Alfa Alfred's and Luna Elara's POV
Alfred shifted restlessly on his throne.
For the first time, his pack had gone to war without him. A deep unease gnawed at his chest as he turned his gaze to his Luna.
"Did we do the right thing?" he asked quietly.
Elara was just as unsettled, but she masked it with a calm expression, unwilling to deepen her mate's worry.
"We did," she said firmly. "My mighty Alpha, we are no longer as young as we once were. We raised our son well. He will handle this."
Alfred looked at her with unmistakable admiration.
"You are the only one in this world who can rein me in, Elara," he said, his voice noticeably softer. Then his brow furrowed.
"Felix has been acting differently lately. Especially toward Nora. You've noticed it too, haven't you?"
Elara nodded.
"You're right. Whatever Nora suggests, Felix argues the opposite. He even resented me for supporting her during this war."
Alfred rubbed his short beard thoughtfully. For a moment, it felt as though he wasn't speaking to his mate, but to a rival in a leadership contest.
"Elara," he said slowly, "it's as if our son no longer stands on the same side as Nora."
Elara lifted her gaze in agreement.
"Nora is a powerful warrior with a strong character," she said. "That our son is bonded to her fills me with pride."
Alfred straightened.
"Tell me," he said, his voice firm yet controlled. "What happened? Everyone's mind is in chaos. Did we lose?"
Luna Elara studied the young messenger with anxious eyes.
"No, honored Alpha," the messenger replied quickly. "They were not defeated. But they were forced to retreat. The Karaay pack had set a trap. Thanks to Warrior Nora, most of our pack escaped while inflicting heavy damage on the enemy. That is all I know."
With a single nod from Alfred, the messenger exited as swiftly as he had entered.
When the doors closed, a heavy silence settled over the hall. The stone walls seemed to echo Alfred's unrest.
He rose from his throne. He was still imposing, but the weight of years pressed heavily on his shoulders. He stared into the darkness beyond the window.
"A retreat…" he murmured. "That is not Felix's way."
Elara stepped closer.
"This wasn't an escape," she said calmly but firmly. "It was a calculated decision to minimize losses. And it was Nora who made it."
Alfred turned to her, admiration and concern mingling in his eyes.
"I know," he said. "That's exactly why I'm afraid."
Elara frowned.
"Of whom?"
"Felix," Alfred answered without hesitation. "He is strong, but his pride is sharp as a blade. Nora stepping into the spotlight makes him feel weak. And an Alpha who feels weak… makes dangerous decisions."
Elara took a slow breath.
"Felix loves Nora," she said, though even she sounded unconvinced. "Perhaps he's simply struggling to accept his role."
Alfred gave a bitter smile.
"An Alpha's greatest trial isn't power," he said. "It's accepting the power standing beside him."
From afar, wolf howls echoed through the night. The war was not over—it had merely shifted its ground.
Elara gazed at the moonlight.
"Nora is alive," she said softly. "And she saved the pack. This may only be the beginning of her destiny."
Alfred added quietly,
"If Felix cannot see that… then the real war will begin from within."
Elara placed her hand on his arm.
"We must remain vigilant," she said with resolve. "Because Nora is no longer just a warrior. She is a force that changes balance."
They both thought the same unspoken truth:
One day, the pack would have to choose who its true leader was.