5 YEARS LATER

Five years. Five years since I walked away from the Bloody River Pack, from Caelan’s rejection, from the girl who didn’t know who she was. The girl who once felt weak, unsure of her place in the world.

Now, standing tall on the balcony of the grand hall, looking over the sea of faces, I could hardly believe how much had changed. The past felt distant, like a shadow I no longer recognized.

I, Lila Winter, had become the Female Alpha of the HumanLight Pack—a pack where both humans and werewolves were united. I had embraced both sides of me—the wolf’s strength and the human’s resilience—and now, I led with a power I’d never imagined.

Tonight, my pack celebrated my 23rd birthday, but it was more than just a birthday. It was a celebration of everything I had become. The HumanLight Pack had grown into something formidable—stronger, unified, and thriving under my leadership.

I could feel the weight of their respect in every glance, every bow of the head, every whispered word. It wasn’t that I needed the attention—I had learned to live without it years ago. But tonight, it was different. Tonight, they didn’t just respect me as their Alpha. They admired me. And it wasn’t just my title; it was everything I had become.

The courtyard was alive with music and laughter, the smell of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filling the air. The pack had gone all out for my birthday. Tables were laden with food, and torches flickered around the edges, casting long shadows. Some danced, some ate, and some simply stood in awe of the woman I had become.

I didn’t join in the festivities. It wasn’t my style. I preferred to watch from the edge. I had never been one for celebrations, not the way others were. And yet, tonight, it felt different. They treated me like royalty, but not in the way I had imagined. There was respect in their admiration. There was reverence earned through blood, sweat, and tears.

"Alpha Lila, the birthday girl," Tyrus’s voice broke through my thoughts.

His deep voice was warm with respect. "You look as radiant as ever, Alpha."

I turned to him with a soft smile. "Thank you, Tyrus. It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I became Alpha. Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, and yet, so much has changed."

Tyrus nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd before returning to me.

"You’ve built all of this. The pack. This family we’ve become. We owe it all to you. You've made us stronger than we thought we could be."

Pride swelled inside me at his words. This was the pack I had forged—a mix of humans and werewolves, equal in each other’s eyes. We had become stronger together, and that strength was something I had led them to discover.

"Everyone’s been working hard to make tonight special for you," Tyrus continued, his voice carrying a warmth that spoke of something deeper, something I had recognized from him over the years. His gaze held admiration—perhaps even more—but it was never pushed, never uncomfortable. He knew his place, like everyone else in the pack. "You deserve it, Alpha."

I glanced around the courtyard again, taking in the sounds of laughter, the music, the faces of my pack. The pride in their eyes, the way they spoke of me with reverence, was a feeling I wasn’t used to. I was still adjusting to this new world, one where my authority wasn’t questioned, and my strength was something they relied on.

But even amidst all the praise, I felt distant. My heart fluttered in ways I couldn’t explain. The weight of it all—the title, the responsibility—felt heavy. What was I supposed to do with this power? How could I reconcile the woman I’d become with the girl who had once feared her own strength?

I pushed the thought aside. It didn’t matter. Not tonight.

As I walked among my pack, I heard the whispers—compliments, praise. "She’s so strong," one said. "The Alpha. The one who changed everything for us," said another. Their words floated around me like sweet music. I knew they meant it. They admired me. I felt it in every glance.

Yet, no one approached me personally. No one dared. They all respected me, but they knew their place. And truthfully, I was grateful. My heart was bound to the pack, but there was no room for anything else.

I noticed the men watching me—the way their eyes lingered, the unspoken admiration. But no one stepped forward. No one dared to court me.

It had been years since I’d allowed myself to consider such things. My life was dedicated to my pack, to their well-being. There was no room for anyone else. I had everything I needed right here. My pack, my strength, my leadership. That was all that mattered.

And yet, occasionally, a flicker of longing stirred deep inside me—a desire, a feeling I was missing something. But I quickly shut it down. There was no time for such things. Not when I had so much to protect.

