Page 59 of Fated
“We’ll be ready.” Caleb’s tone brooked no argument. Fenrir’s strength resonated in his voice, making it carry the strength of both the alpha male and wolf. “We have the space, the resources, and the community to support the effort. Our lands are vast, and there is room to build.”
He leaned forward, aura filling the room like an incoming tide. “As part of our reintegration, we’ll host visiting delegations over the coming months. Securing alliances will be critical. Not just for trade or diplomacy, but for ensuring that Crescent Fang remains a respected and formidable presence.”
Another ripple of conversation broke out, the elders murmuring among themselves. Their scents mixed—concern, excitement, determination all weaving together. Caleb let it playout for a moment, watching the interplay of expressions and reactions around the table.
“Lastly,” he said, voice commanding attention once more, the single word silencing the murmurs like a clap of thunder, “we’ve established a connection with the Moonshadow pack. Their alpha-heir, Cian, has extended an invitation for us to attend his alpha ceremony. It’s an opportunity to formalize our relationship and send a message to those who might seek to take advantage of our novice status in the Collective: Crescent Fang is not isolated.”
The elders exchanged glances, nodding as cautious optimism replaced their initial tension. The scent of approval began to rise from around the table, their collective pride in what their alpha had accomplished at the summit evident in their warming expressions. The council filed out after the meeting concluded, footsteps echoing against the ancient floorboards. Caleb rose, movements fluid, but slowed by the significance of the discussion. The wooden chair scraped against the floor, marking the transition from formal council to what came next. He turned to Asher, shoulders loosened now that the formalities were over.
“I’m going for a run before dinner.”.
“Need to burn off all that alpha energy?” Asher’s eyebrow arched, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Caleb smirked, warmth spreading beneath his sternum at their easy intimacy. “Something like that.”
Asher stepped closer, reaching for Caleb’s hip. The touch was searing even through the fabric of his shirt. The beta’s scent wrapped around him—pine, cedar, summer rain and something uniquely Asher that always made Caleb’s wolf settle.
“Want company?” he asked, thumb tracing small circles against Caleb’s hip.
Caleb leaned into the touch. “I’ll be okay. Just need to clear my head.”
Asher nodded, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Caleb’s lips. “Don’t take too long,” he murmured, breath warm against Caleb’s skin. “I’ll see you at the dining hall.”
Caleb watched Asher leave, following the fluid grace of his movements and the copper highlights dancing through his hair. The corners of his mouth lifted. Asher had always known how to meet him exactly where he needed—whether with a firm hand or a quiet kiss, sometimes both.
Caleb headed toward the edge of the forest. His thoughts, previously tangled like briars, began to loosen their hold with each step toward the tree line. Fenrir’s presence pulled at his muscles, a restless tingling beneath his skin that promised release. The forest called to them both, a siren song of freedom and wild spaces. It was time to let go and reconnect—with his land, his wolf, and himself.
The shift was seamless, Caleb’s body flowing into Fenrir’s form like water finding its natural course. Bones reformed, muscle stretched, and fur erupted across his skin in a wave of midnight-black. The massive wolf surged forward, paws striking the earth with a rhythm that matched Caleb’s heartbeat. The wind rushed past them, carrying the scents of home—the sharp tang of pine needles, the rich loam of damp earth, the faint musk of deer paths, and the enduring markers of pack that defined their territory.
The forest blurred around them as Fenrir raced deeper into the territory, branches whipping past as their shadows dappled the wolf’s dark coat. Questions of the summit and the pack’s future fell away with each powerful stride until there was only the freedom on the run, the primal joy of movement, and the perfect harmony of wolf and male.
“You handled it well.”Fenrir’s voice rumbled like distant thunder.“With every choice, you prove yourself worthy of Crescent Fang—worthy of Selene herself.”
Caleb flicked Fenrir’s ears at the unexpected praise, strides slowing as they navigated a narrow trail winding between ancient trees.“You think so?”
“I know so.”Fenrir’s deep baritone resonated with unwavering confidence.“You held your ground among the alphas, showed respect to the council, and inspired your pack. They look to you not out of obligation, but because they trust you.”
Warmth spread in Caleb’s chest.“I can’t do it without Asher or Varek. Or you.”
Fenrir huffed, a sound that was both amused and indulgent, breath misting in the cooling air.“Humility suits you, but don’t forget you’re the one who makes the final call. You carry Crescent Fang and Selene’s blessing. And you do so with strength and grace.”
They pressed deeper into the forest, breaths more rhythmic than before. The familiar scents of the territory grew stronger, mingling with the faint, ancient energy that always lingered near the sanctum—a power as old as the mountains themselves.
Fenrir slowed when they reached Lunaris Sanctum, steps careful as they entered the sacred ground. The clearing glowed softly under the early evening light, the ancient stones rising from the earth like the bones of sleeping giants. Each stone bore centuries of prayers etched into their surface, symbols worn smooth by time and devotion. The air here felt different—thicker, charged with an energy that made Caleb’s skin prickle even in wolf form.
He shifted back into his human form, the air cool against his bare skin. The packed earth remained warm beneath his feet, holding the day’s heat. He knelt before the largest stone, its surface silvered by countless moonrises, head bowing as he let the sanctity of the place settle over him like a mantle.
“What will you pray for, Caleb?”Fenrir asked, voice quieter now, almost reverent in the sacred space.
Caleb closed his eyes, hands resting on his thighs as he let his thoughts flow freely. “For strength, always. To protect my pack. To guide them through whatever challenges lie ahead.”He hesitated, throat tightening as his thoughts turned inward.“And for clarity. For Selene’s wisdom to guide me through these changes. For her blessing on Crescent Fang as we step into this new chapter.”
The sanctum’s stillness soothed his restless spirit like a mother’s embrace. The ancient stones pulsed with stored moonlight, their energy seeping into his bones. His breathing slowed, each inhale deeper than the last, until the boundary between his body and the sanctum blurred.
Fenrir’s voice broke through the quiet, low and commanding.“Caleb.”
His eyes snapped open, pulse quickening at the urgency in Fenrir’s tone. “What is it?” he murmured aloud, voice barely more than a whisper on these hallowed lands.
“Prepare,”Fenrir said, golden eyes glowing in Caleb’s mind like twin moons.“Mate will be with us soon.”
