32. Determined to be alpha

I walked back to my den determined to follow through with my decision to train under Grit. I didn't know what he had in store for me but I knew it wasn't good. However considering what was coming it was the only choice left for me.

Rushing inside I started to back my bags with everything that I had brought here.

"Going somewhere?"

I snapped my head around blade in my hand. Zeld stood just inside the den his arms crossed.

I scowled at him putting away my knife.

"What are you doing here Zeld?"

He moved forward.

"I asked first."

Putting my bag on my shoulders I answered.

"It's none of your business!"

I started to walk past him but he grabbed my bag and threw it in the corner.

"Rav-"

"Don't Zeld!"

I cut him off as I stared up at him.

"Just let me go."

He grabbed my shoulders roughly.

"Not until you tell me where your going."

I tried to pull away but he only held me harder.

"Answer me!"

"Training with Grit!"

Zeld growled.

"What are you thinking Rav he's worse then Keyon."

This time when I struggled he let me go.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"Try me."

I groaned.

"Zeld just leave me alone!"

I again tried to grab my bag but he stopped me.

"Rav will you just stop this! Stop pushing everyone away!"

I growled as I tried to punch him but he was quicker as he grabbed my wrists forcing me against the wall. I tried to knee him but his wind forced my leg down. How had he gotten so strong?

I glared at him as I tried to struggle against him.

"ENOUGH!"

I froze at the force behind his voice.

"What is going on with you Rav what is this all about?"

My frustration had reached it's end.

"Don't you get it this the only way I get strong enough to save the pack! Look how easy it is for you four days and already your ten times stronger then you used to be!"

"That's bull shit Rav and you know it! Your doing whatever you can to push those you care about away. All because your scared. Scared of loosing them scared of failing them scared of not living up to these delusions of grandeur you've set for yourself. Well guess what Rav even if this all goes to shit and we still end up on that battle field and still end up dying at least I'll know I died with a clear conscience."

Letting me go he glared down at me.

"Which is more then I can say for you if you go down this path Rav."

I felt so much anger for him in that moment I said the first thing that came to my mouth.

"I HATE YOU!"

I bent down to grab my bag but Zeld pulled me back as he forced his lips against mine. I pushed him away but he wrapped his arms around me pinning my hands between his chest and mine. 

"Stop it Zeld!"

I spoke through gritted teeth.

"Why because you feel something! You can burn away my mark and say you reject me even that you hate me but a mate bond is far stronger then any of that and I'm going to prove it."

He pressed his lips back to mine except this time I felt something in me respond. his kiss started off forceful yet my body responded. This shouldn't be happening I rejected him, I burnt away his mark why was my heart pounding in sync with his? He felt the change and no longer forced me. 

Pulling away he looked into my eyes as he cupped my face.

"There's the Rav I love."

He went to kiss me again when he was suddenly ripped away from me. He struggled against the two wolves holding him as Grit walked into the den.

"You see Raven."

He stared at Zeld his canines extended as he growled. Grit scoffed at Zeld's struggles.

"Distractions."

Grit turned back to me.

"I'll give you one more chance to back out if you think Talieus's way will save the pack then go crawling back to him. Maybe it'll be enough maybe not, but if you think this pack needs an alpha that isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to keep them alive then I can give you that. Which path do you choose?"

I looked from Grit to Zeld. Slowly I approached Zeld as the two wolves held his arms. 

"Rav it's not too late you don't have to do this."

I shook my head there was only one way to help him move on.

"It is too late Zeld I only kissed you back to see if it really was gone. The truth is I felt nothing, my love for you was gone before I even realised I had it. Focus on your training Zeld and when you fail to pass the trails I'll need you in the battle that is to come."

He scowled at me.

"Your lying you felt something I know it!"

I smiled sadly.

"See you at the trails Zeld may the best wolf win."

Grit put a hand on my shoulder.

"Spoken like a true alpha."

Turning to Zeld he smiled.

"Seems to me like you should spend less time on Raven and more time training some have been known to die in these trails you know."

Grit leaned in closer to whisper.

"I would hate for something to happen to you."

"If you think I'm letting you twist her into something you moulded you've got another thing coming."

"Learn when to know you've lost young pup your life will be better for it."

Grit started to leave as I followed not far behind.

"Rav!"

I turned back one last time then left the den going after Grit. 

"Where are we going?"

Grit looked side ways at me grinning from ear to ear.

"You will see young alpha but we must hurry we only have two days left. I'm told you rode here on the back of Zeld in wolf form?"

I nodded.

"Yes that's true."

"Then hop on Raven and I will take you where you need to go."

He transformed into the biggest wolf ive ever seen even by forest lakes standards. His back was taller then me. He was pure black seeming to melt into the shadows them selves. 

He lay down so that I could climb onto his back as he started running. He was fast, it was as if we were moving at the speed of light. 

"Your power is amazing!"

His voice chuckled in my head.

"Yours is even more so."

I scoffed.

"Mine is unusable."

"That Young alpha is what I intend to change."

"You can unlock my powers?"

"Who do you think helped loki to curse you in the first place?"

I hadn't really thought about it nor had I bothered to ask. 

"But if you've known all along how to lift the curse why did you not do it earlier?"

"Like you my dear I did not trust you, well I still don't. what I do trust is that you will do everything within your power to save our pack."

I watched the white landscape fly by as I contemplated his words. 

Grit seemed extremely smart out of all the elders he was more calculating, more cautious. I know Talieus said his goal is to be alpha himself and yet I sensed he genuinely cared for the pack. 

I still didn't trust him by far but I know he will teach me how to fight what is coming.

"How far do we need to go?"

"Not far just far enough that we won't be disturbed."

True enough we reached a mountain range that was still within view of the one we had just left. Though if we had been going at normal speed it would have taken days to reach.

"Is there another cave here?"

I asked as he stopped at the base of the mountain so that I could jump off.

"There are caves in all these mountains young alpha you need only find them."

"But there must be a reason you choose this mountain?"

He started to circle me.

"Perceptive aren't you?"

His eyes followed the mountain to the very top.

"This mountain is the only mountains here the tip touched the northern lights. It is here that you can regain what you have lost. There will be many things blocking your path you must pass each one."

"So it's like the trials."

His eerie smile made me nervous.

"Not like but are the trails."

I snapped my head to look at him.

"But I thought I had to wait a week?"

He held his head high.

"There is nothing that I can teach you young alpha. Nothing anyone can train you to do that you don't already know. Either you are an alpha or your not the trials will determine which."

"But won't the others be mad?"

He chuckled.

"Why would they be mad if you succeed they will have an alpha if not then Zeld will get his chance. Either way we do not have time to wait Shiya is coming and the sooner we prepare that better chance we have."

I stared at the mountain all of a sudden a cave entrance appeared before me. Grit smiled in his wolffish form. 

"You see the cave don't you?"

I nodded.

"That's means you are ready."

He circled me one more time.

"It's time to face your fears young alpha for inside that cave they will take form. if you do not over come them they will consume you."

I took a deep breath as I stared at the cave entrance.

'Be sure small one if we enter too early all could be lost.'

'I have faith Caryi this is what I was meant to be I know it. I feel It in myself I will be alpha.'

I started to approach the entrance when I heard Grits voice.

"Good luck young alpha."

I nodded as I passed into the darkness my head held high and my resolve held firm for whatever awaited me in these trails.