The night wore on. I watched my pack enjoy the festivities, their eyes alight with happiness. They celebrated me, their Alpha. But as the moon rose higher, I stood alone, away from the crowd, feeling something stir within me—a longing for something beyond this life I had created.

It wasn’t loneliness. I had never been alone in this pack. But I hadn’t yet found something deeper. Something beyond leadership and praise.

For now, though, I would celebrate. I had earned this moment. Tomorrow, I would continue on the path I had forged for myself and my pack, never looking back.

The next morning, I groaned softly, turning away from the light, greeted by the persistent pounding in my head.

I sat up, my body heavy, muscles sore from the previous night’s celebration. The wine, the laughter, the music—it was all hazy now, swallowed by the fog of alcohol still clouding my senses. My skin felt clammy, my stomach twisted in discomfort as I tried to stand.

A dull ache throbbed in the back of my skull. I rubbed my temples, wondering if I had made a fool of myself last night.

I had drunk more than intended—celebrating with the pack, letting them praise me, basking in the feeling of finally being seen. But now, I barely had the strength to make it to the door.

I needed air.

I stumbled out of my chambers, steps unsteady, thoughts sluggish. The courtyard was quiet, the early morning mist rising like a shroud. It was peaceful. But even in the serenity, I couldn’t shake the feeling of something off, pressing on the edge of my thoughts.

I made my way to the balcony overlooking the training grounds. The cool morning breeze hit my face, refreshing my senses.

Just as I was about to lean over the railing, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Tyrus," I said, my voice rough from sleep and lingering alcohol. I hadn’t expected anyone this early, certainly not him. His presence always seemed to find me when I least expected it, like an anchor in the chaos of my life.

I turned to face him, trying to steady myself, but his expression told me everything. His face was taut, eyes darker than usual. There was urgency in his posture.

"Alpha," he said, his voice low but edged with something I didn’t like. "I have news. News from Bloody Scar Pack."

I blinked, breath catching in my throat. The Bloody Scar Pack. After everything—the rejection, the distance—I hadn’t expected to hear from them.

"What news?" I asked, voice shaky. I hadn’t realized how tense I had become.

Tyrus stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "There’s been an attack. Rogues. They’ve hit Bloody Scar Pack hard."

My heart stopped. Rogues. Memories of past attacks flooded my thoughts. But I needed more.

"How bad?" I asked, heart racing.

"Many dead," Tyrus continued, voice heavy. "The rogues didn’t just raid—they massacred."

As the wind whipped through my hair, memories flooded my mind. I remembered life before I found my place with the HumanLight Pack, before becoming the Alpha I was today. I remembered the day my father, Alpha Sauro, died, and how I had been left adrift.

The Bloody River Pack had taken me in. Alpha Roderick, my adoptive father, had raised me, taught me to survive. He had shown me what it meant to be strong.

I owed him everything.

I owed the Bloody River Pack everything.

Now, rogues were destroying them. My bloodline, my heritage, was being obliterated.

The anger flared, hot and fierce. Rogues had killed my father. They had taken him from me, and now they were doing the same to the pack that raised me. They needed to pay.

I turned toward Tyrus, who stood silently, waiting for my response. He knew the weight of what this would cost. But I didn’t care. I had made my decision.

"We’re going to help them," I said firmly.

Tyrus blinked. "What? Lila, you can’t—"

"I owe them. I owe the Bloody River Pack. They gave me everything when I had nothing. They raised me. Now, I’m going to return the favor. The rogues need to pay."

Tyrus looked at me, a mix of disbelief and concern. "But your loyalty is to your pack, to your people."

"I’m loyal to my pack," I replied. "But I’m also loyal to the blood that raised me.

The rogues crossed a line. They killed my father, and now they’re slaughtering innocent people. I won’t stand by and let that happen. Not again."