Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

T he acrid stench of sulfur assaulted Colt’s nostrils as they materialized in Hell. Heat radiated from the scorched ground, seeping through the soles of his boots. His wolf bristled beneath his skin, sensing the overwhelming power that permeated this realm. His jaw clenched as he fought to maintain his composure, acutely aware of how out of his element he was.

Hades materialized before them, a smirk twisting his lips. “Welcome to my humble abode,” he drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I must say, wolves fare rather poorly down here. The heat disagrees with all that fur, I imagine.”

Colt curled his fingers into fists at his sides, but he bit back the growl rising in his throat. This was neither the time nor the place for his temper.

“Now, now,” Hades continued, his dark eyes filled with amusement, “don’t look so grim. The real fun hasn’t even begun yet.” He gestured at the desolate landscape. “While you’re in my domain, you’re under my protection. But once you cross into the Duat…” His expression sobered slightly. “Well, let’s just say Anubis isn’t known for his hospitality.”

Colt’s gaze flicked to Ariana. She stood tall beside him, her silver-flecked eyes scanning their surroundings with an eerie calm. Even here, in the depths of Hell, she exuded a quiet strength that both awed and steadied him.

Hades noticed the exchange, and his smirk softened. “Little one,” he said, his voice gentle, “be cautious. You’re strong, yes, but these trials… they’re designed to exploit your deepest fears, your most hidden vulnerabilities.” His gaze hardened as it shifted back to Colt. “That goes for all of you. This isn’t just a test of physical prowess. Your bonds, your trust in one another, they’ll be pushed to their limits.”

Colt’s wolf stirred, restless beneath his skin, sensing the weight of the god’s words. A chill ran down his spine despite the oppressive heat, and he moved closer to Ariana, his need to protect her warring with the knowledge that she was more than capable of handling herself.

“We’re ready,” he growled, meeting Hades’ gaze with steely determination. “Just show us where to go.”

Hades chuckled, a sound that sent shivers through the air. “Eager, aren’t we? Very well.” He turned, gesturing toward a massive gate that seemed to materialize out of the shadows. Its ancient stone was etched with symbols Colt couldn’t decipher, and an aura of dread emanated from it like a physical force.

“Once you pass through,” Hades warned, his voice losing all trace of amusement, “there’s no turning back. You either gain entry to the Duat, or you’ll be lost forever in the realm between life and death.”

Colt swallowed hard, his throat dry. He glanced at his team—Ariana, her eyes filled with determination; Hannah, her face set in grim resolve; and Maya, her fingers sparking with latent magic. They all nodded, ready to face whatever lay beyond.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, leading them toward the gate. As they approached, the air grew colder, a stark contrast to Hell’s oppressive heat. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as they crossed the threshold.

In an instant, everything changed.

The scorching landscape of Hell vanished, replaced by an eerie stillness that pressed in on them from all sides. Shadows writhed at the edges of his vision, and the air carried a chill that seeped into his bones. His wolf howled within him, sensing a presence far more ancient and terrifying than anything they’d encountered before.

Anubis. The name echoed in Colt’s mind, filling him with a primal fear he couldn’t shake.

Before he could voice a warning, the ground beneath their feet trembled. Colt reached for Ariana, but it was too late. An unseen force tore them apart, violently ripping Ariana from his grasp. His heart lurched as he watched her disappear into the swirling darkness, her scream echoing in his ears.

“Ariana!” he roared, his voice raw with panic. He lunged forward, but the shadows seemed to thicken, becoming an impenetrable wall. His wolf clawed at his insides, desperate to break free and chase after her.

The darkness abruptly shifted, and Colt found himself alone in a vast, empty space. The air hummed with an otherworldly energy that set his teeth on edge. His enhanced senses, usually a source of strength, now felt overwhelmed and useless in this supernatural realm.

A flicker of movement caught his eye, and his heart leaped into his throat. There, just beyond his reach, was Ariana. Dark tendrils of magic coiled around her, pulling her further away from him. Her eyes, wide with fear, locked onto his.

“Colt!” she cried out, her voice filled with desperation. “Help me!”

Every instinct in his body screamed at him to charge forward, to fight whatever force dared to threaten his mate. But Hades’ warning echoed in his mind: The trials are designed to exploit your deepest fears, your most hidden vulnerabilities.

Was this real, or a trick?

His muscles tensed, ready to spring into action, but he forced himself to pause. He closed his eyes, focusing on the bond that connected him to his mate.

Ari? Can you hear me?

His words were met with deafening silence. Was it because she couldn’t hear him? He opened his eyes and stared at his mate. She reached for him, pleading.

