Chapter 5 5

The Alpha's Return

His eyes maybe softened at the sight of hers but his tone remained defensive "I came to speak"

Lena crossed her arms, the barrier between them as tangible as the moonlight. "Talk? Now you want to talk? After rejecting me in front of everyone and tossing me aside like I was nothing?"

The edge of her voice was enough to make the warriors behind Kade shift uncomfortably, but he didn't budge.

"I made a mistake" he admitted with his voice low but resolute "I thought that pushing you away was the right thing to do for my pack and the alliance but I couldn't have been more wrong"

Lena's laughter was bitter and it sliced through the night like a blade "Wrong?, That was an understatement. You didn't just reject me Kade, you made me feel less than myself. You shattered me"

Kade took a step closer, but she raised her hand, halting him in his tracks. Her wolves growled softly, a warning that resonated in the air.

"I deserve that" Kade replied with his voice thick with remorse "But I'm here now because there's something bigger than us at stake. Elias is building an army Lena. He's planning to attack both of our packs. We need to unite to stop him"

Lena's jaw tightened and her thoughts raced. She had anticipated that Elias would try something but hearing Kade admit it brought forth a strong sensation of fear and anger.

The question 'why should I help you' was asked by her as her voice rose. 'You didn't care about me neither my future when you did what it took to make your decision. Why should I care about yours now?'

Kade's face hardened, guilt flickering into frustration. "This is not about me, Lena. It's about our people-yours and mine. If Elias wins, then he will never be safe to anyone."

"And whose fault is that?", Lena asked back. "You were the Alpha who was so preoccupied by striving to be perfect, and you couldn't see what was directly in front of you. And now you want me to clean up your mess?"

The tension in the air was stormy, with voices climbing as emotions spilled over.

"I made a mistake, Lena," Kade said, almost pleading with his tone. "But I'm trying to set things right. I need your help. Your strength."

"My strength?" Lena's eyes flashed with anger. "You called me weak. You said I wasn't good enough to be your Luna. And now you want me?" She stepped closer, her voice a tremor of rage and pain together. "Do you even know what you've done to me, Kade? You shattered me. I put myself back together though. I got stronger without you."

Kade's shoulder slumped, for the very moment he had been struck by the gravity of her words. "I know," he replied in a whisper. "I see that now, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you're allowed me to do so. But right now we don't have time for that. Elias is coming, Lena. If we don' t join hands together, then everything both of us has fought for is going to be ruined."

Lena's heart pounded at the realization of what he had just said. She hated that he was right. She hated it that even after everything, she still cared about what happened to him, to his pack and their people.

Turning to the rogues assembled behind her, she could read their faces which showed anger, distrust and uncertainty. Still standing in front of the assembled people she asked "What do you think?" She asked, her voice still clear amid the gathering.

"Shall we help him? Shall we take up arms with the man who once forsook me?"

The rogues looked at one another with whispers spreading through the mob. At last, Garrick stepped out of the crowd with a frown on his face. "Elias threatens all of us" he stated. "If we don't stand together, we will fall apart"

Lena turned back to Kade with a solidifying determination "It doesn't mean I forgive you" she said and her tone chillingly crisp "But I'll fight-for my people, not you"

Kade nodded and a glimmer of hope sparked in his eyes "That's all I can ask for"

As the camp began to stir with preparations, Lena felt a knot of tension settle in her chest. The battle tomorrow would test everything she had built, everything she believed in. And standing beside the man who had formerly broken her was going to be the hardest test of all.

Chapter 8: The Tipping Point

The moon was high in the night sky and poured its silvery light over the dark trees. The best alliance of Lena's rogues with Kade's warriors was uneasy. Wolves from both packs shot each other suspicious looks while preparing for the fight ahead, while anxiety awaited them. Lena and Kade stood in the middle of the camp, nearly pacing each other as their voices sliced through the silence of the night.

"Your warriors don't trust us" said Lena and her frustration lacing her voice "And to be honest, I can't blame them. For decades, you have treated the rogues as outcasts"

Kade met her gaze, and his expression was unreadable. "Trust isn't built in a night, Lena. They've seen the rogues' actions-what Elias has done. You can't expect them to forget that just because we have this little truce."

Her eyes narrowed "This isn't about forgetting, it's about survival. If they can't see that maybe they shouldn't be here"

Kade's jaw tightened and his tone slipped into a growl, low and menacing "These warriors are risking their lives to stand beside you. Don't question their loyalty"

Lena stepped closer, her voice rising. "Don't question mine. My wolves are just as important as yours, Kade. Or do you still see us as beneath you?"

The accusation struck hard and Kade's eyes flickered with guilt. "That's not what I meant"

"Then what do you mean?" Lena pressed and her voice shaking with repressed emotion "Because from where I stand, it still feels as if you're looking down on us-on me"

Silence that followed was so deep that it was louder than any sound. Kade opened his mouth to answer but a shrill whistle came between him and the air, then Garrick's urgent shout ensued.

"Incoming!"

Lena turned around as the figures emerged from the treeline, growls echoing through the camp. Elias's rogues charged behind her, bloodlust shining in their eyes. Order broke as wolves shifted and fought, snarls mixing with the crunch of breaking jaws.

Kade faced his warriors, shouting orders. "Perimeter formation! Guard the pack!"

Lena didn't wait for the command. She turned half-way through her stride, her wolf leaping into the melee. Even as she dropped the first rogue, her claws raked him across the side.