The Alpha's Songs

ved with a quiet energy, casting furtive glances at each other as they gathered around the ceremonial grounds. The ritual was me

s role pressing down, his duty to embody strength and unity for everyone gathered there. Yet tonight, his th

e same wary curiosity she held when she'd first arrived. She was an outsider, and the ceremony on

You sure about letting her stay tonight? Y

now. But she needs to see this. If she's go

she is." Finn's gaze flicked to Liana, a hint of wo

ice steady. "But we'll hand

atted Callan's shoulder, then melted back into the

ward her, his footsteps light but purposeful. She watched him approach, her face u

e asked as he reached her, a wry smil

replied, his tone dry. "You under

hered pack. "Renewing bonds, affirming loyalties." Her gaze ret

rised at the depth of her

ituals like this... they weren't really part of my life." Her voice

ack's murmurs and laughter filling the air around them. Ca

ges," he said finally, his voice s

rp and unyielding. "That wou

d the pack before answering. "No

ging, but he caught the flicker

f you're part of this place, then you're part of

a moment before her defenses slipped back into pla

st about blood and loyalty. It's about purpose.

see the doubt in her eyes. "I appreciate the pep

ed, his voice low but resolute. "You ju

ost imperceptibly. "Alright,

tion snapped back to the gathering, his instincts flaring as he caught sight of the disturbance. A

a murmured, her

though he knew it was futile.

shifted back to human form, was on his knees, clutching his side as if he'd just returned from battle. His face was p

beside him, his voice both fi

ling to focus. "They're close,

crowd as they digested the boy's words. Liana's ga

uietly, though the ans

a whisper. "I saw them... too many to c

ed deep in his bones. He exchanged a glance with Lian

onan, squeezing the boy's sho

face etched with fear. He felt the weight of their expectations pre

ing over them. "We'll defend our home together. An

ce gaze. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it

e gathered wolves. He could feel their tension ebbing, replaced by a steely r

p. "You've faced worse than this," she said, her tone steady. "You know the

r, recognizing the unexpected but undeniable authority in her voice. The pack wa

rry and resolve. "What's the plan, Callan?"

the best defenses. "I want three groups patrolling the outer edges, covering e

o gather a handful of capable wolves, issuing orders

ana. "You and I will take

ust gave him a singl

that had stood for centuries. The undergrowth was thick, the air dense with the scent of pine and damp e

e. They slipped through the forest with the ease of seasone

canning the dense shadows that lay beyond. He could feel the weig

or this?" she asked quietly, her t

o the distant calls of night birds, the subtle hum of the forest around them. "We d

a smile breaking through her tense e

rged. The forest seemed to hold its breath, wait

te to be an animal. Callan's body tensed, and h

e glint of a silver blade strapped across his chest. The man's stance was cautious, his eyes nar

her voice barely a br

ulating the distance between them. "Wait," he

e moment he crossed the invisible boundary that marked the pack's territory, Cal

shoulder, pinning him in place. The man let out a strangled gasp, struggling

said, his voice a low growl

n expression hard as stone. "Looks like your kind is getting a bit too comfortable here," the

don't think you understand your position," he said, voice calm but deadly

ugh the trees. "You think this is it?" he taunted. "There

t it show. Instead, he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Then I sugge

kering with a mix of fear and anger. Without another word, he turned and disappea

owly ebbing from his body. He glanced at Liana, who stood beside hi

he murmured, more to

voice a quiet promise

vast and impenetrable. Callan could feel the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him,

oftness in his gaze. "Come on," he