HIDDEN AGENDA'S IN PLAIN SIGHT

I chose to linger after dinner, leaning against the window with a drink in hand, to watch the spectacle unfold. The air was heavy with tension after I had firmly rejected the council's proposal for a Luna. From my vantage point, I observed Thorn, ever the politician, urging his daughter Aqua to approach me. Her stiff posture betrayed her irritation, and my sharp ears caught her words clearly. 

"You're wasting my youth," she hissed at her father, her voice low but sharp enough to cut through the hum of the room. "I don't need to be rejected twice."

Thorn's expression hardened, and his tone turned cold. "You have a duty to this pack. I won't hear your nonsense."

He turned on his heel and strode away, leaving her standing alone, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. For a moment, she stood motionless, the tension rolling off her in waves, before she pivoted sharply and made her way to the drink table. I watched as she grabbed two glasses of whiskey, her movements deliberate, almost defiant. 

Her confidence was palpable as she approached me. The room quieted, all eyes following her every step. She reached me, holding out one of the glasses with an air of practiced calm, though her irritation still simmered beneath the surface.

"Will you share a drink with me?" she asked, her deep voice steady but edged with something unspoken. The strength of her wolf flickered in her gaze—a power that likely had the council salivating to make her the Luna.

I downed the whiskey in my glass in one swift motion, watching as her eyes widened slightly, unable to hide her surprise. Her gaze remained locked on mine, following my every movement as I took the second glass from her hand, placing my empty one on the windowsill beside me. 

"So, is this the grand mission the council entrusted you with?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with amusement. "To seduce me into accepting you as the Luna of this pack?"

Her jaw tightened ever so slightly, and her eyes narrowed, the irritation in them flaring briefly before she schooled her features into neutrality. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her response. 

"Alpha Tor, why don't you want to take Luna?" Aqua's voice cut through the silence, her tone sharp but laced with a thread of vulnerability. "It's been years now. The pack is walking on eggshells about this matter. I hate waiting and being commanded around like I'm some pawn. I do have feelings, and I don't like being pushed."

She stood tall, her expression defiant, though the slight tremor in her voice revealed the cracks in her composure. I studied her silently, my grip tightening slightly around the glass in my hand as Gale stirred within me, his presence rising like a storm. He stood at the edge of my consciousness, watchful and ready, waiting for my response.

A chuckle escaped me, low and humorless. I leaned back against the wall beside the window, the cool surface grounding me as I regarded her with an even gaze. "Why should you agree to mate with me, Aqua, when you don't have feelings for me?" I asked, my tone calm but edged with steel. "What is duty compared to a lifetime of love?"

Her eyes widened; the shock written plainly across her face. She opened her mouth, as if to respond, but I raised a hand, cutting her off before she could speak.

"No," I said, my voice rising just enough to carry weight, silencing the murmurs of those watching. "I will only ever take a mate—one I choose, one I will mark, and one who belongs to Gale, my Lycan wolf. That bond is sacred. It is not a duty, Aqua, and it's not something I would ever take lightly. I advise you to do the same. Find someone who stirs your wolf, who matches your soul."

The room was deathly silent as I raised the glass, she'd handed me earlier, drinking every last drop of whiskey in a single motion. The burn of it was sharp, but my gaze never left hers. When I finished, I handed the empty glass back to her. Without another word, I pushed off the wall and strode toward the door. The heavy sound of my boots echoed in the hall as my guard enforcers fell into step behind me. 

The minute I walked out of the dining hall, the night air hit me as I stepped outside, crisp and cool against my skin. Behind me, the sound of the pack's muted whispers faded, and I let the weight of their expectations fall away as I walked home, away from the mess and interference of the Bay Shifter council. 

As soon as I reached home, I turned to the guard enforcers and raised a hand to stop them. "Do not follow me," I instructed, my voice firm. Their hesitation was brief, but they nodded and stepped back as I walked past them. 

Once out of sight, I let Gale take over. The shift was instantaneous, seamless, the magic of the moon weaving through me like an old, familiar song. Since Gale awakened, shifting no longer required the awkward process of undressing—it was pure energy, pure power. My clothes melted away with the change, replaced by thick, dark fur. 

"Run" Gale urged, his voice echoing in my mind, restless and eager. Without hesitation, I sprang forward, the cool night air rushing past me as my paws thundered against the earth. The forest blurred around me, my focus on one destination: Hanka Island. Gale's anxiety mirrored my curiosity, and together, we pushed harder, and faster, until the island's looming silhouette came into view. 

I didn't stop at the shore. Instead, I plunged into the caves hidden beneath the island's cliffs. The air grew colder as I descended, the darkness swallowing me whole. The scent of earth and stone filled my senses as I navigated the winding tunnels with precision. 

"Almost there," I pushed the words to Gale, my excitement building as we neared the exit. 

When I finally emerged into the open air, I shifted back into human form. The cold bit at my skin, but the thrill of the hunt kept me warm. I stood at the mouth of the cave for a moment, taking in the sprawling forest before me. Majestically, I stepped forward, the forest crunching underfoot. Every step felt deliberate and purposeful. My senses were on high alert as I moved deeper into the cold heart of Hanka Island. For nearly an hour, I pushed my power outward, listening, and searching. The forest was eerily silent, the kind of silence that felt wrong, unnatural. Gale stirred uneasily within me, his growl low and frustrated. 

"Nothing," I admitted to him, the disappointment heavy in my chest. 

"Be patient" he replied, though even his voice lacked its usual confidence. 

I let out a sharp exhale, my breath visible in the freezing air. "Fine," I muttered aloud, my voice breaking the oppressive quiet. "We'll rest for now." 

An hour later, out of restlessness, I began the climb, the cold bit harder the higher I went. Finally, I reached a flat ledge where I could see the forest stretching endlessly below. Sitting down, I leaned back against a large rock, my body tense but still and enjoyed the view of Hanka Island from the mountain top.