Chapter 94 - The True Alpha

(Luca's perspective)

The week had been exhausting, but for once, I didn't mind. Meeting after meeting with Alphas from all over, each one a puzzle I needed to solve, a mind I needed to sway. It was grueling, but it was working.

Progress. Real progress.

The plan against Cale was finally gaining traction. Some Alphas, the usual power-hungry ones, were already aligned with his insane idea of world domination. But the majority? They wanted no part of it. They wanted balance, stability, something they could rely on for the future of their packs. And they wanted me to lead that charge. It felt good, knowing the tide was turning in my favor. The satisfaction of hearing Alpha after Alpha pledge their support, seeing the cracks form in Cale's foundation, was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

Still, not all meetings were victories. Some were battles, subtle wars fought with words and glances, where one wrong move could mean losing everything.

The meeting with Alexander had been the most delicate of them all. Alexander, Alpha of the Ironclaw pack. The man my father despised more than anyone alive. Our pack's history with his was steeped in blood and betrayal, a feud that went back generations. Convincing him to align with us wasn't just a challenge; it was a near impossibility.

But Quinn?

She made the impossible look easy. Having her there wasn't part of the original plan but I asked for her help. She wasn't a pack member but she had grace, conviction and being a very powerful Luna had its advantages so when she called our enemy to convince him to meet with us, he agreed. But Alexander, in his maddening arrogance, had refused to meet with me unless she was present.

"Bring her," he'd said, a sly grin on his face. "I want to see the Luna everyone's whispering about."

I'd almost refused, but Quinn had insisted. "If it helps the cause, I'll do it," she'd said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

And damn, was I glad I listened. The meeting had gone better than I could've hoped. Quinn, with her calm presence and sharp wit, acted as a buffer, diffusing tension before it could escalate. She didn't just sit there looking pretty; she engaged, spoke up, countered Alexander's doubts with logic and sincerity.

By the end, Alexander wasn't just listening—he was nodding. Agreeing. As we left the room, I felt a rare surge of pride. Not just in the progress we'd made but in her. Quinn had done what I thought was impossible.

Then, of course, everything had to go to hell. The three of us walked out of the conference room, and there was my father, standing in the hallway. His expression twisted from confusion to rage in seconds.

The sight of Alexander in our territory was bad enough. Seeing Quinn with us? That was gasoline on an already blazing fire. Alexander smirked, his usual cocky, infuriating smirk, as his eyes met my father's. It wasn't just a look. It was a challenge, a reminder of every time Alexander had bested him in the past.

My father's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight as he glared at me. Quinn didn't notice—or if she did, she didn't care. She turned to me, her eyes soft, and a small, almost shy smile curving her lips. It wasn't much, just a look, but it was enough to send warmth flooding through me. Alexander escorted her out, his hand hovering near her back. I wanted to rip it away, but I forced myself to stay still.

As the door shut behind them, my father rounded on me. "What the hell was that?" His voice was low but sharp, the kind of tone that made most people flinch.

"Business," I said simply.

"With him?" His voice rose, his finger jabbing toward the door. "You're meeting with Alexander, our enemy, and you don't even have the decency to include me? To explain yourself?"

"I don't need to explain anything to you," I snapped, my patience thinning. His eyes narrowed.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Luca. Alexander is not someone we trust. And bringing the Shewolf into a meeting with our enemy in the pack's house?"

"Her name is Quinn," I said, my voice like ice. "And thanks to her, Alexander is on our side now. She's done more for this pack in one meeting than you have in months."

That did it. My father stepped closer, his face inches from mine, his voice a low growl. "Don't you dare talk to me like that. I built this pack. Everything you have is because of me. And now you think you can just—"

"I can," I interrupted, my voice booming. "Because I'm the Alpha now. This pack is mine. The decisions are mine. And you? You're just in the way."

His face twisted with fury, and before I could react, his fist shot out, catching me square in the jaw. Pain exploded in my head, and I stumbled back, but I didn't fall.

When I straightened, my blood roared, my vision tinged red—not from the punch, but from the fury rising inside me. Amarok, my wolf, surged forward, his anger mingling with mine, a force of nature too strong to contain. My muscles burned, my skin stretched, and I knew we were close to losing control. I growled, low and guttural, a sound that seemed to shake the walls around us.

My father stepped back, his bravado faltering for the first time. My claws extended, my body stretching taller, broader, my shadow looming over him like a predator about to strike.

My eyes glowed a brilliant red, and when I spoke, my voice was a blend of my own and Amarok's. "You will never touch me again."

His eyes widened, the fear in them unmistakable. I moved fast, my fist slamming into his chest with a force that sent him flying. He crashed into the far wall, the impact cracking the plaster. He crumpled to the floor, groaning as he tried to push himself up.

The sound of footsteps echoed, and I turned to see Ethan and a few Betas rushing in. Their expressions were a mix of shock and disbelief.

"What the hell is going on?" Ethan demanded, his eyes darting between me and our father who was still on the floor, staring at me like I was something unrecognizable.

I crouched low, my claws scraping the marble floor as I leaned in close. My voice, deep and animalistic, was barely above a growl. "I am Alpha. You will abide by my rules. Do you understand?"

He didn't answer, his body trembling as he looked up at me. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Finally, I stood, my form slowly returning to normal. My breathing was ragged, my heart pounding as I looked around the room. The Betas, Ethan included, watched me with a mix of awe and uncertainty because for the first time, not only did I stand up to my father but I also took on a Lycan form which has never happened in the history of this pack. Either we were in wolf form or human form but never both at the same time.

I would focus on this later but right now, the FORMER Alpha Deacon had learned the hard way that this was my pack now and nobody will stand in my way again.