THE WOLFLESS ALPHA

The twenty-seventh child awakened as a runt. Frost Fang Pack still cheered until the mountains answered. Then the Elder called Cole’s name. The cheering doubled. “Cole! Cole! Cole!” Three hundred wolves stamped their feet and howled. Cole was Alpha Alton’s younger son. His older brother, Vance—the Alpha’s firstborn and future heir—had cracked the Awakening Stone during his first shift two years ago. Today, the entire Pack had come to see whether Cole would surpass him. Cole stepped toward the Circle. Someone shouted, “Give us another Alpha!” Another wolf yelled, “Break the whole damn stone this time!” Laughter rolled through the courtyard. Cole lifted his chin and looked toward the platform. Vance stood beside their father, wearing the silver shoulder clasp reserved for the Alpha’s heir. At twelve, he was already taller than most boys of fifteen. He smiled down at Cole. “Try not to disappoint Father.” Cole smiled back. “Try not to look scared when I beat you.” The wolves closest to them laughed. Vance’s smile disappeared. Alpha Alton raised one hand. Three hundred wolves fell silent. That was his father’s power. No shouting. No threats. One movement, and the strongest Pack in the northern territories obeyed. Alton looked down at his younger son. “Enter the Circle.” Cole’s blood surged. There it was. His moment. He stepped onto the ancient stone. Silver symbols ignited beneath his boots. The crowd gasped. They had not glowed for any of the other children. The Elder stared at the light, then quickly lowered his head. “A strong response,” someone whispered. “Of course it is. He’s the Alpha’s son.” “Look at Vance.” Cole did. His brother’s jaw had tightened. Good. For once, Vance was the one watching from the outside. The Elder placed a hand over Cole’s heart. “Close your eyes.” Cole obeyed. “Find the wolf beneath your skin.” Cole had dreamed about this moment for years. He imagined black fur. Silver eyes. A wolf large enough to stand beside his father’s. He reached inward. And found nothing. Cole’s smile faded. “Call to it,” the Elder ordered. Cole tried again. Nothing growled. Nothing moved. Nothing answered. The courtyard became quiet. Too quiet. Cole opened his eyes. “Again.” The Elder frowned. “The ceremony is not finished.” “It felt like you stopped.” “I did not.” “Then try again.” A few wolves laughed. Cole ignored them. The Elder pressed harder against his chest. “Reach deeper.” Cole shut his eyes. Come on. His heart pounded. Come on! Nothing. A boy whispered loudly, “What’s taking him so long?” Another answered, “Vance shifted in six seconds.” Cole heard children snickering. Adults shushed them, but the excitement in the courtyard had already begun to rot. The Elder withdrew his hand. “No.” Cole grabbed his wrist. The crowd gasped. “Again.” “Release me.” “Something went wrong.” “The Circle does not make mistakes.” “Then I did. Let me try again.” The Elder pulled free. “There is no wolf to call.” The words struck the courtyard dead. Cole stared at him. “What?” “I cannot sense a wolf inside you.” For one long second, nobody reacted. Then Owen laughed. Owen—the smallest boy in Cole’s training group. The boy who had awakened only minutes earlier after wetting himself in the Circle. He pointed at Cole. “The Alpha’s son is human.” Several children burst out laughing. “He doesn’t even have a runt!” “Maybe his wolf ran away!” “Maybe it saw Vance and gave up!” The laughter spread. Cole looked toward the adults. They would stop it. They had watched him grow up. They had trained him, fed him, bowed when his family passed. A warrior covered his mouth to hide a smile. A woman whispered to her mate, “Imagine being Luna and giving birth to that.” Her mate snorted. Another voice rose from the back. “Maybe he isn’t the Alpha’s son.” The laughter died instantly. Alpha Alton stood. Power crashed over the courtyard. Every wolf lowered their eyes. The man who had spoken disappeared behind the crowd. Cole’s chest tightened. His father would defend him now. He would defend Mira. He would tell the Pack that his blood could not be questioned. Instead, Alton looked at the Elder. “Examine him again.” Cole’s hope turned cold. The Elder hesitated. “Alpha—” “Do it.” The old wolf bowed. He stepped back into the Circle and placed one hand against Cole’s chest. His other hand closed around the base of Cole’s neck. “Do not move.” Cole lifted his chin. “Find it.” The Elder closed his eyes. His fingers pressed harder. Cold moved beneath Cole’s skin. Down his throat. Across his chest. For one second, there was nothing. Then something struck beneath the Elder’s palm. Once. Hard. Cole’s