The air in the gathering space was thick with tension. The entire pack stood stunned, watching Joey and Cameron square off. The weight of Joey’s last words—his claim over my unborn child—hung between us like a blade waiting to strike.
“You have no right to say that,” I said, forcing steel into my voice.
Joey scoffed. “It’s my child, Kelly. You can’t just erase me from this.”
Cameron stepped before me, his muscles coiled with barely restrained fury. “She doesn’t have to do anything. You lost your right to be in her life when you chose Jennie.”
Joey let out a low growl, his golden eyes flashing dangerously. “You think you can just take my mate, my child, my future?”
“You never deserved them in the first place,” Cameron said. “You had everything, Joey, and you threw it away.”
The tension erupted. Joey lunged, shifting halfway into his wolf form as he slammed into Cameron. The crowd gasped as they hit the ground, a tangle of fists and claws.
“Stop it!” I shouted, my voice cracking with rage.
Neither of them listened. They were locked in combat, rolling across the dirt and landing blows that shook the earth beneath them. The pack members formed a hesitant circle, unsure whether to intervene.
Then, a voice sliced through the chaos.
“Enough.”
The Elders.
Elder Meros stepped forward, his silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. “This is not how we settle disputes.” His sharp gaze moved to me. “Kelly, as the future Alpha, this is your decision. What do you want to do?”
I swallowed hard, the weight of my choice pressing against my ribs. I turned to Joey, who was breathing heavily, blood dripping from a cut above his brow. His eyes, still wild from the fight, locked onto mine.
“Leave,” I said, voice unwavering. “You and Jennie have done enough damage.”
Joey opened his mouth to argue, but Elder Meros raised a hand. “She has spoken.”
Joey’s nostrils flared, but he didn’t push back. With one final glare at Cameron, he turned and stormed off.
Jennie was waiting for him at the edge of the gathering. She gasped when she saw his face, but he brushed past her without a word.
Cameron turned to me, breathing heavily. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, though the turmoil inside me was anything but settled.
The following days were a blur of whispers and sidelong glances. The pack was divided—some supported my decision, while others questioned my leadership. After all, I had been intended to be Luna beside Joey, and now I was preparing to stand with Cameron instead.
The Elders were wary. Cameron was strong, but his past as a rogue still clung to him like a shadow.
One evening, as we prepared for the final rituals before the binding ceremony, I stood outside the Alpha’s chamber with Cameron. “Are you sure about this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He reached for my hand, his grip firm. “Are you?”
Before I could answer, the doors swung open, and Elder Meros stepped out. “We need to talk,” he said, his expression grim.
Cameron and I exchanged a glance before following him inside.
“You’ve set a dangerous precedent, Kelly,” Meros said, folding his hands on the large wooden table. “Rejecting your fated mate in favor of another.”
“I didn’t reject Joey. He rejected me the moment he betrayed me.”
Meros sighed. “Regardless, this has caused unrest. The pack needs stability, and right now, they don’t know what to believe.”
Cameron’s voice was firm. “Then let them watch. Let them see that Kelly and I are the right choice.”
Meros studied him for a long moment. “You have a fire, Cameron. But fire alone won’t earn their trust.”
“What will?” I asked.
Meros leaned forward. “You need to prove that your claim to leadership is stronger than Joey’s. You need a challenge.”
I felt my blood run cold. “A challenge?”
“Yes. The old ways. If someone doesn’t want you to be Alpha, they must challenge you. But I must warn you, people will see you as vulnerable. So, there might be more members who would challenge you other than Joey. You must be ready.” The leader warned.
