Chapter 21: Home and Duty

Crescent Ridge welcomed us back like heroes. Word had spread about the Summit. About my fight with Victor Kane. About exposing Seraphina’s crimes. My wolves were proud.

“Alpha!” Young wolves ran to greet us as we pulled up to the pack house. “You’re back!”

I climbed out, accepting their enthusiasm with a smile. This felt good. Being celebrated by wolves who genuinely cared about me.

An older wolf named Sarah approached. She ran the pack house in my absence. “Everything went smoothly while you were gone. No incidents. Territory secure.”

“Thank you, Sarah. I knew I could count on you.”

That night, we held a pack dinner. Everyone gathered to hear about the Summit. I kept the stories light. Focused on the alliances we’d made. The respect Crescent Ridge had earned.

I didn’t mention Kaden. Didn’t talk about the complicated emotions still tangled inside me.

“Three cheers for Alpha Aria!” someone shouted.

The pack erupted in celebration. Howls filled the night. For the first time in forever, I felt completely at peace.

The feeling didn’t last.

Two days later, I began investigating Victor Kane’s territory. Maya and Dax came with me. We needed to interview his wolves. See living conditions. Gather evidence.

Victor met us at his border, looking unhappy. “You’re really doing this.”

“I gave my word to the Council. So did you.” I kept my voice professional. “Cooperate and this goes easier for everyone.”

His territory was beautiful. Dense forests. Clear streams. Good hunting grounds. But as we moved deeper, I noticed things. Wolves with scars. Others who flinched when Victor passed. Fear in too many eyes.

“I want to speak with your omega wolves. Privately.” I told Victor.

“Why? They have nothing important to say.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I stared him down until he nodded reluctantly.

The omegas were terrified. It took hours to get them to talk. But slowly, stories emerged. Beatings for small mistakes. Public humiliation. Being denied food as punishment. Not torture. Not death. But systematic cruelty that crushed spirits.

“He says we deserve it,” one young omega whispered. “Says we’re weak. Need to learn our place.”

My blood boiled. This was exactly what I’d feared. An Alpha abusing power against wolves who couldn’t fight back.

“That’s going to stop.” I squeezed her hand gently. “I promise you. Things will change.”

Over the next week, I documented everything. Took statements. Photographed injuries. Built an undeniable case.

Victor knew what was coming. “You’re going to recommend my removal.”

“Yes. You’ve violated pack law. Abused wolves under your protection. The Council won’t tolerate it.”

“I kept my pack strong. Disciplined. That requires a firm hand.”

“There’s a difference between discipline and cruelty. You crossed that line repeatedly.” I closed my file. “The Council will decide your punishment. But your time as Alpha is over.”

He lunged at me then. His control finally snapped. Shifted and attacked in one smooth motion.

I was ready. Had been expecting it. My silver wolf met his dark brown one mid-air. We crashed together, teeth and claws.

He was bigger. Stronger from years of fighting. But I had something he didn’t. Righteousness. Fury on behalf of wolves he’d hurt.

The fight was short. Brutal. I didn’t hold back. Within minutes, I had him pinned. My jaws around his throat again.

“Submit or die. Your choice.”

He went limp under me. Submitting.

I released him and shifted back to human. “You’re done, Victor. The Council will handle the rest.”

His wolves watched in silence. Some looked relieved. Others were scared of what came next. Change was always frightening.

“Who wants to lead this pack?” I asked the gathered wolves.

A female warrior stepped forward. Strong. Scarred from many battles. “I would. If the pack accepts me.”

“What’s your name?”

“Diana. I’ve been head warrior for eight years. I know this pack. Know what needs to change.”

I looked around. Other wolves were nodding. Supporting her. “Anyone object to Diana as Alpha?”

Silence. Which was answer enough.

“Then by my authority as investigating Alpha, I’m appointing Diana as interim Alpha of Northern Pines. The Council will confirm or deny within thirty days.” I turned to Diana. “Don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t. Thank you, Alpha Aria.”

