LOGINTwo weeks into her reign as Alpha Supreme, Jasmina received disturbing news from the border patrols.
"They crossed three times this week," the patrol leader, a wolf named Stefan, reported. "Always the same excuse. 'We didn't realize we'd crossed the border.'" Jasmina sat in the Alpha's office, reviewing maps. The River Stone Clan territory bordered theirs to the west. A long, winding border that had been peaceful for decades. "Three times in one weTheo was scrubbing pots when Jasmina found him. "Alpha," he said, immediately stopping. "I didn't expect…" "Walk with me." Jasmina gestured toward the gardens. They left the kitchen, moving to a quiet corner where no one could overhear. "I need you to do something for me," Jasmina said. "Something important." "Anything." "Find your sister." Theo's hands stilled. "Elara?" "Yes. She was exiled three years ago. Damoew never officially revoked the exile before he left. So technically, she's still banished." Jasmina pulled out a scroll. "This is a full pardon. Signed by me as Alpha Supreme. It nullifies her exile completely." "Why now?" Theo's voice was thick with emotion. "Because I need advisors I can trust. People who understand what it's like to be cast out unfairly. People who'll tell me the truth instead of what they think I want to h
Two weeks into her reign as Alpha Supreme, Jasmina received disturbing news from the border patrols. "They crossed three times this week," the patrol leader, a wolf named Stefan, reported. "Always the same excuse. 'We didn't realize we'd crossed the border.'" Jasmina sat in the Alpha's office, reviewing maps. The River Stone Clan territory bordered theirs to the west. A long, winding border that had been peaceful for decades. "Three times in one week isn't accidental," Jetstar said. "No, it's not." Jasmina traced the border on the map. "What were they doing when you caught them?" "Hunting. Scouting. One group claimed they were just 'passing through.'" Stefan's jaw tightened. "They weren't aggressive. But they weren't apologetic either." "Did they submit when confronted?" "Eventually. But it took longer than it should have. Like they were testing how far they could push before we
The Outcast Lands smelled like rain and desperation.Damoew stood at the edge of the main camp, watching wolves move through the settlement. Forty-three of them. All exiled. All because of him."This way," Dax said, leading him deeper into the camp.The settlement was larger than Damoew expected. Tents arranged in loose circles. A central fire pit. Storage areas. Training grounds.They'd built a life here. Without pack support. Without official territory. Just survival and stubbornness."How long has this camp existed?" Damoew asked."Five years. Started with just eight wolves. Grew as more got exiled." Dax stopped at the fire pit. "Most of the recent additions came from your reign as Alpha."Damoew flinched at that. "I'm sorry.""Save your apologies. They won't feed anyone or rebuild what you destroyed." Dax gestured to the gathered wolves. "Everyone, this is Damoew Herstrong. Former Alpha of the Strong Black Clan. He's here to make amends for wrongly exiling most of you."Silence. F
One week after Damoew left, Jasmina held her first official Alpha council meeting.The council chamber was smaller than she remembered. Or maybe she just felt smaller sitting in the Alpha's chair. Damoew's chair. Now hers.Eight elders sat around the long table. Jetstar at her right hand. Six others whose names she was still learning. And one empty seat where Hardy Armstrong used to sit."First order of business," Jetstar began. "The Fernwood family and the Blackstone family are disputing territory along the eastern border. Both claim the same hunting grounds."Jasmina looked at the two family representatives standing at the back of the room. Both middle-aged males. Both looking at her with barely concealed skepticism."Explain," she said.Marcus Fernwood stepped forward. "Alpha, my family has hunted those woods for three generations. The Blackstones know this.""The border was never officially marked," Tomas Blackstone countered. "We've used those woods just as long.""That's a lie."
Damoew left at dawn. He stood at the pack border with a single bag. Everything he owned fit inside. He'd given up his Alpha quarters. His title. His claim to leadership.All he had left was a broken mate bond and a child he'd never held.Jasmina came to see him off. She moved slowly, her pregnant belly making walking difficult."You didn't have to come," Damoew said."Yes, I did." She stopped a few feet away. Close enough to talk. Far enough to maintain distance. "This is important.""What is?""Saying goodbye properly. Not like the rejection. Not in anger or pain." Jasmina touched her stomach. "The baby deserves better than parents who can't stand to look at each other.""I can stand to look at you," Damoew said quietly. "Looking away is the hard part."The mate bond pulsed between them. Damaged but trying desperately to heal."How long will you be gone?" Jasmina asked."As long as it takes. Could be months. Could be years." Damoew adjusted his bag. "Dax said there are over forty wol
The funeral was held at sunset, two days after Jasmina woke up.Fifteen bodies laid out on ceremonial pyres. Wrapped in white cloth. Surrounded by flowers and offerings.The entire pack gathered. Even those who'd evacuated to the Outcast Lands returned to pay respects.Jasmina stood at the front, dressed in traditional mourning black. Her pregnant belly was obvious now. The baby moved constantly, as if it could sense the grief around them."We gather to honor our fallen," she began. Her voice carried across the crowd. "Warriors who died defending their pack. Elders who died seeking truth. And those who died giving others a chance to live."She gestured to the pyres one by one."Kendra Blackmoon. Marcus Swiftclaw. Helena Ironheart. Darin Fullmoon. Tobias Stormpaw…"Eleven warriors. Their names spoken aloud. Their deeds remembered.Then Hardy Armstrong's pyre."Hardy served this pack for seventy years. As warrior. As elder. As friend." Jasmina's voice thickened. "He died because he dare







