Chapter 77: The trial
The ride continued towards the Obsidian Palace. Yuki’s thoughts were all over the place. Her gaze drifted from the blurring image of the road to Aevia. Her voice was calm as it cut through Aevia’s mind.
’ What will happen if the bond is real?’ She asked Aevia, keeping their conversation private. The driver’s gaze was locked on the road but she could tell his attention was drifting towards them
Aevia went silent for a moment before she replied. ’ It makes things a lot more complicated, Yuki.’ She answered and Yuki understood. It might affect Aevia’s marriage with Alexander..
Yuki nodded, a knot formed in her chest. The car slowly came to a stop before the palace. Her wolf could sense the presence of several powerful figures in there. Seems like they were the last to arrive.
The door was pulled open and a cold wind rushed inside the car. Aevia stepped out first then gave her hand to Yuki which she accepted. Aevia’s hold was grounding like the support she wanted
Yuki was dressed in white for the trial ritual, her hair packed into a bun that let her neck be in full display. To a werewolf, the most seductive part of a she-wolf was her neck especially when she wasn’t marked yet.
"Are you ready?" Aevia asked, and cold mist formed from her mouth.
"It’s now or never. Let’s get this done with. " Yuki said, forcing a brave expression. She was far from brave and Aevia knew. At least Yuki wasn’t falling apart..
They proceed to climb up the steps to the main entrance. A Servant was waiting for them. The Servant, a young warrior was dazzled at the sight of the sisters. The rumours were no secret but seeing Yuki and Aevia next to each other it felt as though the moon goddess was before him.
His ears burned before he realised. "Lady Aevia and Lady Yuki please come this way. Everyone is waiting," he said. They nodded and followed. The trial was being held in the palace temple located at the old wing of the Obsidian Hall.
The walk there was long, the entire time Yuki kept on imagining what the trail might be like. She had steeled herself for the worse yet the unease lingered. Her wolf had gone silent, she was quiet.
She could feel her wolf’s pain, whether it was a fake bond or not; her wolf couldn’t handle the triplet’s hatred. They soon arrived at the Temple, Yuki recognised it immediately, she could sense the triplet presence beyond the door.
The door was pushed open, and even before she stepped inside, she could feel the gaze on her. The temple fell silent...
The heavy temple doors groaned shut behind Yuki, sealing the chamber in complete silence.
The temple was unlike the grand halls of the Obsidian Palace. There were no lavish chandeliers or extravagant decorations. Ancient stone pillars stretched toward the domed ceiling where an enormous circle of glass allowed the moonlight to pour directly into the sanctuary. White light bathed the centre of the room, illuminating a raised altar carved from a single piece of pale stone.
Resting upon the altar was a wide marble basin filled with perfectly still water. Its surface reflected the moon above like polished glass.
Beyond the altar stood the towering statue of the Moon Goddess Nyxoria. She had been sculpted as a woman of breathtaking beauty, her flowing robes seeming almost alive beneath the moonlight.
One hand rested over her heart while the other stretched toward the sky as though offering guidance to every wolf beneath her gaze.
All the top pack house figures in the Ravenscourt had gathered inside the temple.
Pack delegates stood along both sides of the chamber in ceremonial robes. The elders occupied the front rows while military commanders and influential families filled the remaining seats. At the highest platform sat Alexander upon the Alpha’s throne. Beside him, the Luna’s seat remained empty.
Aevia gave Yuki’s hand one last reassuring squeeze before quietly stepping away to join the crowd. "You’ll be alright," she murmured.
Yuki answered with a faint nod before facing forward alone. Countless pairs of eyes settled on her.
She recognised Xavier immediately. Concern lingered plainly across his face despite the composed posture he maintained. A few seats away stood Maverick, his brows knitted together as though he still struggled to understand everything that had happened over the past few days.
Then her gaze met Eloise’s.
The other woman watched her without blinking, her beautiful face was calm, though something darker hid beneath the surface. Yvonne and her husband stood close behind her daughter, their expressions equally unreadable.