“Colt. It hurts!” Her screams of pain filled the air and wrapped around his heart until he thought it would stop beating.

“You’re not real,” he growled at the apparition. “Ariana is stronger than this. She doesn’t need me to save her.”

Her eyes widened as the tendrils of dark magic coiled around her neck and squeezed. She clawed at it, her motions frantic.

His wolf snarled and clawed at him, desperate to force him into a shift so they could save their mate.

He nearly broke.

“You are not my Ari!” he shouted, needing to believe what he said. Logic had to prevail because failure was not an option. His knees nearly buckled as her body went lifeless, but he searched his heart. It still beat. Somewhere in this hell, his mate still lived and likely fought her own battle. Still, the fear coursing through his blood was all too real.

Finally, the illusion flickered. Ariana’s face twisted into a snarl of frustration before dissolving into smoke. Colt let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding. He’d passed the first test, but at what cost? Before he could process what had just happened, the surrounding darkness shifted once more. The oppressive void gave way to a dimly lit chamber, its walls adorned with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that seemed to writhe and move in the flickering torchlight. At the center stood a figure, tall and imposing, with the head of a jackal and eyes that glowed with otherworldly intelligence.

Anubis.

His wolf bristled beneath his skin, recognizing a predator far more dangerous than any they had ever encountered. He fought to keep his breathing steady, to project an aura of strength and defiance in the face of this ancient deity.

“Colt Tyler,” Anubis spoke, his voice a low rumble that seemed to emanate from the very walls of the chamber. “Alpha of the Moonshadow pack. Protector. Leader.” The god’s gaze bored into him, seeming to strip away every layer of pretense and bravado. “You’ve come far, shifter. But are you willing to go further?”

He squared his shoulders, meeting Anubis’s gaze with as much courage as he could muster. “I’m here to complete the trials,” he growled. “Whatever it takes.”

A sound that might have been a chuckle escaped the jackal god’s muzzle. “Bold words. But what if completing the trials comes at a cost you’re not prepared to pay?” With a wave of his hand, the air shimmered, and an image appeared before them.

Colt’s breath caught in his throat. It was his pack, his family, gathered in the clearing near their home. But something was wrong. Dark tendrils of smoke curled around them, faces contorted in pain and fear. And at the center of it all stood Ariana, her eyes blazing with an unnatural silver light, power crackling around her like lightning.

“Your mate,” Anubis continued, his tone deceptively casual, “is more powerful than you know. The trials will unlock abilities within her she may not be able to control. Your pack, your family, they will all be at risk.”

He clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. “What are you saying?” Colt demanded, his voice a low growl. The image before him sent ice through his veins, but he fought to keep his composure.

Anubis’s eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light. “I’m offering you a choice, Alpha. Abandon the trials now, return to the mortal realm without Ariana, and your pack will be spared this fate. Leave her here, in the Duat, where her powers can be contained.”

Colt’s heart thundered in his chest, his wolf howling in protest at the very thought. Leave Ariana? Abandon her to this dark realm? Every fiber of his being rejected the idea. And yet… the safety of his pack, his responsibility as alpha…

For a moment, doubt crept in like a poison. What if Anubis was right? What if Ariana’s power truly was a threat? The image of his pack suffering, of the woman he loved at the center of such destruction, shook him to his core. If the vision was true, it meant his Ari survived the trials. Did she survive because of his choice to leave her behind? Or was this another illusion?

“Make your choice. Now!”

The darkness swallowed Ariana whole, ripping her away from Colt’s side with a force that left her breathless. One moment, she had been standing beside him, their hands almost touching, and the next, she was hurtling through a void so complete it seemed to devour light itself. Her stomach lurched, and she fought against the disorientation that threatened to overwhelm her.

When the world finally stopped spinning, she found herself alone in a vast, shadowy expanse. The air hung heavy with an otherworldly energy that made her skin prickle. Shadows writhed at the edges of her vision, alive and hungry. The absence of Colt’s presence beside her left an ache in her chest that was almost physical.

“Colt?” she called out, her voice swallowed by the oppressive silence. No answer came.

Fear clawed at her, threatening to paralyze her. She was alone in the realm of the dead, cut off from the man she loved and the team she had sworn to protect. For a moment, panic threatened to overtake her. But she was more than just Colt’s mate. She was a guardian. The gods themselves created her ancestors. With a deep breath, she steadied herself, pushing down the fear that threatened to consume her. She closed her eyes and reached out with her senses, searching for any trace of Colt or the others.

Nothing. The bond between them, usually a constant hum in the back of her mind, felt muted and distant. But it was still there, a faint thread connecting them even across the vast expanse of the Duat. That small reassurance gave her strength.

