Page 11 of Rebel for Claws
The ancient ceremonial site occupied a natural clearing deep within Silvercrest territory, surrounded by towering pines that had witnessed many leadership transitions over the centuries. Stone markers formed a perfect circle around the raised dais where Elder Callum waited, his weathered face impassive as the pack gathered in traditional formation.
This place has seen the rise and fall of five Silvercrest Alphas. Today it witnesses the rebirth of one.
Alaric emerged from the vehicle with fluid grace, his commanding presence immediately drawing every eye in the clearing. Pack members watched with a mixture of relief and uncertainty as Alaric walked toward the front of the ceremonial site. Elder Callum stepped forward as Alaric approached the dais, his aged hands holding the ceremonial scroll that would formalize the transition. The elderly wolf shifter had served as head elder for fifty years, maintaining strict neutrality in pack politics while preserving ancient traditions.
"Alaric Silvercrest." Elder Callum's voice carried across the clearing with surprising strength. "You return to reclaim leadership of the Silvercrest pack after five months of absence. Do you swear to uphold pack law, protect pack members, and lead with honor?"
"I swear to uphold justice, protect all under my authority regardless of birth or bloodline, and lead with honor toward a future worthy of our legacy." Alaric's modified oath drew surprised murmurs from the gathered pack, the subtle changes in the traditional wording not lost on anyone.
Kieran stepped forward, his formal attire making him appear every inch the Alpha he'd been for five months. "I,Kieran Silvercrest, relinquish acting Alpha authority and return leadership to my father, Alpha Alaric Silvercrest."
Maya moved beside her mate, her voice carrying clearly across the ceremonial ground. "I, Maya Silvercrest, relinquish acting Luna authority and step down from pack leadership."
Elder Callum raised his hands, signaling the conclusion of ceremony. "By ancient right and pack law, Alpha Alaric Silvercrest resumes full leadership of the Silvercrest pack. May your reign bring prosperity and protection to all pack members."
The assembled wolf shifters erupted in applause of acceptance, the sound echoing through the forest canopy as natural as thunder. Alaric felt the familiar weight of absolute authority settle around his shoulders like a well-worn cloak, but this time it felt different.
No more pretending. No more hiding who I really am. Time to be the Alpha they deserve.
An hour later in the dining room of Alaric's estate, the mahogany dining table gleamed under the early afternoon light streaming through the tall windows, its polished surface reflecting the careful arrangement of china that hadn't been used for family meals in years. The irony wasn't lost on him—after five months of captivity, eating whatever scraps Thorne's scientists deemed sufficient, he now sat at the head of his own table with his sons and daughter-in-law gathered around him.
How many authentic family meals did I miss over the past thirty years? How many conversations did my pride and necessary deception cost us?
Maya had insisted on preparing lunch herself, declining the kitchen staff's offers with the diplomatic grace that made her such an effective Luna these past five months. The simple roasted chicken and winter vegetables filled the room with a warmth that had nothing to do with temperature and everything to do with the tentative healing happening around this table.
"The treaty negotiations were more complex than we initially anticipated," Maya said, cutting her chicken with precise movements. "The Granite Ridge pack leaders pushed for hybrid registration requirements that would essentially create a surveillance system."
Alaric set down his fork, his grey eyes sharpening. "Thorne's influence, no doubt. He's been working toward systematic elimination of hybrid populations for a long time now. What I witnessed during my captivity only confirmed the suspicions I've held for the past fifteen years."
Kieran leaned forward, his silver-blue eyes intense with interest. "What kind of suspicions?"
Time to share what I learned in that sterile hell. Time to help them understand the scope of what we're facing.
"Thorne isn't just trying to maintain traditional pack hierarchies and laws." Alaric's voice carried the deadly quiet that had made him legendary. "He's systematically eliminating ancient bloodlines because they threaten the High Council's power structure. The experiments I endured—they were designed to isolate specific genetic markers that appear in shifters with dormant magical abilities."
Malcolm's fork clattered against his plate. "Magical abilities? You mean like the stories about the original shapeshifters?"
"Not stories. Historical fact that Thorne has been trying to erase for three centuries." Alaric's hand unconsciously moved to the scar on his jaw. "The ancient bloodlines carry genetic potential that, when properly activated, could produce shifters with abilities that surpass anything we've seen in modern times. Thorne fears that power because it would make the High Council as we know it obsolete."
Maya's analytical mind was clearly processing the implications. "So the Severance laws, the hybrid persecution, and the arranged matings—it's all been designed to preventthese bloodlines from strengthening through natural selection and mating choice."
"Exactly." Alaric's approval was evident in his tone. "But there's more. I believe Thorne has been conducting experiments to harvest these magical abilities for himself. The facility where I was held contained other subjects—shifters, hybrids, even some humans with trace genetic markers."
Kieran's jaw tightened, the muscle ticking with barely controlled anger. "How many others are still imprisoned?"
"I don't know. The facility was compartmentalized, designed to prevent prisoners from understanding the full scope of operations." Alaric's voice roughened with guilt. "I should have found a way to free them during my escape."
"You barely survived getting yourself out," Malcolm said fiercely. "Don't second-guess decisions that kept you alive."
When did my youngest son become so protective and wise?
The warmth in Malcolm's voice hit Alaric harder than he'd expected. Thirty years of maintaining emotional distance to protect his family had left him unprepared for their unconditional support at this moment.
"The question now," Maya said, her scientific mind cutting through emotion to reach practical considerations, "is how we expose Thorne's operations without getting ourselves killed in the process."
Alaric studied his daughter-in-law with new appreciation. "Your reforms in our Silvercrest pack laws and the treaty between moderate pack leaders and the rebellion during my absence—they've already begun undermining Thorne's control. He can't maintain his power if the fundamental structures supporting his authority start to crumble."
"I still think that's why he had you kidnapped," Kieran stated firmly. "You were starting to question the High Council's directives too openly."
