Chapter 5 The Spark of Rebellion

The weight of the news hung heavy in the air, suffocating Runa with a sense of urgency she hadn't felt in years. Her thoughts spun as Elias's words reverberated through her mind. Asher, the Alpha of the Waterfall Pack, leading the charge against her kingdom. She had expected violence, but the shock of hearing his name tied to the attack-an attack that could plunge both their kingdoms into chaos-was a blow that struck her deeper than any battle had.

She stood frozen in the middle of her war room, her mind racing as Elias departed to gather reinforcements. Her soldiers, the bravest and fiercest warriors, would be dispatched to the southern border to quell the threat. But the question gnawed at her: Why?

Why would Asher personally lead the attack? Was it a strategic move? Was it a message? Or was there something more personal at stake?

Her heart beat heavily in her chest, an unfamiliar pressure building beneath her ribs. Asher. Her enemy. Her tormentor. The man who stirred something inside her she couldn't control. The very idea of him, leading an assault on her land, felt like a betrayal of everything they had shared in those brief, dangerous moments by the River of Tears. She shook her head violently.

No. This is war. This is duty. She couldn't afford to be distracted by emotions-by the faint hope of something more. She had to be strong. Her people depended on her.

The echo of a distant roar reached her ears, a primal sound that sent a chill up her spine. Her thoughts cut through the noise like a blade. She could no longer delay.

Without another word, Runa turned to the map laid out before her. She marked the locations of the southern border with quick, decisive strokes, her mind sharpening as she planned her next move. The Waterfall Pack had breached her defenses, but she would not let them advance any further. She would not allow them to destabilize the fragile peace she had fought so hard to protect.

Her hand hovered over the southern flank of the map, her fingers grazing the markers as she strategized. Her soldiers were strong, trained for these types of incursions. They would hold, but the question remained: what if Asher had more up his sleeve than a simple attack?

Asher...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Alden in the doorway. His face was pale, eyes shadowed with concern.

"Your Majesty," he said softly, his voice low with urgency. "You must come quickly. The king is calling for your presence."

Runa's brow furrowed in confusion. "My father? Why?"

"He's preparing the royal council," Alden said, his expression tight with worry. "He wants you there, to discuss the Waterfall Pack's movements. But I fear..." He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder before looking back at her. "The council will not be kind."

Runa met his gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. The royal council was a collection of the kingdom's most influential leaders and advisors, but it was also a forum of competing ambitions and power struggles. Runa knew how fragile the balance was, how dangerous it could be to show any sign of weakness. But as the Alpha of the White Wolves, she had always been expected to make the hardest choices.

"I'll be there," Runa said, her voice firm. "But make no mistake, Alden-I will not yield to their pressure."

Alden gave a nod, his jaw set in grim determination. He had served her father for years and knew better than anyone the fine line Runa had to walk between diplomacy and duty. As she moved to leave the room, he followed closely, his footsteps heavy behind hers.

The corridors of the Midnight Citadel were vast and cold, but Runa's mind burned with a fire she couldn't extinguish. She was no stranger to the politics of the royal court, but the pressure was mounting in a way she hadn't anticipated. The Waterfall Pack's attack was only the beginning. She had to face not only her enemies at the borders but also the enemies within her own walls.

As they reached the grand council hall, Runa took a deep breath, preparing herself for the storm that awaited her. The heavy oak doors swung open, revealing the circle of advisors and nobles gathered around the central table. Her father, King Aldric, sat at the head, his expression unreadable.

The room fell silent as Runa entered, all eyes turning to her. Her father's gaze met hers, and for a moment, the unspoken tension between them was palpable. He was a man who had spent his entire life fighting to protect his kingdom, but his vision of the future was one of control. He had always expected Runa to follow in his footsteps, to take up the mantle of leadership without question. But she had always been her own person, torn between the role of a ruler and the warrior spirit within her.

"Runa," her father said, his voice stern but with a hint of warmth. "We must act swiftly. The Waterfall Pack's incursion is not just a threat to our borders-it's a declaration of war."

Runa straightened her back, her eyes scanning the room. The council was filled with powerful men and women, most of whom had never seen war firsthand. They were scholars, diplomats, and strategists-but none of them understood the true nature of battle. None of them knew what it was like to have your world teeter on the edge of collapse.

"What do you propose, Father?" she asked, her tone steady but with an underlying sharpness that no one could miss.

King Aldric's eyes flicked toward the council members, and then back to his daughter. "I propose that we meet the Waterfall Pack head-on. We rally the armies and prepare for a full-scale offensive. If we strike hard and fast, we can end this conflict before it spreads."

Runa's chest tightened at his words. He always thought of war as a means to an end-a quick, brutal solution to any threat. But she knew that war was never that simple. She had seen the cost of it, both in blood and in lost opportunities for peace.

"No," Runa said firmly, her voice ringing through the hall. "That is not the way to proceed."

The room fell into shocked silence. Her father's eyes narrowed, and several of the council members exchanged uneasy glances. Runa stood tall, her hands clasped behind her back, her resolve unwavering.

"An open war will destroy everything we've built," she continued. "We will lose more than just land. We will lose our very people. If we want to defeat the Waterfall Pack, we must be smarter than this. We must understand why they are attacking, and we must find a way to end this conflict without spilling more blood."

Her father leaned forward, his hands pressing against the table. "And what would you have us do, Runa?" he asked, his voice icy. "Talk? Negotiate with the enemy?"

"Yes," Runa answered, her voice unwavering. "We talk. We learn what they want. We find out why Asher is leading the charge. We can't afford to make assumptions, especially not when we don't fully understand the enemy's motives."

The room buzzed with murmurs, the tension palpable. But Runa stood her ground. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a steady rhythm of defiance against the storm that threatened to tear everything apart.

Her father's gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "You are the Queen of Light, Runa. And you will do what is necessary to protect this kingdom. But remember-our people expect us to act decisively."

"I will," Runa replied, her voice quiet but filled with unspoken determination. "But I will do so with caution. And I will do so on my own terms."