Chapter 10

The Summit

Grace's POV

The mountain amphitheater carved into the heart of Silver Moon territory buzzed with the energy of dozens of powerful wolves. Alphas from across the region had gathered for the annual summit, their pack members forming distinct clusters around the stone seating. The rank games were always the highlight of these gatherings—a chance for young wolves to prove themselves and for Alphas to assess potential allies or threats.

I stood beside my grandfather at the edge of the combat ring, watching the current match with detached interest. Three years of intensive training had taught me to analyze fighting styles, to spot weaknesses and strengths in a matter of seconds. The young Beta fighting below was skilled but predictable, telegraphing his moves to anyone who knew what to look for.

"Thoughts?" Grandfather asked quietly, his voice carrying the authority that had made him one of the most respected Alphas in the region.

"He favors his right side," I replied, my voice steady and confident in a way that would have shocked anyone who'd known me before. "Old injury, probably to the left shoulder. His opponent just needs to be patient and exploit it."

As if on cue, the other fighter did exactly that, sending the Beta crashing to the ground with a well-placed strike to his weak side.

Grandfather nodded approvingly. "Good eye. Your training has served you well."

I touched the pendant at my throat—a silver moon that marked me as a member of his pack and his acknowledged heir. The Grace Matthew who had collapsed at his gates three years ago had been broken, weak, and defeated. The woman standing here now was something else entirely.

The physical changes were the most obvious. I'd grown taller, my frame filled out with lean muscle earned through countless hours of combat training. My hair, once long and unruly, was now cropped short in a practical style that couldn't be grabbed in a fight. But the real changes went deeper than appearances.

I carried myself differently now—spine straight, shoulders back, eyes alert and assessing. I moved like the predator I'd been trained to become, every step deliberate and controlled. The scared, timid girl who'd jumped at shadows was gone, replaced by someone who could make shadows jump.

"The next match should be interesting," Grandfather murmured, consulting his notes. "Young Alpha candidates from Storm and Redwood packs."

Storm pack. I'd been expecting this moment for weeks, ever since we'd received the guest list. Part of me had hoped they wouldn't come, but I'd known better. Jace Storm wouldn't miss an opportunity to assess potential threats to his territory.

"Grace?" Grandfather's voice held a note of concern. "Are you ready for this?"

I looked at him—this man who'd taken a broken girl and forged her into something stronger. Over the past three years, he'd become the father figure I'd desperately needed, training me not just in combat but in leadership, strategy, and the complex politics of pack dynamics. He'd given me a purpose beyond mere survival.

"I'm ready," I said, and meant it.

Jace's POV

The moment I caught her scent, the world stopped spinning.

It was different now—still that intoxicating blend of vanilla and jasmine, but overlaid with something new. Something wild and dangerous that made my wolf pace restlessly in my mind. After three years of silence, he suddenly came alive, straining toward a scent that shouldn't exist.

"Jace?" Dad's voice seemed to come from very far away. "What is it?"

I couldn't answer. Couldn't breathe. Because there, standing beside Marcus Silver like she belonged there, was Grace.

But this wasn't the Grace I remembered. This wasn't the timid, broken girl I'd rejected three years ago.

The woman beside Marcus Silver stood tall and proud, her posture radiating confidence and barely contained power. She'd grown taller, her body lean and strong beneath dark leathers that looked both practical and expensive. Her hair, once long and constantly hiding her face, was now short and sleek, framing features that had sharpened with maturity.

But it was her eyes that truly shocked me. Gone was the hunted, fearful expression I remembered. Instead, she surveyed the crowd with the cool assessment of a predator evaluating potential threats. When her gaze swept over our section, it passed right through me without a flicker of recognition or emotion.

As if I was nobody. Less than nobody.

"Christ," Dad breathed beside me, clearly seeing what I saw. "Is that...?"

"Grace," I managed to whisper.

She turned at something Marcus said, and I caught her profile—the same delicate bone structure, but now enhanced by confidence and strength. She wore a silver pendant at her throat, and when she moved, I could see the careful balance of someone trained in combat.

"She's changed," Dad said unnecessarily.

