Thorn's POV.
The weight of grief was unbearable. My chest felt hollow, a deep ache settling in where my heart used to be. How could Alaric stand there and speak of accidents? How could he possibly expect me to believe that the death of my son,the only thing in this life that truly mattered,was an accident?
No. My boy was gone, and someone had to pay.
I paced the floor of my quarters, my mind racing, a thousand thoughts crashing into each other. The echo of my son’s laughter, his voice, his small victories in the training yard,they haunted me now. Alaric had tried to play the role of mediator, to keep the peace, but his words had only fueled the fire inside me. It wasn’t just the boy’s death that burned in my veins. It was everything. Years of being sidelined, of watching Alaric rule over this pack like some invincible king, while I stood in the shadows, always the loyal warrior. But loyalty had its limits, and Alaric had just crossed mine.
He could claim it was an accident all he wanted, but that girl,no, that murderer,she had taken my son from me. And if Alaric wouldn’t deliver justice, then I would. One way or another.
I leaned against the window, staring out into the dark forest that surrounded the pack lands. The moon hung low, casting long shadows over the treetops. My hands trembled, not with fear, but with the fury that I’d been holding back for far too long. For years, I’d watched Alaric make decisions,some wise, some foolish,and I’d followed every command, every order, without question. That was the way of the pack. The Alpha leads, and the others follow. But now... now everything is different. Now, my son was dead, and Alaric wanted me to accept it as just another loss. Just another casualty in this unforgiving world we lived in.
But this wasn't just another loss. This was ‘my’ loss.
I felt Elara’s presence behind me before I heard her soft footsteps. Her grief mirrored mine, though she wore it differently, like a shroud that weighed her down. She had always been the gentler one, the voice of reason. But even her calming presence couldn’t douse the rage that had taken root inside me.
“Thorne,” she whispered, her voice a gentle plea. I didn’t turn to face her. I couldn’t. Not when the only thing that filled my vision was my son’s lifeless face.
“I can’t just let this go,” I muttered, more to myself than to her. “She killed him. She’s the reason he’s gone.”
Elara stepped closer, her hand reaching for mine. I pulled away, unable to bear the softness of her touch. Softness had no place in me now. Not anymore. “Thorne, revenge won’t bring him back. You know that.”
“I don’t care!” The words tore from my throat, raw and unfiltered. I turned to her, finally meeting her eyes, but all I saw was her weakness. How could she be so calm? How could she just stand there and try to soothe me when our son was dead? “I don’t care about justice or peace or any of that nonsense. I want her to suffer like we’re suffering. I want Alaric to see what it feels like to lose someone. Maybe then he’ll understand.”
Her eyes softened, and that only made the anger worse. “You’re not thinking clearly,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Clearly?” I laughed bitterly. “No, I’m finally thinking clearly for the first time in years, Elara. This pack... this pack has been running on Alaric’s rules for too long. We follow his every word, his every command, like we’re nothing but sheep. But I’m not a sheep. I’m a warrior. And my son deserved better.”
Elara’s shoulders sagged, and I knew she was losing hope. She had always been the steady one, the calm to my storm. But even her strength had limits. I turned away from her again, staring out at the forest. The silence between us was heavy, but my thoughts were louder than ever.
Alaric thought he was untouchable. That much was clear. He thought that just because he wore the title of Alpha, he could make decisions for all of us. But there was a way to bring him down. To take what was rightfully mine. I wasn’t just a head warrior. I was a leader. I had earned my place here, and now it was time to take it.
A plan began to form in my mind. Slowly, piece by piece, I could see it coming together. It would take time. It would require patience,something I hadn’t always been good at. But for this... for my son... I could wait. And when the time came, I would bring Alaric to his knees.
The girl, too. She wouldn’t escape her fate. Not for long. She might be Alaric’s mate, but even mates weren’t above pack law. And if I had to tear down everything Alaric had built to get to her, so be it.
I clenched my fists, the anger pulsing through me like a living thing. I would need allies. Others who had seen Alaric’s weaknesses, others who had been wronged by his decisions. There were always those in a pack who questioned the Alpha’s choices, who resented the power he wielded. I would find them. I would rally them. And together, we would take back what was ours.
“Elara,” I said, my voice calmer now, more controlled.
“Yes?” she asked, her tone cautious.
“You need to trust me on this. I know what needs to be done. Alaric isn’t fit to lead us anymore. He’s too soft. He’s lost touch with what it means to be Alpha.”
Her brow furrowed, confusion flashing in her eyes. “What are you talking about, Thorne?”
I turned to face her fully, the resolve solidifying in my chest. “We can’t just let this go. Alaric’s judgment is clouded. He’s letting his emotions dictate his actions. That girl... she’s his mate. And that’s why he’s protecting her.”
Elara’s eyes widened, shock flickering across her face. “His... mate?”
“Yes. And that’s why he’s blinded by her. He won’t punish her the way she deserves to be punished. He won’t give us the justice we need.”
Elara looked down at her hands, the weight of the revelation sinking in. “What are you going to do?”
I took a deep breath, my plan settling into place. “I’m going to do what Alaric is too weak to do. I’m going to take control of this pack. And when I do, we’ll have justice.”
