Three months of training in the neighboring pack felt like a year away from Blazeclaw Pack. Today, though, my rigorous training ended.

When Leander, my adopted brother, came to pick me up, I was over the moon. The thought of being back in the Blazeclaw Pack, with my Alpha father and mother, who was the Luna, filled me with anticipation.

With such demanding training, I was barred from visiting them, ensuring all my focus stayed sharp. As tempting as it was to break the rules, I refused to let Dad and Mom feel any disappointment over me. After all, they sent me here to prepare for my future as the next female Alpha.

The moment we set foot at the pack mansion, Leander and I wasted no time heading inside to reunite with Mom and Dad.

Just as I was ready to embrace them, my brother caught me off guard by introducing a stranger standing next to them.

Feeling bewildered, I attempted to mind-link him for answers, but instead, he cheerfully introduced her, saying, “Althea, this is Cassandra, my mate.”

Without missing a beat, he turned to the one he called Cassandra and added, “And this is my sister, Althea Lockwood. Feel free to just call her Althea.”

Cassandra greeted me with a warm smile, extending her hand. Though something felt off, I shook her hand and brushed it aside.

Without wasting time, I wrapped my arms around my Alpha father and mother, sharing how much I missed them, even though training had kept me away.

Since Mom and Dad knew I had missed all the significant events in the pack, she caught me up and shared that Cassandra was Leander's fated mate whom he met at the gathering.

With an innocent charm and a gentle demeanor, Cassandra captured my brother's heart. As fate would have it, Leander introduced Cassandra to the pack when I was sent for training, declaring his intention to marry her under the full moon after my training ended.

While something felt off in her aura, I was still over the moon, unable to contain my excitement for their upcoming wedding before Mom and Dad sent me away for training again.

Curious about the wedding date, I inquired. Mom snapped back, “Cassandra is merely a commoner, lacking a pack to call home. While we wish we could sway your brother to turn away from her, we cannot. If he genuinely sees her as a worthy mate, then we will see them wed during the full moon this month.”

I was brimming with confidence that Leander would finally take the plunge and commit to his mate.

Unbeknownst to me, my gut feelings were right as I encountered Cassandra the other day. As soon as I descended the stairs, I came to a sudden stop at the sound of footsteps echoing behind me.

"Is it normal for a so-called warrior to roll out of bed this late? Just look at Leander—he's out there assisting Alpha Zaccheus with all the responsibilities, and here you are, doing absolutely nothing,” a familiar voice chimed in from behind and added, “But honestly, what does it matter? Your training is pointless when you have nothing to inherit in this pack—not even a single role.”

Upon my return, Cassandra feigned innocence, but it didn't take long for her true colors to emerge. In front of my parents and Leander, she was the ideal mate they all admired, yet behind their backs, she revealed an entirely different attitude and seemed to have her own agenda.

Fingers crossed that I’m mistaken, but it seemed she had her sights set on being the next seated Luna. 

Perhaps Cassandra was in the dark about my brother’s past. Leander was adopted after his original pack was wiped out by rogues. Given his status, it was a done deal that he couldn't inherit any role and be the next seated Alpha. 

My brother seemed completely bewitched, as though he had been forced to drink a potion that tethered him to her. It left me bewildered that Leander would fall for a woman as fiercely ambitious as her. 

Cassandra even had the audacity to say to me, “Althea, you’ve got just three months of training under your belt. You're nothing special in this pack, so don’t act like you’re destined to become the next Luna.” 

“Remember, Leander isn’t married to you yet, you ambitious rogue!” I shot back, a smirk playing on my lips.

When she opened her mouth to retort, footsteps echoed behind us. In an instant, she steadied herself, her expression softening and her tone morphing from biting to fragile, as if I were the one who had overstepped.

Just then, my mom and brother walked in, surrounding the so-called unfortunate Cassandra with warmth and comfort. With their support, she transformed into a damsel in distress, tears streaming down her face.

When they asked her what was troubling her, she played the victim and said, "It seems Althea isn’t happy with me being Leander’s mate.”

I was taken aback, knowing I’d never said such a thing. Yet, they coddled her, and Leander shot me a warning, “Althea, this is out of your hands. She’s my mate, whether you approve or not.”

