Assertion Trials Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Connect with Me

  Assertion Trials

  A Wilder Novella

  Melaina Rayne

  Assertion Trials

  Copyright ©2019 Melaina Rayne

  All Rights Reserved.

  Assertion Trials is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Edits by Aquila Editing

  Cover Design by Melaina Rayne

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  ISBN: 978-1-7330789-0-0

  Dedication

  To my natives.

  It’s been a while, but thanks for hanging in there.

  I love you all.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I thank Will, my ridiculously supportive and loving husband. And Nicole, my best friend and spirit animal. You two have always been a constant source of encouragement and strength through all the ups and downs of life and writing. You have always believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. Without the two of you, I wouldn’t still be doing this.

  Chapter 1

  “Shala Wilder, get your skinny ass down here right now!”

  My heart sank at the sound of Nettie’s frustrated tone. I knew she’d come looking for me when she realized I wasn’t in bed, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. I barely had time to get comfortable on my little perch, no chance to calm my frazzled nerves. My anxiety over the coming events was still too raw. I needed more time alone, but I wouldn’t get it.

  “I mean it, girl. I know you’re up there. Don’t make me come get you.”

  We both knew she couldn’t climb the thirty feet up to my little ledge. Still, I was in big trouble if I didn’t at least answer her.

  Shifting onto my belly, I peered nervously over the edge to find her standing with her hands on her hips, her foot tapping out an impatient rhythm. That was just like her, always looking so stern and serious. She didn’t have a fun bone in her body. At least, not since I’d known her. She was a no-nonsense kind of woman. She didn’t have time for games, but no matter how harsh she could be, the woman loved us all fiercely.

  “I’m just staring at the stars, Nettie,” I called down to her. “Don’t have a pup.”

  Her wrinkled face pulled into a tight scowl. “I am well beyond my birthing years, girl. There’ll be no more heathen pups for me.”

  I rolled my eyes. She’d missed the point. Again. Sometimes, I couldn’t help thinking she did it on purpose.

  From behind Nettie, Rendall stepped into the open, her short cap of pale hair gleaming silver in the moonlight. “You should be sleeping, Shala. You’ll need the rest for your big day tomorrow.”

  I flopped onto my back again, letting out a short puff of air. “I can’t sleep. I’m too nervous.”

  My twentieth birthday—the beginning of my adult life—was only a few hours away and sleep refused to come to me. Anxiety and worry made it impossible. Not only had ten years passed since I last saw my parents, but the next few days held unknown things for me.

  Over the course of my stay in the mountain stronghold, I endured the emergence of my wolf, struggled to get control of her, and mastered the art of shifting with ease and deftness. Still, I had my misgivings about the changes I faced in the coming days.

  “Come down and I’ll make you some tea,” Rendall offered.

  “I don’t want tea,” I grumbled. “I want to stare at the stars until my eyes cross and I fall asleep from sheer exhaustion.”

  A small silence followed my confession before Rendall pressed. “Come now, Shala. Nettie may not come get you, but I will.”

  The stiff tone in Rendall’s voice told me all I needed to know. She was usually one of the gentler elderwomen, but she was a good climber. If she came after me, I’d likely be thrown from the low cliff.

  With great reluctance, I joined the two women and walked silently between them all the way back to the village. Nettie said goodnight once we reached the main hall, leaving me to follow Rendall to the kitchen.

  I took in the serenity of the hall, sad it would be my last night there. I loved it in Fastness. I didn’t want to leave. Not only was I content with my life, but most of my friends still resided there. Even so, I knew it was my time to return home to the pack lands—to start a new life—just as every female had done before me.

  When we made it to the dimly lit room, I settled on the old wooden stool at the high counter while Rendall made her famous chamomile/lavender tea. She’d made many cups for those homesick and missing their families. There was nothing better for a melancholy heart than the combination of the elderwoman’s encouraging words and the warm, soothing drink she was known for.

  Watching her move around the kitchen usually calmed me, but my mind was elsewhere as she readied the kettle. All I could think about was how much my life would change over the next few days.

  Many women of my kind had been through the same thing and come out on the other side of their Assertion happily paired, but that knowledge didn’t soothe me. I’d heard horror stories of pairings gone wrong; the couple despising one another. If that were the case with my victor, could I grow to love him the way a woman should love her companion, or would my life be miserable?

  I was my own woman, nowhere near ready to be paired with some hardheaded, overbearing wild man. Nor was I prepared to give up my independence. Still, I knew once I ventured beyond the mountain, my life would be drastically different.

  The elderwomen had spent the last ten years preparing me for the future. They’d trained me in the ways of our people; teaching me how to hunt and fight, in addition to my duties as companion and pack mate.

  Though armed with the knowledge and skills, the reality of what awaited overwhelmed me. I tried reminding myself not to dwell on the details. Worry would not change the outcome, but I couldn’t keep my thoughts from the coming days and what they held for me.