The centre aisle remained completely clear. At the end of it, the three alpha heirs stood before the altar with their backs facing her.
None of them turned around. Even without seeing their faces, Yuki recognised each of them instantly.
Her eyes rested on Killian for a heartbeat.
His posture was perfectly straight, his hands folded neatly behind his back as though nothing had happened earlier that afternoon. There was no trace of the vulnerable man she had found inside the bathhouse. He had buried every crack beneath his usual cold composure.
He’s good at pretending, she thought. Drawing a quiet breath, Yuki walked down the aisle.
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the silent temple until she stopped before the altar, directly opposite the triplets.
Only then did the High Priestess step forward.
She appeared no older than a woman in her thirties, yet everyone present knew appearances meant little. Her true age had long faded into legend. The tremendous magic flowing through her body had slowed her ageing. Silver markings glowed faintly beneath her wrists as she regarded the four of them with calm, ancient eyes.
Her gaze swept across each face before finally lifting toward the statue of Nyxoria.
"We are gathered beneath the Moon Goddess to uncover the truth," she said, her voice carrying effortlessly through the temple. "Tonight we seek to know whether Nyxoria herself blessed this bond... or whether it is a deception woven through the witchcraft of Maledicta."
A ripple spread through the gathering at the mention of the forbidden name.
Maledicta was the goddess of witchcraft and sister to Nyxoria herself. An equally powerful goddess with a malicious heart.
According to ancient tales, the two sisters had chosen different paths. One protected fate while the other delighted in twisting it.
The priestess lifted a golden cup from the altar. Its polished surface reflected the moonlight pouring through the glass dome overhead.
She raised it toward the heavens and closed her eyes.
Ancient words flowed from her lips in a language Yuki had never heard before. The air inside the temple grew noticeably heavier. The moonlight shining through the dome brightened until the entire altar glowed beneath its silver radiance.
Yuki felt the hairs along her arms rise. She could feel the magic following around them. Then the chant ended. The golden cup shimmered before settling into a gentle silver glow.
The priestess lowered it before Killian. "Drink." She instructed.
Without a word, Killian accepted the cup and took a mouthful before handing it back.
Warmth spread through his chest, the feeling was neither painful nor pleasant. The priestess nodded before passing the cup to Kieran who did the same, then Kaden and finally, she stopped before Yuki.
Yuki accepted it with both hands. The rim felt strangely warm against her lips. She swallowed the tasteless liquid.
The liquid carried no taste, yet the warmth spread through her entire body until it settled somewhere deep within her wolf. She returned the cup.
The priestess placed it carefully upon the altar before reaching into the folds of her robes. A silver dagger emerged. The instant her fingers wrapped around its hilt, faint burns appeared across her palm.
Silver harmed every werewolf equally. Ignoring the pain, she approached Killian first.
"Your hand." He extended his palm without hesitation. The blade sliced across his skin.
A faint hiss escaped as silver burned the fresh wound. Crimson blood welled immediately. One after another, she repeated the ritual with Kieran, Kaden, and finally Yuki.
When Yuki felt the blade cut across her palm, the sting shot through her hand before the familiar warmth of blood followed. The priestess returned to the altar and laid the dagger beside the basin.
"For the final step drop your blood in the basin and the truth will reveal itself." Her eyes settled upon Yuki. " Starting with you first."
Yuki stepped forward. Holding her wounded palm above the basin, she curled her fingers into a fist. A single drop of blood fell.
It struck the water with a tiny ripple before disappearing beneath the surface.
She stepped back.
Killian approached next.
Then Kieran.
Then Kaden.
Four crimson drops rested beneath the moonlit water. The priestess folded her hands together.
"The Moon Goddess has heard your offering." Silence filled the temple. Every eye remained fixed upon the basin.
Seconds stretched into an eternity. One heartbeat. Then another. The basin remained perfectly still. Murmurs almost began among the delegates before silence settled once more.
Yuki’s heartbeat pounded against her ribs. Her fingers curled unconsciously around her injured palm.
Was everyone right?
Was the bond... never real?