Evan sat behind the Alpha’s desk, staring out the window at the forest swaying in the afternoon wind. The tall pines whispered together, their tops bending like they were bowing to the sky. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if his father had ever sat here the same way, watching the forest, feeling the weight of what it meant to lead.
He looked down at the photograph in his hand, the one where David grinned proudly, his arm wrapped protectively around an infant Evan bundled in a blanket. His father’s smile was warm and easy, full of confidence and love.
Evan hoped he could make him proud.
A knock broke his thoughts. “Enter,” he called.
“The Beta has arrived,” Dustin announced, sweeping the door open with his usual flair. His blond hair was neatly cut, and his black suit fit perfectly,
