Chapter 2:
The council hall of the Lunaris Pack had witnessed wars, coronations, betrayals, and bloodshed, yet it had never felt as heavy as it did on that morning.
Sunlight filtered weakly through the tall stained-glass windows, casting muted colors across the stone floor. The air smelled faintly of old parchment, burning resin, and grief. Edgar stood at the center with his brothers, their shoulders nearly touching, though each of them felt painfully alone.
They did not wear ceremonial white.
Edgar wore deep charcoal, the color of storm clouds before rain. Lucas stood beside him in dark forest green, his hands clenched at his sides, jaw tight. Leo, the youngest, wore a muted brown coat over black, his eyes red-rimmed, his grief worn openly like an unhealed wound.
Penelope had dressed them herself.
She had said nothing while fastening Edgar's buttons, but her hands had trembled. When she adjusted Lucas's collar, she had paused, swallowing hard. Leo had broken then, pressing his face briefly into her shoulder like he had done as a child.
"My Luna would not want you standing crooked," Penelope had whispered through tears. "Stand straight. All of you."
Now she waited outside the hall, hands clasped, listening.
Inside, the Elders arrived one after the other.
Elder Rowan Vale entered first, silver eyes calm and reflective, his long robe brushing the stone floor. Elder Morcant Ashen followed, tall and rigid, his presence sharp as a drawn blade. Elder Selene Frostwind came next, her gaze piercing, seeing too much and missing nothing. Elder Thorne Blackwood entered last, broad-shouldered and silent, the weight of final authority clinging to him like a shadow.
And beside Edgar stood Elder Kappa, leaning slightly on his staff, scars still fresh beneath his cloak.
The silence stretched.
"The Pack mourns," Elder Rowan said at last, his voice steady but solemn. "But mourning cannot replace leadership."
Lucas shifted sharply. "So you gathered us to strip us of our grief?"
Selene's lips curved faintly. "No, young wolf. We gathered you because grief makes a Pack vulnerable."
Elder Morcant stepped forward. "Borders are stirring. Rogues sense disorder. If the Lunaris Pack hesitates, it will be torn apart."
Leo's voice cracked. "We buried our parents a month ago."
"And the world does not stop for loss," Morcant replied bluntly.
Edgar inhaled slowly, lifting his gaze to Elder Blackwood.
"Say what you came to say," Edgar said.
The head Elder studied him for a long moment before speaking. "The Council proposes Edgar Kane as Alpha of the Lunaris Pack."
Lucas turned sharply. "What?"
Leo shook his head. "No. That's not—"
Edgar raised a hand.
"I refuse."
The word echoed through the chamber.
Elder Rowan frowned slightly. "Refusal is… unexpected."
"I will not rule alone," Edgar said. "Not after what we lost. Not while my brothers still draw breath."
Lucas stared at him. "Edgar—"
"Our father raised us as one," Edgar continued, voice firm. "You want an Alpha? Then accept this truth: the Lunaris Pack will not survive divided by pride."
Silence followed.
Selene tilted her head. "And what do you propose instead?"
Edgar straightened. "We divide the Pack, not the blood. I take the South—the capital. Lucas governs the North. Leo takes the East. Records, intelligence, and council authority remain centralized. Autonomy without fracture."
Elder Morcant considered him carefully. "You would give up sole power."
"I would rather share strength than rule ruins," Edgar replied.
Elder Blackwood stepped forward once more. "So it shall be."
The decision was final.
The Parkhouse buzzed with restrained movement after the council dispersed.
Penelope moved like a quiet storm, overseeing preparations, giving orders, correcting servants who had known the brothers since childhood. She pressed food into their hands, scolded them when they forgot to sleep, and prayed under her breath when she thought no one was listening.
"You think I didn't know this day would come?" she muttered as she folded Edgar's coat. "Your mother worried about it often."
Lucas paused. "She did?"
Penelope nodded. "She feared power would break you boys apart. She would be proud today."
The betas arrived before dusk.
Desmond clasped Edgar's forearm, his voice low. "Where you lead, I follow."
Felix grinned faintly at Lucas. "North, hm? Cold, forests, enemies. Sounds like fun."
Leo embraced John tightly. "Don't leave me," he murmured.
John answered simply, "Never."
The Elders divided as agreed.
Elder Kappa remained in the South with Edgar. Two Elders departed north with Lucas. Two followed Leo eastward.
At dawn, carriages rolled out from the capital.
The Lunaris Pack was no longer one territory—it was three beating hearts tied by blood and duty.
Weeks passed.
Scouts returned with reports. Rogue sightings. Broken patrol routes. Unmarked graves.
Edgar worked relentlessly.
Maps covered the walls of the Southern office. Notes were pinned, removed, rewritten. Penelope brought tea he forgot to drink. Desmond reminded him to rest.
One night, Elder Kappa stood beside him, watching candlelight flicker over the map.
"You carry this well," Kappa said.
"I carry it because I must," Edgar replied.
Kappa's gaze sharpened. "The betas are positioned. The Elders are settled. The Pack is watching."
Edgar finally looked up.
"When do we start?" Kappa asked quietly.
The candle flickered.
And Edgar did not answer immediately.