  The Assertion was the way of my people and had been since the beginning of time. There was no other way. I only hoped I would be compatible with my victor.

  Drawing me from my troubled thoughts, Rendall sat the little white cup on the counter in front of me.

  “Thank you,” I said softly before taking a small sip.

  Rendall settled herself on the old oak stool across from me. With her own cup cradled in her weathered hands, she let out a quiet breath. “I understand your restlessness, Shala, but you are not alone in your dread. The Assertion is something we all must face, something we all fear in one way or another.”

  My surprised gaze found her soft, sky-blue stare. Rendall afraid of anything was unheard of. Everyone knew her story was a sad one, but fear was never a word associated with her unless it was fear she instilled in others. She was a true warrior in her day. Still was, in fact. Even imagining the woman as anything but steady felt like a sacrilege of sorts.

  Rendall took a sip of tea, her expression telling me she’d fallen deep in thought.

  “I was suc
h a wreck that day, so nervous I could barely stand. My pulse raced as, one by one, the volunteers stepped into the circle. My heart thundered, beating so hard and so fast I thought it would leap from my chest. There were so many big men staring at me—so many hard, determined faces—and I wanted none of them.”

  I cradled the cup between my palms, letting the warmth seep into me as I drew in the tea’s light, flowery scent. “If I had a choice, I would take a bit more time to myself perhaps, but it isn’t as if I do not want a companion. I’m only afraid I won’t like the one who wins. What if we cannot get along?”

  Rendall laughed softly. “You worry too much, child. Things will go your way. You will both be happy. Just as I was with my Fenris. You’ll see.”

  I wanted to believe her. She was a wise woman, but there were no certainties when it came to a pairing. Especially with the wildness within the males of our kind. They were fierce creatures, and their insatiable need to claim their women sometimes overtook them.

  That need was the very reason all females were sent to the stronghold in Fastness before their adolescence. As soon as the females began to develop, their hormones changed, and unpaired males of all ages found them irresistible. It didn’t matter their morals; even the best of men would go mad from the scent a female wolf emitted.

  Once she was paired, however, no other male felt that driving need for her. Something in her chemistry shifted once her companion claimed her, and only those with a death wish would dare go near another wolf’s woman.

  Of course, there were always exceptions: the occasional untamable male who went against pack laws and were labeled as ferals. Those unfortunate wolves were banished from the whole of our people’s community. They ran wild with other ferals and occasionally caused problems for those south of the mountain.

  None had ever come into Fastness, but sometimes late at night, the distant howls of those wayward souls echoed from beyond the mountain.

  I had never seen a feral, and with any luck I never would. The pack men were frightening enough. Even my own father had scared me at times when I was a child. Then again, he was an alpha, leader of the Hilderan pack. As best I could recall, my mother had never feared him, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t in the beginning.

  Wondering if what Rendall said about the fear was true, I had to ask. “Were you ever afraid of Fenris?”

  “I was shocked as I watched him fight, but I couldn’t take my eyes from him. He was terribly beautiful, and the sight of him made my heart pound. I kept thinking that if he could tear his opponent apart with such ease, what was he capable of doing to me?”

  That was what I feared as well. Of course, I knew how to defend myself. But what good would I be against a savage male twice my size?

  “He proved himself a fierce warrior, but then he dropped to his knees before me. He pledged himself to me, offering his protection and loyalty above all others.” Rendall’s eyes went dreamy and a lazy grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. “He was a beast, all covered in his opponent’s blood, his hair a wild mess atop his beautiful head, but his golden eyes held a promise of devotion. He knew nothing of me. Still, he pledged himself to me with no regard for the gathered crowd. My heart was never mine again from that moment forward.”

  Rendall drew a long breath in and sighed. Her eyes met mine over the rim of her delicate teacup as she lifted it for another sip. She clearly wanted to say more, so I remained quiet, waiting for her to continue.

  “That man was my life, and he stayed true to his vow until he drew his last breath. I only pray your champion is someone equally as honorable and as devoted to you as my Fenris was to me.”

  The love in Rendall’s eyes gave me hope. And as I finished my tea, I sent up a prayer of my own. I asked the powers that be to favor me and give me someone I could love the way Rendall loved Fenris.

  The older woman took the empty cup from my hands. “Time for bed, child. Go get some rest, and I will see you off at sunrise.”

  Chapter 2

  Fastness was a naturally occurring stronghold. Craggy mountains towered over our vast valley, protecting it on three sides. And to the south, a cerulean sea stretched beyond the horizon. Though it should feel more like a prison, the immensity of our sanctuary gave us a feeling of freedom.

  Sure, we were cut off from the rest of the pack lands, but I found comfort in that. I could stay forever and be satisfied. Unfortunately, I knew rejoining those outside the stronghold was inevitable and today was that day.

