The alphas runt

The Elder’s Smile

Elder Magnus had never been humiliated so publicly before.

And worse—

He had smiled through all of it.

The Blood Moon Gathering continued late into the night around him. Music drifted softly through the ballroom while wolves laughed, drank, and exchanged political promises beneath glittering chandeliers.

But Magnus heard none of it.

Because across the room—

The runt stood beside Alpha Kael like she belonged there.

And somehow…

The northern alphas were beginning to accept it.

Magnus tightened his grip around the crystal glass in his hand hard enough to c***k it slightly.

He had expected outrage.

Disgust.

Mockery.

Instead, the gathering had become fascinated by her.

The problem wasn’t merely her beauty.

Beauty alone would have been manageable.

No.

The true problem was far worse.

Lyra Vale was likable.

The realization filled him with cold irritation.

Every wolf who approached her left confused. Even skeptical alphas softened after speaking with her for only minutes. She listened attentively. Spoke kindly. Smiled softly. Never once acted arrogant despite standing beside one of the most powerful alphas in the north.

It disrupted expectations.

And Magnus hated disruption.

He watched quietly from the edges of the ballroom as another luna touched Lyra’s arm warmly during conversation. Nearby wolves smiled at something the girl said softly.

Then Kael looked down at her again.

That look.

That unbearable look.

Possession.

Devotion.

Pride.

Magnus nearly ground his teeth together.

The alpha had become completely compromised.

And the worst part?

Everyone could see it.

The Silver Fang alpha—the ruthless wolf feared across the north—looked gentler around a runt than most males looked around queens.

It was pathetic.

Dangerous pathetic.

Magnus slowly set his damaged glass onto a passing tray before moving toward one of the quieter balconies overlooking the snowy estate grounds outside.

Cold winter air greeted him instantly.

Better.

Inside the ballroom, wolves had become unpredictable tonight.

That unsettled him.

Footsteps sounded behind him moments later.

Ronan Blackwood stepped onto the balcony beside him.

The Crimson Claw alpha leaned casually against the stone railing while snow drifted beyond them under the moonlight.

“You look disappointed,” Ronan observed calmly.

Magnus’ expression hardened slightly.

“You could have supported the challenge.”

Ronan shrugged one broad shoulder.

“I could have.”

“You should have.”

Amber eyes slid toward him lazily.

“And gain what exactly?”

Magnus lowered his voice carefully.

“Influence over Silver Fang.”

That finally caught Ronan’s attention.

But only briefly.

“You mistake me for someone ambitious.”

Magnus nearly scoffed.

Every alpha was ambitious.

“That runt weakens northern authority,” Magnus continued. “You know this.”

Ronan looked back toward the ballroom through the towering glass doors.

Inside, Kael stood beside Lyra near the center of the room while wolves continued circling around them.

Watching them.

Listening to them.

The pair looked almost painfully mismatched.

Kael all darkness and violence.

Lyra pale softness and moonlight.

Yet somehow…

Together, they worked.

Ronan’s expression became thoughtful.

“She’s changing opinions.”

Magnus’ jaw tightened immediately.

“She’s manipulating them.”

“No,” Ronan said calmly. “That would require intention.”

The older wolf fell silent.

Because unfortunately—

Ronan was right.

Lyra wasn’t scheming.

Wasn’t seductive.

Wasn’t politically clever.

She simply existed exactly as she was.

And somehow that proved more effective than manipulation ever could.

Magnus hated her for it.

Ronan glanced sideways toward him again.

“You underestimated her.”

The statement irritated him further because it was true.

Magnus had expected weakness.

Fear.

Perhaps tears.

Instead the runt carried herself with quiet grace despite the pressure surrounding her.

Even more irritating—

She clearly adored Kael.

And Kael adored her back.

The mate bond between them had become obvious to everyone within minutes.

Every glance.

Every touch.

Every subtle movement.

Kael never let her drift farther than arm’s reach away from him.

Like his wolf physically couldn’t tolerate distance anymore.

Obsessed.

Magnus had seen bonded pairs before.

But never one this intense this quickly.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

“Alpha Draven is blinded,” Magnus said coldly.

Ronan hummed quietly.

“Probably.”

“And yet you still refused support.”

The Crimson Claw alpha finally looked fully toward him now.

“And you still haven’t understood the room.”

Magnus frowned slightly.

Ronan gestured subtly toward the ballroom.

