THE ALPHA'S TEACHER

THE COST OF POWER!

AIDEN'S POV:

“Father,” I called, breaking the silence between us.

Slowly, he turned his wheelchair toward me. The chair wasn’t just a physical necessity— it symbolized the battles he had fought for the Dawnforge pack. The scars, both physical and mental, had earned him the respect of every wolf in this territory. He might not be able to run like he used to, but no one questioned his authority.

“Aiden…” His voice was low, his words deliberate. “When I was your age, I made my share of mistakes. I thought the pack was holding me back. I thought I could have a life outside it—one that wasn’t confined to its rules. But when I stepped away, that’s when the attack came. We lost your grandfather and a lot of good wolves. I learned the hard way that leaving the pack, abandoning them even for a short while, can have serious consequences.”

I felt a weight settle on my chest. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard this story, but hearing it from him—it hit differently. My father wasn’t trying to scare me, but he was warning me. The pack’s safety and well-being had to come first.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t enjoy your life outside the pack,” he continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “But being Alpha is more than just a title. It’s a responsibility. You can’t just do whatever you want without thinking about the pack. If you step outside without your men, you risk the pack’s stability. And if something happens to you—well, that could cost us everything.”

I nodded slowly. He wasn’t exaggerating. My father had learned the hard way that leadership came with sacrifices. I had to live with the consequences of those choices.

“I know it seems like I’m asking you to be a certain way,” he added, his voice softening, “but you need to understand something. Your men, your pack—they’re not just there to serve you. They’re there to protect you, just as you’re meant to protect them. They are your strength. Don’t forget that. And if you want distractions—women, even not your Luna, or whatever else—you can have them. But don’t let that pull you away from your duties. Stay focused.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the mention of women. “I’ve heard that advice before, Father. I’m not a kid anymore.”

His lips twitched into a small smile, but it was brief. “I know, son. You think you’re invincible. But that’s the trap. You start thinking the pack will always be there, and that’s when things slip through your fingers. Trust me when I say—if you keep stepping outside, acting like you don’t need anyone, the pack will start to lose trust in you. And once that trust is gone, it’s hard to get it back.”

I took in his words. He wasn’t being dramatic—he was just telling me how it was. Leading the pack was about maintaining trust, stability, and responsibility. I had a duty to them.

“I understand, Father,” I said, my voice steady. “I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll be more careful.”

He gave a small nod, approving of my answer, but his expression remained serious. “Good. But there’s one more thing you need to think about. You’re thirty now, and the pack is waiting for you to settle things with your Luna. I’m not saying you need to rush into it, but it’s something that needs to happen soon. People in the pack are already noticing, and they’ll start to wonder if you’re truly ready to lead.”

I felt a tightness in my chest at the mention of my Luna. The idea of marking her—it felt like a huge step, one I wasn’t sure I was ready to take. But hearing my father speak about it made me realize it wasn’t just a personal choice. It was about showing the pack that I was ready to lead.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that, Father,” I admitted, my voice quieter now. “There’s a lot to consider, and I don’t know if I’m ready to make that decision yet.”

He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he spoke again, his voice calm but firm. “Aiden, leadership isn’t about being ready. It’s about making decisions, even when it’s difficult. The pack looks to you, and they need to see you making choices. Marking your Luna isn’t just about the two of you—it’s about the pack seeing that you’re committed. If you keep putting it off, people will start to question your ability to lead.”

I let his words sink in. He wasn’t trying to rush me, but he was right. The pack needed to see unity. They needed to know I was committed, not just to my role as Alpha, but to them as well.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, my voice quieter now. “But I need time.”

He gave a slow nod, his gaze softening a little. “Time is something you don’t always have, son. The pack will start to notice. And when they do, you’ll need to be ready.”

I didn’t say anything more, knowing he was right. The weight of the decision was on me now.

With a simple wave of his hand, he dismissed me. “That’s all for now, Aiden.”

I bowed my head slightly before turning to leave. But as I reached the door, he spoke again, his voice softer.

“Aiden…”

I turned back, meeting his eyes. Despite the years, despite the wheelchair, there was still an undeniable strength in him. His next words were quieter, but they carried the same weight as everything he’d said before.

“Be careful. The role of Alpha isn’t easy. And there will be times when you’ll want to step away, to run from the weight of it. But you can’t. Remember—no matter what happens, you don’t have to do this alone. The pack is your strength.”

“I won’t, Father,” I said, my voice firm. “I’ll carry the weight. I won’t let it break me.”

As I walked out of my father's chambers, his words were still echoing in my mind. The weight of his advice, his expectations, and the burden of leadership—it was all too much. I needed a moment of peace, a moment to process everything in silence. The hallway stretched before me, quiet, and for once, I welcomed the solitude. I had too much to think about, too much to prepare for. The future of the pack rested on my shoulders, and I had to be ready.

But my thoughts were interrupted before I could get too deep.

"How did it go?" Keiran’s voice cut through the silence, too loud and too eager.

I stopped in my tracks, my brow furrowing. The suddenness of his question made me tense, and I quickly turned to face him, my patience wearing thin. “Keiran, must you always interrupt my thoughts like this?” I said, my tone sharp.

Keiran’s eyes widened as if he didn’t expect me to react like that. His nervousness was almost palpable as he fidgeted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I—uh, sorry, I just wanted to know…" Did he say he was going to punish us for not knowing where you were?”

I sighed deeply, trying to calm the irritation rising within me. Keiran was clearly eager, but his energy was more frustrating than helpful right now. “No, Keiran, he didn’t say anything about punishment. It was a reminder—about responsibilities about the weight of being Alpha.” I paused, staring at him, hoping the message would sink in. “You should know that by now.”

Keiran looked visibly relieved but still wouldn’t stop talking. “Oh, okay. I thought maybe…” He trailed off, eyes darting around before landing back on me. “Anyway, what did he really say?”

I clenched my jaw, trying to remain composed. “What I said was enough. This isn't about some lecture, it’s about leadership.” I looked down the hallway, my thoughts returning to the conversation I’d just had with my father. “We have more important things to focus on. There’s a recruitment drive happening in the pack, and your role—your focus—should be on the education aspect. The old educators’ time is nearly up.”

Keiran’s face lit up at the topic shift, and he straightened, eager to take on the task. “Oh, right, the educators. I’ll make sure that’s taken care of. But…” He paused, looking at me with an inquisitive expression, “You sure you're not just trying to distract me from something else?”

I gave him a pointed look, not masking the seriousness in my gaze. “I’m not distracting you. I’m making sure we stay on track. The future of the pack doesn’t rest on small distractions.”

Keiran swallowed, suddenly looking more serious. “Right. I’ll get on it. But, you know…” He hesitated, his eyes shifting around, trying to find the words. “You can’t just keep running away from your responsibilities as Alpha. You can’t ignore what the pack needs from you. They need you to—”

I cut him off before he could finish, my voice firm, unwavering. “Keiran, the pack’s future rests on my shoulders. You have your duties, and I have mine.” My eyes bore into his, letting the weight of my words settle. “Don’t forget that.”

Keiran nodded quickly, the nervous energy fading, replaced by determination. “Yes, Alpha. I won’t forget.”

As he turned to leave, I couldn’t help but watch him go. The air in the hallway felt thicker now, charged with the sense that there was no turning back. My thoughts had returned to the responsibilities I couldn’t escape. The future of the pack. My father’s words. The weight of it all.

And yet, no matter how much I focused on the pack, I couldn’t shake one thought from my mind.

My night with the human.