Page 69 of Nick
“We already had a revolution,” she said, her tone dismissive.“This would be evolution.We’re at a crossroads.This is our chance to rebuild stronger, smarter.”
“Smarter doesn’t always mean better,” he snapped, the sound of their heated exchange echoing off the walls of the sparsely furnished house.“We need a leader who knows the old ways, who can guide us through these times with a steady hand.”
“Or maybe,” Larissa said, “we need someone who can see beyond the old ways, someone who dares to imagine a future where strength and compassion coexist.”
Malcolm took a step forward, the gap between them charged with the electricity of their long-standing rivalry.
“Strong leadership doesn’t—” Malcolm began, but his words were cut short by the sudden creak of the door swinging open.
“Enough.”Nick stepped into the room.“This isn’t helping anyone.We need to pull together, not apart.”
“Nick’s right,” Malcolm conceded.“We have bigger problems than our different visions for the pack right now.”
Larissa’s lips pressed into a thin line, but her eyes softened, conceding to the momentary peace.“Fine,” she relented.“For the sake of the pack, we’ll table this…for now.”
“Good,” Nick said, nodding with approval.“We’ve all lost too much to let pride divide us further.”
Right.This was Nick’s home.His sanctuary.
Not the place for Malcolm’s lifelong rivalry with Larissa to break out into the open.
“Let’s get back to work, then,” Malcolm suggested, working to keep his voice amiable.He picked up a heavy box and headed to the living room.
An hour later, Malcolm watched Larissa from across the room as she sliced through tape and opened boxes.Her movements were controlled, each gesture measured and deliberate as she glanced up at him.
But Malcolm knew better than to be fooled by her calm exterior.The look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know—it was the same look she’d given him countless times before: on the training field, during pack debates, in every challenge they’d ever faced together.And now, as she unpacked a set of gleaming knives, that familiar spark shone bright.
The realization struck him like a claw swipe to the chest.
Larissa was going to challenge him for leadership of the Sunburst Pack.
Malcolm’s jaw clenched.
Not this time.
This was not merely a contest for rank; it was a battle for the soul of their pack.Malcolm would not stand aside and let Larissa claim what was his right.
His fingertips grazed the scars on his arms.He was the stronger fighter, a seasoned warrior who had bled for his pack.
“Need help with those?”he asked, his tone even but his eyes never leaving Larissa as she moved on to another box.
“No, I’ve got it,” she said, not missing a beat.Her voice was steady, but Malcolm detected the underlying edge—a blade hidden within velvet.
He nodded, acknowledging her response while his mind raced.
As alpha, he would lead with strength and honor.He would protect the pack from any threat, internal or external.
As Malcolm resumed unpacking, his actions were swift, a flurry of motion that mirrored the quickened pace of his thoughts.
He would need to be strategic, to outmaneuver Larissa at every turn.She might be a skilled tactician, but Malcolm had his own advantages.He would use them all if necessary.
“Mal, you okay?”Nick asked a moment later.
“I’m fine,” Malcolm grunted.“Just thinking about the future of the pack.”
Nick studied him for a moment.“We’ll all figure it out.Together.”
But Malcolm’s eyes were once again on Larissa, watching as she effortlessly lifted a heavy side table and placed it by the window.