“Focus,” she whispered to herself, clenching her fists at her sides. “You have a mission to complete.”

As if in response to her resolve, the surrounding shadows began to shift and coalesce. The formless void gave way to a dimly lit cavern, its walls adorned with ancient hieroglyphs that seemed to writhe and move in the flickering torchlight. The air grew thick with magic, pressing against her skin like a physical force. Her heart thundered in her chest as she took in her surroundings. This was it. Her trial was beginning.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she whirled around, her body instinctively falling into a defensive stance. What she saw made her blood run cold.

Before her stood a shimmering portal, its surface rippling like water. Through it, she could see Colt, Maya, and Hannah, each trapped in separate magical prisons. Their faces contorted in agony as dark energy crackled around them, slowly draining their life force. The sight of Colt’s pain sent a jolt of anguish through her heart.

A disembodied voice, ancient and powerful, echoed through the cavern. “Guardian,” it intoned, “you face a choice. Your powers can save only one. Choose wisely, for the others will perish.”

Her breath caught in her throat. She reached for her blade but found it missing. Her elemental powers stirred within her, ready to be unleashed, but she knew they weren’t strong enough to save all three.

“This isn’t real,” she whispered, trying to convince herself. But the pain in Colt’s eyes, the fear on Hannah’s face, the resignation in Maya’s posture—it all felt too vivid to be an illusion.

The voice spoke again, “Time is short, Guardian. Who will you save? Your mate? The young demigoddess? Or the witch who holds your pack’s secrets?”

Her mind raced. Every instinct screamed at her to save Colt, to protect her mate at all costs. But she was more than just a mate—she was a guardian, sworn to protect all realms and all beings. Could she sacrifice two lives to save the man she loved?

She closed her eyes, centering herself. The elements swirled within her. Fire, water, earth, and air, each clamoring to be used. Her healing abilities pulsed at her fingertips, ready to mend wounds and restore life. But they weren’t enough. Not for this.

“I won’t choose,” she said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her heart. “This is a test, isn’t it? To see if I’ll abandon my duty for love, or if I’ll sacrifice love for the greater good.” She opened her eyes, staring defiantly at the portal. “But that’s not what being a guardian means. It’s not about choosing between duty and love. It’s about finding the strength to protect both.”

With a deep breath, Ariana summoned all four elements at once. It was a feat she’d never attempted before, the strain immediately threatening to tear her apart from the inside. Fire blazed in her right hand and water swirled in her left. The ground beneath her feet trembled as she drew upon its strength, while the surrounding air whipped into a frenzy.

Pain lanced through her body as she pushed her powers to their limit and beyond. Blood trickled from her nose, but she didn’t falter. With a cry that was part agony and part defiance, she unleashed everything she had at the portal.

The elements crashed against the magical barrier in a spectacular display of raw power. For a moment, nothing happened, and she felt despair threaten to overwhelm her. But then, cracks gradually appeared in the portal’s surface.

“I won’t let any of them die,” she gritted out, pushing harder. The cracks spread, spider webbing across the portal’s surface. “I am a guardian, and I protect ALL!”

With a final surge of power that left her gasping and weak-kneed, the portal shattered. The illusions of Colt, Maya, and Hannah vanished, leaving only echoes of the disembodied voice.

“Well done, Guardian,” it said, a note of approval in its tone. “You have passed the first trial. But beware, the challenges ahead will only grow more difficult. Your resolve will be tested, your powers pushed to their limits, and your heart may yet break before the end.”

As the voice faded, she fell to her knees, exhausted. She had passed the test, but at what cost? Her body ached, her powers felt depleted, and she was still alone in this alien realm. And somewhere out there, Colt was facing his own hell.

She allowed herself a moment of weakness. A single tear slid down her cheek. Then, with a deep breath, she pushed herself back to her feet. There was no time for rest, no room for doubt. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it. Her father had instilled in her a duty she must always uphold. Her aunt, Gwen, and her mother had shown her that females were just as strong as anyone else. Then there had been the others, Seth, Lucan, and even Aidyn, who had prepared her for battle. Prepared her for Colt, for her friends, for all the realms she was sworn to protect.

As she took a step forward, ready to face the next challenge, the cavern began to shift and change. The walls melted away, revealing a vast, desolate landscape. In the distance, she saw a towering structure. A pyramid, its peak lost in swirling storm clouds. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating a figure standing at the base of the pyramid. Even from this distance, Ariana could sense the ancient power radiating from it. Anubis, the jackal-headed god of death, waited for her.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of fear and determination coursing through her veins. This was it—the true test was about to begin. With one last thought of Colt, she sent a silent prayer through their bond, then squared her shoulders and began the long walk toward her destiny.