Chapter 30

Luka's gaze hardened, his voice seething with bitterness. "Trust? Integrity? Look at what trust has brought us. Weakness. Vulnerability. It is survival of the fittest, Ardolf, and I did what needed to be done to ensure our survival."

Ardolf's eyes flashed with fury, his voice booming with righteous anger. "Survival at the cost of our very souls? Survival tainted by the blood of our brothers and sisters? No, Luka, that is not the path we were meant to walk."

Luka's voice grew quiet, filled with a mix of resignation and defiance. "You speak of righteousness, Ardolf, but you lack the strength to lead. I did what you were incapable of doing. I took the mantle and made the difficult choices for the pack."

Ardolf's voice dripped with scorn, his words cutting through the air. "And what of the consequences, Luka? What of the fractures you've created within our pack? You traded unity for power, and now you stand alone."

Luka's eyes flashed with a mix of defiance and regret, his voice tinged wi