(Kael)
The following day arrives too quickly. I wake before dawn, my body already preparing for what's coming. Today I fight my own son for the right to remain Alpha.
Aria is already awake beside me, her eyes full of concern. "How are you feeling?"
"Ready. Angry. Determined."
"Daniel won't fight fair. He never has."
"I know. That's why I won't either."
We get dressed in silence, both understanding the stakes. If I lose today, Daniel becomes Alpha and Aria's life is in danger. If I win, my son dies or goes into permanent exile.
There's no good outcome here. Only necessary ones.
By noon, the entire pack has gathered at the neutral clearing between Moonridge and Silverpeak territories. Moonridge wolves stand on one side, Silverpeak warriors on the other. In the center, a large circle
