บท 12: The Test
I close the door and lean against it with a sigh. "Mate" it's the only word I can think of. I look up to see all the alphas staring at me.
"This is the female alpha?" A voice echoes through the hall with a laugh.
"Yes, Anthony, this is my daughter Lilly" father says. He nods to me and I make my way from the door to the mass of Alphas.
"She's so small tho." Alpha Anthony says as he pulls himself up to his full height. It is true he towered over me as did most of the Alphas present but my father was still a few inches taller. Alpha Anthony was the largest alpha in regards to his mid section but I wasn't going to mention that.
"She might even be weaker than Gabe's boy." Anthony says "what Do you think Gabe?" He says laughing. Alpha Gabriel looks away from the oversized Alpha.
"She's stronger than you think Anthony." My father says ending Alpha Anthony's laughter.
"Well let's test that then. Shall we?" Alpha Anthony says an eagerness in his eyes as he looks from my father to me. The other Alphas nod and murmur in agreement.
"What does he mean by test?" I ask my father.
"That's none of your concern little lady." Alpha Anthony says.
"If you want to test her she needs to know the rules. No?" A smaller Alpha asks and Alpha Anthony shoots him a look causing the Alpha to sit down rolling his eyes.
"He's right Anthony." My father states.
"Fine." Anthony says and looks away.
"The Test." My father says "is a secret challenge for Future Alphas testing their mental fortitude." I begin to smile putting it together but my father gives me a look that straightens my grin.
"Ok Mason your pup your choice. What is the command?" Alpha Anthony asks.
"We're not doing this!" A voice booms behind me. I turn to see Alpha Aaron has made his way into the hall and is standing apart from the other Alphas.
"Ahhh. Finally joining the party, Aaron." Alpha Anthony says.
"You're drunk Anthony. Why don't we just run and then you can go home." Alpha Aaron says.
"No!" Alpha Anthony yells pointing at Alpha Aaron. "You have no say! The challenge has been given and accepted. She is not a child you have no grounds to stop it. You are not her Father."
Alpha Aaron keeps eye contact with Alpha Anthony until he calmed down and stepped back. Alpha Aaron sits down apart from the group. "Continue." He growls through clenched teeth. Then he looks at me with... pity? In his eyes. Then he looks away. What was that?
"Come." My father breaks the tension. "A simple command... 4 steps... if she moves 4 steps she fails."
"Works for me." Alpha Anthony said as Beta Carson comes out with a roll of tape. My father takes it and lays a strip near the crowd of Alphas.
"Lilly" father says and I come to him. He places me on the line. "Four steps." He says to me and a walk forward 1...2...3...4. I turn around and he lays another strip of tape.
I stand with my back to the howling wolf. Empty tables line my right side. The stage is on my left. I face the Alphas. The group of tables in front of me were packed with Alphas sitting and standing clustered close together. My father sat a table away from them watching the others. Alpha Aaron sat to my right one table back separated from the other Alphas. He kept his eyes on the table cloth not looking up.
They have all non Alphas join the Lunas in the other room. Ronald did not look happy to miss the show as they closed the doors locking him out. The only ones in the room were the Alphas and me.
"Ryan you're first." Alpha Anthony says grinning.
Alpha Ryan stepped up to the line and gave the order "COME!" he says. I feel the command but it holds little power.
Alpha Anthony laughs. "Next!"
The Alphas come up one by one issuing the same command. I realized that with each new alpha the power behind the command increased.
The first 15 or so were not too difficult to resist. More like gnats flying around me, a nuisance. As the test continued my head began to pound. My palms were sweating. A mid ranged Alpha steps up. "COME!" He commands. I feel a pain in my gut and grip my abdomen.
"Had enough yet little girl." Alpha Anthony grins. I stand up straight and take a breath.
"Bring it old man!" I say and he growls loudly making me flinch.
"Next!"
Alpha AARON'S POV
I tried to stop it but Anthony's mind was set. I can't help her. I sit with my eyes focused anywhere but my mate.
"She's strong." I think as she makes it through the first 23 Alphas.
"Of course she is she's mate!" I can practically feel my wolf wagging his tail. He is so proud.
This test has been around longer than anyone in this room. Its tradition. Not everyone is put to the test. Many fathers refuse to put their children to it not wanting to look weak but once the father accepts the test can't be stopped and every Alpha must participate... have I mentioned I hate this party.
She has proven herself but eventually she will fail. I don't want to see that. My mate broken. I focus on my drink stirring the ice. "I can't wait for this night to be over." Is all I can think.
Lilly's POV
"COME!"
Each new command hits me like a brick. It was so easy to start with but now I can feel myself slipping. I wipe my face. "Sam won't like this her masterpiece ruined." I think and chuckle at my self. I brace myself on my knees panting at the last command. I don't know how much more I can take. I look to my father for help.
"No cheating, Mason!" Alpha Anthony says to my father.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" He replies. "I'm not mind linking her or helping in any way."
"Keep it that way!" Alpha Anthony hisses "NEXT!"
He is getting irritated I can tell. Alpha Anthony flips a chair as the next Alpha steps up. I take a breath and stand tall. I know where we are in the list now. If I am correct I have 9 alphas to go including Anthony, my father, and lastly Aaron.
