Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

C olt had insisted everyone come to the breakfast table so he could formally announce that Ariana was his mate. Not that they didn’t know already, but the words coming from their alpha would mean so much more.

He also wanted to make certain everyone refueled after last night’s battle. He pushed his chair back and stood.

“Thank you for coming. I know many of you have questions, as you have no doubt realized I have taken a mate.” He smiled and looked at Ariana.

The crowd murmured.

“The gods have chosen and blessed me with Ariana.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I expect you to show her the same respect you do to me.”

The pack didn’t have a moment to respond because the air grew heavy and closed in on the room. Colt didn’t have time to react to the threat that dared enter his territory before he spotted a tall male with jet black hair standing in the doorway.

“Fuck my life. It smells like a wet dog in here.”

Ariana jumped from her seat. “Hades!”

Gasps and murmurs echoed through the room as pack members took in the sight of the god of the underworld himself, standing in their midst. The air shimmered around him, a faint, otherworldly glow that marked his divine presence. His eyes, dark as the abyss, scanned the room and there was an amused tilt to his lips. He was intimidating, powerful, and the room surged with the palpable energy of his presence.

Colt’s wolf stirred within him, his protective instincts roaring to life at the unexpected intrusion. He straightened, a low growl rumbled in his chest. “Hades,” he greeted, his voice laced with restrained aggression. “To what do we owe the honor?”

Hades’ gaze flicked to Colt, a bemused smirk curling his lips. “Ah, the shifter who dares claim Ariana.” He stepped forward, his movements smooth and unhurried. “I hope you realize the weight of what you hold, Alpha.”

Ariana closed the distance, her hand touched Hades’ arm. “Hades, please. Colt is my mate, and we need your help.”

Hades’ expression softened as he looked at Ariana, a warmth sparkled in his eyes. “Little one, you always had a knack for finding trouble.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face, his touch almost paternal. “But if you call on me, I will answer.”

Colt’s jaw tightened. The ease with which Hades interacted with Ariana stoked a simmering jealousy in him. His protective instincts flared. “You’re here for a reason,” he said, more a statement than a question.

Hades turned his attention back to Colt, his smirk fading. “Lower your hackles, wolf. You are no longer the head alpha in the room.”

A low growl rumbled through his chest. He’d never met Hades and, honestly, he wasn’t thrilled to be doing so now. Ariana stepped between them.

“You two stop. We need to work together.” She took Colt’s hand and laced her fingers between his, grounding him, then turned back to Hades.

“Did you know of this blade?”

“I did not, not until Marcus and Hannah filled me in. I then took it upon myself to visit the library. What you found there were mere scraps. It seems my ancestors didn’t want the information to be easily located.”

Colt’s patience was wearing thin, and he was tired of playing nice. “Did you find anything?”

Hades’ gaze narrowed once again and for a moment, Colt thought the king of the underworld might zap his ass.

“Lucky for you I love Ariana like a daughter, or I would zap your ass straight to the seventh circle of Hell. Now, I was able to locate a chamber hidden in the library that apparently only responds to the powers of a darker god such as myself. What I discovered wasn’t good.”

The room held its breath.

“The truth about that blade. The reason it exists.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. “It wasn’t just made to kill immortals or break fated bonds. The blade was created to stop an ancient dark magic. A force that has been lying dormant for longer than any of you can imagine.”

“What kind of dark magic?” Colt asked. His wolf stirred, clearly recognizing this was not going to be good. Nothing involving dark magic ever was.

“The kind that doesn’t live. It feeds on power—on immortals, bonds, even gods. It comes in cycles, waking every few millennia to feed, only to be subdued and locked away. The gods who created that blade knew they couldn’t destroy it, so they made a weapon to sever its connections, to bind it.”

“And I suppose you’re going to tell us that this fucking thing is waking up?”

Hades grinned. “Smart wolf. Yes. And it’s been stirring for a while. Selene’s actions—the blade she stole—have only accelerated its return. Every time she uses that blade, it weakens the barriers that hold the dark magic back.”

Colt looked at his mate, knowing they were both thinking the same thing, but it was she who asked.

“So what do we do?”

“The blade must be returned to its rightful place before the dark magic fully awakens. You’ll need to enter Duat, Anubis’s realm, because apparently, he is the only one who knows what to do. But it won’t be easy. Anubis won’t just let you waltz in and ask questions.”

Hades’ eyes gleamed with a cryptic light as he continued. “To enter the Duat, you’ll need to face trials designed to test your essence—trials that will challenge your deepest fears, your loyalties, and the strength of your bond. Each trial reflects your innermost self, the very core of your identity. Pass these trials, and you will gain an audience with Anubis.”

A heavy silence followed Hades’ proclamation. Colt absorbed the weight of his words while watching the pack members exchange anxious glances. They had faced many challenges before, but nothing of this magnitude.

Colt stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern. “And what makes you think anyone will survive these trials? Anubis isn’t exactly known for his leniency.”

Hades’ smile remained. “Your survival depends on the purity of your intent, the strength of your bond, and the essence of your soul. You can’t brute-force your way through this, Alpha. This is a battle of spirit and will.”

