A New Throne

The sun had barely risen when Theo crossed the borders of the Dam-Nighade Pack—the land once ruled by a dark queen, now stripped bare of her terror. The air still held a trace of blood and ash, but beyond that, there was the scent of something else.

Change.

Awaiting him at the border were the warriors and officials Alpha Damian had sent ahead weeks before the final battle. They had maintained order in the interim, enforcing Damian’s laws while restoring some level of peace among the shattered ranks.

As Theo dismounted his horse, he was greeted with a respectful bow from the lead envoy—a tall, silver-haired warrior named Boram, who had once served as second-in-command to the late Alpha Kaden before defecting to Damian's side.

“Welcome, Alpha Theo,” Boram said solemnly, his voice firm but reverent. “We’ve been expecting you.”

Theo nodded, eyes scanning the forested terrain behind them and the ruined structures in the near distance. He could see where fires had scorched walls, where bones had been hastily buried, and where fresh timber had been brought in to begin rebuilding.

The war had left its mark.

So had Lila.

“Thank you,” Theo said. “Let’s not waste time.”

With a brief but warm welcome ceremony—no grand feasts or fanfare, just a shared cup of traditional wolfroot wine and a few kneeling oaths—they began their journey deeper into the pack’s territory.

As they passed through the village, Theo observed the people.

They were quiet. Wary. Most were former subjects of Lila—wolves who had survived her reign of terror either through blind loyalty or quiet submission. Children peeked out from behind huts. Old men nodded from porches. Women clutched their shawls and watched in silence.

But in their gazes, Theo saw something else.

Hope.

They had heard the stories—that Lila had fallen, that the great Alpha Damian had chosen a new leader, not to destroy them, but to guide them.

And now, that leader has come.

---

The Alpha's Estate

The estate had once been Lila’s fortress—cold, towering, and soaked in secrets. But already, changes had begun.

The gates now stood open.

The spiked iron wolf statues that once snarled down from the walls had been taken down.

Cleaners had scrubbed the blood from the courtyard.

Servants stood at attention by the stairs, and though their expressions were blank with caution, they bowed low when Theo stepped into the great hall.

The old throne had been burned. In its place stood a new one—crafted from dark wood, carved by Damian’s artisans. Simpler. Sturdier. A throne for a protector, not a tyrant.

Boram gestured. “It’s yours now.”

Theo walked slowly toward the seat. His heart beat heavily—not with nerves, but with weight. With purpose.

He didn’t sit right away.

Instead, he turned to face the people in the hall—warriors, servants, councilmen. Their eyes clung to him like threadbare cloth clinging to a sharp wind.

“I’m not here to rule with fear,” Theo said, his voice carrying through the stone chamber. “I’m not here to crush you or punish the past. But I will never allow darkness to grow here again. Loyalty will be rewarded. Betrayal will be dealt with swiftly. From this day forward, this pack belongs to its people again.”

Silence. Then a single, cautious clap. Another followed. And soon, the hall echoed with steady, rising applause—not yet wild with joy, but strong enough to say we’re ready to believe again.

Theo finally took his seat on the throne.

A new era had begun.

And he wondered what could happen next...