Chapter 28 – The Alpha's Trial
POV: Kael Thorne
The tension in the air had never been thicker. Every moment since Seren's return had felt like we were walking on a knife's edge. We knew the Forsaken Order was closing in, and with them came the wrath of the Old Gods. But there was something else that gnawed at me, a deeper sense of unease. Something more personal.
The Alpha Trial.
I could feel my father's presence in the back of my mind. Gideon had never been a compassionate leader, but he was cunning, ruthless. He would not relinquish his hold on the pack easily. And if the Old Gods were truly awakening, his grip would tighten. He would demand total control, using the chaos as an opportunity to strengthen his power.
But I couldn't allow that. Not now, not after everything Seren and I had been through.
"You're going to challenge him, aren't you?" Seren asked, her voice quiet but filled with understanding.
I nodded, unable to meet her gaze. "I have to. It's the only way."
"But you're his son," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "He'll never give up power willingly. You know that."
"I know," I said, feeling the weight of her words. "But I can't let him lead us into ruin. He'll use the gods' return to tighten his rule even more. It's time for the pack to have a leader who will unite us—one who will fight for something more than power."
She placed a hand on my arm, grounding me. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm with you. Always."
I looked into her eyes, finding solace in the steady resolve that had always been a part of her. "I couldn't do it without you."
The sun had barely risen when the call for the Alpha Trial was made. The pack gathered in the central clearing, tension thick in the air. It felt like the calm before the storm, every wolf waiting for the inevitable clash between father and son.
Gideon stood at the far end of the clearing, his form imposing, his gaze cold as stone. His power was immense, his dominance unquestioned—until now.
I stepped forward, my muscles tight with anticipation. Every wolf in the pack was watching, waiting for me to make my move.
"You think you can take what's mine?" Gideon's voice boomed across the clearing, the challenge clear in his words. "You're a fool, Kael. I made this pack what it is. You're nothing without me."
I squared my shoulders, my voice steady despite the weight of the moment. "I'm everything you never were, Father. I will lead this pack into the future. And I will make sure the Old Gods don't enslave us."
The challenge was clear. This was no longer about a father and son—it was about the future of the entire pack. The air crackled with tension, and every wolf's gaze was locked on us.
And then, the first strike was made.