  Part of me looked forward to seeing my family and my pack again, while a bigger part felt anxious about the celebration. Just the thought of so many people in one place made me feel sick. Fortunately, it was only for a few days. Then I would go home with my companion and begin the next phase of my life.

  Odds were, my champion wouldn’t be a member of the Hilderan. Rarely did a victor hail from the same pack as his female.

  Our people’s law said I must accept the Assertion victor as my companion and his pack as my own. Whether I desired my champion or not, my first duty was to my people and in keeping our numbers strong. Still, that didn’t stop me from wanting someone of my own choosing. Since that would never happen, I could only hope to be happy with the winner.

  I neatly stowed my belongings in a small knapsack and met my travel mates in the square at daybreak. To my surprise, every female this side of the mountain stood waiting to see me off, with Rendall at the head of the gathered crowd.

  She gave me a warm hug and kissed my cheek, wishing me safe travels. When she pulled away, she smiled at me with shimmering eyes. “May your heart find its other half.”

  My little cousin, Tikaani, came forward to present me with a necklace made of white clover blooms. The smile on her tanned, heart-shaped face didn’t surprise me. She had always loved the idea of the males fighting for the woman they wanted. At only fourteen years old, she should have been frightened of becoming a companion to one of our wild men. Yet, she longed for the day she could start her new life among the packs.

  I sometimes wished I had her enthusiasm, but I couldn’t stop my anxiety from rising every time I thought about what the next few days would bring.

  Hugging me close, Tikaani whispered against my ear. “I hope your companion is handsome and kind.”

  “As do I, cousin,” I replied softly.

  My closest friend, Gayle, came forward, giving me a stunning fluorite worry stone that fit perfectly in my hand. Green, purple, and blue hues streaked through the polished surface.

  “I carved and smoothed it myself,” Gayle informed me nervously. “I hope you like it.”

  Turning it over, I traced my thumb over the wolf head engraved deep into the back side of the stone. It must have taken her a year to get it honed to such perfection. “It’s beautiful, Gayle. Thank you.”

  My friend’s ice-blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears and her delicate chin trembled. “I will miss you.”

  Tears burned behind my own eyes, but I managed to hold them in check. Clearing my throat, I reminded her, “We will see each other again at your Assertion.”

  Gayle nodded, forcing a smile. “Eight months and three days.”

  Anything beyond her celebration was uncertain. We both knew the odds of her companion being of the same pack as my own were slim. If he wasn’t, we might go great lengths of time without seeing one another again, and the thought saddened me.

  My little sisters were the last to come forward, both fighting the tears shimmering in their identical smoke-colored eyes.

  Staying strong for them, I smiled. “I will see you both again at your own Assertions.”

  “In four years,” Rose complained.

  “It will pass quicker than you can imagine,” I assured them both.

  Iris hugged me tight again. “I will miss you.”

  “Me, too,” Rose added, the quaver in her soft voice barely discernable.

  I drew them both close again and gave them another hard hug. Releasing them, I stroked a palm over each o
f their dark heads and smiled through my own tears. “You can still send me letters and I will write you both the second I arrive at my new home.”

  “Promise?” they asked in unison.

  “Of course.”

  Nailana, one of the elderwomen, placed a hand on my shoulder. “Time to go, dear.”

  I could hear the reluctance in her voice. She didn’t want to separate me from my sisters, but I knew she was right. I couldn’t put it off any longer.

  A troop of guards was to meet us on the far side of the mountain. They would escort us to Farkas House for tonight’s celebration. My celebration. And no matter how much I wished I could put it off, I couldn’t be late for my own party.

  Embracing my sisters one last time, I kissed each of their cheeks and said my final goodbyes. Once everyone wished me well, I set out on my journey with one thing in mind. I may be leaving my sisters and friends behind, but by day’s end, I would reunite with the rest of my family and the friends who’d left the mountain hold before me.

  Surrounded by six fierce elderwomen and armed with my trusty daggers, I left Fastness as the sun peaked the trees on the eastern ridge.

  The trek through Northland pass was longer than I expected, but the view was beautiful. Evergreens and giant oak trees crowded the mountain, creating a dense wall of forest along either side of the wide trail.

  The elderwomen joked with one another as we traveled, telling stories of their own Assertions. I tried not to listen, thinking the subject might drag me deeper into my dread. However, their boisterous laughter helped ease my anxiety.

  The path grew wider once we climbed beyond Fastness Forest and the worn dirt trail split a vast sea of wildflowers. Every color imaginable dotted the lush, green field, and above it only clear blue sky.

  Toward the west end of the meadow, I spotted an energetic fox frolicking through the tall grass, his vivid red coat flashing each time he leaped into the air. The second it saw us, the happy creature darted beneath the long fronds of an old fern and disappeared into the forest beyond it.