Chapter 2 2

I repeated to myself, "You can't show doubt, not even for a second," as I gazed at the map that was laid out on the hefty wood table in my office. I could feel the weight of every choice bearing down on me like iron chains, and Silver Ridge's boundaries were physically and symbolically bleeding. Even today, six months after his passing, I can still hear my father's voice echoing in my mind: *An Alpha must be indestructible. His shadow still hung over me. You lose everything if you make a mistake.

I made my knuckles white by clenching my fists. Unbeatable. Didn't they all anticipate that? What did they require? I could not afford to be weak. Not when our defences were being put to the test by rogues who were getting closer to our land every day. Not with half the pack questioning my leadership readiness. And most definitely not tomorrow, when the Moon Festival was scheduled night that was supposed to honour our resilience but instead seemed like a springtime trap.

The piercing knock on the door was a nuisance as well as a pleasant diversion. I called, my voice harder than I meant, "Come in."

Although Darren came in with a composed demeanour, I could see the storm building in his dark eyes. Rarely was the news positive, but my beta always had it.

With a hurried voice, he stated, "We've had another skirmish near the eastern border." One of our patrols was ambushed by a band of renegades. One of our scouts was hurt, but there were no casualties.

"Did we force them to retreat?" I turned around the desk and questioned him straight.

Darren answered, "Yes," but his tone was hesitant.

"What else?" I insisted.

His shoulders stiffened as he moaned. They weren't merely experimenting. They were trying to find someone or anything.

I scowled. "Someone? Who?

Just the fact that Darren paused made me uneasy. "We believe they enquired about Lilah."

Her name was like a kick to the stomach. I remained silent for a minute, allowing the word to linger between us. *Lilah Monroe* The weakest link in the group. I had been trying not to think about the wolf for the past six months.

"What makes her important to rogues?" Even as I uttered the inquiry, it seemed pointless.

Darren's eyes became gloomy. "Because she is more significant than you would like to acknowledge."

I stiffened. "Darren, exercise caution."

He remarked, "I'm just stating facts." Robert, even though you might not desire her, someone else does. And things are going to get really complicated if the Moon Festival turns out like I believe it will.

I tightened my jaw. "You believe she would be selected by the Moon Goddess?"

Darren didn't bat an eyelid when I looked at him. "She would, you know."

I walked to the window overlooking the main compound of the pack and turned away. Everything was visible to me from here, including the cabins, the training yards, and the forest that stretched into the distance. Lilah was most likely licking her wounds from yet another unsuccessful session with Maya somewhere out there. For years, I had watched her suffer, never quite breaking but always on the verge of doing so.

She survived. I could say that. She wasn't worthy, though, because of that.

I muttered, "She's not strong enough."

Darren folded his arms. What if she was, too? Would it make a difference? Or does the fact that she doesn't match your ideal partner make you too scared to embrace her?

I rounded on him after his words touched a chord. The mate of an Alpha must possess more than just strength. She must motivate the group and support me on an equal footAchieve you believe Lilah will ever be able to achieve that?

Darren stared at me without flinching. She might surprise you, in my opinion. However, if you continue to treat her like she is beneath you, you will never know.

I remained silent, a jumble of contradictory ideas racing through my head. This felt personal, even though Darren had always been direct. He had faith in her. Why?

There was another knock on the door before I could answer. Maya intervened, her face tense. "Please come to the council room, Robert. The elders are holding off on talking about the plans for the festival.

Thankful for the interruption, I nodded. "I'll be there shortly."

Maya gave Darren a quick look before heading out, her disgust evident. I couldn't blame her for repeatedly expressing her views about Lilah. Maya was powerful, devoted, and unrelenting-everything the pack could ask for in a leader. Lilah was the complete opposite of her.

Darren stopped at the door as he turned to go. Whatever occurs tomorrow, Robert, keep in mind that the Moon Goddess is error-proof. You do.

I was left alone with my thoughts as the door shut behind him.

I ran a hand through my hair as I dropped into the chair behind my desk. A night when the ties of fate were exposed, the Moon Festival was meant to be a celebration of fate. However, it served as a reminder to me of the unachievable standards I had to meet.

Could it be that Darren was correct? What if my partner was Lilah? Even though I knew she would never measure up to the pack's standards, could I still accept her? Or would I turn her away and face the Moon Goddess's own wrath?

I kept thinking about the questions, each one more pressing than the last.

The elders were already engaged in a heated debate when I entered the council room. As they discussed the importance of the Festival, their voices filled the room, each competing for supremacy.

Elder Conrad stated, "This Festival is what we need to demonstrate our strength." For weeks, the renegades have been putting our borders to the test. They will perceive Silver Ridge's unity as a weakness if we fail to demonstrate it to them.

"Just strength won't cut it," Elder Marian retorted. "We must be united. The morale of the pack will rise if the Moon Goddess grants us a strong mating bond.

As they continued to bicker, I was distracted and hardly paid attention. My eyes strayed to the altar in the room's corner, where the Festival ceremonies would be performed. There would be no avoiding the truth when the Moon Goddess made her will known tomorrow night.

"Robert?" Marian's voice jolted me out of my reverie.

I stood up straight and looked her in the eye. "What is it?"

Her expression was opaque as she closely examined me. Alpha, you've been aloof. Are you having problems?

After a moment of hesitation, I shook my head. "I can handle anything."

I hardly heard a word of the meeting, which went on late into the evening. What Darren had said and the persistent fear that I couldn't get rid of occupied my thoughts.

The moon was high in the sky, illuminating the compound with its pale light when I eventually exited the council chamber. Seeking comfort in the silence, I strolled to the forest's edge.

That's when I noticed its subtle, recognisable aroma in the wind. Lilah.

I looked about, looking for her in the darkness, but she was not there. Nevertheless, her presence persisted, igniting something inside of me that I was unable to ignore.

Doubt entered my head for the first time. What if I wasn't prepared to hear what fate had to say?

Another aroma, one that chilled my blood, drew my attention as the breeze changed. It was subtle but distinct.

Rogues.

They were also near. Too near.