woods, and I started running towards the crowd. However, a small voice in my head said, "Go back to the woods, now!"

Wait, what is happening, this is not my subconscious. "Calista, I told you to go back now!"

I don't understand what is happening. "Baby, it's me, Axel. We formed a blood bond, so now we can communicate like this. Don't think. Just run back. He's waiting for you at the clearing."

I was so confused. Can he hear my every thought? How come I don't know what is going on in his brain? Should I really run back to the woods? There is no way Axel would sabotage this. Maybe I should just listen to him. But at the same time, I am so close. Maybe if I run really fast, the rogue wouldn't catch up with me. And this could end now. And if he could communicate with me, why didn't he help me find the treasure chest when I was in the woods?

"Because I had no idea where the chest was. Just start running the opposite way, and I will see if I can get them to end the Trials before you get mauled by a blood-thirsty rogue."

With this, I stopped dead in my tracks, and turned around and started to run the opposite way. This seemed to have sparked a reaction by the crowd as I could hear their gasps all the way from where I was. I kept on running, feeling the cold metal of the key bounce on my chest and reassuring myself that I would be alright. I was almost at the finish line.

Suddenly, I felt the wind knocked out of me as something hard came crashing into me. Ow! This really hurt. Turning around, I saw that it was the rogue who tackled me to the ground. Eww he smells so bad, and he was laying on top of me, so his scent was suffocating my lungs.

Focus, Calista, this should be the last thing on your mind.

I tried pushing him off me, and that was when he grabbed the chest out of my hands, and kicked me in the stomach. I doubled over in pain, and clutched it tightly.

"Stupid girl!" He said, "All I had to do was wait and let you do all the work. I can't believe you thought that I would waste my time finding the key when I new you would do that for me."

I had to admit that was smart of him. Why didn't I think that this was something that he could have done? I was playing by the rules, that's why, when the game is rigged from the start.

He was standing now, and I didn't want him to kick me again. So, I tried my best to get up, even though it felt like I was dying. That was a hard ass kick. I got up slowly, not wanting to startle him in attacking me again.

This man disgusted me on so many levels.

"Well, that wasn't very fair of you!" I said back. Is that really all I could think of?

"I am a rogue. You should have known that there was no way I would have played fair," he reprimanded, as if it were my fault I was tricked.

Then, he did something I wasn't expecting him to do. He opened the chest. It took him a second, but then, "Where is the key?" he seethed.

"What do you mean?" I feigned innocence.

"Where the fuck is the goddamn key, you bitch," he asked again. Ouch, calm down.

"Will you please relax? The key should be in the chest," I lied.

"It isn't in here," he yelled, as he waved it around in his hand and chucked it towards my face. I couldn't dodge it in time completely, so it hit my shoulder. Unfortunately, that caused me to jerk back and made the key on my necklace jump up. I hoped to God that he didn't see it, but he did.

"Oh I see, you were tryna be smart. Weren't you?" he menacingly said, getting closer to me.

"Listen, we can both benefit from this, trust me," I told him, trying my best to grasp at the last pieces of hope I had. I took a couple of steps back.

"And how do you suggest that?" he asked, in disbelief, still stalking towards me like I am his last meal.

"If I become Luna, I can free your mate, and you can be with her. And that way we both win," I tried convincing him.

"You think that you have any power to do anything in this pack. Did you know that the last Alpha tried to free my mate, but the Council wouldn't let him? You think that they will let you do anything? This is my last chance, and I have been away from her long enough," he concluded, grabbing the chain of my necklace.

"Please don't do this," I pleaded, trying to get his hands off the necklace. However, with a swift tug, he was able to break the clasp and had the key in his hands. I tried fighting him back for it, but he put the key in his mouth, shifted into his wolf, and started running towards the Council seats. No no no! There is no way that I can catch up to him.

I didn't want to give up, so I tried running behind him, hoping that my adrenaline would be enough to get me to catch up with him and fight him.

Unfortunately, he made it there before I could. A few tears escaped my eyes, and I looked at everyone there. Nobody had said one word. Not even the kids were moving now.

I found Axel on the stage, and his eyes were as wide as saucers. Mason's head was in his hands, and Corrine was crying.

The rogue dropped the key in front of Darren's feet, before he was subdued by some of the warrior wolves.

"Calista, it seems that you have failed to retrieve the key, like you were asked," William said.

"That is not fair, you saw what happened. What did you expect that I do? I was clearly disadvantaged! I wasn't even allowed to shift. How could I possibly compete with that?"

"Yet, you accepted the challenge, did you not? Which means that all you are doing now is making excuses for your failure," he continued.

"I'm not making excuses! I just...," I couldn't find the right words. There was a huge lump in my throat, and I was on the verge of crying.

"As Council leader, I am afraid to say, that Calista Sophia Jessen has failed the Lunar Trials and will not become Luna of the Blood Venom Pack," Darren claimed to everyone.

"And as the Council leader's right-hand man, I second this verdict," William finalized. I didn't dare look up at anyone and I let my eyes meet the ground. Why did I feel so much shame? This was planned in a way so that I would fail. I need to do something, anything to change this. Yet, not one muscle in my body twitched.

"Axel Knight, as Alpha of the Blood Venom pack, you have a choice. You may choose to remain Alpha and reject your mate, or you may step down from your position and stay with her. What do you choose?"

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Love,

Micky :) <3