Alpha's Claim

Revelations

All night, Lena had lain there unable to sleep, the whole incident with the battle replaying before her: the heat in Rowan's eyes, how he had got the best of her, and the freakish, almost unspoken bond that she felt with him. She twisted and turned in her bed, trying to rid herself of those thoughts, yet each attempt proved them stronger and more confusing than previously.

Finally, she gave up on sleep and emerged from the tent just before the break of dawn. The camp was quiet: only a few guards patrolling the perimeter. The morning was cool; a grey light was creeping up over the horizon. Lena needed to shake her head clear, to scrub off the lingering effects of the night's battle.

She walked to the edge of the forest, from where the Ravenshade pack had disappeared hours ago. The trees stood tall and silent, yet Lena could almost feel the presence of Rowan just past them, watching, waiting. She shook her head, trying to push the thought aside.

"What are you doing out here?" a voice asked from behind her.

Lena spun around, her heart pounding in her chest, and found that it was only Marcus. Her brother was uncanny about showing up out of thin air, whenever she least expected him to.

"I can say the same to you," Lena retorted, her voice far lighter than she felt.

Marcus grinned back at her. "I don't know. Couldn't sleep. Thought I might catch up with my big sister.

Lena smiled at his attempt to cheer her up but didn't quite make it to her eyes. "Just needed some fresh air," she said, looking back to the forest.

Marcus joined her, his face turning sombre. "You have been quiet since the battle. There is something on your mind."

Lena hesitated, slightly unwilling to let out too much. She and Marcus had always been close to each other, but this was a bit different. What she had felt with Rowan was something that couldn't be put into words easily, not even to herself.

"It's nothing," she finally said. "Just… trying to figure it all out."

Marcus eyed her for a long second, as if he saw through her really well. "Lena, you don't have to carry everything alone, you know. We're in this together."

Lena sighed. Knowing he was right, it didn't make her be able to say the things that were boiling in her mind. So, rather than saying anything, she just reached out and gave his shoulder a little squeeze.

"I know, Marcus. Thanks.

For a moment, the two of them just stood in silence, watching as the sky grew lighter. It soothed the restless parts of Lena's mind, but even then, it didn't do enough. She could feel the weight of the days coming, knew the battle with the Ravenshades wasn't over.

Much later in the day, after she had checked the wounded and lent a hand with the mending that had to be done to the paramilitary camp, Lena, finally, resolved to seek out her father. She needed answers—about the attack, about Rowan, about everything that seemed to permeate the very air around her with strange tension.

She found him in his tent, where he was engaged with a few other elders of the clan poring over maps. They were debating, talking strategy, preparing for what may come next. Her entrance caused them all to look up; their expressions all guarded.

"Father, may I speak with you?" Lena asked, and she said it with a steady voice.

To this her father only nodded, and he waved the others away. Once they were alone, he turned to her with a questioning look, "And to what do I owe this audience?".

"What ails you, Lena?"

She breathed heavily, trying to settle her thoughts. "Last night's attack… it just didn't make sense. They had the advantage but pulled back. Why?"

Her father's face hardened, and he sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I've been trying to answer that very question myself. Rowan Ravenshade is no one's fool. There is more here than we are seeing."

Lena breathed easy knowing that her father was as disturbed as she was. "Do you think he is gauging us, Father?"

"It might be," he replied, but the doubt was clear in his voice. "Or he simply is sending a message. Whichever it is, be on your guard. We never know what he's bound to do next."

She hesitated before speaking once more. "Father… what if, what if there is really more to the story about our clans? What if there is something that we do not know?"

Her father narrowed his eyes slightly, and Lena could practically see the wheels in his mind. "For what purpose?"

Lena bit her lip and thought her words out carefully.

We've been fighting the Ravenshade clan for a long time, but maybe there's a reason we don't know.

What if that something can give us a why they attacked, and then retreated?"

Her father glanced at her, his eyes sharp. "Are you suggesting we seek out the truth?"

"Yes," Lena said firmly. "I think we need to understand the real reason behind this feud. If we don't, we might never find a way to end it."

On this, her father was silent, contemplating that for far too long a moment before, at last, slowly nodding. "They may be right. But be a bit careful, Lena. If you start digging too deep, you might not like what you see"

Lena swallowed hard. The weight of his warning lay heavy on her. "I'll be careful, Father. But we can't afford to stay in the dark.

He nodded once more before dismissing her. Lena left the tent, feeling both resolute and yet uneasy. She knew she was walking a tightrope, but something down deep inside wouldn't let her walk away. She just couldn't shake the feeling that the truth, the path to it, was held in Rowan Ravenshade's hands, for if she was to protect her clan, she would have to find out what path that was.

The closer the day drew on, the firmer Lena felt inside herself. She had a nagging feeling that she couldn't just leave this unsolved mystery. Next time she sees Rowan, she is finally going to be prepared; not just to fight, but to truly find out the truth.

But what the truth she sought held inside of it would break and change everything she could imagine, forcing choices that were impossible. The path was fraught with danger and difficult choices. And Lena knew her journey was only just beginning.