Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 442

Chapter 442: The Third Trial

**************

Chapter 442

~Zara’s POV~

It was hard, I had to admit. I risked being wrong, but I had to trust my gut about this. Varian charged, his claws tearing through the sand as he lunged straight for me.

I didn’t move.

Kaid shouted my name in panic. The crowd tensed.

But I stood my ground.

Varian slowed the moment he reached me. His massive form loomed over me, silver eyes locked onto mine. He roared, his mouth opening as fire crackled at the back of his throat, ready to consume me whole. I snapped my eyes open and met his gaze.

And I didn’t flinch.

I didn’t run.

I didn’t cower.

Seconds passed.

One. Two. Three and more, then... the fire died. Varian’s breath evened, and the air shifted. The dragon’s fierce and primal gaze softened for just a moment.

Then, slowly, he lowered his head. _{freewёbn૦νeɭ.com}

Varian let out a low, rumbling sound—a sign of submission.

Then, before my eyes, the golden light returned, surrounding him like a burning halo.

When it faded, he shifted back into his human form, standing before me with an unreadable expression.

The arena was silent.

"You understand," he murmured, his voice calm, almost approving.

Davion’s smirk widened as he leaned forward on his throne, his violet eyes filled with amusement. "Well, well," he mused. "Interesting."

Kaid exhaled sharply beside him, his muscles still tense.

Varian, however, simply met my gaze and gave a slow nod of approval.

I had won. I let out a breath, my body trembling from adrenaline.

Kaid was at my side in an instant, gripping my arm. "What the hell were you thinking?"

I gave him a tired smile. "I was thinking that dragons respect strength, not violence."

Varian studied me for a long moment before nodding again. "You pass."

Davion clapped once, his voice echoing through the arena. "Two trials down. One to go."

My stomach twisted. One more.

And then I could go back to Snow.

But something in Davion’s eyes told me... the last trial would be the hardest yet.

"Let us head back to the throne room," Davion announced.

"What? Give me a moment."

"I thought you didn’t have a moment, Zara," Davion teased.

"Must we move around? Why can’t we just do the third trial here?"

"We can’t. We must head to the throne room." With that, Davon turned around and walked out.

"I said I need a moment," I snapped, still catching my breath. My legs felt like jelly, my heart pounding from what just happened with Varian.

"You’ll have time to rest when it’s over," Davion said smoothly, standing from his throne. "The third trial awaits."

"No," Kaid growled, stepping in front of me. "She’s done enough for now. Give ehr a breather or are you planning on killing her with these trials?."

I appreciated him, truly. But I knew it wouldn’t matter.

Davion’s violet eyes flicked to Kaid. "You forget where you are, Lycan. She’s earned the final trial. And we finish what we start. Besides, killing ehr is still part of the reason for the trials."

My shoulders sagged. "Fine," I muttered. "Let’s get it over with."

They led us back to the throne room. It was quieter this time. Still, even the flames on the sconces burned lower, like they knew what was coming.

Davion stood waiting at the top of the steps with that same stoic poker face expression on his face. "Come up," he said.

I’m not gonna lie but I hesitated. My instincts screamed no. I couldn’t trust him just yet.

Still... I climbed and each step felt heavier than the last.

When I reached him, he didn’t move. Didn’t even blink.

"For teh final trial, you have a choice," he said softly. "Leave everything behind. Abandon the impending war, your people... your Snow." His voice lingered on the name. "Save yourself and marry me."

I stared at him. "What?" Was Davion a dimwit or what? Why would I risk my life to come here, suffer so much only for you to give me this kind of offer?

He stepped closer to me and whispered, more like reminding me. "Trial Three: The Sovereign’s Choice."

My breath caught.

"You could have this," his voice whispered in my head. "Peace. Power. No more blood."

The vision changed. A child ran into my arms—our child. His eyes were like mine, and his smile was warm and inviting.

My knees nearly buckled.

"No," I muttered. "Stop it."

Another scene where Snow was dead and gone. Forgotten. A memory fading in the back of my mind. My hand clenched.

"Stop it!"

I turned.

Snow stood on a distant cliff, calling my name. He was bleeding. Alone. The battlefield behind him roared with fire.

And I wasn’t there.

"No!" I shouted.

The world began to tremble.

"I choose him," I growled. "I choose Snow. My mate. My reason. I don’t care how pretty your world is. I don’t care what you offer. I’d burn it to the ground before I left him behind."

The golden city cracked. The sky split open. And everything shattered into light, until I was back.

Gasping.

On my knees in front of Davion’s throne. He stood there, hands behind his back, face unreadable.

"You’re a telepath," I hissed.

"Oh fuck."

"Surprised?" he said lightly.

I shot to my feet. "You tried to manipulate me—"

"I tested you."

My chest rose and fell fast. My fists shook.

He reached into his cloak and pulled out the Golden Scale, its surface glowing like a dying star. He extended it toward me.

"You passed."

I stared at it. Then at him. "You already removed your scale? How could you have known if I would... Why give it to me? After all that?"

Davion stepped closer, leaning in just slightly. His voice was quiet. "You’re pretty readable, Zara. Let’s just say for once I saw and met a werewolf whose greed didn’t spill through. Also, because you didn’t bend. Not even for me."