“They expected scandal tonight.” His mouth curved faintly. “Instead they found a runt more elegant than most noble-born lunas.”

The older wolf’s irritation sharpened instantly.

“She’s still weak.”

“Yes,” Ronan agreed calmly. “But wolves are emotional creatures.” His amber eyes narrowed slightly. “And now they’re emotionally attached.”

That was exactly the problem.

Magnus looked back through the glass again.

At that exact moment, Lyra laughed softly at something Damien said nearby.

The sound carried faintly even through the closed doors.

Several wolves smiled instantly around her.

Kael’s entire expression softened.

And Magnus felt something ugly twist deeper inside his chest.

Because this girl—

This tiny insignificant runt—

Was slowly dismantling generations of belief simply by existing.

If the northern packs began accepting weaker bloodlines…

Hierarchy itself weakened.

Tradition weakened.

Control weakened.

No.

He couldn’t allow that.

Magnus folded his hands behind his back carefully.

“Perhaps I approached this too directly.”

Ronan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Interesting.

The elder continued calmly.

“Kael is emotional right now. Aggressive. Protective.” His expression smoothed carefully into something thoughtful. “Pushing harder immediately may only strengthen his attachment.”

Ronan watched him silently.

Magnus offered a slow nod.

“Perhaps patience is wiser.”

The Crimson Claw alpha studied him for several seconds too long.

Like he didn’t entirely believe him.

Smart wolf.

But Magnus had survived centuries precisely because he understood timing.

Brute force rarely solved delicate problems.

And Lyra Vale had become a delicate problem.

Inside the ballroom, Kael suddenly looked toward the balcony.

Silver eyes sharp.

Suspicious.

Protective instincts immediately alert.

Magnus nearly smiled.

The alpha watched everything involving his mate now.

Good.

That level of obsession made wolves careless eventually.

Ronan noticed Kael staring too.

“He’ll kill anyone who harms her.”

“He’ll try,” Magnus corrected smoothly.

Ronan’s gaze shifted back toward him slowly.

A warning flickered there now.

“You should think carefully.”

Magnus tilted his head mildly.

“About?”

The Crimson Claw alpha’s voice remained calm.

“She may look fragile.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “But removing a bonded mate from a dominant alpha rarely ends peacefully.”

Magnus held his expression steady.

“I have no intention of harming anyone.”

Lie.

Smooth.

Practiced.

Ronan clearly heard it anyway.

But after a long silence, the alpha simply sighed softly.

“I genuinely hope that’s true.”

Then he turned and walked back into the ballroom.

Leaving Magnus alone with the snow and silence.

The elder’s pleasant expression disappeared instantly.

Cold irritation settled fully across his face now.

This had become worse than expected.

Far worse.

Not only had Kael refused to bend—

The northern packs had begun sympathizing with the runt.

That could not continue.

Magnus watched Lyra carefully through the ballroom windows.

She stood close beside Kael while another alpha spoke politely with her. Soft silver fabric shimmered beneath chandelier light while her white hair fell like snow across bare shoulders.

Beautiful.

Too beautiful.

The Moon Goddess had played a cruel joke creating something so delicate only to place it inside a brutal world.

And now that beauty threatened to poison centuries of order.

Magnus’ eyes narrowed slightly.

No.

Not poison.

Infect.

Because acceptance spread quickly once wolves became emotionally invested.

And Lyra inspired emotion.

Pity.

Affection.

Protectiveness.

Dangerous emotions.

Even some Silver Fang warriors had begun hesitating recently.

Questioning traditions.

Questioning treatment of runts.

Questioning him.

Unacceptable.

The elder inhaled slowly through the cold air.

Then exhaled just as calmly.

No rash decisions.

Not yet.

Kael remained too alert.

Too possessive.

Too unstable regarding her safety.

Any direct move against the runt now would ignite war immediately.

So Magnus would wait.

Watch.

Smile.

Let the alpha believe tensions had cooled.

Because eventually—

Every wolf lowered their guard.

Even alphas.

Especially distracted alphas.

And Kael Draven had become very distracted indeed.

Inside the ballroom, Lyra suddenly glanced toward the balcony.

For one brief moment, her crystal-blue eyes met Magnus’.

The girl immediately offered a small polite smile.

A genuine one.

As if she still believed kindness could soften cruelty.

Foolish creature.

Magnus smiled back warmly.

And for the first time that evening—

He finally began forming a new plan.