Chapter 4:
The Eastern winds rustled through the tall grass of Leo's newly inherited lands. He adjusted the cuffs of his sky-blue shirt, chest tight, eyes scanning every movement among the trees. The Eastern territories were wild and untamed, full of shadows and secrets, and Leo knew he could not afford distraction.
Beside him, his beta John moved silently, a shadow among shadows, ever vigilant. "First day on your own as Alpha," John said, quiet but teasing. "You look like you're carrying the whole forest on your shoulders."
Leo's jaw tightened. "I carry the responsibility of the Pack, John. There is no room for jokes."
John smirked, unbothered. "Of course, Alpha. Responsibility first… but a little life doesn't hurt. You'll burn out if you don't loosen up eventually."
Leo's gaze drifted toward the training grounds. Among the trainees, one figure caught his attention immediately: Ava. A trainer of exceptional skill, her red hair glinting in the sunlight, she moved with precision and authority, correcting postures and issuing commands with calm efficiency.
Something in Leo's chest twisted. He felt drawn to her, an emotion he had not expected to surface in the midst of his duties. "John… she's remarkable."
John chuckled softly. "You're staring, Leo. Admit it. She's skilled, yeah, but…" He let the words hang, teasing.
"She is already taken," Leo muttered, more to himself than John. His voice held a note of resignation, like the sound of a wolf trying to hold back a growl.
John raised a brow. "Already taken? And here I thought your heart was free to wander as far as the Eastern lands."
Leo shook his head, forcing his mind back to duty. "I do not have the luxury of wandering hearts. My focus must remain on the Pack. Ava is… unavailable. That is enough."
Meanwhile, in the North, Lucas had his own challenges. Megan and Felicia, daughters of two Northern Elders, had been waiting for his arrival. They had hoped to charm and distract him, but Lucas's green eyes were cold with determination.
"Alpha Lucas," Megan cooed, stepping forward, her tone sugary yet sharp, "won't you join us after training? We wish to make you feel welcome."
Lucas's fists clenched at his sides. "Step back. I am here to serve the Pack, not to entertain idle whims."
Felicia tried to smooth over the tension. "We only wanted—"
Lucas cut her off with a low, commanding voice. "Discipline comes before distraction. Respect comes before frivolity. That is the order of the North."
Felix, his beta, stifled a laugh from behind him. "Well, that was smooth, Alpha. You saved them from themselves… and possibly from embarrassment."
Lucas ignored the comment, his attention already back on the forest. He had no time for social pleasantries. Every rustle of the leaves could signal danger.
Leo moved through his Eastern territory like a shadow, accompanied by his beta John and the two Eastern Elders assigned to him: Elder Morcant Ashen, Master of Territories and Borders, and Elder Selene Frostwind, Seer and Lorekeeper. Reports from scouts and patrols had been coming in steadily, and every path, ridge, and thicket had been catalogued for potential Rogue activity.
"I still can't believe she's unavailable," Leo muttered to himself, watching Ava demonstrate a new combat technique. His fingers itched to join in, but the reality of her situation was clear. He swallowed the pang in his chest. "Focus. The Pack comes first."
John nudged him, a small smirk on his face. "You'll heal. And she's brilliant, I'll give you that. But you've got bigger threats than heartbreak waiting."
Leo exhaled sharply, tension easing slightly. "You are correct. My duty is the Eastern border. Nothing else matters now."
Across the Northern forests, Lucas supervised training, monitoring patrols, and ensuring discipline among the warriors. Every movement was logged, every scout accounted for. Reports arrived from his border security, detailing Rogue sightings along the Northern paths. He read each with precision, absorbing every detail.
After a long morning, a knock echoed at the packhouse doors. Couriers stood waiting, envelopes sealed with the official Lunaris Pack insignia. Lucas's fingers hovered over the letter.
At the same moment, in the East, a similar knock came to Leo's quarters. John handed him the envelope without a word. Leo's brow furrowed as he took it.
Neither brother dared to open the letters. Not yet.
The weight of the unknown hung heavily over the Northern and Eastern packhouses. Outside, the forests whispered of unseen threats, shadows of the Rogues stretching closer by the hour—but inside, only quiet anticipation remained.
Two letters. Two Alphas. One secret.
To be revealed in Chapter 5…