I took a slow breath. "What is this?" I asked, my voice low.
Alpha Varric leaned back in his stone chair. "A test of loyalty, If you are wolfblood you must kill her."
"Why her?"
"She crossed the line and she carries secrets from your old world."
My fingers curled into fists. "You chose her on purpose."
He didn't deny it.
"She is your past" he said. "If you hold on to it you're weak, but if you cut it off…"
His eyes shone like a hunter's.
"…you belong to us."
Veran stayed quiet but I felt him behind me tense and ready to move, yet he didn't step in,
he was giving me the choice.
My legs felt heavy as I walked closer to the girl on the floor. Amalric's eyes opened,it was red and swollen that when she saw me, her lips started shaking.
"You…" she panted. "No… You're dead."
I said nothing.
"You died! I saw your body…."
"I did die," I said softly. "But the moon gave me back what you all took away from me."
She shook her head in disbelief. "Why are you here? Why am I here?"
"To test me."
Her eyes opened wide with fear. "No please! I didn't mean to be here! I was sent…I was sent to find someone."
"Who?"
"I don't know! My mother sent me!" she cried. "She said to find the wolf who walks like a man, the one with silver eyes."
I froze, it was Veran! She was looking for Veran.
"She sent you to spy on him?"
Amalric nodded weakly. "She said he's the only one who can kill you again."
The words hurts more than they should have.
Even now, Lady Vievvine was hunting me and she still see me as a threat.
I looked up at the Council, they were watching me with eager eyes.
"You want me to kill her?" I asked.
Alpha Varric nodded slowly . "Show us your teeth wolfblood."
Veran's voice came, low and sharp. "Delphine you don't owe them anything."
But I didn't look at him I looked at her,
Amalric…Pretty, perfect, pampered, she was always the apple of Father's eye, the reason my mother was forgotten. She pushed me down when I tried to rise but now she was just a scared child in a wolf's den.
I knelt beside her, she sobbed softly."Please! I didn't know, I didn't…"
I leaned close. "Do you remember the winter you told Father I poisoned the tea?"
Her face went white.
"I was locked in the cellar for days" I whispered, "You smiled when they dragged me there" She started to cry.
"But I'm not that girl anymore." I said standing up, my heart was beating fast.
I raised the dagger Alpha Varric had gave me,
the Council leaned forward eager to see.
Amalric sobbed, "Please, please don't…"
And then I threw the blade, it struck the floor at her feet shaking the stone.
"I won't kill her" I said. The chamber filled with growls and snarls then the Alphas stood up from their thrones angry.
"She's your enemy!" one shouted.
"She's mine to handle" I said. "Not yours."
Alpha Varric's eyes narrowed. "Then what do you want girl?"
"I will take her" I said lifting my chin, "I will decide her punishment."
Veran's voice cut through the noise. "That is the old law, the right of blood."
Alpha Varric glared at him. " You dare speak of law oath-breaker?"
"She is reborn by the Pact" Veran replied calmly, "Her choice matters." Everywhere went silent.
At last Alpha Varric gave a single nod. "So be it, take your sister, but if you show weakness again…" He showed his teeth.
"…we'll feast on both of your hearts."
That night we rode back to the forest, Amalric lay unconscious on Veran's horse, tied but alive. I rode quietly, the cold wind slapping at my face and was my mind spinning. Veran spoke at last.
"You didn't kill her."
"No." I replied coldly.
"You could've."
"I know."
"Why didn't you?"
I turned to him my voice low. "Because that's what they wanted."
He looked at me, his expression unreadable.
"I'm not their beast," I whispered. "Not yet."
We reached the woods before dawn.Veran carried Amalric into the cabin and placed her on the floor, then he turned to me.
"You did well," he said. "But they'll test you again."
"They'll always test me."
"Yes. Until they break you."
I stared into the fire, "I won't let them." Veran moved closer his voice quite.
"Why did you really spare her?"
I didn't answer right away, then I said "Because killing her would be too kind."
I watched Amalric sleep for a long time and for the first time in her life, she was powerless and helpless. And I was the one holding the leash.
The wolf inside me growled in approval, let her feel what I felt all those years, let her learn and beg. That night, I dreamt of blood, the forest was burning and the sky was red Wolves were howling and I stood alone, my hands covered in red. I turned and saw Veran, He stood in the flames his eyes glowing bright.
"Run," he said.
"From what?"
"From me."
I tried to move but my legs wouldn't work,my body twisted, cracked and shifted.I screamed as bones snapped and fur tore through my skin.
And then I wasn't a girl anymore, i was something else, wild and deadly.
I woke up with sweat on my skin and a bitter taste in my mouth,the fire had burned low and
Amalric was gone, her ropes lay torn on the floor.
I jumped up my heart beating fast as i ran out into the cold. But the snow had no tracks on them, no scent or sign of her.
Veran was already outside, his jaw tight.
"She's not far," I said.
He shook his head slowly.
"She's not just gone," he said.
I turned to him.
"What do you mean?"
Veran's eyes met mine, shining silver in the moonlight.
"She's shifted."