Chapter 1

SELENA’S POV

“A woman can never be the next Alpha!”

“My daughter has proven herself time and time again. She is more than capable.”

I spied on the council meeting through the slightly open door.

My father, Alpha Gideon usually kept me up to date on the pack politics. But lately he had been more withdrawn.

I kept asking him questions about what had happened, but he dismissed me with claims that it was nothing serious.

But I knew.

Alpha Gideon coughed into his hands before continuing.

“My mate and I have been trying to have more children for years. But Selena was the only child we could bear. Yet I am not ashamed of her and neither do I regret that she is a girl and not a boy. She is precious to me and she has talent.” Alpha Gideon said.

A fist slammed into the large table.

“What sort of nonsense are you spouting!?” Darth shouted.

He was a very tall man with an intimidating visage. Blood red eyes shone from his head. And his hair was jet black with streaks of white. His sunken cheeks and angular face made him look like a hell spawn.

I glared at him from my hidden spot.

I had never liked Darth.

He was a senior council member, but he never showed my father the respect he deserved as an Alpha of the Silver Claw pack. I wanted nothing more than to teach him respect. But my father had always preached patience. I was too weak.

“Lord Darth is correct, even though his method of sharing that is inelegant.” Lord Yuriel said in a calm voice.

He was a much shorter man with a slender frame. His hazel eyes reminded me of a snake.

“A woman can never become Alpha. Another way must be found. If you truly love your daughter so much Alpha Gideon then you can mate her to the next Alpha who will undoubtedly be a man.” Lord Yuriel said in his calm low voice.

“Why is this even a negotiation?” Lord Varick asked next. He sounded sincerely baffled.

He was even taller than Darth and he had almost as much influence. His steel gray eyes, bald head and long beard made him look like a mad wall of carved stone. His broad face, coupled with the scar that ran over his left eye completed up the image. I had never trusted him. He reeked of an unstable mind to me.

I had confided in my father, but he had told me to wait. He didn’t have enough power, even as Alpha to control the council. He was very restricted and he had to find some sort of compromise to work with them.

“A woman can never be the next Alpha. The idea is completely foolish. Women are meant to be our docile and submissive mates!” Lord Varick said.

“I am the Alpha and my decision is final. You will all stop this discussion now. Selena is suitable and that is all.” My father said. But instead of his voice to be loud and commanding. It sounded weak. And he coughed immediately after his short speech.

I cringed from my hiding spot. I hated seeing my father like this. But he had gotten sick lately. I knew that was why the council had become so bold so suddenly. They had always been rebellious, but it had never been so outright, plain and obvious.

I wanted to go out and help him, but I remembered what he had said to me.

Lord Darth shot up from his seat.

“Since you have decided to choose this path of madness, I challenge you to a duel Alpha Gideon!” Lord Darth proclaimed.

The entire hall fell silent. It was an ancient tradition that could not be refused. An Alpha must defend his position without doubt.

Alpha Gideon stared straight into Darth’s blood red eyes.

“If that must be. Then I accept.”

I turned away from the door. My breathing was heavy. I feared for my father.

…

I watched as the two wolves circled each other.

The duel was a public event. Hundreds of wolves sat on the rising circular stadium seats that surrounded the arena.

Tensions in the pack had been constantly rising for months now. That happened when there was conflict between its leaders.

Usually an Alpha had total control of his pack. But this had happened because my father didn’t kill Darth earlier. I prayed now that he would do just that. Then everything could go back to normal.

I watched from the royal stand with my mother beside me. She was visibly afraid and she clutched my hand tightly.

I gritted my teeth as Darth's wolf attacked first.

My father showed why he was the alpha.

He took Darth’s attack full on. I watched the two wolves roll on the sand, scratching and biting each other with deadly fangs and claws.

Blood sprayed, but I couldn’t make out the source.

There was a roar from the crowd, as if they couldn’t get enough. Chants rose, unintelligible in the cacophony. But I knew it was their blood lust.

My mother went hysterical as the fight continued. I gripped her hand for support.

Darth and my father separated. They move back to get ready for the second round.

My heart lightened as I saw that Darth carried the brunt of the injuries. His wolf was huge, as huge as he was, but my father was Alpha.

My body relaxed. Why was I so worried? There was no way my father would actually lose.

They circled each other again and Darth growled, showing his teeth.

My father’s wolf remained silent, watching. I saw his calmness in a new light suddenly. He wasn’t a weak Alpha because he was not first to attack. His patience was his strength.

“Mother, it’s okay. Have faith in him.” I said as I squeezed my mother’s hand.

Darth tensed for the next charge. He was injured but not slowed.

I turned to my father and felt a spike of alarm when his paw slipped on the sand. He regained his balance quickly but not quick enough.

It was his sickness.

Darth attacked in that instant when he saw the opening.

“No!” My mother screamed.

They rolled together but Darth’s wolf had the upper hand.

He went for the killing blow.

Darth ripped out my father’s throat in a bright spray of blood right in front of the entire pack.

I felt a feeling of heaviness descend on me.

My father, Alpha Gideon, was dead.