Beside him, Larissa worked through scenarios, even as Malcolm’s own combat instincts assessed threats and angles.“So this is your grand plan?”he asked, letting contempt color his voice.“Mercenaries?Did you really think humans with silver toys could take a united pack?”
“United?”Hannah laughed.“You’re weaker than ever.Divided leadership, watered-down traditions—”
“Look around, Hannah,” Larissa interrupted, her voice ringing with authority.“Look at your pack.Really look.”
Despite themselves, both Hannah and Gregory glanced at the gathered wolves.Malcolm knew what they were seeing—not the fractured, fearful pack they’d left behind but a strong, unified force.Wolves of all ages and ranks stood together.Even those who had initially resisted the changes now stood ready to defend them.
“This is what real strength looks like,” Malcolm said quietly.“Not fear.Not control.Unity.”
“Last chance,” Larissa added.“Surrender now, face pack justice.Or—”
Gregory’s snarl cut her off.He shifted in a blur of motion, lunging for Malcolm’s throat.Malcolm met Gregory’s attack head-on while Larissa spun to engage Hannah.Around them, the night erupted into chaos as the mercenaries charged forward.
But the pack was ready.Anders, having ensured Zane and Patrick were safe, moved to protect the cubs and elders, while Conall and Quinton emerged from their hidden positions, cutting off escape routes.
Malcolm grappled with Gregory, their wolf forms twisting and snarling in the dust.But something was different this time.Gregory’s attacks had once seemed overwhelming, but now they were…predictable.
Malcolm realized with sudden clarity that Gregory hadn’t grown, hadn’t adapted.He was still fighting the same way he had under Vincent’s rule—all aggression, no strategy.
But Malcolm and Larissa had learned.Had grown.Had become more together than they’d ever been apart.
Larissa’s intention practically sparked through their bond, as if he could read her mind.Moving as one, Malcolm and Larissa switched opponents.Gregory, committed to his attack on Malcolm, couldn’t adjust in time to counter Larissa’s precise strike.Hannah, expecting Larissa’s calculated approach, was unprepared for Malcolm’s raw power.
As suddenly as it had begun, it was over.Gregory lay pinned beneath Larissa, her teeth at his throat, while Hannah struggled in Malcolm’s grip.Around them, the mercenaries were being systematically disarmed and contained by the pack’s coordinated defense.
Both Malcolm and Larissa shifted back to human form, maintaining their hold on the defeated pair.The night air was thick with the scent of victory and justice.
“Your punishment,” Malcolm declared, “is to be banished forever from the Sunburst Pack, on penalty of death.Tomorrow at sunrise, you will be driven from the pack, according to pack law—the same laws you chose to break.”
“Take them and their allies to the holding cells until tomorrow morning,” Larissa ordered the twins.“And this time, make sure they can’t escape.”
As Gregory and Hannah were led away, their human allies also in custody, the pack’s energy shifted from battle readiness to celebration.
They had faced their first real test as coalphas and emerged stronger.
“Well,” Larissa said softly, coming to stand beside him.“That was interesting.”
Malcolm chuckled, pulling her close.“Interesting?That’s one word for it.”He looked out at their pack.“Think those two will ever understand what they lost?What real pack loyalty means?”
Larissa shook her head.“Some wounds don’t heal.Some people don’t change.”She turned to face him, her eyes bright with emotion.“But we did.The pack did.”
“Remember when you declared you’d be the first female alpha?”he asked, moving to stand beside her.
“In first grade.”She glanced out at the rest of the pack, preparing for the traditional moonlight run that came at the end of any ceremony instituting a new alpha.“You laughed so hard you fell off the swing.”
“Then you pushed me off when I got back on.”
“I was just giving you a preview of my leadership style.”Now she did turn, moonlight catching the humor in her gaze.“Not much has changed.”
“Everything’s changed,” he countered softly.“Look at us now.”
“Coalphas.”She tested the word.“Like that project in fifth grade when Ms.Everett forced us to work together.”
“We nearly burned down the science lab.”
“Because someone didn’t read the instructions.”
“Because someone was too busy making color-coded labels for the beakers.”
