Chapter 5:
The elders exchanged glances, their gazes sharp as knives. Osric stepped forward, his expression as unreadable as ever, though his lips were set in a tight line.
“Alpha,” he began, the word heavy with unspoken challenge.
“Your speech is stirring, but the pack needs more than words. What are your plans for the border patrols? Or will you leave our safety to chance?”
The murmurs among the elders grew louder, their doubt sharpening into something tangible. I took a breath, steadying myself before answering.
“The patrol schedules are being expanded, Osric. I’ve already ordered additional teams to cover the northern pass and the eastern ridge.”
“And are those teams equipped to handle an attack from Silas?” Osric pressed, his tone sharper now.
“Or are we relying on promises and goodwill to protect our pack?” The accusation stung, but I refused to let it show.
“We are reinforcing the patrols with pairs of senior wolves to guide the younger ones. They’ll rotate shifts and practice drills daily to ensure we are prepared.”
“And yet you stand here,” he said, his voice a quiet growl, “expecting loyalty without proof of your own readiness. You speak of unity, but trust is earned, not demanded.”
For a moment, the weight of his words pressed against me. My gaze shifted, and I caught a flicker of doubt in the faces of the younger wolves. This was my moment to act—not to waver.
I squared my shoulders, holding his gaze.
“You’re right, Osric. Trust is earned, and I have every intention of earning it. That’s why I’ll be leading the next patrol myself. Any wolf who doubts my readiness can see for themselves exactly what I’m capable of.”
The murmurs shifted, some wolves exchanging surprised glances. Osric narrowed his eyes, studying me for a moment before stepping back.
Let your imagination soar with gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．çο𝗺
“Very well,” he said gruffly.
“We’ll see.”
As the pack began to disperse, I lingered, my mind racing. I needed a moment of solitude, a chance to process the weight of what lay ahead. My feet carried me to the edge of the compound, where the dense forest stretched out like an ocean of shadows. The scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs, grounding me in the present.
My thoughts drifted to my father. He had been a commanding figure, a wolf who inspired fear as much as respect. He had led with unwavering strength, but also with distance, his bond with the pack more practical than personal. Was that the kind of Alpha I needed to be? “No,” I whispered to the wind.
“I will lead differently.”
The memory of his voice lingered: A pack divided is a pack destroyed. The Alpha’s role is to unify, at any cost. He had believed that unity came from strength alone, from domination and command. But I wanted more. I wanted the pack to follow me not out of fear, but out of belief.
“Thinking about Marcus?”
The voice startled me, and I turned to see Osric standing a few feet away, his expression softened by the flickering torchlight. His protective nature was evident in the way he kept a respectful distance, yet his gaze held the same skepticism that had shadowed our earlier exchange.
“I was,” I admitted.
“He was a strong leader. But strength isn’t everything.”
Osric crossed his arms, leaning against a tree.
“Marcus knew how to keep the pack together. He made hard choices.”
“And some of those choices drove us apart,” I countered, meeting his gaze.
“Dante’s banishment—do you think that united us? Or did it fracture us more deeply than we want to admit?”
Osric’s jaw tightened, his silence speaking volumes. Finally…
