Chapter 5 5

The room remained silent for a long moment, the weight of Aria's words hanging heavily in the air. The pack members exchanged uncertain glances, the tension palpable. The fire crackled in the corner, but its warmth did little to break the cold atmosphere that had settled over them.

Caleb stood at the edge of the room, his gaze locked on Aria, a mix of admiration and regret in his eyes. She had always been strong, always had the courage to stand up for what was right, even when it cost her everything. Now, she was standing here in front of him, a woman who had been broken and reborn, ready to take control.

"Aria..." Kade's voice broke through the silence, his tone cautious. "I never wanted it to come to this. But I know you're right. The pack is falling apart. We need leadership, not division."

Aria's eyes softened slightly, but she remained firm. "I'm not here for your support, Kade. I'm here because the pack is my responsibility too. It's always been. And you all need to decide whether you want to follow an alpha who sees his pack as a chess piece, or a luna who believes in the strength of unity."

Ophelia's lips curled into a tight smile, though her eyes were sharp with venom. "You're delusional if you think they'll follow you, Aria," she sneered. "You're nothing more than a broken wolf with a shattered heart. Caleb rejected you once, and he'll do it again. You're nothing."

Her words hit like a slap, but Aria didn't flinch. She stepped forward, her back straight and shoulders squared. "I'm not doing this for Caleb. I'm doing this for the pack," she said, her voice a steady, unwavering force. "And if you want to tear it apart from the inside, Ophelia, then be prepared to face the consequences."

A ripple of unease passed through the room as Aria's words resonated in the air. Caleb's jaw clenched as he looked at Ophelia, his expression cold. "Enough." His voice was low but commanding, and everyone in the room fell silent.

Ophelia shot him a glare, but she didn't argue. Instead, she stood, her posture defensive, but there was something in her eyes-something Aria couldn't place. Was it fear? Anger? Or something worse?

Caleb turned his attention to the pack, his voice loud and clear. "This ends now. Aria is right. I've failed you all, but I will not let this pack crumble. We need to come together. We need to fight back. And we need to make sure we do it as a united front."

Aria's heart skipped a beat as she watched Caleb speak with such conviction, his leadership taking form in a way she hadn't seen in years. He was finally understanding what it meant to be an alpha. The moment was fleeting, but it was there-she could see the change in him.

But still, her walls remained up. She couldn't let herself fall back into his orbit so easily. Not after everything that had happened.

"What are you suggesting?" Kade asked, stepping closer, his voice hesitant but curious.

"We need to take control of the council," Caleb said, his tone decisive. "We need to dismantle Ophelia's influence before it spreads any further. We need a council that works for the pack, not against it."

Ophelia's face darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You really think you can do this, Caleb?" she asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "Do you really think they'll listen to you after everything you've done?"

Caleb's gaze flickered briefly to Aria, then back to the room. "We don't have a choice. We have to act now, or it will be too late."

Aria watched as the pack members murmured among themselves, the doubt in their eyes slowly turning into something else. Something like resolve.

She stepped forward, her eyes locking with Caleb's. "I'll help you. But this isn't just about defeating Ophelia. It's about rebuilding everything that's been broken. We can't just fight for power-we have to fight for unity."

Caleb nodded, his gaze softening with a mix of gratitude and something deeper, something more personal. "Agreed," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "This isn't just about me. It's about all of us."

Ophelia's eyes narrowed, her lip curling into a sneer. "You really think you can change things, Aria?" she spat. "You're nothing more than a discarded toy that Caleb doesn't want anymore."

Aria felt the sting of the words, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she met Ophelia's gaze with a cold smile. "It's funny, Ophelia," she said, her voice low and controlled. "You talk about being the luna, but I'm the one who's here for the pack. I'm the one who's willing to fight for them. And that makes me stronger than you'll ever be."

Ophelia's eyes flickered with something-something close to fear-before she regained her composure. "We'll see about that, won't we?" she said, her voice laced with venom.

Aria turned away from her, her focus now on the pack members. "You all need to make a decision. Are you with us or against us?"

Kade stepped forward first, his expression resolute. "I stand with you, Aria," he said, his voice unwavering. "We'll fight for this pack."

One by one, more members began to step forward, their resolve strengthening. Aria's heart pounded in her chest, her breath quickening as the pack slowly began to unite behind her. The realization hit her like a wave-this wasn't just a battle for the pack. It was a battle for her own redemption, for the chance to prove that she was more than just the rejected luna.

She was a leader.

Caleb's gaze met hers again, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the man he could have been all along-the man who would stand by her side, not as a lover, but as an equal.

But that wasn't their reality anymore.

She looked away, her heart aching with a mixture of longing and regret. It was too late for them, but it wasn't too late for the pack.

Together, they would fight for everything that had been lost.