Alliance of Shadows, Book 4: DRESON

Arrival: Pack Politics

Driving to the pack lands was exciting, but Kaden never let go of my hand the entire time. He still thought I was joking, convinced that Mom and Dad would take him back home once they dropped me off.

The car came to a stop, and I glanced up at the building where we would be staying. It looked big—bigger than our house—but the first thing I noticed wasn’t the size. It was the world around it.

Tall trees stretched high overhead, their branches swaying gently with the breeze. The scent of cut grass mixed with the sweet perfume of wildflowers, filling the air with the smell of summer. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear water—a soft, steady rush, like a hidden river winding through the trees. Birds chattered and sang, their voices rising and falling like a secret conversation just beyond my understanding. The ground felt warm beneath my feet, the soft earth pressing into my shoes.

Standing behind Alpha Henry was an older man, his posture rigid with authority. Alpha Henry had his hand resting on Neil’s head, a casual gesture that hinted at familiarity.

Kaden stumbled, catching his foot on a small rock and tumbling to the ground.

"Owie, Dre," he whimpered.

"You okay?" I asked, crouching beside him. I helped him up, brushing off his clothes before checking his leg. Even as I focused on Kaden, I could feel eyes on me. I knew the Alpha’s son was watching, his gaze sharp and unrelenting.

Neil snickered. "It was just a pebble, baby."

Heat crept into my cheeks, anger sparking beneath my skin. The warmth of the air seemed to vanish for a moment, replaced by something sharper, hotter. I turned to Neil and fixed him with my fiercest glare.

"Leave my brother alone, Neil. We're older, so we gotta watch out for him."

Neil crossed his arms, unbothered. "No, you have to look out for him. I'm not his brother—you are."

I tried to keep my temper in check, but the frustration boiled over. Before I could stop myself, I shoved him to the ground in front of the watching adults.

The older man raised his brows but said nothing, observing the scene with a measured silence. His piercing gaze lingered on me, weighted with quiet authority, like he was sizing me up without a word.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Celestia press a hand against Dad’s chest, holding him back from stepping in. She didn’t correct me, didn’t speak up. For some reason, she was allowing this moment to unfold without interference. The tension in the air buzzed like the hum of insects in the summer heat, unseen but undeniable.

Neil landed hard on his backside, kicking up a small puff of dust from the packed earth beneath him. His expression twisted in a scowl as he glared up at me. "Brat! I’m the future Alpha, so you better not make me mad!" His voice was sharp, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes—like he hadn’t expected me to actually push back.

"Yeah, well, you could use a lesson or two in manners—and what it really means to look out for someone," I shot back, stepping protectively in front of my little brother. A faint rustling in the trees caught my ears, the sound of birds taking flight, startled by the sudden burst of movement. "My mommy told me Alphas set an example for the whole pack. But you’re not. You’re just being a bully."

Silence stretched for a moment, thick as the scent of cut grass and wildflowers in the warm air.

Suddenly, the older man let out a hearty laugh, his shoulders shaking as he clapped Alpha Henry soundly on the back. “Ah, now, I see what you meant, son. This one’s got a fire in him—a fresh breeze round here, sure enough. We’ll need to get everything sorted before Andrea’s back. She still doesn’t know a lick about the supernatural, so that’s a secret ye’ll have to keep tight, right boys?” His voice carried a rich, rolling cadence, as though he was used to commanding attention with ease.

"I know that, Grandpa," Neil snickered, a smug edge to his voice. "But they don’t, and that little one’s just a hybrid."

A chill settled into my stomach as I watched. The older man’s expression darkened, his movements swift. Without hesitation, he grabbed Neil and spun him around, delivering a sharp smack.

Neil stumbled but remained upright as his grandfather set him back on his feet, his gaze stern and unwavering.

“The next time, ye’ll be feelin’ it worse,” the man warned, his voice edged with authority, low but unwavering. "Drop the attitude and act like the Alpha ye were meant to be. Understood? No more of this strutting about like yer better than the rest. If ye want to lead this pack, then ye damn well start acting like it."

