Morning arrived slowly.
The pack house was quiet for the first time since the battle.
Sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows, casting warm streaks of gold across the wooden floor.
Most of the wolves outside were still resting after the long night.
Two hundred warriors now occupied the forest around the house.
Some slept.
Some stood guard.
Some simply watched the strange territory they now belonged to.
Inside the house, Aria slowly opened her eyes.
Her body immediately reminded her of the fight.
Pain pulsed through her shoulder.
Her leg felt stiff.
She groaned softly.
"Well… that hurts."
"You should still be asleep."
Aria turned her head slightly.
Kael sat in a chair beside the couch.
His arms were crossed, but his posture looked relaxed.
Aria blinked.
"…have you been sitting there all night?"
Kael didn't look embarrassed.
"Yes."
She stared at him.
"You know that's a little creepy, right?"
Marcus's voice came from the kitchen.
"Not creepy."
Everyone turned as Marcus walked in carrying a mug.
"Just very Alpha behavior."
Rowan followed behind him with a plate of food.
"Extremely Alpha behavior."
Kael ignored them.
Aria slowly pushed herself up to sit.
Her muscles protested.
But she managed.
Rowan handed her the plate.
"Eat."
Aria looked down at it.
Eggs.
Toast.
And something that looked suspiciously like burnt bacon.
"…did you cook this?"
Rowan nodded proudly.
Marcus leaned closer and whispered,
"I wouldn't trust the bacon."
Aria smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
She started eating slowly.
Her wolf was still healing, but the food helped.
Outside, distant voices could be heard.
The new wolves were awake now.
Adjusting.
Moving.
Learning their new reality.
Marcus sat down across from her.
"So…"
Aria looked at him.
"So?"
He gestured toward the window.
"You're basically a war leader now."
Rowan nodded.
"Yeah, congratulations."
Aria sighed.
"I didn't ask for this."
Kael's voice was calm.
"Leadership rarely asks permission."
Aria pointed her fork at him.
"Don't start giving me wise Alpha quotes."
Marcus chuckled.
Rowan leaned against the wall.
"Well, the wolves are waiting."
Aria frowned.
"For what?"
Rowan shrugged.
"You."
Before she could reply, the front door opened.
Varkos walked inside.
This time he looked cleaner.
His wounds had been bandaged properly.
But he still moved carefully.
The room grew quiet again.
Aria swallowed another bite of food.
"Good morning."
Varkos nodded respectfully.
"My Luna."
Marcus muttered,
"Still weird."
Varkos ignored him.
"The wolves are ready."
Aria sighed again.
"For what exactly?"
Varkos gestured outside.
"To hear their leader."
Aria blinked.
"…you're kidding."
Marcus shook his head.
"Nope."
Rowan smirked.
"Speech time."
Aria groaned.
"I hate speeches."
Kael stood up.
"You don't need to say much."
Aria gave him a look.
"That's not comforting."
But she slowly stood anyway.
Her leg protested.
Kael instinctively reached out to steady her.
Their hands touched briefly.
The moment lasted only a second.
But Marcus noticed.
He grinned.
Rowan rolled his eyes.
Aria cleared her throat.
"Okay."
She walked toward the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
When she stepped outside—
She stopped.
Hundreds of wolves stood in the clearing.
Some in wolf form.
Some human.
Every single one turned toward her.
The moment she appeared—
They lowered their heads.
Aria blinked.
"…oh wow."
Marcus whispered from behind her,
"Yep."
Varkos stepped forward slightly.
"My Luna."
He gestured to the wolves.
"They await your command."
Aria stared at the crowd.
Two hundred wolves.
Strong.
Dangerous.
And now loyal to her.
Her wolf stirred quietly inside her chest.
The power from last night still lingered.
She took a breath.
Then stepped forward.
The wolves lifted their heads slightly.
Aria spoke simply.
"You fought for a leader who lost."
No one moved.
"But you stayed."
Several wolves exchanged glances.
Aria continued.
"I won't promise easy battles."
The clearing remained silent.
"I won't promise safety either."
Marcus whispered to Rowan,
"…honest speech."
Rowan nodded.
"But I will promise this."
Aria's silver eyes moved across the crowd.
"I won't treat you like soldiers."
The wolves leaned forward slightly.
"I'll treat you like a pack."
A murmur rippled through them.
Even Varkos looked slightly surprised.
Aria folded her arms.
"So if you stay…"
Her voice grew firmer.
"You stay because you choose to."
Silence followed.
Then—
One wolf stepped forward.
A tall female warrior with dark hair.
She lowered her head.
"I choose to stay."
Another wolf stepped forward.
Then another.
Within seconds, dozens of wolves were speaking.
"I stay."
"I stay."
"I stay."
Marcus whispered,
"Well… that worked."
Rowan nodded.
"Very Luna-like."
Aria looked slightly overwhelmed.
But something warm spread through her chest.
For the first time—
This didn't feel like a burden.
It felt like a pack.
Then suddenly—
A howl echoed across the mountains.
Loud.
Deep.
Powerful.
Every wolf in the clearing froze.
Varkos's head snapped toward the distant peaks.
His expression darkened.
Marcus looked confused.
"…what was that?"
Varkos answered quietly.
"Him."
Aria frowned.
"Darius?"
Varkos nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The wolves around them shifted nervously.
Because that howl carried only one message.
The Alpha of thousands—
Had finally noticed them. 🐺