Colt didn’t falter. He would do whatever it took to protect his pack and his mate. “Where do we start?” Colt asked, his voice unwavering.

His smile widened. “First, you have to enter my realm, which means getting me to take you there.”

This time Colt suppressed a growl because he wasn’t stupid. Pissing off Hades would be bad for everyone. Still, he couldn’t resist asking. “Why wouldn’t you want this resolved? You have a mate and from what I understand, this blade could break that bond, too.”

“I never said I didn’t want this resolved,” he snarled. “But don’t think for a minute if I deem you unworthy that I won’t send Ariana on without you. Her father is quite capable, as are her friends. You…” he snapped. “Are not needed.”

Ariana realized Hades was testing her mate, but she didn’t like it. She looked at her father, who simply gave her a shake of his head before he slipped into her mind.

Leave it alone, daughter, or risk making it worse. Your mate must prove himself. You know how the gods can be.

She had no doubt Colt could, so she followed her father’s advice and waited. Holding her breath as Colt’s grip grew tighter on her hand.

“Ariana and I are a team. I have vowed to her we fight this together and I will not break that vow.” Colt’s voice was steady and firm, his gaze never wavering as he stared Hades down. “You can test me all you want, but I will not abandon my mate.”

Hades’ lips curled into a cold, calculating smile. “We shall see, Alpha. The trials are not merely physical combat—they are battles of the soul, of essence. You must be ready to face your deepest fears and darkest truths. Only then will you have any hope of succeeding.”

A shiver of fear ran down Ariana’s spine. She knew Colt was strong, but the trials Hades spoke of sounded like they would test both of them in ways they had never been tested before. Could they survive this? Her love for Colt was growing stronger, but now that love came with an added burden—the fear of losing him to a force beyond their control.

Colt turned to his pack, his expression hard. “We need to prepare. This isn’t just about us—it’s about protecting our entire world from whatever dark force is trying to break free. I will need your skills, your strength, and your guidance to get through this.” He then looked at Maya. “You will go with us, providing Hades lets us all pass into Hell.”

The witch gave a nod. “I will prepare.”

Jaxon clenched his fists. “I’ll ensure the pack is on high alert, ready to defend our territory from any threats while you’re gone.”

It was a moment of solidarity, of unspoken vows, the air thick with determination and the weight of what lay ahead. Despite the looming trials, the unity of the pack was an unyielding force.

Ariana steeled herself, nodding. “We will do whatever it takes to stop this dark force. The strength of our pack, of our bond—that is what will carry us through.”

Hades raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his expression at the unity before him. “I will give you one day to prepare,” he said. “At dawn tomorrow, I will return to take you to my realm. Be ready, for once there, there is no turning back.” The god of the underworld stepped back, his form fading into the shadows with an air of finality.

Tense silence filled the room, and the weight of their impending journey settled over them like a thick, wet blanket. Colt took a deep breath and scanned the faces of his pack. “All right, everyone. I have no idea how long I will be gone. It’s up to you to have each other’s backs.”

As the pack dispersed to make their preparations, Ariana pulled her mate aside. “Colt, are you truly ready for this?”

He turned to her, his gaze softened. “I have to be, Ariana. Not just for us, but for the pack and for all we hold dear. I know the trials will be tough, but… I won’t let anything tear us apart.”

She nodded. “Then let’s face this together, as we promised. We’ll draw strength from each other, and from our bond.” She squeezed his hand, a silent promise of her unwavering support.

Marcus stepped forward and kissed Ariana on the top of her head. “I have every faith in you, in both of you, but take Hannah with you. A demigoddess might prove useful.”

It was a sound idea, and she looked at Colt. “He’s right.”

“I don’t object as long as she agrees.”

Ariana turned her gaze to Hannah, who had been standing near the doorway, silently observing the exchanges. There was a fire in her blue eyes, the same fire that ran in her blood, inherited from her godly lineage.

Hannah nodded and stepped forward. “I’ll come with you. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I’ll face them with you both.” Her voice was steady, but the weight of the task before them reflected in her expression. This wasn’t just a simple journey—it was a dive into the unknown, where gods and ancient magic dictated the rules.

Colt inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Then it’s settled,” he said, his gaze sweeping between Ariana and Hannah. “We leave at dawn.”

They fell into a heavy silence, the gravity of the situation settling over them. An impending storm lingered on the horizon, a storm that would test not just their relationship, but their ability to stand as one against forces older than time itself.

Ariana squeezed Colt’s hand again, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers as a reminder of everything they had to fight for. Their bond was a living thing, pulsing between them like an invisible tether that linked their fates. No matter what trials awaited in the Duat, no matter how deep or dark those trials burrowed into their souls, she had faith that they would prevail—together.

“You’ll all need rest,” Dylan said as he crossed the room to leave. His calm, measured tone was a balm against the palpable tension. “Whatever is waiting for you, you’ll need your full strength to face it.”

Ariana turned toward him and gave a small nod of gratitude. “You’re right.”

Colt wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. “We’ll get through this,” he said, planting a kiss into the crown of her hair. But there was a darkness in his voice, a weight to his words that echoed the uncertainty both of them felt.