Page 36 of Fated
She also planned to join the last warrior session of the day. And if she could find Ryker in the process—or better yet, take him down in a sparring match—then all the better.
Pulling on her training gear, Lena smirked at the thought of the Bloodstone beta-heir witnessing her in action. The idea of him relaying stories about her prowess to Kai—or even Ava—made her pulse quicken.
“Let them see what kind of luna they’re getting,”Elara growled with pride.“Warrior. Leader. A force to be reckoned with.”
As she made her way to the conference rooms, determination straightened her spine with each step. Eden’s wisdom and Ryker’s encouragement had ignited something within her. Her future role as Bloodstone’s Luna wasn’t about submission—it was about partnership, strength, and the power of the bond she shared with Kai.
And no one—not even Ava—could take that from her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
CALEB
Late-morning sun streamed through the wide conference room windows, but the natural warmth did little to ease Caleb’s simmering frustration. The summit’s earlier sessions had gone well—Fenrir’s presence a steady anchor as they’d shared Crescent Fang’s accomplishments despite veiled skepticism from other alphas.
But all of that goodwill was obliterated the moment the northern border negotiations began.
Caleb leaned back in his chair, steepled fingers forming a tight cage. Before him, Thorne Ironclaw and Garrick Redridge bickered like pups over a bone. The disputed territory: a stretch of uninhabited land once belonging to the now-decimatedDenali pack. The alphas’ posturing over territorial claims made Fenrir recoil in distaste.
“This land has been adjacent to Ironclaw borders for over three decades!” Thorne barked, pounding his fist on the table. His icy blue eyes blazed with fury, sharp gaze sweeping the room as if daring anyone to contradict him. A lock of long, dark blond hair fell across his forehead, framing his chiseled features and emphasizing the determined set of his jaw.
Garrick leaned forward, his normally soft brown now hard with anger. “And it’s closer to our hunting grounds,” he shot back at Thorne, face red with indignation. The wrinkles etched around the older alpha’s mouth, usually a testament to his quick smile, now deepened into a scowl as his voiced dropped to a low, menacing growl. “You couldn’t manage that territory if you tried, pup!”
Caleb’s jaw locked, teeth sinking into the inside of his cheek until copper bloomed on his tongue, the urge to groan trapped at the base of his throat.
“This is absurd,”Fenrir rumbled irritably.“The Goddess didn’t give them land to squabble over like scavengers.”
Caleb couldn’t disagree.
His gaze shifted to the Bloodstone alpha-heir, seated two chairs down. Kai had been silent for most of the morning sessions—his stillness a stark contrast to the rustle of papers and murmured conversations in the room—but Caleb didn’t miss the tightness in his jaw, the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he exhaled deeply, or the faint scent of whiskey, spiced with orange and nutmeg, that clung to him. Fenrir expanded within their shared consciousness, both wolf and male drawn to the controlled power radiating from the heir.
Kai surged to his feet, broad shoulders taut with restrained anger. Caleb studied him, noting the strong angles of his face,the lean strength of his frame, and the way his green eyes glinted like shards of jade beneath furrowed dark brows.
The Bloodstone heir reminded Caleb of that Night Walker Gamma from a particularly wild weekend last year—broader, leaner, but with the same intensity. He chuckled internally at the memory of how the little gamma melted between them and found himself sneaking a glance at Asher, wondering if he’d made the same connection.
Before he could share his thoughts, a sharp, resounding bang snapped his attention back to the room, the sound echoing off the polished wood paneling and making Caleb flinch.
Fenrir’s attention sharpened, recognizing the surge of alpha power about to be unleashed.
“Enough!” Kai roared, the sheer force of his aura making the table tremble.
Thorne and Garrick fell silent, mouths clamping shut as if a spell had been cast.
Kai’s glare swept over them, his voice like ice. “Your incessant sniveling is beneath you and beneath this summit. We’re facing a rogue threat that has already destroyed countless lives, including those of the wolves who belonged to the land you’re fighting over. And here you are, using this crisis to further your greed!”
Caleb’s eyebrow arched as he leaned forward, breath catching at the alpha-heir’s command. Even Fenrir rumbled a deep purr of approval, the wolf’s respect pulsing between them like a second heartbeat. The entire room held its breath as Kai continued, tone sharp and uncompromising.
“Neither of you has a reasonable claim to the Denali lands,” Kai declared. “And even if you did, your time would be better spent focusing on the safety of your existing territories. Not overextending yourselves.” He turned his gaze to the rest of the room, addressing the gathered leaders and heirs. “I proposewe keep the land neutral for the time being. Once the rogue threat has been addressed, we can revisit its potential uses as a collective.”
There was a beat of silence before murmurs of agreement rippled through the room. Even Darius Bloodstone looked pleased, nodding approvingly at his son. Caleb found himself studying Kai’s profile, admiring the way power flowed from him as Fenrir noted his leadership.
He leaned toward Asher, whispering through their telepathic connection,“Impressive.”
Asher smirked, catching the undertone in his alpha’s words.“Not bad. He’s got some bite to his bark, but I’d love to see if we could make him purr.”
After the session adjourned, Caleb and Asher made their way to the dining hall to meet Cian and Beta Aiden. The dining hall was bustling, but they spotted Aiden seated at a small table near the back. The Moonshadow Beta waved them over, his usual air of calm confidence evident.
“Gentlemen,” Aiden greeted, rising to shake their hands. “Cian stepped away to grab my son, Ryker, who will be his beta. They should be here shortly.”
