“Good. Now, go out there and show them what a Keller alpha is made of.” She patted my shoulder.
Once I stepped outside, the crisp morning air invigorated me. The world pulsated with energy, as if it could hardly contain the anticipation of the battles ahead. As I ventured through the pack’s territory, my heightened senses allowed me to fully immerse myself in the surrounding sounds and scents.
I stood at the edge of the training field, the grass clammy beneath my feet. The morning mist clung to my skin, and the scent of dew mixed with earth filled my nostrils. My mother’s pep talk resonated in my heart. The truth awaited, ready to sting, and it was time to face it like the alpha I was.
“Everyone, gather ’round!” My voice echoed through the field. The pack members paused in their sparring, turning their attention toward me, some looking with suspicion, others with overflowing curiosity. On the sidelines, Sven fixed his gaze on me, his smile impossible to decipher.
I wavered slightly, then pushed my shoulders back. “First, I owe you all an apology. I’ve been in a foul mood. I’ve been letting my ego get in the way of what’s best for all of us. That stops now.” I swallowed hard, and the weight of vulnerability settled heavily in my stomach. “I’m out of my element here.” I looked at each of them. “As your alpha, I don’t want to lead you down a path of destruction. There’s a situation ahead of us that surpasses our individual abilities, and we must be prepared. That’s why I’masking Sven Richardson of the Summers pack”—I turned to face him—“to take over the training.”
My words caused an outbreak of low murmurs as my pack processed the information.
Sven’s smile broadened, and his eyes locked with mine. I watched his expression transform from surprise to respect, the change playing across his features. He had fully expected me to remain stubborn, but this was about more than me. Lives were on the line, and if I stood in the way of the packs’ unity, I would bear the blame for those deaths.
Sven moved to my side, shook my hand, and with the other, clasped my shoulder. He nodded his head solemnly. “I’ll do everything I can to get us prepared for what lies ahead.”
“Thank you.” Relief flooded my being. “I trust you’ll do what’s best for the pack.”
“All right, everyone.” Sven clapped his hands. “Let’s get to work. We’ve got a lot to learn, and not much time to do it.”
I watched from the sidelines, observing the pack as they moved with newfound purpose. They were quick, agile, and focused, their bodies moving in tandem like a well-oiled machine. Under Sven’s guidance, they would soon be prepared for the war.
I’d made the right choice. Swallowing my pride and putting Sven in charge of training hadn’t been easy, but it was what our pack needed. The sight of them training and integrating with the other packs gave me greater confidence than I’d had the day before.
“Nice move.” Hiram caught me off guard by approaching from behind. “Turning leadership over to Sven like that. Acknowledging your weaknesses doesn’t mean you’re incapable. Quite the opposite, in fact. It shows growth. Understanding the importance of knowing when to step aside and let someone else take the reins is key to real leadership, Ty.”
“Thanks, Hiram.” Strangely, a warmth spread through me at his encouragement. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right one.”
“Sometimes, the hardest choices are the ones that need to be made,” he said, patting me on the back. “You’re proving yourself to be a worthy alpha. We’re all behind you.”
The sun dippedbelow the horizon, and I called a halt with my sparring partner. My muscles ached, but it was a satisfying kind of pain—a reminder of the progress we had made. I glanced around at my pack and saw their faces flushed and sweaty, but they were rejuvenated by a new fire in their bellies and a motivation that hadn’t been there before.
Sven called everyone over. “That’s enough for today. You’ve all done well, but remember, this is just the beginning. We need to keep pushing ourselves if we want to be ready for anything.”
A chorus of affirmative grunts and nods rippled through the group, and pride swelled within me. My pack was strong, resilient, and loyal—qualities I admired and respected. Under Sven’s guidance, we would only grow stronger.
Sven, Hiram, and I stayed back, discussing our plans for tomorrow’s practice. My muscles protested, begging for the heat of the shower to cascade over me, but there was no time for rest.
“Let’s concentrate on strategy tomorrow,” Sven commanded respectfully. “We need to be smart about how we approach Castro.”
“Agreed,” I said, my thoughts drifting to Liza. Her absence during practice had been a constant reminder that I’d royally fucked up that morning. “Let’s get some rest and regroup tomorrow morning.”
With a nod to both Sven and Hiram, I turned and made my way toward the house, determined to find Liza and make things right. Guilt niggled at me for not being more understanding, supportive, and receptive to her advice. Now, more than ever, we needed each other.
I headed toward one of the flower gardens I knew Liza preferred. The space was an oasis of calm in the chaos of our lives. Jasmine and lavender wrapped around me like a soothing embrace, and there, among the vibrant blooms and verdant greenery, sat my mate.
“Hey,” I murmured, hesitant to disturb the peaceful scene she’d created.
She smiled up at me, surprising me with her warmth and understanding. “Hi, Ty,” she said, gesturing to the blanket spread out before her, laden with sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of homemade lemonade. A wistful sigh escaped her as she patted the spot beside her. “Come, sit with me. I figured you might need a break.”
“Thank you,” I said, settling down beside her. “I’m sorry, Liza. For everything. But mostly for being such an asshole this morning. I just don’t like feeling weak. I’ve been so caught up in my own issues, I haven’t been there for you like I should have been.”
Her hand found mine, and she intertwined our fingers. “We’re all struggling right now. It’s okay to be overwhelmed.”
My guilt lifted at her easy forgiveness. We shared a quiet moment of understanding, and a silent promise to face whatever challenges lay ahead as one. Then we enjoyed our impromptu picnic, surrounded by the garden’s beauty, and the gentle sounds of nature. Despite the chaos surrounding us, I found solace in the fact that we still had one another.
I pressed a tender kiss on Liza’s lips, my apology mingling with the taste of the lemonade she’d been sipping. “I apologizefor being such a grumpy dick,” I whispered, my lips softly brushing against hers, with the warmth of her skin on my fingers as I tenderly caressed her cheek. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“Neither did the rest of the pack,” she replied, her eyes scanning my face for the sincerity she knew would be reflected there. “But I understand why you’ve been tense.”
