POV: Kade
Kade could still hear Nyra's statement very clearly,
"I want to fight Kade for the top position,"
She didn't hesitate at all, She didn't even flinch, She stood before everyone, shining red and brave,
Kade stood still as he realized what she had just said in the room, The old tales he had brushed off now fought to get into his thoughts—stories of the Night Whisper, made from moonlight and chaos, set to destroy order and change the rules of the group, He had thought they were just warnings for naughty young wolves,
Now he wasn't so sure anymore,
He looked at Nyra again, The air around her vibrated—pulsing with something basic, something scary, But also… interesting,
His heart beat fast in shock, Nyra, His very own sister, The quiet girl who used to follow him around their home, The one he used to keep safe from older wolves and mean teachers, How had that girl become this woman—strong, brave, and suddenly… a threat,
Around him, whispers spread very quickly,
"She's shining again…" "Is that what a Night Whisper looks like?" "She challenged him, Is she even allowed to do that,"
Some people on the council looked at Nyra in wonder, Others, like Elder Thorne, looked like they wanted to run away, Things were changing fast, and Kade could feel that he was losing control,
"Quiet," he ordered, his voice sounding sharp,
But no one paid attention,
Instead, the worry got worse when Lord Rovan walked forward, head up and a knowing smile on his face, Kade felt a bad feeling in his stomach,
"I told you, nephew," Rovan said smoothly, talking to everyone rather than just Kade, "He's too emotional to be in charge, The person he was meant to be with publicly turned him down, Now, his own sister is trying to take his place—and what does our leader do, Nothing,"
Kade tightened his jaw, He wanted to attack his uncle, wipe that smile off his face, But he didn't move, Couldn't, Every part of him was tense, stuck between anger and shock,
"She's a Night Whisper," someone whispered behind him, "If the old stories are true… she's more than just his sister,"
The words stung,
Kade clenched his fists at his sides, He hadn't had time to understand any of that, Night Whisper, His sister, Challenger, Rae's… partner,
He looked at Rae, who stood behind Nyra—quiet, hard to read, She didn't even look at him, That hurt more than any punch,
He remembered how she used to smile when he came into the room, How proud she used to be standing next to him, Now that pride was for someone else, For Nyra,
But, it wasn't Rae's betrayal that upset him—it was Nyra's,
She hadn't just broken the rules, She'd destroyed the unspoken agreement between them, That he'd lead and she'd help, That he'd be in charge and she'd listen,
"I need answers," Elder Morwin stated quickly, "Why are you fighting the Alpha at this time, Why show your strength now, after keeping it hidden for so long,"
Nyra kept looking directly at Kade, "Because I won't let this group ruin me or the woman I care about,"
People gasped quietly once more,
"This group wanted to force me into a marriage like some kind of trade," she went on, her voice getting louder with each word, "Tried to stop Rae's love, tried to get rid of mine, I will not give in to fear, I was meant to be a leader—and I will,"
The red light around her grew stronger, making faint shadows on the rock walls,
Kade's mouth felt very dry, He could sense his inner wolf walking back and forth, growling, and uneasy, But not because it wanted to hurt her, It felt unsure, Conflicted, Part of him still thought of Nyra as the sister he promised to keep safe,
Another part—a darker, arrogant part—felt worried by the power she now had,
Lord Rovan moved nearer to the group, using the chance,
"Do you understand," he stated, "She makes quick decisions, She does things without waiting, And the pack follows strength, Kade waits—and when we wait, we lose our control,"
Some of the elders agreed by nodding,
Kade felt very sad,
They were really thinking about it, The group—the same wolves who had promised to be loyal to him—were being swayed by the trouble Nyra had made, All it needed was a moment, a single challenge, and now everything he had worked for was at risk,
He thought he might face danger from other packs, power grabs from betas who wanted more, or even fights from warriors who wanted his place,
But not from her,
Never from her,
He started to speak, but he couldn't get the words out, What could he say, That she was not telling the truth, That she did not have the power,
He had seen it himself,
She had the power,
And all she said was true,
