Malcolm’s pulse quickened as he realized Larissa wasn’t just challenging his plans—she was challenging him.
Again.
As usual.
Yet there was no denying the thread of truth in her argument.Could a female alpha be the catalyst for the healing the Sunburst Pack so desperately needed?
Larissa took his silence as an opening to press her advantage.
Damn her.She had never given him time to think things through.
“Female alphas in other packs are doing amazing things.They could guide a new alpha here.”
“Guidance?”Malcolm asked.“Our pack doesn’t need hand-holding.We need decisive action.You know as well as I do that experience and careful planning are what will pull us through.”
Larissa’s lips pressed into a thin line.But Malcolm didn’t back down.He had fought tooth and claw to protect his pack before—he could do so again.
So has Larissa, a quiet inner voice reminded him.
No.Malcolm would be alpha.Not just because he craved it, but because he believed, with every fiber of his being, that he was the one who could shepherd the Sunburst Pack into a new era.
“Besides,” Larissa continued, “the pack might benefit from a leader who can unite, not just defend.”
“Defendingisuniting,” Malcolm countered, his voice rising.“It’s ensuring our survival.”
“Fresh ideas,” she insisted, “that’s what we need.A female alpha could offer a new perspective, one that might solve problems you haven’t even considered.”
He bristled at the suggestion, his muscles tensing as though preparing for a physical challenge.“And what problems are those?”
“Empathy, for one,” Larissa said.“Understanding the needs of each member of the pack, not just the strongest fighters.We’ve lost too much to continue on the same path.”
Malcolm’s jaw clenched, a low, rumbling growl building inside him.He was protective by nature, every inch the alpha his pack needed.But Larissa’s words struck deeper than he cared to admit.
“Empathy doesn’t win battles,” he argued.“Strategy does.Strength does.”
“Strength isn’t just about physical strength.”Larissa moved closer, her simple proximity a challenge.“It’s about adaptation, growth.We’re shapeshifters—change is in our nature.”
Malcolm’s competitive tendencies, always simmering beneath the surface, flared up as he faced off with Larissa.
He would not yield.
Not when the future of the pack was at stake.
“Change for the sake of change is reckless,” he said sharply.“I won’t stand by and watch our traditions crumble because you think it’s time for a revolution.”
“We already had a revolution,” she said, her tone dismissive.“This would be evolution.We’re at a crossroads.This is our chance to rebuild stronger, smarter.”
“Smarter doesn’t always mean better,” he snapped, the sound of their heated exchange echoing off the walls of the sparsely furnished house.“We need a leader who knows the old ways, who can guide us through these times with a steady hand.”
“Or maybe,” Larissa said, “we need someone who can see beyond the old ways, someone who dares to imagine a future where strength and compassion coexist.”
Malcolm took a step forward, the gap between them crackling with their long-standing rivalry.
“Strong leadership doesn’t—” Malcolm began, but his words were cut short by the sudden creak of the door swinging open.
“Enough.”Nick stepped into the room.“This isn’t helping anyone.We need to pull together, not apart.”
Larissa and Malcolm exchanged guilty glances.This wasn’t the first time their bickering had made someone uncomfortable.
