Bound by blood and betrayal

Being Alpha wasn't about glory. It was about blood, scars, and standing tall even when everything inside you screamed to run.

Aidana Draven didn't run.

She stood on a jagged cliff edge that overlooked the Nightfang training grounds, arms crossed as she watched her warriors spar below. Sweat, growls, and dust filled the air-music to her ears. Every strike, every dodge, every roar of effort reminded her why she ruled this pack. Not because she inherited it. Not because she was born into power.

She earned it.

"Better form, Kellan," she called down, her voice cutting clean through the chaos. "Your opponent isn't going to wait for you to decide when to shift."

The younger wolf grunted and adjusted. He knew better than to argue. No one questioned her authority-especially not after what happened to the last wolf who tried.

"Aidana," came a voice behind her.

She didn't turn. She didn't need to. Rowan always approached like a storm about to break-low and steady, with just enough warning to brace yourself.

"Speak."

"The Shadowveil patrol crossed into the eastern ridge again," Rowan said. "Didn't engage, just... watched."

Aidana's jaw clenched. Of course they did.

"Dacre's testing us."

Rowan didn't respond. He didn't need to. Everyone knew it.

Dacre Valnan. Alpha of Shadowveil. A predator dressed in patience. Aidana had never met him face to face, but the stories were enough-how he broke bones with a smile, how he carved his way to power with no remorse. He was exactly the kind of wolf she despised.

Calculated. Ruthless. Dead-eyed.

And now he was watching her borders like he was waiting for her to slip.

Let him wait.

"I want patrols doubled," she said, eyes narrowing on the tree line in the far distance. "And tell the scouts to track without being seen. If Shadowveil wants to play games, we'll remind them we don't lose."

Rowan hesitated for a beat. "You think he's looking for a fight?"

Aidana finally turned to face him, her golden eyes hard. "I think he's bored. And bored alphas are dangerous."

Especially ones with nothing left to fear.

She walked past Rowan, heading toward the heart of the territory. Wolves nodded as she passed, but no one smiled. They respected her, feared her, trusted her-but they didn't try to be her friend.

She liked it that way.

Friendship was a liability. Trust was a weapon others used against you. Aidana had learned that the hard way. People left. Betrayed. Died. She had no interest in giving her heart to anyone who could break it.

Her pack was her heart now.

And she would burn the world before she let anyone threaten it.

As she reached the den's entrance, a younger wolf rushed out, nearly slamming into her.

"S-Sorry, Alpha!"