Kade stood still as the meeting room blurred around him—murmurs, worries, changing sides… it was all falling apart too quickly, Just a few hours earlier, his only concern was finding Rae, Now, everything he had built was being attacked by the one person he never thought he would have to fight: his own sister,
The leaders were splitting apart, clearly,
Some sat up taller, their eyes fixed on Nyra with something that looked like deep respect, Others frowned, uneasy but not wanting to speak against the clear display of power,
"She has the power of a leader," Elder Thorne whispered, as if admitting something bad,
"She hasn't been chosen by the Moon Goddess," someone else said, "Kade has,"
"But she is glowing," someone answered, "And no normal wolf does that,"
Kade's heart pounded in his ears,
He wasn't sure what bothered him more: that the leaders were starting to believe Nyra, or that… maybe… they were correct,
His uncle, of course, took full advantage of the quiet room,
"I warned you, over and over," Rovan said, his voice calm, patient, annoyingly pleased with himself, "A leader who loses control of his heart loses control of his group, First, Rae rejected him, Then, she openly connected with a woman, Now that woman—Nyra—is your new competitor,"
Kade's hands clenched,
"I still have the leader's mark," he forced out, his voice sharp, "I still lead this group,"
"Then prove it," Nyra said from across the room, her voice steady but strong, "Accept my challenge,"
He turned to face her fully, looking her in the eyes, His wolf inside him stirred again, confused by the familiar smell but stirred up by her growing power, The red glow hadn't gone away, It moved under her skin like fire, wrapping around her arms and legs, showing she was in charge,
She wasn't pretending, She wasn't doing this to scare him, She was serious,
"I won't give up," she said firmly, "Not for you, not for what is expected, not for the leaders, Fight me, or step aside,"
Kade wanted to growl, to shout her down, to call her out on her lie, But there was no lie to call out,
This wasn't about politics anymore,
It wasn't even about Rae,
It was about Nyra, The girl he had spent his life ignoring, protecting, and—he now understood—underestimating,
He glanced at Rae again, She stood next to Nyra like another weapon—quiet but sharp, Her loyalty was clear in her stance, her face, the slight way she turned herself toward Nyra's side,
And Kade couldn't lie to himself anymore,
His connection with Rae was broken,
Whatever bond they had—whatever link had once been between them—it had broken the day she turned her back on him in front of everyone in the group, His wolf had fought against letting go… but that fight was weakening,
Now Rae's soul was calling to Nyra's, The group could feel it, The leaders could feel it,
He noticed it in Rae's gaze: that passion was once just for him, Now it was for a different person,
His chest felt constricted, but it wasn't anger making it tight,
It was sadness,
He glanced at Nyra again,
How could this be,
She had once stuck to him like his own shadow, happy to follow him, Now she was ready to take it herself,
And even worse, the council was paying attention,
Rovan walked around the room slowly, like a hunting bird,
"If the Alpha cannot keep his position," he said, "then perhaps we should get ready for change, It is our job to find a strong leader before the next full moon,"
Kade turned to face him, "You mean before you try to take over,"
His uncle smiled, "I won't have to, It looks like your sister is doing it for me,"
Another blow to his ego,
The council was already starting to focus on Nyra—already shifting their loyalty, getting used to a future where she might lead them into the next season,
Kade took a step back,
He needed room, He needed time to consider things, But he had neither of them,
"Quiet," he shouted suddenly, and this time, the room obeyed him,
Everyone looked at him quickly,
He breathed deeply, regaining control of his voice, "I will take on the challenge, But not right now, Not like this,"
Thorne frowned, "Waiting will just show that you are weak,"
"I said I will take it on," Kade repeated, each word hard as steel, "But I will pick the place and the time,"
He turned his back to the room and started walking away,
"Kade," Nyra's voice followed him, calm but steady, "I'm not waiting much longer, If you don't agree soon, I will take what's mine—by force or by fate,"
He didn't turn back around,
He couldn't do it,
Her words stuck in his back like sharp thorns,
His uncle called after him in a mocking way, "Running away already, nephew,"
Kade didn't say anything,
Because deep down, beneath the pride and anger… a part of him really wondered,
What if the special connection between them wasn't the only thing broken,
What if his time as ruler was ending,
And what if… she was the better Alpha to lead,