THE WORTHLESS MATE OF THE ALPHA

Chapter 13

Lyra woke to knocking on her door.

She sat up, heart pounding. The knock came again. Urgent. Insistent.

"Come in," she said.

Ronan entered. His expression was serious. His silver eyes were troubled.

"We need to talk," he said.

She tensed. "What's wrong?"

He sat on the edge of her bed. His hand found hers.

"There's a ceremony coming. A pack tradition. I should have told you sooner. I didn't think" He stopped. "I didn't think it would happen so soon."

Lyra's heart raced. "What ceremony?"

"The Mating Trial. It's an old tradition. When an Alpha finds his mate, she must prove herself to the pack. It's a test of strength. Loyalty. Courage."

She stared at him. "When?"

"In one week."

Her blood ran cold. "One week?"

"I know it's soon. But the elders have demanded it. They want to see if you're worthy." His jaw tightened. "They don't believe you are."

She pulled her hand away. Her heart was pounding. Her mind was racing.

"I'm not ready," she whispered. "I can't do this."

"You can." He cupped her face. "You are stronger than you know. You survived twelve years of abuse. You broke a blood seal. You found your wolf. You can do this."

She looked at him. Tears burned her eyes.

"I'm scared," she admitted.

"I know." He kissed her forehead. "But I'll be there. Watching. Waiting. I won't let anything happen to you."

***

The next morning, training began.

Ronan was relentless. He pushed her harder than Marta ever had. He made her run until her legs gave out. He made her shift until she couldn't breathe. He made her fight until she couldn't lift her arms.

"Again," he commanded.

"I can't," she gasped.

"You can. Get up."

She got up.

She ran. She shifted. She fought. She didn't stop.

Ronan watched her. His expression was unreadable. But she saw something in his eyes. Pride. And something else. Fear.

He was scared for her.

***

The days blurred together.

Lyra trained from sunrise to sunset. Her body ached. Her muscles screamed. But she didn't give up.

Marta watched from the sidelines. "She's getting stronger."

Ronan nodded. "She is."

"She might actually pass."

"She will pass."

Marta looked at him. "You believe in her."

Ronan's eyes never left Lyra. "I do."

***

That night, Lyra sat in her room.

Her body was covered in bruises. Her hands were raw. Her legs felt like they would give out.

But she was stronger. She could feel it.

Her wolf stirred inside her. Eager. Ready.

She touched her chest. The seal was gone. Her wolf was awake. She was not powerless anymore.

But she was still scared.

What if she failed? What if the pack rejected her? What if Ronan was forced to take another mate?

She pressed her hands against her face. Tears burned her eyes.

I can't fail. I can't lose him.

A knock at her door.

She wiped her eyes. "Come in."

Ronan entered. He sat beside her. His hand found hers.

"You're doubting yourself," he said.

She nodded. She couldn't speak.

He pulled her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest.

"Listen to me," he said. "You are not the broken girl from Silver Creek. You are not worthless. You are not weak. You are my mate. And I believe in you."

She looked up at him. "What if I fail?"

"You won't."

"But what if"

He kissed her. Soft. Gentle. Reassuring.

When he pulled away, his forehead rested against hers.

"I love you," he said. "Nothing will change that. Not the trial. Not the pack. Not anything."

She stared at him. Her heart was full.

"I love you too," she whispered.

He held her close. She closed her eyes.

She was still scared. But she was not alone.

***

The night before the trial, Lyra couldn't sleep.

She stood by her window, staring at the moon. Her wolf stirred inside her. Strong. Ready.

She thought about her parents. About their love for her. About their sacrifice.

She thought about Ronan. About his belief in her. About his love.

She thought about herself. About how far she had come.

She was not the same girl who had arrived at Bloodmoon. She was stronger. Braver. More powerful.

She was ready.