I stand at the edge of the clearing, feeling the full moon’s glow on my skin. It’s a strange mix of warmth and pressure, reminding me of everything I need to be. Around me, the pack gathers, their voices a gentle murmur blending with the night sounds. As the Alpha, this should feel like home. But tonight, like many nights before, I’m unsure.
“Daryn, you’re late,” my father’s voice booms behind me, cutting through my thoughts. He’s a former Alpha, now an elder, and every word reminds me of the legacy I’m meant to uphold.
“Sorry,” I say, trying to keep my tone steady. “I was just...thinking.”
He grunts, crossing his arms. “The pack looks to you for strength. You must show them confidence.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. Confidence. That’s what everyone expects. But inside, it feels like I’m walking a path carved by someone else, each step heavier than the last.
Taking a deep breath, I step into the clearing where familiar faces turn toward me. I can see respect in their eyes, yet it feels like I’m an actor in a play where everyone else knows their lines except me.
As I take my place at the center, my gaze sweeps over the crowd. There’s Zane, always ready to laugh, and Mira, watching with her usual calm. They ground me. Yet my eyes keep scanning, landing on an unexpected face—a face full of quiet strength and an intensity that catches me off guard.
It’s Kaden, one of the Betas. He stands apart, leaning against a tree, his eyes thoughtful and piercing. There’s something different about him tonight. Something that echoes the doubt inside me, yet also a spark of something else—something I can’t quite name.
I look away, focusing on the ritual beginning. As words are spoken and rituals unfold, I try to keep my mind where it should be, repeating my father’s advice like a mantra: strength, confidence, tradition.
But Kaden’s gaze lingers in my mind, unsettling my focus.
My father steps forward, reciting the ancient words that connect us to the moon and the land, binding us to traditions that feel both comforting and confining. I should feel pride, yet all I feel is a twinge of unease.
As the ceremony moves forward, I perform the gestures practiced so many times they’ve become automatic. My father nods approvingly, yet all I can think of is how little these gestures mean without heart.
The ceremony concludes to murmurs of approval. I smile and accept pats on the back, but the weight of expectations presses down more than ever. It feels like I’m encased in stone—solid on the outside, yet something inside is subtly shifting, seeking air.
I retreat to the edge of the clearing, hoping for a moment’s peace. But even the moon’s light feels relentless.
“Quite the performance, Daryn.” Zane’s voice brings me back, a teasing grin on his face. Yet there’s understanding in his eyes. He knows me well.
“Thanks, I think.” I manage a smile.
Zane claps my shoulder, giving me a moment of companionable silence before he wanders off. He doesn’t need words to communicate comfort, and I appreciate that more than I can say.
As I stand there, a slight rustling draws my attention to the side. Kaden is there again, watching me with that unwavering gaze.
“You did well,” he says simply, though his voice carries weight.
I nod, unsure of what to say. Beneath his quiet words, there’s a sense of knowing, like he sees through the layers of what’s expected and what truly is. “Thank you.”
Silence falls between us, broken only by the distant hum of the pack celebrating.
“Do you ever wonder if there’s more than just this?” I blurt out, surprised at myself for voicing such a thought.
Kaden’s eyes meet mine, steady and thoughtful. “Sometimes,” he says. Just one word, but it holds a promise of depths unspoken.
It’s enough. Enough to know I’m not alone in questioning everything that’s been written for us. As the night deepens and festivities continue, I find a small comfort in the fact that someone else might understand the restless feeling inside me.
As the Alpha, I am expected to lead with unwavering certainty. Yet beneath the surface, there are questions, echoes of something I have yet to fully grasp but know I must face. Kaden’s understanding glance lingers, a silent acknowledgment in the symphony of the night.
I have many roles to play and duties to fulfill. But maybe, just maybe, there’s room to discover what else is possible.