Chapter 3

~STORM

The pack was alive with the sounds of snarling and growling as we prepared to face the rival pack. They had some nerve to challenge us on our own territory. I led our pack forward, Richard at my side, as Navarre’s pack members stood defiantly, snarling and howling in response.

“Go back and leave us alone!” Richard snarled, his voice low and threatening. But the leader of Navarre’s pack merely returned the challenge, his voice dripping with aggression. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Tension hung thick in the air, and with another aggressive snarl, the fight erupted. I targeted the Delta, delivering powerful blows that echoed through the chaos. Avira took on the female beta, while I focused on the lower-ranking males, knowing there was no female Luna to handle them. Richard engaged Navarre’s Alpha, their teeth clashing in a fierce display of dominance.

The betas fought fiercely against each other, and I moved to assist when I heard Danielle howl in anguish. I wanted to respond, but the future of our pack was at stake. Richard abandoned his fight with Navarre’s Alpha to help her, leaving me vulnerable.

Navarre’s towering white Alpha locked his green eyes on me and charged, jaws wide open, ready to snap at my neck. I dodged to the side, swiping my claws at his flank. The sight of his blood brought a fleeting smile to my face. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Avira on the ground, Navarre’s grey Beta looming over her, his mouth poised dangerously close to her neck.

That moment of distraction was all it took. Navarre’s Alpha seized the opportunity, charging at me. I barely had time to react before his claws dug into my sides, blood spurting out and staining my white fur with crimson. I howled in pain, calling out for Richard, but received no response. Instead, I caught sight of him licking Danielle’s wounds, completely oblivious to my plight.

“Richard!” I called again, desperation creeping into my voice, but he remained focused on her. With no one to help me, I felt the weight of betrayal crash over me as Navarre’s Alpha pinned me to the ground, his mouth open, ready to bite my neck. I called out one last time, hoping against hope that he would hear me.

But he didn’t even glance my way. Defeated, I finally submitted to him, and to my dismay, the rest of the pack followed suit without hesitation. I scowled as I watched him rub his scent against the gates, marking his territory.

Submitting to a smaller pack felt humiliating, yet seeing Richard submit to him brought me a twisted sense of satisfaction.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, fur, and pain as I made my way back into the mansion, Avira bounding beside me. We were all ushered inside to prepare for the new Alpha’s speech. Avira followed me to my room, and we finally transformed back into our human forms.

“Sevire is a complete dick, you know that, right?” she said, breaking the tension. I couldn’t help but laugh, even as she glanced at the injury on my side, blood seeping through my pajamas.

“You should go to the healer for that,” she advised, but then she launched into another tirade about Richard. “He was licking on her wounds like she’s a goddess while a war was going on. Peak stupidity.”

“Excuse me, Luna,” Desire interrupted from the doorway. “The council members are calling for you.” Avira frowned as we exchanged glances.

“I’ll be there,” I replied, and Desire nodded, biting her lower lip nervously. “I’m sorry we lost the fight. But I heard the new Alpha is good-looking, though.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s none of my business, obviously.”

She laughed, but my neck throbbed painfully, and I gritted my teeth to suppress a cry. Was this what Richard had to do? Engage in intimacy with someone else after losing the entire pack to a smaller one?

After a moment, I finally headed out, ignoring Avira’s criticism of Desire for being too nosy. As I entered the council chamber, I found Richard standing before the chiefs, hands clasped behind his back. He was no longer a superior, and I almost laughed out loud at the sight.

“You’re just too much, Luna,” one of the chiefs remarked as I walked in. Their eyes fell to the blood on my clothes, and they shook their heads in pity.

“It’s sad that we lost the whole pack to a smaller one because of the Alpha’s stupidity,” another chief said. “The new Alpha will be giving his speech soon to outline all the changes he wants to make.”

“He won’t get rid of you guys, right?” I asked, feigning concern. They smiled, clearly unaware of what was coming.

“The Alpha was busy licking on his mistress’ wounds while a war was going on. Isn’t that peak stupidity?” one of the saucier chiefs chimed in. “Imagine that making the news!” We all laughed, and I couldn’t help but join in, my wicked laughter echoing in the chamber.

“It was her fault Danielle got injured!” Richard suddenly screamed, pointing at me. I shot him a one-sided smile, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

“Mind explaining?” I challenged.

“You were supposed to take care of her,” he retorted.

“Because she’s the only female wolf in the whole pack? I have other people to protect. And it seems she wasn’t even that injured, considering you went ahead to sleep with her afterward.” His mouth dropped open, and his face turned crimson as I pointed to the bite on my neck.

“You may leave, Luna,” the council chiefs said, and I nodded, turning to exit. As I ran my hands along the fine coat of paint on the walls, I admired them, knowing it might be the last time I saw them before the new Alpha made his changes.

Time was running out. I hoped he wouldn’t alter the essential aspects of the pack. What if he decided to de-rank us all? What if he made me less important?

“Storm?” someone called out, and I froze, recognizing that voice immediately. I turned back slowly, my heart racing as I remembered those piercing green eyes glaring at me.