We left that afternoon. Victor went with us, in custody. He’d face the Council and their judgment.

“That was intense,” Maya said as we drove away. “You basically overthrew an Alpha.”

“I removed a criminal. There’s a difference.” But my hands shook slightly. The weight of what I’d done was hitting me.

“Do you think Diana will be better?” Dax asked.

“I hope so. But if she’s not, we’ll deal with that too.” This was my job now. Protecting wolves. Ensuring justice. “One territory at a time.”

Back home, I finally had time to rest. To process everything that had happened. The Summit. Seraphina’s arrest. Victor’s removal. Kaden’s attempts at redemption.

It was too much. Too fast.

I retreated to my room, needing solitude. But sleep wouldn’t come. My mind raced with thoughts and worries and questions without answers.

A knock came around midnight. I almost ignored it. But something made me answer.

Elder Thorne stood there, looking concerned. “I know you’re tired. But we need to talk. About your parents.”

That got my attention. “What about them?”

“I found something. About the conspiracy that killed them. About who ordered the murders.” He held up a file. “You need to see this. But I warn you. The truth isn’t easy.”

I let him in, my heart pounding. For twenty years, I’d wanted answers about my parents. About why they died. Who killed them?

Now those answers were finally here.

Elder Thorne opened the file, pulling out old documents. Photos. Reports. “Your parents were building alliances. Trying to unite packs under a new system. One based on fairness instead of pure power.”

“You told me that already.”

“What I didn’t tell you was who opposed them most strongly. Who had the most to lose if their vision succeeded?” He pulled out a photo. “This is from a Council meeting three months before their deaths. Your father presents his proposals.”

I studied the photo. My parents looked young. Happy. Passionate. And standing in the background, arms crossed and face dark with anger, was someone I recognised.

Alpha Marcus. Kaden’s father.

“No,” I whispered.

“Yes. Marcus was one of the strongest opponents to your parents’ reforms. He believed in the old ways. Power rules everything. The weak serving the strong.” Elder Thorne’s voice was gentle. “We don’t have direct proof he ordered the murders. But circumstantial evidence suggests his involvement.”

I couldn’t breathe. Kaden’s father. The man who’d threatened me. Who’d manipulated his son into rejecting me. That same man might have killed my parents.

“Does Kaden know?”

“Not yet. I wanted to tell you first. Give you time to process before deciding what to do with this information.”

“What do I do?” My voice broke. “The man who might have murdered my parents raised the boy I loved. Shaped him. Taught him. How do I separate Kaden from that?”

“I don’t know. That’s something only you can decide.” Elder Thorne put the file down. “But you deserve to know the truth. Whatever you do with it is up to you.”

After he left, I sat in darkness. Staring at that photo. At Alpha Marcus’s face. At my parents, so alive and hopeful, not knowing they’d be dead soon.

Part of me wanted to scream. To rage. To hate Kaden by association.

But another part, the part that had grown and changed over these months, knew better. Kaden wasn’t his father. He wasn’t responsible for his father’s crimes.

The question was whether I could separate the two. Whether I could look at Kaden and not see the man who’d possibly destroyed my family.

I touched my mother’s pendant. Felt its familiar weight.

What would she want me to do? Seek revenge? Or find justice through proper channels?

I thought I knew. But knowing the right answer and having the strength to follow it were different things.

My phone buzzed. A message from Kaden.

“Just wanted to say goodnight. Hope you’re settling back in well. No pressure to respond. Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you.”

Simple. Sweet. The kind of message the old Kaden used to send when we were secretly together.

I stared at it for a long time. Then typed back.

“We need to talk. About your father. About my parents. About things you don’t know.”

His response came immediately. “When?”

“Soon. I need time to figure out how to say it.”

“Whenever you’re ready. I’ll be here.”

I set the phone down and finally let myself cry. For my parents. For the injustice of their deaths. For the complicated mess my life had become.

But also for hope. That maybe, despite everything, there was still a path forward.

I just had to find it.

One painful step at a time.