Ch. 5

The doors slammed shut behind them.

The sound echoed through the Alpha’s hall like a warning.

No one spoke.

Carolina stood just inside the room, her pulse hammering as the weight of the space pressed down on her. Dark wood, high ceilings, the pack’s history carved into every beam—

And at the center of it all—

Power.

Marcus Hale stood near the far end of the room, his back to them, hands clasped behind him.

Still.

Silent.

Controlled.

That was worse than yelling.

Xander didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

But Carolina felt it—the shift in him.

Not fear.

Never fear.

But readiness.

Finally, Marcus turned.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

His gaze landed on Xander first.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

“You felt it,” Marcus said.

Not a question.

Xander’s voice was steady. “Yes.”

A pause.

Then—

Marcus’s eyes shifted to Carolina.

And everything in her went still.

It wasn’t just a look.

It was an assessment.

A weighing.

A judgment.

“You,” Marcus said, his voice low and cutting, “are not who I expected.”

Carolina lifted her chin despite the pressure crushing down on her chest.

“I didn’t expect this either,” she replied.

Xander’s head snapped slightly toward her—just enough to show he hadn’t expected that response.

Marcus didn’t react right away.

But something in the room tightened.

“No,” Marcus said after a moment, stepping forward. “You didn’t.”

His gaze sharpened.

“But my son did not have the luxury of not expecting it.”

Xander’s jaw clenched. “I don’t control who my mate is.”

“No,” Marcus agreed. “But you control what happens after.”

The words landed like a threat.

Carolina’s stomach dropped.

Xander took a step forward, placing himself slightly between them again.

“You don’t get to say that,” he said, his voice lowering.

Marcus’s eyes flicked to the movement.

To the positioning.

To the bond.

And that’s when the room shifted.

“Move,” Marcus said.

It wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

Xander didn’t.

The air snapped tight.

“I said,” Marcus repeated, his Alpha power bleeding into the words now, pressing against the walls, the floor—them—

“Move.”

Carolina felt it instantly.

The command.

The instinct to obey.

Her knees almost buckled under it.

But Xander—

Didn’t move.

The silence that followed was explosive.

Marcus’s gaze darkened.

“Already defying me,” he said quietly. “For her.”

Xander’s voice didn’t waver.

“I’m not defying you.”

A beat.

“I’m protecting what’s mine.”

The words hit like a spark to dry wood.

Power surged.

Marcus stepped forward again—faster this time.

Stronger.

The full weight of an Alpha pressing into the room.

Carolina gasped as it slammed into her, forcing her back a step.

Her wolf reacted instantly, rising up in defense—

But it wasn’t enough.

Xander moved without thinking.

He stepped directly in front of her.

Taking the full force of it.

“Stop,” he growled.

And for the first time—

The future Alpha’s power answered back.

It wasn’t as strong.

Not yet.

But it was there.

The room shook with it.

Marcus stilled.

Not because he had to.

Because he chose to.

And that was somehow more terrifying.

“You would challenge me?” Marcus asked.

Xander held his ground.

“I would stand my ground.”

Another pause.

Long.

Heavy.

Deadly.

Marcus’s gaze shifted again—back to Carolina.

Slower this time.

More calculating.

“She’s weak,” he said bluntly.

The words hit like a slap.

Carolina’s chest tightened—but this time, something else rose with it.

Not fear.

Not shame.

Anger.

“You don’t know me,” she said, her voice quieter—but sharper.

Marcus’s brow lifted slightly.

“Oh, I know enough.”

“No,” Carolina said, stepping out from behind Xander.

This time, she moved forward.

Even as every instinct screamed not to.

“Carolina—” Xander warned.

But she didn’t stop.

“I may not be what you expected,” she continued, her voice steady now, “but that doesn’t make me weak.”

The room went silent.

Even Xander didn’t speak.

Marcus studied her again.

Longer this time.

Deeper.

And for just a second—

Something flickered.

Not approval.

But interest.

“Strength,” Marcus said slowly, “is not measured by defiance.”

Carolina met his gaze head-on.

“Then it’s a good thing I have more than that.”

The air shifted again.

Different now.

Less pressure.

More tension.

Marcus exhaled once.

Slow.

Controlled.

Then he stepped back.

The sudden absence of his Alpha power was almost disorienting.

“This changes nothing,” he said.

Xander’s jaw tightened. “It changes everything.”

Marcus’s gaze snapped back to him.

“No,” he said firmly. “It complicates everything.”

A beat.

Then—

“She is not ready to be Luna.”

Carolina felt that one deep.

“And until she proves otherwise,” Marcus continued, “this bond will not be acknowledged publicly.”

“What?” Xander snapped.

“You heard me.”

The words were final.

Absolute.

Carolina’s heart dropped—but before she could process it—

Xander stepped forward again.

“No,” he said.

Marcus’s eyes flashed.

“You don’t get to hide her like she’s a mistake.”

The room went deadly still.

Marcus’s voice dropped.

Dangerously low.

“Careful, Xander.”

But Xander didn’t back down.

Not this time.

“She’s not the problem,” he said. “Your expectations are.”

That did it.

The Alpha power surged again—stronger than before.

Crushing.

Relentless.

Carolina cried out as it hit her, dropping to one knee.

“Enough!” Xander roared.

And this time—

His power answered louder.

It pushed back.

Not winning.

But not yielding either.

Marcus stared at him.

Really stared.

And for the first time—

There was something else there.

Recognition.

Then—

Silence.

The power faded.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Marcus straightened.

“This conversation is not over,” he said.

Then he looked at Carolina one last time.

“Prove me wrong.”

And with that—

He turned.

And walked away.

The doors opened.

Closed.

Gone.

Silence filled the room.

Carolina stayed where she was for a second, breathing hard, her hands trembling slightly.

Then—

Xander was there.

Not touching.

But close.

“You shouldn’t have stepped forward,” he said quietly.

Carolina let out a shaky breath.

“I know.”

A pause.

“But I’m not going to hide,” she added.

Xander looked at her.

Really looked at her.

The bond pulsed.

Stronger than before.

“Good,” he said softly.

And this time—

There was no hesitation in his voice at all.