Changed didn't begin to cover it. The Grace I'd known had been like a frightened deer, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. This woman looked like she could take down a full-grown wolf without breaking a sweat.

"Alpha Storm, Alpha Jace." Marcus Silver's voice cut through my stunned observation as he approached our seating area with Grace at his side. "Welcome to Silver Moon territory."

Up close, the transformation was even more stark. Grace stood slightly behind Marcus's right shoulder—the position of a trusted advisor or heir. Her dark eyes met mine for the first time in three years, and I searched desperately for some flicker of the girl I'd known.

There was nothing. No recognition, no anger, no pain. Just the polite indifference of a stranger meeting someone of no particular importance.

"Marcus," Dad replied carefully. "Thank you for hosting. This is quite an impressive gathering."

"Yes, well, it's time Silver Moon rejoined the broader community." Marcus's hand moved to Grace's shoulder in a gesture that was both protective and proud. "Allow me to introduce my granddaughter and heir, Grace Silver."

Grace Silver. She'd even taken his name.

"A pleasure," Grace said, her voice clear and controlled. Nothing like the whispered words I remembered. "I've heard much about Storm pack's... reputation."

The slight pause before 'reputation' was like a blade between the ribs. Subtle, precise, and designed to draw blood.

"The pleasure is ours," Dad replied smoothly, though I could sense his tension. "You've grown quite a bit since we last met."

"Have we met?" Grace asked with perfect innocence, tilting her head slightly. "I'm afraid I don't recall."

The dismissal was complete and devastating. She didn't remember me. Or more accurately, she was pretending not to remember me, which was somehow worse.

Alpha Storm's POV

I watched the interaction between my son and the young woman who had once been his mate with growing alarm. This was not the reunion I'd been hoping for.

The Grace Matthew I remembered had been gentle, fragile, desperately in need of protection. The woman standing before us now radiated the kind of quiet confidence that came from knowing exactly how dangerous you were and not feeling the need to prove it.

Marcus Silver had done more than take in his granddaughter—he'd transformed her into something formidable. The way she carried herself, the subtle positioning that kept her balanced and ready to move, the cool assessment in her eyes as she looked at us—this was not just a pack member, but a trained Alpha.

"I understand there are rank games today," Grace continued conversationally. "I'm looking forward to seeing what the various packs have to offer."

"Will you be participating?" I asked, though something in her stance already suggested the answer.

Her smile was sharp as a blade. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Excellent," Marcus said with obvious pride. "Grace has become quite accomplished in combat. I'm curious to see how she'll fare against wolves from other packs."

The implied challenge was clear. Grace wasn't just participating in the games—she was representing Silver Moon's strength and capabilities. And given the way she carried herself, I had a feeling she was going to make quite an impression.

"Well then," I said carefully. "This should be very interesting indeed."

Grace's POV

As the Storm pack representatives moved away to find their seats, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile. The look of shock on Jace's face had been everything I'd hoped for and more.

"That went well," Grandfather murmured with approval.

"Phase one complete," I agreed. "Now comes the fun part."

I'd spent three years preparing for this moment. Three years of training, planning, and growing stronger while they forgot I ever existed. The scared, weak girl they remembered was gone, replaced by someone who could stand toe-to-toe with any Alpha and come out ahead.

"Are you sure about this?" Grandfather asked quietly. "Once you step into that ring, there's no going back. The entire region will know what you've become."

I watched as Jace took his seat, his eyes still locked on me with an expression I couldn't quite read. Pain, maybe. Regret. Longing.

It didn't matter. He'd made his choice three years ago when he believed lies over truth, when he chose his pride over his mate. Now it was time for him to live with the consequences.

"I've been sure for three years," I said quietly. "Let them see what they threw away."

The announcer called for the next match, and I began moving toward the preparation area. Behind me, I could feel eyes following my every step—not just from the Storm pack, but from every Alpha present. Word was already spreading about Marcus Silver's mysterious granddaughter.

By the end of today, they'd all know exactly who Grace Silver was and what she was capable of.

Jace Storm would finally understand the true cost of his rejection.