Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 69

Rain

Three days later I had recovered enough to call the clan again to book a second attempt. I had a long talk with my mates about it. They said I should do it not just for Gabi, but also myself.

That was part of the reason I was doing this. I wanted to see this through so I could explore my vampire identity. For so long it felt like I didn’t fully fit in with the werewolf world.

Now I knew why!

I asked Lia if she felt the same when it came to her magic. She nodded, telling me that she felt the same way.

Lia was sitting beside me right now, holding my hands and trying to silently urge me to call the number. With a shaky sigh, I dialed the number and hoped for the best.

“Hello, this is Rain. I’m trying to reach someone from the Nightshade Eclipse Council.”

“You’ve reached one of the council heads. How can I assist you today?”

“I wanted to talk about my trial. I know I didn’t pass, but I was wondering if there’s any way I could attempt it again. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I want another shot.”

“Ah, I understand. First of all, let me reassure you that failure in the trial is not the end of your journey. Many before you have faced similar setbacks, and in fact, it’s common to falter during the first attempt. The trial is designed to do more than test mere physical strength; it pushes your patience, adaptability, and resilience. It’s a process, not a single moment of judgment. You are not the first to inquire about a second chance, and I can guarantee you won’t be the last.”

“So… you’re saying there’s still a chance for me? I can still try again?”

“Absolutely. Each member of the council is allowed up to three attempts to complete the trial. No more, no less. The reason we allow three chances is because we understand that growth doesn’t happen overnight. Sometimes, a person may need time to reflect, adjust, and make the necessary changes before they’re ready to take on the trial again. The road to success is rarely linear. We see potential in you, Rain, and we want to help you realize that potential fully. The fact that you’re reaching out now is a step in the right direction.”

“Three attempts? That’s good to know. I’m relieved that I haven’t used them all up yet. I thought I might have missed my chance after failing the first time.”

“You’re far from missing your opportunity. There’s no need to feel rushed or pressured. The trials aren’t about impressing us or proving anything to the council-they’re about proving to yourself what you’re capable of. If you’re ready to face the challenge again, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. But I urge you to take your time. Don’t rush into your second attempt out of impatience. Reflect on what happened during the first trial, and think about how you might approach things differently next time. The second attempt, while challenging, can often be the most rewarding. It’s when true growth begins.”

I hung up the phone and looked at Lia.

“That guy is extremely profound,” I whispered, causing her to laugh. “Are all vampires profound like that?”

She laughed. “I think it’s always been a trait that people associate with vampires. They are wise because of how long they can live.”

“Holy shit do you think my life is going to be extended because my vampiric blood has been awakened? I think that means I might be able to stay sexy.”

Lia made a face. “Rain, never say that again.”

“Sorry, I got a big overboard.

“That’s an understatement.”

And so the training began.

No trial was the same so the vampire attending it couldn’t know what to expect. There had to be an element of surprise otherwise everyone would know how to cheat the system.

Everyone was helping me train this time, even Michael who seemed to have this renewed sense of hope. But he made sure to tell me that there was no pressure. If I couldn’t get into the clan then we would find some other way to get Gabi back.

Okay, okay, so remember how I told y’all about the vampire clan trial? You know, the one where they test EVERYTHING—your strength, your wits, your endurance, your ability to NOT make a fool of yourself in front of the Elders (which, let’s be real, I flopped at the first time)? WELL, I PASSED IT. I FREAKING PASSED IT. ON MY SECOND TRY!!!

I CAN’T EVEN BELIEVE IT. I’m shaking. My hands are shaking, my voice is shaking-if I still had a heartbeat, that would probably be shaking too. I think I’m gonna cry. Like, do vampires even cry? Is that a thing we do? I don’t care. I’m a disaster right now, and you don’t understand how much this means to me. Seriously, y’all.

When I walked into that trial today, I was already ready to fail again. I thought, “Rain, you’re going to trip over your cape, miss the target, and accidentally insult the Head Elder’s hair.” (WHICH, by the way, would’ve been a HUGE deal because have you seen his hair? It’s like perfectly gelled immortality on his head.) But then… something clicked. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was the dramatic lighting in the hall or the ominous chanting echoing around me—because, you know, classic vampire vibes-but suddenly, I was ON FIRE. Well, not literally, because, you know, vampires + fire = crispy disaster. But you get me, right?

I swear, I’ve never moved that fast or looked that cool in my whole undead existence. I nailed the combat round, outsmarted the maze, and didn’t even flinch during the Bloodstone Ceremony, which is TERRIFYING, by the way. And then… THEN… when they called my name at the end and said I’d passed, I thought I misheard them. Like, there was no way, right? But nope, it was real. I almost fainted right there on the spot (do vampires faint??? Someone G****e this), but I managed to keep it together. Barely.

You guys, the Head Elder SMIRKED at me. Do you know how rare that is? That’s basically like a full-blown standing ovation in vampire culture. I wanted to bow dramatically, but I thought, “Rain, don’t push your luck.” So I just stood there, trying to look all cool and composed while my brain was screaming, “OMG YOU DID IT!”

I’m officially part of the clan now, and I’m NEVER letting anyone forget this moment. Like, I’m gonna bring it up at every opportunity. “Oh, you’re drinking coffee? That’s cool. Did you know I passed my vampire clan trial?” Or, “What’s that? Are you cold? Wow, I was cold too when I crushed my second try at the trial.” Get ready to hear about this for the next century.

I’m so happy right now, I could… I don’t know, drink a celebratory chalice of blood or something. Is that a thing? Ugh, whatever, I don’t care. I LOVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME (and if you didn’t, that’s fine-just pretend you did).

Okay, I’m done. But also, I’M NEVER DONE. Someone hug me before I start sobbing like a newborn fledgling. Or better yet, someone framed this moment. I’ll pay you in eternal gratitude.

I received a litany of responses. Lia was the most excited for me, saying how proud she was of what I did. Jesse was more subdued while Matt said I needed to tone down the usage of caps. It just made me laugh.

Colby responded last, telling me he knew I could do it. It was just a matter of time before I succeeded.

Even though every part of my body was hurting, I didn’t care. I had finally succeeded and this meant we were one step closer to getting Gabi back.