Destined for the Alpha

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

The sun dips low in the sky, casting a golden glow on the thick canopy of the forest as Kade's howl pierces the tranquil evening air. It's a summoning that resonates deep within my bones, a call that no wolf, shifter or not, can ignore. Despite the dread pooling in my stomach, I know it's time to join the pack for what promises to be an unsettling gathering.

I weave through the trees, my small stature allowing me to slip between the dense underbrush with ease—a skill honed from years of feeling less than, invisible. My feet find the familiar path to the clearing where our meetings are held, each step drumming up the anxiety fluttering in my chest. As I approach, I see him—Lucas, his broad shoulders set and eyes scanning the arriving pack members. He offers me a brief nod, his gaze lingering just a moment longer than necessary, sending a rush of warmth through my veins. Despite his status as Gamma, he has never treated me with anything but respect.

"Grace," he greets softly when I reach his side. His voice carries the comforting rumble of the earth, and it soothes some of the unease within me.

"Lucas," I return, trying to match his calm presence, but my voice betrays the hint of a tremble. He doesn't comment on it, simply turns his attention forward as Kade makes his way to the center of the clearing.

"Pack," Kade begins, his voice authoritative and strong, demanding attention. "We stand amidst a time of unrest. The political climate between packs has been strained, tensions are high, and we must be vigilant." His words hang heavily in the air, and I feel the collective tension rise around me.

"Several packs pose potential threats to our safety," Kade continues. "Among them, the Ghost Moon Pack stands out for their recent movements along our borders." Murmurs ripple through the crowd, a mix of fear and anger bubbling up.

The Ghost Moon Pack—the name sends an involuntary shiver down my spine. Images of darkened woods and whispered legends surface in my mind, but I push them away. Kade's eyes scan the assembled wolves, assessing, calculating.

"Be alert," he commands. "Trust in your instincts and in your pack. We have managed before, and we will continue to thrive through unity and strength."

As the meeting disperses, I linger behind, lost in thought. The weight of Kade's words presses down on me, and I feel the familiar tug of inadequacy. Am I enough to stand with my pack if the Ghost Moon Pack is truly a threat? Can I contribute anything of value?

"Hey," Lucas says, jolting me from my reverie. "You okay?"

His concern is genuine, and though part of me wants to spill every doubt and fear, I hold back, offering him a small, reassuring smile instead. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about what Kade said."

"Things will be alright," Lucas assures me, his confidence unshaken. "We've got each other's backs, right?"

Lucas's words are a gentle balm, yet they don't quite reach the cold tendrils of doubt that coil tighter around my heart. I nod, forcing brightness into my voice that I don't feel. "Of course. We're stronger together."

He smiles, his gaze lingering in a way that sends warmth cascading through me, but it’s a fleeting moment. As he turns to leave, the pack's murmurs swirl around us like a rising storm, and there's no escaping the growing unease that settles over the clearing.

I inch away from the dispersing crowd, my feet carrying me towards the shelter of the dense forest that borders our territory. The cool underbrush against my skin is familiar, almost comforting, but the turmoil inside me refuses to abate.

"Jackson," I whisper to myself. The name feels like a secret, heavy on my tongue. He's the Alpha of the Ghost Moon Pack—the pack we're taught to fear, to hate. But memories of stolen glances and hushed conversations flood my mind, contradicting everything I've been told about them. Jackson's eyes, fierce and intelligent, had held mine in a moment of silent understanding. Could someone who seemed so earnest, so... real be at the helm of the threat we face?

A soft sigh escapes me as I sink down onto the mossy ground, hidden by the shadows of towering pines. The ache of loneliness is a constant companion; being an orphan in the pack means I'm often overlooked, underestimated. I don't have the luxury of shifting into a powerful wolf form like the others. My strength lies elsewhere, in the resilience of spirit and the keenness of my mind, though few see it.

"Is it possible we're wrong about him? About his pack?" I murmur, voicing the question that haunts me. The thought is treasonous, dangerous, but I can't help but wonder if our enmity is based on truth or misunderstanding.

Every fiber of my being leans toward trusting Jackson, despite the risk. Maybe it's the way he looked at me, not with pity or disdain, but with curiosity and... could it have been respect? Or maybe it's the yearning for connection, for someone to see me for who I am, not just what I'm not.

"Grace?" Lucas's voice breaks through my thoughts, and I startle, looking up to find him standing at the edge of the clearing, his expression etched with concern.

"Did you need something else?" I ask, wiping my palms on my jeans as I stand, trying to shake off the fog of introspection.

"Everyone's heading back," he says, stepping closer. "You shouldn't be out here alone. It's not safe."

"Right," I reply, a half-hearted attempt at humor lining my words. "Because of the big, bad Ghost Moon Pack?"

Lucas frowns slightly, his hands shoved into his pockets. "It's not a joke, Grace. They're a real threat. Kade wouldn't say it if it wasn't true."

"Of course." I cast my gaze downward, biting my lip to keep from saying more. How can I explain the doubts that plague me without betraying my own pack? Without revealing my secret encounters with their supposed enemy?

"Come on," he urges softly. "Let's go back together."

"Okay," I agree, falling into step beside him. But as we walk, the distance between what my pack believes and what my heart suspects only grows wider. And deep down, I know it's only a matter of time before I must choose which path to follow—one paved by loyalty or one guided by a truth only I seem willing to see.