A hush fell over the clearing, save for the distant rush of the river, flowing on as if it hadn’t just witnessed the shift in power.

Finally, Celestia let my father go, and he walked forward, extending his hand. "Grand Alpha Kristopher Dane, I take it?"

"That’d be me, aye," the Grand Alpha – Grandfather King of all Alphas – replied, shaking his hand firmly. His grip was strong, authoritative, the handshake of a man who had commanded power for decades. "And you’d be High-Councillor Rowan Cage, if I’m not mistaken?"

"That’s right, Sir. Been friends with Henry and Phillip since our college days, y’see," Dad said, ruffling my hair as he spoke, his voice carrying that warm familiarity. "Kaden’s never been far from his brother’s side. So when Dre was chosen, well, he took it pretty rough."

The breeze carried the scent of fresh-cut grass and wildflowers, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil. The forest stood tall around us, thick with towering pines and maples, their branches swaying gently overhead. In the distance, the steady rush of a river curled through the valley, its waters unseen but ever present in the quiet hum of nature. Birds chirped and fluttered through the canopy, their songs blending into the rhythmic pulse of the world around me.

My first thought was uh-oh, but Kristopher only grinned, his weathered features crinkling as he crouched down to my level. His gaze, though sharp with authority, held something deeper—calculated interest.

"Ah, now, I’ve been hearin’ ye’re a strong and protective big brother to little Kaden. That’s a fine thing, lad—I hope ye’ll keep it up, aye?" he said, his voice rolling like an old storyteller weaving a tale meant to last generations.

I nodded quickly. "I have to. He’s my baby brother, so I gotta look after him and chase away the bullies. I’m sorry I pushed Neil. I didn’t mean to, but I was so mad."

"It’s grand," Henry answered, his voice a touch rough but sure, laced with the controlled intensity of a leader. "That one needs to get his head outta the clouds and start actin’ right. I reckon ye being here’ll help with that."

Kristopher chuckled, shaking his head, his laughter deep and rich, like rolling thunder before a storm. "Clever lad, this one. At least he’s got the sense to know when to stand firm and when to ease off. As for young Kaden—hybrid or not—he’s just as much a part of this pack as the rest, sure enough."

Hearing that, I raised my head to him and grinned, feeling warmth spread through my chest like sunlight filtering through the trees.

Kaden tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"I need to potty," he whispered. "And you gotta go say sorry to Neil."

Alpha Henry turned to a young woman standing by the door and gave a small nod. "Denise, take them up to their room. There's a bathroom in the bedroom—show them where it is."

We followed her up the stairs, Kaden trailing close beside me, his little hands clutching the hem of my shirt. His grip was warm, small fingers curling into the fabric like he thought I might disappear if he let go. The soft creak of the wooden steps echoed beneath our feet, each step carrying us further from the tension lingering downstairs.

The air inside smelled of old timber and fresh linens, a mix of age and care. The hallway was wide, lined with framed paintings and a few flickering wall sconces that gave off a warm, golden glow. A faint breeze drifted through an open window, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth from the forest outside. Through the glass, the sun dipped lower, casting a hazy orange light over the treetops, the distant river glinting in the fading glow.

As we climbed, I could hear my father apologizing once more to the two Alphas. Their voices were steady, unbothered, brushing off the tension with a practiced ease.

"He’ll be good for Neil," Alpha Henry remarked, his tone thoughtful. "The lad’s got solid values—ones he’s been taught well. Might do Neil some good to pick up a few along the way."

Guilt gnawed at my chest, a slow tightening feeling like invisible hands pressing against my ribs. I held my head high, trying to shake it off. I hadn’t meant to lash out, but protecting my brother was instinct. The thought of anyone—especially the Alpha’s son—hurting him made my stomach twist.

The soft hum of wind outside, the muffled conversation behind us, and Kaden’s quiet breaths all blended together, filling the silence as Denise led us to our room.