Chapter Five

~Kaleen ~

Seven days after the Moon goddess proclamation, my two brothers, Riven and Lysander, sat beside me at the council meeting organized by Elder Corvin Nightweald, the Head Elder of the Night Fang Pack.

Since my father, the true Alpha, had passed on five years ago, Corvin had ruled as acting leader while we waited for one of the three of us to be chosen.

My Beta, Breen Hollowfang, stood silently at my side. His jaw was tight, his displeasure obvious. He hated the decree as much as I did. Inside me, my wolf, Rhaegor, paced and snarled, claws scraping my ribs, ready to tear free as he waited for the council’s verdict.

Elder Corvin, as always, wasted no time. His face never softened. His first words were aimed directly at me.

“Kaleen,” he said coldly, “we gave you a simple task as the first born among your brothers and as the Pack leader and commander: to find the girl you destroyed with your own hands. Yet you stand here with nothing to show for it.”

Pain flared, sharp and vicious, feeding Rhaegor’s rage.

“Elder Corvin,” I snapped, unable to restrain myself from the boiling rage inside me. “I have done everything within my power. I sent troops led by my Beta, Breen, three times. Each time, they returned with the same result.”

“How could you send your team without informing me; the Warrior's instructor?” the youngest triplet, Riven, interrupted.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” I snapped.

Whenever Riven interrupted me during council meetings, irritation always flared within me. What right did my younger brothers have to compete with me for the throne of Night Fang when I was clearly the eldest, the one with strength, rank, and unquestioned authority to lead the pack? The thought alone was enough to make my blood boil whenever my gaze landed on them.

He said nothing. Of course, he didn’t. I was the Head of Warriors, the Commander of Night Fang’s forces, while he was nothing more than an instructor. His life rested on my command, and he knew it.

I exhaled, then bowed my head slightly. “My apologies, Elder Corvin, for the interruption.”

I continued, explaining how Seraphine attacked every unit sent into Shadowmere, refusing to listen or know who they were but striking before words could be spoken.

Another elder, Macoon, one I held little respect for, spoke up, his tone sharp, challenging me to act however I saw fit.

Corvin straightened his robes, eyes narrowing. “Kaleen, you have seven days. Bring Seraphine before this council. If you fail, you leave us no choice.”

“Or what will happen?” I asked rudely.

“If you fail, you will force our hands to do the unthinkable the Moon goddess has instructed: strip the Alpha title from the Thorns bloodline and pass it to the next in line.”

Rhaegor roared inside me. Seven days, or everything I had fought for would be taken. He reminded me that alone sparked something inside me I didn’t want to feel.

When Elder Corvin finished, the council rose in unison, approving Macoon’s suggestion. Not surprisingly, this was exactly what they had wanted all along. Ungrateful lot. In their haste, they had forgotten how my father had shed his blood to protect Night Fang, how he had died still guarding it, and how they had sworn the pack’s power would never be shifted. And yet, in just a few short years, they seemed to have erased that vow from their memory.

Their eyes were cold and unwavering, leaving me stranded like a lone wolf abandoned in the snow as they all rose and turned to leave.

As they began to leave, I couldn’t hold back. My voice rang out across the hall, sharp and raw. “I will have to go myself,” I said, “and force her out if I must. I don’t care if she is injured!” I shouted to ensure they heard.

“You would dare?” Riven’s voice cut through mine like a blade. His tone was sharp, filled with fury. I froze, turning to him, surprise flashing across my face.

“What did you say?” I demanded, as if I hadn’t heard him correctly.

“You are only permitted to go and find her, bring her here unscratch, Kaleen,” he repeated, teeth clenched. “You are never permitted to hurt her.”

“And since when do you raise your voice at me?” I snapped.

“Since the day you chose to ignore pack protocol,” he shot back. “Since the day you sent troops without informing me: the warrior instructor.

I laughed bitterly inside me. Of course, I hadn’t told him. I needed to find Seraphine first, make her fall for me before anyone else interfered. But Seraphine had been defiant, unruly, mocking every move I made. And now I would need a new strategy before the pack had the chance to reach her.

Before I could retort, Lysander’s calm, steady voice cut through the tension.

“You all need to stop,” he said firmly. “Mad arguing accomplishes nothing. Our title as Alpha is at stake. The only way forward is to work together as brothers and ensure Seraphine is brought back to the pack,” he said.

A suggestion was offered, one I reluctantly accepted but could not find satisfying. We would go to Shadomere ourselves. Perhaps, seeing us in person, Seraphine would recognize us from afar and refrain from attacking.

I clenched my fists, my glare sweeping over Riven and Lysander. Rhaegor’s growl rumbled low in my chest. This hunt was far from over, and I would have my way no matter what fire my brothers fanned in my path.

When we were finally alone, my Beta, Breen, leaned closer and whispered something that stirred a dark satisfaction within me.

“Kaleen,” he said quietly, “since you want the throne for yourself, this is the perfect moment to act wisely.”

“What do you mean?” I demanded.

He glanced around to be sure we were not being watched, then continued in a low voice.

“This is our chance to end your disrespectful brothers. We eliminate them on the way and tell the pack they were attacked and killed by Seraphine.”

I stared at him, disbelief flickering for only a heartbeat before a cruel smile slowly spread across my face.

“You always have the sharpest ideas,” I said. “That’s why I never allow you to be far from me, not even for a moment.”

But for a moment, another thought snapped through my mind. “That would be impossible, Breen,” I said.

“Why’s that?” he asked, curiosity sharpening his tone.

“Because we’re not going alone,” I replied. “We’re going with our brothers and the warriors.”

He frowned, then argued, “We could sway them, buy their support.”

“No,” I said firmly. “You know half the pack warriors are loyal to Riven. They’ve always preferred him over me. They would never agree.”

I patted his back, forcing a small smile. “Just find another alternative. I know you’re clever; you’ll figure it out.”

He nodded, returning my smile, his eyes glinting with determination and mischief.