Chapter 10: Six Months Later

The wooden practice dummy exploded into splinters under my strike. I stepped back, breathing hard but steady. Six months ago, I couldn’t have scratched it. Now I could destroy it with one blow.

“Better,” Elder Thorne said from his seat under the oak tree. “But you’re still holding back. You’re afraid of your own strength.”

“I’m not afraid,” I protested.

“You are. You spent so long being told to make yourself small that you still do it automatically.” He stood, walking toward me. “An Alpha doesn’t apologise for her power. She owns it.”

He was right. Some part of me still flinched when I felt strong. Still expected punishment for taking up space.

“Again,” Elder Thorne commanded. “This time, don’t think. Just act.”

I faced the new dummy he’d set up. Closed my eyes. Found that silver spark inside me that had grown from a flame into a bonfire. I didn’t hold it back this time. I let it pour through me completely.

My fist connected with the dummy. It didn’t just break. It disintegrated. The wooden pieces flew so far that they disappeared into the forest.

“There,” Elder Thorne said with satisfaction. “That’s what I want to see. That’s true Alpha power.”

Maya jogged up, returning from her own training run. She’d transformed over these months. Her body was lean with muscle now, her movements confident and sure. She’d become an excellent fighter under Elder Thorne’s teaching.

“Show off,” she teased, seeing the destroyed dummy.

“Just following orders.” I grinned at her.

We’d both changed so much. The scared girls who’d fled Shadowpine were gone. In their place were warriors. Women who knew their worth and wouldn’t let anyone diminish it.

“Gather round,” Elder Thorne said. “We need to talk about what comes next.”

We sat in the clearing that had become our training ground. The place where I’d struggled to move a boulder was now marked with craters from my strikes. Evidence of growth.

“You’ve learned faster than I expected,” Elder Thorne began. “Your combat skills are excellent. Your control over your abilities is strong. You’re ready for the next step.”

“What next?” I asked.

“You need a pack.” His words were simple but they hit hard. “You can’t remain rogue forever. You need wolves to lead. A territory to protect. A position in the pack hierarchy.”

“I don’t know how to lead,” I said. “Fighting is one thing. Actually being responsible for others is different.”

“You’ll learn by doing. Every Alpha does.” He pulled out a map, spreading it on the ground. “There’s a pack about three days from here. Crescent Ridge. Their Alpha died two months ago with no heir. The pack is struggling, leaderless and vulnerable. They need someone strong to take over.”

“You want me to challenge for their Alpha position?” My heart raced at the thought.

“Yes. It’s perfect for you. They’re small enough that you can manage them while still learning. But large enough to give you real experience.” He pointed to the territory marked on the map. “They’re good wolves. Just lost and scared right now.”

Maya leaned over the map. “What if Aria wins? What happens to the wolves who challenge her?”

“In a leadership challenge, the winner takes the pack. The loser either submits or leaves.” Elder Thorne looked at me seriously. “You’ll need to be strong enough to win. But also wise enough to lead well afterwards. Strength alone doesn’t make a good Alpha.”

I thought about Alpha Marcus. About how he’d ruled through fear and control. “I don’t want to lead like that. Like him.”

“Then don’t. Lead as your parents did. With fairness. With compassion. But also with the strength to protect those who depend on you.” Elder Thorne rolled up the map. “You have three days to prepare. Then we travel to Crescent Ridge.”

The next three days passed in intense training. Elder Thorne drilled me on everything. Combat, yes, but also pack law. Territory management. How to handle disputes. How to balance mercy with justice.

“Remember,” he said the night before we left, “some wolves will challenge you just to test your strength. Others will have legitimate concerns. You need to know the difference.”

“What if I fail?” The fear was real. “What if I’m not ready?”

“Then you fail and you learn from it.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “But I don’t think you’ll fail. You’re stronger than you know. You just need to believe it.”

We set out at dawn. The journey to Crescent Ridge took us through wild territory. Beautiful but dangerous. I could feel the difference in myself now. Before, every sound made me jump. Now I moved through the forest as I owned it.

Because part of me did. This was my world now. I belonged here.

On the third day, we reached Crescent Ridge territory. It was beautiful. Rolling hills covered in pine trees. A river running through the valley. Mountains in the distance.

But I could also feel the wrongness. The territory had no strong Alpha presence. No commanding power holding it together. The pack was dying slowly.

“They’ll smell us soon,” Maya whispered. “Are you ready?”

Was I ready? Six months ago I was a broken omega running for her life. Now I was about to challenge for an Alpha position. It felt impossible and right all at once.

“I’m ready,” I said.

Wolves appeared from the trees. At least twenty of them, forming a loose circle around us. They looked tired. Wary. A large grey wolf stepped forward, shifting to human form.

“This is Crescent Ridge territory,” he said, his voice rough. “State your business.”

Elder Thorne stepped forward. “We come under pack law. This is Aria Silvermoon. She’s here to challenge for Alpha.”

Murmurs ran through the gathered wolves. Some looked hopeful. Others skeptical. The grey wolf studied me with hard eyes.

“You’re young,” he said bluntly. “Small. Why should we accept your challenge?”

“Because your pack is dying without leadership,” I said, keeping my voice calm but firm. “Because you need an Alpha strong enough to protect you but wise enough to lead well. Because I’m offering you a future.”

“Pretty words. Can you back them up?” He crossed his arms. “I’m Dax. Beta of this pack. If you want to challenge for Alpha, you go through me first.”

He was huge. Easily twice my size. Covered in scars that spoke of many battles. Six months ago, I would have been terrified.

Now I just feel focused.

“I accept,” I said clearly. “When do we fight?”

“Now.” He was already shifting, his body rippling into a massive grey wolf.

I shifted too, my silver fur gleaming in the afternoon light. The gathered wolves gasped. They’d never seen a Silver Moon wolf before.

Good. Let them see what real power looked like.

Dax lunged without warning. Fast for his size. But I was faster.

I dodged, spinning away from his teeth. He was strong and experienced. But I had something he didn’t. Pure Alpha dominance flows through my veins.

We fought for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. He was good. Really good. But every time he thought he had me, I slipped away. Every time he tried to overpower me, I proved I was stronger.

Finally, I had him pinned. My jaws around his throat. Not biting, just holding. Showing I could kill him if I chose.

“Submit,” I commanded through our wolf bond.

For a long moment, he resisted. Then slowly, he went limp under me. Submitting.

I released him and stepped back, shifting to human form. “I don’t want your death. I want your loyalty. Will you serve me as Beta?”

Dax shifted, breathing hard. Blood dripped from various wounds. He stared at me with something like respect.

“You fight well for someone so young.” He went to one knee. “I submit to your authority. Alpha Aria.”

The other wolves followed. One by one, they knelt. Submitting to me. Accepting me as their new Alpha.

I stood there, surrounded by my new pack, and felt something slot into place inside me.

This was who I was meant to be.

Not Kaden’s secret. Not anyone’s servant.

An Alpha in my own right.