Power Has a Price

I stood alone, still upright, power thrumming through my veins like electricity.

"That's it," Sea purred with satisfaction. "Show them what an Alpha looks like."

A laugh escaped me. The sound carried across the silent training ground, making several wolves flinch.

"Impossible!" Garrick choked out, his voice strangled with disbelief. "How could you—you're wolfless! You can't have this kind of strength—"

"Can't I?" I asked softly, my tone almost conversational as I walked slowly through the kneeling crowd.

My boots crunched against the packed dirt. No one dared lift their heads.

Lydia was trembling violently on the ground, her face drained of all color, unable to even lift her gaze to look at me.

"Luna, please!" she gasped, her voice breaking. "Forgive me. I didn't mean…I shouldn't have spoken out of line!"

I stopped in front of her, tilting my head slightly as I looked down.

"You meant every word," I said quietly, but there was steel underneath the softness. Cold. Unyielding. "You all did. Every insult. Every sneer. Every whispered mockery you thought I couldn't hear."

I let my gaze sweep across the kneeling warriors, meeting the eyes of those brave enough to look up.

"I let you get away with it before because I thought... maybe if I was quiet enough, small enough, harmless enough, you'd eventually accept me."

My smile sharpened into something with teeth.

"But I've learned something recently. Respect isn't given to the quiet. It's taken by the strong."

I let the silence stretch, let them feel the weight of my words, let the submission sink deep into their bones so they'd remember this moment every time they thought about crossing me.

Then, finally, I spoke with quiet authority: "Rise."

The command released them like a broken chain.

Warriors slowly, shakily got to their feet, looking at me with new eyes—wide, stunned, some afraid, some calculating.

I didn't want them to fear me. Not really.

But in order for rules to be established, for change to happen, sometimes fear had to be wielded as a weapon.

"Starting today," I announced clearly, letting my voice carry to every corner of the training ground, "we're changing the training routines. Less dominance games, more actual discipline. Drills that build endurance and strength instead of breaking spirits. And no more targeting the weakest members of the pack. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Luna," came the scattered, shell-shocked responses.

My gaze swept across them all. "Anyone who has a problem with that can take it up with me directly. Not with those who can't defend themselves."

No one spoke. No one dared.

I caught Raphael's stare, wide, stunned, and unmistakably proud.

The look on his face almost made me laugh despite everything.

But then—

A scent hit me.

Deep. Musky. Familiar. Intoxicating.

It rolled across the training ground like an invisible wave, sending my senses into immediate overdrive.

'Mate.'

'It's our mate!' Sea suddenly surged inside me, alert and hungry.

My pulse spiked violently. Heat rolled under my skin in waves. My vision sharpened impossibly, then blurred at the edges.

The mate bond. Fully active now because I had Sea.

If anyone saw me react like this—if they noticed the bond flaring—

No. Not here. Not now.

I forced a breath through my teeth, trying to keep my expression neutral.

“I need some air,” I muttered quickly.

Before Raphael could step closer or anyone else could question it, I turned on my heel and walked away.

The magnetic pull dragged my feet until I was in the woods.

Sea stirred inside me. I gasped slightly, feeling her claw her way to the surface, demanding dominance.

"Urgh!" I growled, stumbling, digging my protruding claws against a tree.

He’s close, she growled. Too close to ignore. Let. Me. Out.

“We can’t,” I panted. “Not here. Not now. Killian patrols this ground—if he sees us—if he realizes I have a wolf—”

My knees slammed into the ground. Bones shifted beneath my skin—one twitch away from a full shift.

“Sea, please—I'm not ready—I can’t—”

Pain shot from my spine and rushed up into my head as I panted.

My body shook violently, caught between instinct and sheer will.

But slowly—agonizingly slowly—Sea receded.

Like a wild tide being dragged back by force.

I exhaled shakily.

The relief lasted one second.

Then everything dropped out from under me—vision scattering, trees tilting, blood roaring in my ears.

My legs gave way.

And right before I hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me upright into solid warmth.

“Freya—

Freya, stay with me.”