Chapter Five

Chapter Five : Decision Regretted

Draven’s POV

I sat on the Alpha’s seat, my fingers clenching the wooden armrests as I listened to the news that made my blood run cold.

“The battle must be redone,” the Head Elder announced, his voice deep and unwavering. “I was not present during the last fight, and now we have reason to believe that Darius was weakened by outside interference.”

I felt my stomach drop. My hands turned clammy, and I struggled to keep my breathing steady.

“A… a rematch?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” the Head Elder said firmly. “The battle will take place in three days. This time, no interference. The true Alpha will be decided in front of the entire pack.”

I wanted to protest, to say I was already named Alpha, but I couldn’t. The Alpha Seal—the final mark that would make my leadership unquestionable—had not yet been given to me. Without it, my title was nothing but a word.

I swallowed hard, trying to think of a way out, but there was none.

Darius was strong. Stronger than me. The only reason I had won before was because Aurora had weakened him. And now, Aurora was gone.

And I was alone.

I turned my head to look at my new Luna, standing beside me.

Leila. The elder’s daughter. The woman I chose over Aurora.

She stood tall, her chin lifted, her eyes blank and uncaring. She didn’t look at me with worry, didn’t offer any support. She was here for the power, not for me.

If it had been Aurora standing there…

No. I couldn’t think about her.

But my mind wouldn’t listen.

Aurora would have already found a way. She would have trained me harder. She would have helped me prepare. She would have stood beside me, fighting with me, not just watching like an outsider.

My heart pounded. I had thrown her away like she meant nothing, and now… now I needed her more than ever.

I struggled to stand, my legs shaking. “Head Elder,” I began, attempting to sound firm, “is there not another way? I’ve already won. The pack has accepted me. There does not need to be a second battle.”.

The older man chuckled. “Accepted you? You believe that by sporting that title you are a leader?” He leaned closer, eyes burning. “If you are deserving, fight for it. Or step down and let the stronger wolf take the throne.”

I gritted my teeth. Resign? Never.

But if I fought Darius alone without Aurora’s help…

I wrapped my hands into fists, anger and panic thrashing about in my stomach. I already imagined the shame on my warriors’ faces. They had trusted me to hold strong. What would they think if I failed now, though?

What have I done?

I pushed Aurora away from me, mocked her, insulted her, informed her that she was nothing to me.

And now, when I needed her most…

She disappeared.

And I didn’t know how to fix it.