The Lotus Trials

Chapter III

Gemma's POV:
"Where you from?"

Wednesday morning I was doing everything I could to keep out of sight. I didn't know who all was here for the mating ball and The Lotus Trials and I want as little drama as possible. Apparently my wish for privacy would not be respected today. I turned towards the voice, smiling. "Eclipse. You?"

"You don't honestly look like you care." I blushed. "Lotus, actually," the boy beside me continued. "No traveling for me. I've been training for the trials for years. If I pass them then I'll qualify for training in the guard."

"The royal guard?"

"Yep. I'm almost twenty-one. There's no better time to complete the trials and prove myself. Especially in my family."

"What, were your parents telling you about their greatest victories at bedtime when you were a kid?"

He frowned and I knew I had hit home. "I'm the second son," he explained. "I'm living in my big brother's shadow until I can prove I'm worth just as much, even if I don't get all of the pomp and circumstance for it. The royal guard will do just fine. So what about you? You immediately assumed I was playing catch up—"

"You practically said it yourself." He gave me a look. "My brother is an alpha. He's overbearingly protective since the accident with our parents—"

"Eclipse. The assassination." I grimaced. "Sorry. I won't bring it up again." His eyes widen. "Wait, are you the girl from the mating ball that—"

"Please don't start that drama. Like I said, overbearing brother." The part I really didn't want to get into had to do with another man entirely. I shoved my straying thoughts down before my wolf could make herself apparent to my new companion. "So, leaving that behind, shall we start over?" I hold my hand out. "The name's Gemma. Gemma Hart."

He smirked. "Nice to meet you, Gemma. I'm Darien. Shall we partner for the day? I haven't picked anyone for wolf training." I nodded and he offered his arm with a grin that reminded me of another man. "Come on. We can go to a spot I like for more private training. Less people, less hassle. Am I right?"

"Sure," I said, taking in his features more carefully.

"Oh, come on, Gemma," he said, taking my hesitation for another reason entirely. "I promise I won't murder you in the woods." I gave him my best smile. I could sense he was a strong wolf. Alpha strong. And his physical traits were so close to another I had just met. Darien no-last-name.

The confirmation to my suspicions came just seconds later. "Ah, Miss Hart. I see you've met my brother."
~~~~~
Zeke's POV:
It wasn't right for me to sneak up on the girl like that. It wasn't right for me to be watching them from my office window, letting unwelcome feelings leak in. It wasn't right for my wolf to be turning against my little brother. What was this girl doing to me?

I felt every bit of her attraction to me the other night. And mine to her was something I couldn't hide from myself. There was just...something. There was something about this girl I couldn't place.

"Spunk," my wolf suggested, all too pleased by her human side and itching to get to know the other. "Who outside of the family is so demanding towards you?"

Her eyes darted between us, likely asking herself how awkward the situation would be if she started bowing or using titles. "Is it some common practice to change names around here or something?"

"It's common practice to test beautiful women to see if they only want the pretty title," my brother replied with a cocky smirk.

"So the first time you meet me you both assume I'm some gold digger?"

"It's called royal precautions 101, sweetheart," I chipped in.

She whipped around to face me fully. "Don't sweetheart me." I ground my teeth. As charming as her spunk seemed, it was starting to grate on my nerves. "And if you just abandoned whatever duties you have today for another thank you or something, one reminder that I needed saving was humiliating enough."

"I was passing through." Lie. "And I need to speak with my brother about something." White Lie. "Darien."

"Can it wait?" he asked with a knowing smirk. "Gemma and I were just about to train."

"No," she said a bit too quickly. "There are dozens of people here to train with. You two handle your business. I can train with any wolf here."

"Any of the dozens of male wolves who want to get up close and personal with such a woman."

"Of course Darien understands that, Miss Hart. Come along, brother."

"We won't get attached, Caspian," I told my wolf as I turned away. "The girl will attempt the trials and leave the pack when she's eliminated or completes them. This is physical chemistry. Nothing more."

"We could test Selene's reaction. If Gemma is our mate Selene will find comfort in her company, blood mother or not."

"There's no point."

"There's no point not to. We catch her in her wolf form and see if Selene is drawn to her."

"Second-chance mates are myths," I insisted. "No reaction from Selene will make me believe—"

"Yes it will. Deep down it will. Test her wolf, Zeke."

He was desperate and there's no harm in it. "Fine, Caspian. One try."

"So," Darien began, catching my attention. "Gemma Hart, huh? Strong family."

"Asshole brother," I grunt. "Don't know much about his mate." She had seemed like a sincere soul the few times I had met her, but quiet enough it could be a social façade. "Wait, what are you suggesting?"

"You wanted me away from her."

"I do have something to talk to you about. Sabotages have been getting worse over the past few years. Stay on your guard and try to help the unsuspecting, alright? Younger competitors. I don't want a faulty harness to be the cause of your death or anybody else's. The well-trained will know what to watch for. Others won't."

"Because I don't know that. Possessiveness doesn't suit you brother. Not one bit."