Page 65 of Fated
Inside, Kai’s breathing hitched. Another sob, followed by the soft thud of something—a fist against a wall, perhaps, or knees hitting the floor.
The sound fractured something in Lena. Fighting against her reluctance, she pulled her hand away from the door, each muscle protesting. The bond stretched like a tendon torn from bone. It was a physical agony that stole her breath, made her vision dim at the edges.
Lena turned. Each step demanded more will than the last, floorboards creaking in soft betrayal.
Elara’s resistance faded, the wolf’s rage dissolving into a mournful acceptance.“He needs us,”her wolf acknowledged, the words landing like stones in still water. Then, softer still:“But we need ourselves first.”
Lena paused as she reached her own suite down the hall, hand resting on the doorknob. She glanced back, the shadowed corridor stretching between her and Kai. The phantom echo of his pain followed her still.
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she opened her door. “If I try to mend his heart while mine is breaking, neither of us will make it through,” she whispered, the words meant for herself alone.
With a deep, shuddering breath, Lena stepped inside her room. The familiar scent of lavender and moonstone incense greeted her as she leaned against the door, sliding down until she sat on the floor, knees drawn to her chest. Her body trembled with quiet aftershocks. Elara retreated to the quiet spaces between Lena’s heartbeats—a shadow with amber eyes watching, waiting. The wolf’s grief tasted like iron on Lena’s tongue, but beneath it ran a current of resilience as steady as a forest stream.
Lena’s arms wrapped around her torso, holding fracturing pieces together. The bond pulsed—wounded but whole. In the waning sunlight that painted patterns across the floor, Lena made a silent promise:I won’t sacrifice myself to save him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CALEB
The dining hall buzzed with activity—voices, clattering dishes, and the crackling fire echoing against the vaulted ceiling. Ancient wooden tables stretched across the space like fallen trees, each filled with wolves eager to hear from their alpha. The scent of roasted chicken and fresh bread perfumed the air, mingling with the distinct markers of pack—anticipation, curiosity, and that underlying note of family that made Fenrir stir beneath Caleb’s skin, aware of every heartbeat in the room.
A hush fell over the crowd like snow settling on pine needles. Caleb stepped to the head of the room, flanked by Asher and Varek. Nearly seventy sets of eyes turned to him—filled with trust, curiosity, and a glimmer of hope that tightened his chest.He took a moment to let the silence settle, to meet their gazes—from the youngest pups fidgeting in their seats to the eldest warriors whose silver hair gleamed in the firelight.
“My family,” he began, his deep voice resonating through the hall carrying the weight of his authority. “It’s good to be home.”
A ripple spread through the room—murmurs and nods signaling agreement.
Caleb’s expression hardened, shoulders squared as he addressed the gathered wolves. “The summit showed me just how much the world around us is changing. Packs are disappearing, their lands left desolate, their people scattered—or worse.” His hands gripped the edge of the wooden podium. “Rogue attacks have increased, targeting smaller, more vulnerable packs. They don’t just take lives; they destroy entire legacies. While Crescent Fang is strong, we cannot assume we’re untouchable.”
Silence blanketed the room, punctuated only by logs splitting in the fire and utensils being laid down. Even the youngest pups stilled. Fenrir’s strength surged through Caleb as he let the moment linger.
What followed was a careful balance of honesty and reassurance. Caleb outlined the same vision he’d shared with the elders. Reintegration—the need for alliances, for opening their borders to survivors, for adaptation in an increasingly dangerous world. Unease rippled through the pack at first, their scents sharpening with anxiety. Asher stepped forward, his easy charm flowing through the room like sunlight breaking through clouds as he addressed the pack.
“It’s not just about our survival—it’s about our legacy,” he said, voice warm but resolute. “This is our chance to show the region what Crescent Fang stands for, to help usher our neighbors back into Selene’s fold. Yes, it means change, but it alsomeans opportunity. Together, we’ll build something stronger—something no rogue, no greedy alpha, could ever threaten.”
Questions started to bubble up, and Caleb and Asher fielded them with ease. One of the older warriors, Maya, rose from her seat, silver streaking her dark hair like moonlight on water. Her scarred hands, evidence of decades defending the pack, rested on the table as she spoke.
“Alpha.” Maya’s voice cut through the chatter with steel-edged clarity. “How do we know these wolves we welcome won’t bring trouble? Rogues, spies, dissenters?”
At Maya’s challenge, Fenrir crashed through Caleb’s restraint—liquid gold flooded his irises, canines pierced his gumline, and his throat produced frequencies that belonged to forest depths, not dining halls. For one breath, the alpha wolf commandeered their shared body before Caleb’s consciousness reasserted the boundary between their wills.
Caleb nodded, his wolf settling reluctantly as he acknowledged the concern that made Maya’s scent sharpen with protective instincts. “Every wolf will be vetted thoroughly,” he said, meeting her gaze. “They’ll prove their loyalty before gaining a permanent place.”
He scanned the room, including everyone in his next words. “These survivors aren’t our enemies—they’re victims of the same threats we face, but compassion doesn’t mean compromising security.”
Another voice chimed in, a younger wolf from the training ranks. “Alpha, what about the alliances? Will other packs visit us? Will we be visiting them?”
Asher grinned, his charisma lighting up the room. “Oh, we’ll definitely be visiting. And yes, we’ll host delegations, too. Starting with Moonshadow. Their heir, Cian, has invited us to his alpha ceremony. It’s a chance to formalize an alliance andshow the region that Crescent Fang isn’t just strong—we’re connected.”
The mention of Moonshadow drew murmurs of interest, and Caleb noticed some of the younger wolves exchanging excited glances.
Another hand shot up, belonging to a young wolf barely into his teens. “Alpha,” he asked earnestly, “is the Moonshadow heir as strong as you?”
“He’s strong.” Caleb chuckled, the male’s wide-eyed curiosity cutting through the tension. “But strength isn’t just about power. It’s about leadership, integrity, and heart. Cian has all of that in spades. He’s someone I’m proud to call an ally—and a friend.”
The male beamed, chest puffing out with pride at having asked a good question.
As the meeting began to wind down, Caleb stepped forward again, voice carrying over the low hum of conversation. “Change is never easy,” he said, tone steady and resolute. “But it is necessary. Crescent Fang has always been a pack that rises to the challenge, adapts, and overcomes. Together, we’ll face whatever comes our way. Together, we’ll thrive.”
