Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 442

Chapter 442: The Third Trial
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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.

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.

“A dragon’s heart,” Davion continued, “is not moved by power… but by something greater. This final trial is not one of strength or survival. It is of character.”

I swallowed hard.

“You’ve proven you’re brave. Clever. Fierce.” His tone softened. “But can you prove where your heart is even when given everything you’ve ever wanted?”

I didn’t speak.

“Stay here,” he said. “Rule beside me. Be my queen. The dragons will follow you. They’ll make peace. They’ll end the war. All you have to do… is choose this realm. Choose me.”

It was a trap. I knew it. And he knew that I knew it.

“If I say yes,” I said quietly, “I prove I’m willing to give up the fight.”

“And you become my queen. But if you say no…” Davion continued for me, “you prove that there can be alliance between our races. Even more so, with us you can win any war and battle, my dragons, my people, my race would be at your beck and call. You wouldn’t need to fear the witches nor Thorned Crescent.”

I looked at him. Really looked. He wasn’t mocking me. He meant it. “I was offered an alliance one I knew I needed so much.

With it, several lives would be saved but without it, I would have to abandon Snow.

My choices were simple, kill one to save millions or save one and kill millions.

I took a shaky breath. I was supposed to be a hero, one who could save her people and follow in my fatehr’s stead, right the mistake he made by dispersing teh kingdom and bring us together.

A united front would ensure victory but with teh dragons help, the war would be in our favour before it begaN.

Even if Kaid doesn’t want to send the Lycans into battle, I can still win this. Oh shit… hy do I have to choose?

“But… if I chose you, do I still get teh scale?” I asked to clarify his intentions.

Davion laughed cutely, smirking as he brought out his handsome features.

He looked like an ethereal gods. And like I learnt, even though they ha ve miodern equipments, the royals when in the palace are meant to wear their royal attires.

“Sorry sweetheart. You cannot have your cake and eat it, love. It’s not just done. I need my scales and power. If you need to be the heor for this war, you must give up Snow.”

I smiled. The answer was right there before me, staring me deadly in the face.

I was no hero, yet but at the very least I can save a life, one who can save many more. “Then my choice is simple. I do not accept. Give me the scale.”

But instead of reaching into his cloak, Davion looked straight into my eyes.

And the world shifted. I suked in a deep breath. I wasn’t in the throne room anymore.

Now I stood in a city of gold and obsidian, high in the mountains. The sky shimmered silver, and dragons soared above towers. The people bowed to me as I passed, whispering my name with reverence.

Davion was at my side. Crowned, handsome and calm. We were… married.

I wore white and fire. A dress made of dragonlight. My fingers curled with his.

I blinked. “No. This isn’t real.”

“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.”