She stepped back, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. “I will not take your lives.”
There was a moment of disbelief in the air before the murmur of the crowd began to grow louder. Alexa and Akela lay on the ground, stunned by her words. Their eyes were wide, and for the first time, Una saw something that resembled respect flicker in their gazes.
“I choose mercy,” Una continued, her voice steady and resolute. “You will serve me, not as enemies, but as my loyal companions. You will learn what it means to fight for the pack, not just for your own pride.”
Alexa’s lips curled into a bitter smile, but it wasn’t without respect. “You’ve won, Una. I’ll give you that. But you’ll regret this.”
Akela pushed herself to her feet, wiping the dirt from her face. “You think you’re better than us,