"COME!" I buckle. My foot slides forward before I catch it. A chorus of laughter erupts from the Alphas and I see my father lean forward. I take a breath and retake my line. 8 more.
Father's POV
I do my best to stay calm. I never expected her to get this far. Most don't get past 20 alphas and she's bested 39 wait... no now 40. I'm a proud poppa.
It hurts to see her like this. She is being pulled by each command and the men beside me find it hilarious. Another command and she takes a full step. I cringe as she stops. She places a hand across her forehead takes a breath and slides back behind the tape.
I want her to go as far as she can but seeing the pain she's in I want this to stop at the same time. "Come on baby girl... you can do it." I whisper. She looks at me and nods. She heard me. She stands up straight and looks to the next challenger.
Lilly's POV
5 left... 5 left... 5 left.
The thought echoes through my spinning head.
"COME!" Another command was thrown my way. I fall forward as my legs shake. Pulling myself up I resume my position... I feel like I'm gonna puke.
"COME!" I hold back on this one my entire body shaking. 3 le... 3 left.
"Well I guess I'm up boys!" Alpha Anthony says greeted by a roar of cheers and laughing Alphas "let's end this!"
I look to my father who gives me a soft smile. In the corner of my eye I see Alpha Aaron sit up in his seat still not looking at me.
The plump Alpha makes his way to the line.
"COME!!!" I jumped forward a step and a half before a stop my feet but my torso misses the stop and keeps going forcing me to finish the step to catch myself.
I pant in my spot. The power of the order putting my nerves on end I'm having trouble backing away from him.
"Come on. Just a little further." Alpha Anthony says urging me forward. His tone flat ticks me off. Anger floods me and I stand up my head is splitting but I don't care. He will NOT be the one to break me.
I make it back to my spot dizzy. I stumble a little then turn to the Alphas.
"Don't wimp out Mason!" Alpha Anthony says with a growl. He turns around and throws himself into a chair amongst the other Alphas.
Father takes a deep breath. He stands in position and looks at me. One more breath.
"COME!"
The command shook the doors. It was the strongest I had ever felt my father order. The alphas behind him shook. I heard screaming... no I'm screaming. I fly forward one and a half steps from my fathers mark. When I stop I am crouching in front of my father staring at his shoes.
"You did good baby... please be done now... give up... you won." Father was pleading with me to stop but I can't. Call me stubborn or stupid or what ever you want but I will not give up.
My shaking limbs betray my weakness as I take my stand I force myself away from my father each step away felt like an axe in my skull the command still affecting me. At my line I shake violently and can't stand up straight. I glance at my father and see a crowd of dropped jaws.
My jaw chatters as I stand on my mark.
"Guess it's up to you." Alpha Anthony smirks as Alpha Aaron stands.
Alpha Aaron POV
"I'm sorry Aaron" Mason says with a hand on my shoulder as I face the Alphas. No one gets this far. Mason knows me. He knows how much using a command effects me.
I stand on the mark and look to Lilly. She is still shaking. Sweat intensifies her sent. Her hair has mostly fallen out of its place. Her makeup is smeared and I can see a few freckles appear across the bridge of her nose. Even in her disheveled state she was beautiful.
"I think she's had enough." I say... I sooo do not want to do this.
"You have no choice Aaron." Mason whispers.
"End this!" Anthony yells "Unless you are too weak!"
And at that I can't stop. If I hold back I will be seen as weak. I'm so sorry Lilly... My wolf whines in my mind.
"COME!!!"
I feel the command shake my chest. The doors beside me break open as the betas and future as alphas poor in obeying the command.
My mate dives forward like the rest she slows herself dragging her feet one foot away from the end. She's done. I can see it in her eyes. Still fighting mentally her body rebels dragging her forward.
I see a slow blink in her eyes. She is going to pass out! No not yet! She has to finish it. If she collapses before this line they will insist on retesting her. I can't let that happen. I am panicking!
"NOW!"
I command with all the force I have. The glass wall shatters raining glass on us. The boys beside me dive forward gripping their heads and howling.
Lilly jumps forward crossing the line. Anthony laughs as I catch my mate she loses consciousness.
The Alphas play up their victory as I push through them to the back door cradling my mate in my arms.
I reach the back and find my Beta.
"Party's over, Clay. Send them home." As I say this Mason approaches me.
"Where are you taking my daughter?" He asks.
"Come on." I say to him in a growl
I lead him to the pack house where I kick open the door to a guest room and lay her on the bed. She groans as I detangle her arms from my neck.
"You'll be ok." I whisper in her ear and pull away.
Lilly's POV
I felt the command rip me open. I felt like my insides were on display. My skin was on fire and my mind broken. My vision blacks out as I fall forward into something hard.
I feel weightless. I'm moving somewhere. Warmth encompasses me and the pain begins to lessen.
I hear murmuring but can't make out words. I can feel rumbling on my face then a growl and I vaguely hear "come on."... someone is carrying me and his heart is racing. A deep breath tells me who it is and I love that smell.
I am placed on a soft surface and the warmth leaves me I groan in pain. Everything that touches my skin feels like flaming sandpaper. Every noise a dagger in my mind.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
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