breath caught. The Elder’s fingers jerked away from his chest. He stumbled backward. For one second, the old wolf looked afraid. Mira grabbed the front of her ceremonial dress. Alpha Alton stepped down from the platform. The Elder looked at Mira. Then at Alton. Cole saw it. They knew something. “What happened?” he demanded. The Elder wiped his palm against his robe. Alton stopped beside him. “Give the Pack your answer.” The Elder’s mouth tightened. His eyes remained on Cole. “There is no wolf.” Cole stared at him. “You felt something.” “I found no wolf.” “You pulled away.” “The examination is complete.” “What did you feel?” “Nothing.” “You’re lying.” The Pack erupted. No child called an Elder a liar. Especially not the Alpha’s son. Especially not in front of the entire Pack. Cole looked at his father. “You saw him.” Alton’s jaw tightened. “The Elder gave his answer.” “He was afraid.” “The examination is over.” Cole pointed at the old wolf. “Ask him why he pulled away.” Alton looked at the Elder. The old man lowered his eyes. For one moment, Cole thought his father would force him to answer. Instead, Alton said, “Leave the Circle.” Cole’s hand dropped. “What?” “The ceremony is finished.” “You know something happened.” “Leave.” Vance came down from the platform laughing. “He fails to awaken, and suddenly the sacred Elder is a liar.” “Stay out of this,” Cole snapped. Vance entered the Circle. “This Circle is for wolves.” Cole’s fists closed. “I said stay out of it.” “Make me.” The crowd leaned forward. They had stopped caring about the ceremony. Now they wanted blood. Vance stood inches from him. “Where is that great wolf you kept promising everyone?” Cole said nothing. “You said you would be stronger than me.” “I will be.” “With what?” Vance looked down at Cole’s hands. “Your little human fists?” The wolves laughed again. Louder this time. Vance spread his arms. “Go ahead, brother. Shift.” “I’m warning you.” “Shift.” Cole shoved him. Vance barely moved. The crowd roared. “Careful, Vance!” “Don’t hurt the human prince!” “Maybe pain will wake his wolf!” Vance shoved Cole back. Cole stumbled across the Circle. His face burned. Vance smiled. “Father should have drowned you when you were born.” Cole punched him. His fist smashed into Vance’s mouth. Vance staggered. Blood appeared on his lip. The courtyard went silent. Cole had struck the future Alpha. More importantly— He had made him bleed. Vance touched his mouth. His eyes turned silver. The Pack exploded. “Vance!” “Teach him his place!” “Show him what a real wolf looks like!” Vance hit Cole across the face. Cole flew sideways and struck the stone. Pain burst through his jaw. The wolves cheered. Cole pushed himself up. Vance kicked him in the ribs. He went down again. “Stay there,” Vance said. Cole spat blood. “No.” He stood. Vance hit him again. “Stay down.” “No.” Another blow. Another fall. The crowd became a wall of laughing mouths. “Shift, Cole!” “Call your wolf!” “Maybe it’s hiding in the dirt!” Cole dragged himself onto one knee. Vance planted a boot against his chest. “Say it.” Cole stared up at him. “Say what?” “That you’re not one of us.” Cole grabbed Vance’s ankle and twisted. Vance crashed onto the stone. Cole threw himself on top of him. One punch. Vance’s head snapped sideways. Two. His nose broke. Three— A few younger wolves cheered. Cole heard them. For one glorious second, Vance looked afraid. Then claws tore through Cole’s side. Cole screamed. Four bloody lines opened beneath his ribs. Vance threw him across the Circle. Cole struck the stone and curled around the pain. The Elder stepped backward. Cole saw it. He had not moved away from Vance’s claws. He had moved away from Cole. Mira ran forward. “Enough!” Luna authority cracked through the courtyard. The wolves fell silent. She stepped between her sons and looked at Vance’s bloody claws. “What is wrong with you?” “He attacked me.” “You humiliated him.” “He humiliated our blood!” “He is your brother!” “He has no wolf!” Mira slapped him. The sound echoed off the mountain walls. Vance froze. So did the Pack. No one struck the future Alpha. Not even his mother. Vance slowly faced her again. The rage left his expression. For one moment, he looked twelve years old. “You knew this might happen.” Mira’s hand lowered. Vance looked from her to their father. “You both knew.” Alton said nothing. Vance gave a short laugh. “They compared me to him for ten years.” Mira reached for him. “Vance—” “You let them say he might take everything from me.” “He is your brother.” “He has nothing.” Vance stepped away from her. “And you still choose him.” Alpha Alton descended from the platform.