Elara didn’t respond, but I didn’t need her to. I could see the doubt in her eyes, the worry that I was going too far. But it didn’t matter. I had already made up my mind. I would tear down the Alpha, brick by brick if I had to. And when the dust settled, I would stand at the top, the rightful leader of this pack.
It wouldn’t happen overnight. I would need to be careful, strategic. But I knew how to bide my time. I knew how to wait. And when the moment came, I would strike.
For my son.
Three Years Later.The sun was low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the lush green fields surrounding the pack's new home. The once-barren land now flourished, the earth rich with life, much like the bond between Alaric and Sofia. The house, built with stone and wood, sat at the edge of the forest, just far enough to feel the wildness but close enough to the pack’s heart. It was a symbol of their triumph, of their new beginning, and their unwavering strength as leaders.Sofia sat on the porch, a soft breeze ruffling her hair, as she watched her two pups playing in the yard. Sifa, the older of the two, bounded around with the energy of a small wolf, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. His fur, a deep, rich brown, gleamed under the sunlight, much like Alaric’s. Sara, a one-year-old bundle of joy, followed her brother’s every move, her golden curls bouncing as she tried to mimic his every action, though she was still finding her feet. Her laughter filled the air, a sound so
The day after the battle dawned clear and bright, the air cool but filled with the promise of a new beginning. The landscape before them, once marred by the carnage of war, now seemed to pulse with life, as if nature itself was rejoicing in the peace that had settled, albeit temporarily. The ground was still littered with the remnants of war—broken weapons, the bodies of fallen warriors—but in their midst stood something more powerful, something that couldn’t be erased: hope.Alaric and Sofia stood together, shoulder to shoulder, on the rise above the battlefield, watching as their people began to gather. Their pack, their family, was rebuilding, and a sense of unity hummed in the air. The battle was over, but the war was not the end. It was only the beginning of something bigger, something they had only begun to understand.Alaric's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, the weight of it a constant reminder of the burden he carried. His eyes, those intense blue eyes that had seen s
The once chaotic battlefield now lay in eerie silence. The sounds of growling, snarling, and clashing claws had faded, leaving only the sounds of heavy breaths and the occasional cry of the wounded. The scent of blood still hung thick in the air, mingling with the dust and smoke rising from the fire-lit remains of the battle. It was over. Thorne was dead, but the cost had been high.Alaric stood amidst the wreckage, his eyes scanning the field. His fur was matted with blood, some of it his own, some of it from the warriors who had fought against him. He had been at the center of the storm, leading his pack through the carnage, and now, with Thorne’s death, a semblance of peace had returned—at least for the moment.But peace was an illusion.As his eyes flickered over the fallen bodies of Thorne’s warriors, some who had fought fiercely, others who had simply been swept along in the madness of their leader’s ambition, Alaric couldn’t shake the weight of the future pressing down on him.
ALARIC'S POVThe battlefield had become a blur of motion and chaos. The scent of blood, sweat, and fear clung to the air, mixing with the sharp tang of adrenaline. Warriors fought in wolf form, their bodies flashing in the dim light, their howls and growls reverberating through the chaos. The air was thick with tension, the earth shaking beneath the ferocity of their battle.Alaric’s heart pounded as he moved through the battlefield, each step purposeful and calculated. His silver fur gleamed, an unspoken symbol of his power and dominance as the Eclipse Wolf. His eyes, sharp and focused, scanned the horizon, knowing the final showdown was approaching.In the distance, he saw him—Thorne. The leader of the enemy forces. His once-proud form was bloodied and battered, his fur matted and torn from the ongoing conflict, yet his eyes burned with the same fire of madness that had driven him to this point. Thorne had lost control over his army, and now, in the final moments of the battle, he s
The battle was chaos, a flurry of fur and fangs as warriors collided in wolf form, each one fighting with a ferocity born of survival and loyalty. The ground trembled beneath the thunder of paws, and the air was thick with the scent of blood, sweat, and fear. But amidst it all, Sofia's heart beat with a steady rhythm, her instincts sharp, her senses heightened as she fought beside Alaric.Her fur was dark, shimmering under the light of the moon as she darted through the battlefield, her mind focused on the task at hand—breaking through Thorne's ranks. Every time she pushed her claws into the earth, a surge of power rippled through her, her connection to her wolf form deepening as her strength grew.She caught a glimpse of Alaric ahead, his silver fur flashing as he tore through Thorne's forces. His eyes were focused, his movements calculated, a deadly force in their own right. The Eclipse Wolf had fully emerged within him, and with every strike, Alaric's dominance over the battlefield
Alaric’s POVThe air was thick with tension, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere that settled over the battlefield like a storm before the rain. I stood at the forefront of my forces, eyes scanning the horizon, searching for any sign of movement. My warriors were ready, their weapons sharp, their expressions determined, but the waiting was always the hardest part. It was a necessary evil, the calm before the chaos.Sofia stood beside me, her gaze equally sharp, though there was an unreadable depth in her eyes. She wasn’t just a warrior anymore. She had embraced something darker, something more powerful. Her dream abilities, her growing control over the shadows, had shifted the tides in our favor, but now, with the battle at hand, we would need to rely on more than just influence from afar."You’re ready," I said, my voice low, though my words were an attempt to reassure both of us. Sofia met my gaze, a slight nod confirming my words, though I could see the flicker of uncertainty behind her