The Fifth Bloodline

Episode 1

Celine's POV.

Tomorrow, my life was supposed to change forever.

By this time tomorrow night, I would stand before the entire Silver Fang Pack, receive the Alpha Crest, and officially become the next Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack.

At least, that was the future I'd believed in for the last eighteen years.

The pack buzzed with excitement as warriors decorated the training grounds and the grand arena where tomorrow's games would be held.

Children ran beneath colorful banners while women prepared food for the celebration. Laughter echoed through every corner of the pack's territory.

Don't mind me...

I'm still lying in bed, imagining how beautiful everything must look outside.

When I finally stepped out of my room, I couldn't help but smile.

It looked exactly the way I'd imagined.

Everywhere I looked, wolves hurried from one task to another. Some hung silver banners bearing the wisdom bloodline crest while others polished the ceremonial platform where tomorrow's Ascension would take place.

My uncle, Beta Rex, stood on a ladder directing a group of omegas as they decorated the Alpha Hall.

This was no ordinary celebration. It only happened once in a generation. Of course everyone was excited.

As I strolled through the pack's territory, smiles greeted me from every direction.

Some bowed respectfully.

Others wished me luck. But beneath all the cheerful voices...

The whispers never disappeared.

"The future Alpha still hasn't shown a single sign of her wolf."

"I'm telling you... she's wolfless."

"Poor Alpha Kael. Imagine having a daughter who can't even awaken."

I pretended not to hear them. I'd been hearing those same whispers since I was ten years old.

Every passing birthday only made them louder. By fifteen, most wolves had already begun showing signs of their wolf.

I hadn't.

Even so...

Tomorrow was my eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow was the Ascension. Tomorrow everything would change.

At least... I hoped it would.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile onto my face.

𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒.

Whether my wolf awakened or not, I refused to let fear ruin today.

Besides...

Being Alpha wasn't just about strength or how powerful your wolf could br. It was about protecting your people.

Listening to them.

Leading them.

That was the kind of Alpha I wanted to become. Unlike Father.

I already had a long list of things I wanted to change once I inherited the pack.

A laugh escaped my lips.

Danny would probably faint if she heard half my ideas. My little sister believed every problem could be solved with claws.

If wisdom ever rained from the sky... She'd probably run outside holding an umbrella.

I chuckled at the thought.

"Talking to yourself again?"

I looked up.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't even realize I'd walked a full circle around the pack until I found myself back in front of Uncle Rex.

"Uncle!"

Beta Rex climbed down from the ladder just as I reached him.

He wrapped me in a warm hug. They had already finished decorating the hall and were now hanging banners along the outer walls.

"There she is," he said with a grin.

"Our future Alpha."

His words eased something inside me.

Just then, one of Father's Gamma guards brushed roughly past an elderly omega carrying a bundle of banners.

The old man stumbled and crashed onto the ground. The banners scattered across the path.

The Gamma didn't even slow down.

"Seriously?"

I hurried over.

"Knees first," I said gently, helping the old omega sit up before gathering the fallen banners.

"My... Princess..." he stammered nervously. "You shouldn't be doing this."

I smiled.

"And why not?"

"B-Because..." His frightened eyes darted toward the Gamma who had already disappeared.

He wasn't afraid of me. He was afraid of Father.

I helped him to his feet before handing him the neatly folded banners.

"Thank you..." he whispered.

Omega Dury had served this pack longer than I'd been alive. His back was bent from years of hard work, yet his rank had never changed. Around here, a weak wolf stayed weak forever.

I hated that.

When I became Alpha... That would change.

I watched the old omega walk away before returning to Uncle Rex.

"Let me guess," I teased. "You didn't sleep all night."

"And miss all this?" He laughed, spreading his arms toward the bustling pack. "Look around you. Do you know why nobody slept?"

I smiled.

"Because tomorrow is my Ascension."

"Exactly. Your people love you" His eyes softened. "Don't let a few whispers make you forget that."

"So stop carrying that worried face."

I blinked.

"Was I that obvious?"

"You've always been."

I sighed.

"I keep wondering... What if they're right? What if..."

He gently flicked my forehead.

"Ow!"

"I told you to stop thinking like that."

"But—"

"No buts." He placed both hands on my shoulders.

"You've spent eighteen years preparing to become Alpha. Trust yourself."

For some reason... Hearing those words from him always made the fear a little smaller.

"Now," he said, pretending to sound serious, "shouldn't a future Alpha be checking tomorrow's outfit instead of bothering an old wolf?"

I laughed.

"I was just thinking about that."

"Go."

"Yes, Beta."

As I turned to leave, the deep roar of engines echoed through the courtyard.

Every wolf stopped what they were doing.

Heads turned toward the massive gates.

A convoy of black SUVs rolled into the pack, each bearing the silver crest of the Wisdom Bloodline.

"They're here..."

One by one, Alphas stepped out of their vehicles, exchanging greetings with the elders.

They had come from neighboring packs to witness tomorrow's Ascension.

Then...

The last vehicle stopped. My heart skipped.

Father.

The door opened.

Alpha Kael stepped out, dressed in a black suit embroidered with our bloodline's Wisdom crest.

A warm smile spread across his face the moment he saw us.

"Father!" I hurried forward.

Before I could reach him—

"Daddy!"

Danny flew past me and threw herself into his arms.

He laughed, lifting her effortlessly before kissing her forehead.

"My little troublemaker."

"As you promised, you came back early!" she beamed.

"Just as I promised," He said with a smile. "And I brought plenty of guests."

Then his eyes found mine.

"There she is..." He smiled warmly before walking over and placing a gentle hand on my head.

"My future Alpha."

My heart melted.

For a moment, every whisper I'd heard that morning disappeared.

If Father still believed in me... maybe tomorrow really would be okay.

"Welcome home, Father."

He nodded proudly.

"I'm proud of both my girls."

For a brief moment...

Everything felt perfect.

Maybe I'd been overthinking.

Maybe tomorrow really would become the happiest day of my life.

"Go inside," Father said kindly. "We have guests waiting, and afterward..."

He smiled.

"I'd like to speak with you alone."

My eyes lit up.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"There are a few things every future Alpha should hear before her Ascension."

I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.

"I'll be there."

As Father disappeared into the Alpha Hall with the visiting leaders, I stood there grinning like a child.

I had no idea...

That conversation would become the beginning of the worst day of my life.