TRIPLED: THE KINGS & THEIR MOON

CHAPTER 7: THE TEST

8:00AM. The Summons.

The letter came on black parchment.

`BY ORDER OF THE ALPHA COUNCIL

NOEL HART WILL UNDERGO THE TRIAL OF WORTH

TO PROVE HE CAN WITHSTAND A DOUBLE BOND

FAILURE = BOND SEVERED`

Kael crumpled it. "No."

Riven read it. "We have to do it. Or they’ll take him."

I looked at both of them. "Then I take it."

Alpha Darius Drayven and Alpha Marcus Cole were already at the guest house.

"The Council wants this," Alpha Darius said. "If he breaks, the bond breaks. For his safety."

Luna Selene held my hand. "You don’t have to, sweetheart."

Luna Ivy squeezed my shoulder. "But if you do, we’re behind you."

I nodded. "Let’s do it."

Noon. The Trial Grounds.

The whole school was there.

Behind a barrier. Phones out.

The Council of 5 Elders sat on thrones.

Serena was in the front row. In an ankle monitor. Smiling.

"The Test of Worth," Elder 1 announced. "Three parts.

1. Pain - Can he endure what bonded Alphas endure?

2. Loyalty - Will the Alphas choose him over pack?

3. Strength - Can he survive their bond without breaking?"

Kael and Riven stood on either side of me.

Bond thrumming between us. Steady.

"Begin," Elder 1 said.

1: PAIN

A whip. Made of silver and wolfsbane.

"It won’t kill him," Elder 2 said. "But it will hurt."

Kael stepped forward. "Do it to me."

"No," Elder 1 said. "To him. Or you forfeit."

Riven’s claws came out. "Try it."

I stopped them. "I said I’d do it."

First strike.

Fire across my back.

I didn’t scream.

Second strike.

Kael made a noise like he was the one being hit.

Through the bond, I felt it. His pain. His rage.

Third strike.

Riven was shaking. "Stop. He’s human."

"He’s bonded," Elder 3 said. "He should be able to take it."

I turned. Looked at the Elders. Blood on my back.

"Again," I said.

There was no fourth strike.

"Enough," Luna Selene said. She was at the barrier. "He passed."

2: LOYALTY

Elder 4 stood. "Choice."

Two doors appeared.

Door 1: PACK. LEGACY. POWER.

Door 2: NOEL.

"You have 10 seconds," Elder 4 said. "Choose."

Kael didn’t look. He walked to Door 2.

Riven was already there.

"Time," Elder 4 said.

Both of them stood in front of Door 2.

The crowd gasped.

"You would throw away centuries for him?" Elder 5 asked.

"Yes," Kael said.

"100 times yes," Riven said.

Bond pulsed. Warm. Certain.

3: STRENGTH

This was the worst one.

They brought out the bond chains.

Used to test if a mate could handle an Alpha’s wolf.

"Put them on him," Elder 1 said. "If his mind breaks, the bond severs."

The chains were cold. Heavy.

They wrapped around my wrists. Connected to Kael and Riven.

Instantly, their wolves hit me.

Kael’s: Big. Gray. Protective. Standing guard over me.

Riven’s: Smaller. Black and white. Running circles around me. Happy.

And mine?

Nothing.

Just me.

The Elders leaned forward. "See? No wolf. He’ll break."

The pressure increased.

Two Alphas. Two wolves. All in my head.

It hurt. Like my skull was splitting.

Kael felt it. "Noel, breathe. With me."

Riven: "I’m here. I’m here. Don’t let go."

I focused on them. On the bond.

On Kael’s steadiness.

On Riven’s light.

5 minutes.

10 minutes.

I didn’t break.

The chains fell off.

Silence.

Then Elder 1 stood. "He... passed."

Gasps.

"He has no wolf," Elder 2 said. "But he withstood it. He’s... normal. But strong."

Serena stood up. "That’s impossible!"

"Order," Alpha Darius said. "The Council has spoken."

He looked at me. For the first time, respect. "You passed, boy."

I collapsed the second we were back at the guest house.

Kael caught me. "I’ve got you."

Riven was already running a bath. "Hot water. For the back."

Both of them stripped me gently.

Kael washed my back. His hands shaking.

Riven fed me soup. Spoon by spoon.

"You were so brave," Luna Selene said. She’d come with them. "So brave."

Luna Ivy kissed my forehead. "We’re proud of you."

I was sore. Tired.

But I was smiling.

"Did I do good?" I asked. Voice small.

Kael kissed my temple. "You did perfect."

Riven curled around me in bed later. "You’re not worthless. You never were."

"Even though I’m normal?" I asked.

"Especially because you’re normal," Kael said. "And you chose us anyway."

I couldn’t sleep. Adrenaline.

Riven noticed. "Hey."

I rolled over. Looked at Kael. Looked at Riven.

"Can I?"

They both understood.

Riven was first. Slow. Careful. Checking every second that I was okay.

Kael held me. Anchored me. Whispered "you’re safe" in my ear.

It wasn’t about the pain from earlier.

It was about taking it back.

About choosing pleasure after pain.

After, I laid between them. Aching in a good way.

"Confidence," Riven whispered. "That’s what you have now."

Kael kissed my scars. "Strength."

I closed my eyes. "Comfort."