Chapter 47 — The Alpha’s Doubt
1027 Words
Damien’s chamber was dim despite the torches burning along the walls.
Night had settled fully over the stronghold. Outside the window the training yard lay silent, the packed earth pale under the moonlight.
By sunrise it would be full.
Half the pack would come openly.
The other half would pretend they were passing by.
But everyone would watch.
Damien stood by the window with his hands clasped behind his back.
He had not slept.
The knock on the door came quietly.
“Enter.”
The door opened and his younger brother stepped inside.
Adrian.
Of the five brothers born to their father, only three remained alive now.
Marcus was dead.
Rowan — a nephew, but raised among them like blood — was gone.
Adrian closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, studying Damien’s face.
“You look terrible.”
Damien didn’t smile.
“Sit.”
Adrian crossed the room and sat at the table near the center of the chamber. He poured himself a cup of water from the pitcher without asking.
“You called for me.”
“Yes.”
Damien finally turned from the window.
“How bad is it?”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“You’ll need to be more specific.”
“The pack.”
Silence lingered for a moment.
Adrian took a slow drink before answering.
“You want honesty?”
“Yes.”
Adrian set the cup down.
“The pack is one push away from falling apart.”
Damien nodded slowly.
“I suspected as much.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
“Marcus is dead.”
“Yes.”
“Rowan disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Linda nearly executed.”
Damien’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“And Bailey vanished.”
Adrian watched Damien carefully.
“No one believes these things are unrelated.”
Damien didn’t respond.
Adrian continued.
“The hunters are whispering.”
“The warriors are choosing sides.”
“And the younger wolves are watching.”
Damien walked slowly toward the table.
“And Morgan?”
Adrian’s mouth tightened slightly.
“Loud.”
Damien nodded.
“That matches what I’ve heard.”
Adrian crossed his arms.
“The sparring tomorrow will make everything worse.”
Damien stopped beside the table.
“What do you think will happen?”
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
“It could break the pack.”
Damien said nothing.
“If Morgan wins easily,” Adrian continued, “the wolves will think the fight was staged.”
“If Silas wins…”
He shrugged.
“…then the heir looks weak.”
“And if Morgan loses control?”
Adrian’s voice lowered.
“Then the pack will question the Alpha.”
Silence filled the room.
“You should stop it,” Adrian said.
Damien shook his head.
“No.”
Adrian blinked.
“What?”
“I won’t interfere.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“That’s reckless.”
“Perhaps.”
“You’re the Alpha.”
“Yes.”
“That means you can end this now.”
Damien walked back toward the window.
“I could.”
“Then why won’t you?”
Damien looked out over the dark courtyard.
“Because I’ve been hearing too many stories.”
Adrian frowned.
“What kind of stories?”
“Lies.”
“Rumors.”
“Half-truths.”
Damien turned slowly back toward him.
“I want to see the truth with my own eyes.”
Adrian stared at him.
“You think Morgan has something to prove.”
“I think Morgan has something to hide.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“And you’re willing to risk the stability of the pack to test that theory?”
Damien’s voice remained calm.
“I will stop the sparring the moment Silas is in real danger.”
Adrian stood up.
“That’s already too late.”
Damien didn’t respond.
Adrian shook his head slowly.
“You realize what the pack will see if you step in at that moment.”
Damien’s gaze met his.
“They will see their Alpha protecting a wolf.”
“No,” Adrian said quietly.
“They will see their Alpha choosing a hunter over his own son.”
Silence filled the chamber.
“That will destroy Morgan’s authority,” Adrian continued.
Damien looked down briefly.
“That may already be happening.”
Adrian frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Damien hesitated.
Then spoke quietly.
“Morgan killed Bailey.”
Adrian froze.
“…what?”
“And Rowan.”
The words landed like a blade in the room.
Adrian stared at him.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Damien exhaled slowly.
“For Rowan… Morgan told me.”
Adrian blinked.
“He told you?”
“He said Rowan fell during a run.”
“A fall?”
Damien nodded.
“He said it was an accident.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“And you believed him?”
“At the time.”
Silence stretched between them.
“And Bailey?” Adrian asked.
“Silas told me.”
Adrian ran a hand slowly through his hair.
“You’re trusting Silas over your own son?”
Damien’s eyes hardened.
“I’m trusting what makes sense.”
Adrian looked away for a moment.
“And Marcus?” he asked quietly.
“Do you think Morgan had something to do with that too?”
Damien shrugged faintly.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian stared at him.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
Damien returned to the window.
“For years I feared enemies outside our borders.”
His voice lowered.
“I expected another pack would come for us.”
Adrian remained silent.
Damien looked out over the empty training yard again.
“But now…”
He exhaled slowly.
“…I fear something else.”
“What?”
Damien’s voice was barely a whisper.
“That my own pack will tear itself apart.”
The torches flickered along the stone walls.
Adrian didn’t answer.
Because both of them knew the truth.
When the sun rose—
The pack would gather.
And what began as a sparring match might become something far more dangerous.
- Writer
