Chapter ⊰ 62 ⊱ Test of Love
**I Penelope I**
I stand alone in my white dress, the soft breeze caressing my skin. For a moment, I close my eyes, letting the sounds and scents of the woods wash over me. It's as if I can feel the very pulse of the forest beneath my feet.
But the sudden blare of a horn shatters the soothing moment, signaling the start of the Hunt. My eyes snap open, and I'm instantly aware of the other women around me. I can practically feel the nervous excitement rolling off of them in waves as we begin to move, each of us heading in different directions.
*Stay calm. It'll be over before you know it.*
I set off towards the lake, towards the dock where Malachi found me that night. It's a place of comfort, of familiarity-something I desperately need right now. As I walk, I'm surprised to find that the forest no longer seems like an indistinguishable mass of trees. Instead, it's as if an instinct has awakened within me, guiding my steps with a certainty that wasn't there before.
The journey feels longer than it should, my pregnant body protesting with each step. I pause occasionally, leaning against a tree to catch my breath, my hand resting protectively on my swollen belly. The baby kicks, as if sensing my anxiety, and I smile despite myself.
"It's okay, little one," I whisper. "We're almost there."
When I finally reach the lake, I can't help but smile. The still waters mirror the moon perfectly, a breathtaking scene. I pause for a moment, drinking in the sight, allowing it to calm my frayed nerves. The quiet lapping of water against the shore is soothing, almost hypnotic.
My eyes are drawn to the dock, and my heart nearly stops. There's a figure standing there, a woman in a white dress identical to mine. Every instinct screams at me to turn and run-we were explicitly told to keep our distance from each other. If a wolf finds two of us together, he'll choose one to mate and oftentimes will kill the other.
*But where else would I go?*
I take a step back, ready to retreat into the safety of the trees, when a shaft of moonlight illuminates the woman's face. Recognition dawns, and my blood runs cold. *It's Julia.*
For a moment, I'm frozen, unable to move or even breathe. A thousand thoughts race through my mind.
*What is she doing here? How did she know about this place? Is this some kind of trap?*
Julia turns, her gaze finding mine across the distance. There's a calm look on her face that sends chills down my spine. Then, slowly, deliberately, she begins to walk towards me.
Every instinct screams at me to run, but my feet remain rooted to the spot. My heart pounds in my chest, so loud I'm sure Julia must be able to hear it. As she draws closer, I can see the determined glint in her eye, the set of her jaw. Whatever has brought her here, it's not good.
"What are you doing here?" I manage to ask when she's close enough, my voice barely above a whisper. My hand moves instinctively to rest on my swollen belly, a protective gesture that doesn't go unnoticed by Julia.
She doesn't respond immediately. Her eyes flick from my face to my stomach and back again, a complex mix of emotions flashing across her features too quickly for me to decipher.
When she finally speaks, her voice is eerily composed. "It's okay," she says, the calmness of her tone at odds with the intensity of her gaze. "If Malachi truly meant what he said, you have nothing to worry about." *Nothing to worry about? What is she t-*
The implication of her words hits me so hard it makes my breath catch in my lungs. She's setting up a test-a chance for Malachi's wolf, his true, primal nature, to choose between us. The very thought makes me sick to my stomach. "How did you know I'd be here?" I demand, anger beginning to override my fear. The unfairness of it all-the audacity of this woman to threaten everything Malachi and I have built-fuels a fire in my chest.
Julia's laugh is soft, tinged with sadness. It's not the reaction I expected, and it throws me off balance. "Did you really think this spot was yours?" she asks, gesturing to the dock and the lake beyond. "This used to be *our* place when we were together."
Her words are like a knife to my heart. For a moment, I feel betrayed. This place, which held such special meaning for Malachi and me, was just another recycled memory from his past with Julia. The thought threatens to unravel me, to feed into every insecurity I've battled since becoming part of this world.
But then I catch myself.
*Why should I believe anything this woman says?*
She's the one who abandoned Malachi, who left him for the same reasons Donovan cheated on me. She has every reason to lie, to try and undermine my confidence.
I shake my head, steeling my resolve. "I'm not playing this game," I say, turning to leave. I've had enough of her mind games, enough of feeling like I don't belong. Malachi chose me, and that's all that matters.
But before I can take a step, Julia's hand clamps around my arm with inhuman strength. I gasp, more from shock than pain. The suddenness of her movement, the cold certainty in her eyes-it's a stark reminder of what she is, of the power she possesses.
"Let go of me," I demand, trying to keep the fear out of my voice. I tug at my arm, but it's like trying to move a statue. Julia's grip doesn't budge an inch.
"What's wrong?" Julia taunts, a cruel smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Afraid he'll pick me?"
I struggle harder, panic beginning to set in. This isn't just about me anymore I have my baby to think about.
*What if she hurts my baby? What if Malachi doesn't get here in time?*
Suddenly, Julia growls, the sound low and feral. Her eyes flash with an otherworldly light, pupils elongating into slits for a brief moment. Pregnant or not, I'd never stand a chance against her. Not in a fight. She's a werewolf-what I'm not-and the reminder sends a jolt of terror through me.
"You need to stop this," I plead, desperate to make her see reason. My free hand cradles my belly protectively. "Are you really willing to die for this? Malachi has already made his choice. This is pointless."
"It's not pointless," Julia argues, her voice rising. The calm facade is cracking, revealing the desperation underneath. "Malachi doesn't really know what he wants. He's confused, blinded by your pregnancy. This is the only way to know for sure." The sound of another horn blast cuts through the night, and my heart leaps into my throat. The wolves are coming. It's only a matter of time before Malachi arrives, and then it will be too late.
As Julia's grip tightens further, as the sounds of barking, howling, and heavy paws against the ground grow louder, I realize that this moment-this confrontation-might very well determine the course of my future. Or if I'll even have one. *I didn't sign up for this...*