Holding my ground, my voice steady as I said, “I never said that, Leander. It may not be my place, but I suggest you dig into your mate's past before it’s too late to turn back.”

When I tried to show them who she was, they lashed out at me, furious beyond reason. In their eyes, it was nothing more than envy, blind to the fact that my wolf and I had already sensed the looming danger in her presence.

All my attempts to warn them were brushed off like dust. As I discreetly tipped off Alpha Zaccheus, my father, he shot me a warning look and cautioned, “Althea, you’ve just returned and barely know her. I urge you to get to know her before jumping to conclusions about her intentions, or you might find yourself facing consequences you won’t like.”

Despite my desire for Dad to get to the bottom of it, but he brushed my concerns aside, letting doubt cloud his trust in me. In the end, I was left with no choice but to play it cool and pretend I had moved on.

Deep down, I was itching to uncover the truth and show that my instincts were right all along.

Seeing me as a potential threat to their relationship, Leander decided to keep Cassandra away from me for the time being.

Still, I couldn’t ignore how Cassandra carried herself with an air of superiority, treating the servants as if she were already the Luna and expecting them to bow to her, which infuriated me.

Yet, I had to keep my thoughts to myself, as my hunches weren’t backed by enough evidence to turn them in my favor.

Throughout my months away, the desire to see my friends grew stronger with each passing day. With nostalgia tugging at my heart, I arranged to meet my three friends.

When tomorrow afternoon rolled around, I reunited with them, discussing my training journey as they buzzed with excitement over my soon-to-be role as the female Alpha of the pack.

Though everyone knew Leander's bond with Cassandra, I initially shied away from discussing it. Yet, my three friends brought it up, anticipating our conversation would lead to them.

“Althea, do you also find something unsettling about Cassandra, your brother’s mate? I noticed her behaving strangely in the woods, and it seemed I was the only one who did. It’s left me feeling anxious about potential punishment,” said Seraphina, one of my friends.

When I urged her to share what she knew, she said, “It doesn’t stop there. I’ve heard whispers of her schemes, and I truly hope I’m wrong, but she’s been fooling your brother. I once caught her boasting to her friends about using a potion to manipulate him and secure her position as the next Luna of the Blazeclaw Pack. We cannot let that come to pass; our great pack shouldn’t be in the hands of someone so cunning as Cassandra.”

In the end, all my instincts turned out to be true. I was not wrong; it wasn’t solely my friends who recognized her strange demeanor. Our servants and some warriors in the pack also sensed something amiss. Yet, my parents seemed completely oblivious to it all.

Not only did they spill the tea on what they heard about Cassandra, but they also unveiled her schemes to seduce my brother and bear his heir. For her, this would not only guarantee her position as Luna but also ensure her child’s claim to the Alpha throne.

“Cassandra’s ambitions are as wild as the wind. It’s clear to everyone that I am the true heir, the one who stands next in line!” I proudly declared.

With a slight shake of her head, Seraphina conveyed her disbelief. “For sure, but remember, anything can unfold. Cassandra’s plot is to lure everyone into her trap, ensuring you’re ousted so Alpha Zaccheus can change the game and make your adopted brother the heir.”

Seraphina shared some messages she had collected and a voice recording from her phone. In it, Cassandra's voice laid bare her devious scheme.

With all the pieces of the puzzle in hand, I thanked Seraphina and returned to the mansion, my mind awash with overthinking and doubts.

Nevertheless, I brushed those thoughts away, choosing to immerse myself in my training with the pack, free from distractions.

In no time, my Alpha father summoned me to the hall. At that instant, with all eyes upon us, he proclaimed, “Your relentless dedication to training has earned you the esteemed position of lead warrior of the Blazeclaw Pack.”

I was taken aback, completely caught off guard. It was hard to believe my father still had confidence in me, considering he had once threatened to imprison me for doubting Cassandra as Leander’s mate.

Standing alongside Leander, Cassandra couldn’t resist interjecting, “Alpha, I hate to interrupt, but I feel the position of lead warrior would be a far better fit for Leander than for Althea.”

Shock rippled through the room, even Leander’s expression betraying his surprise. That was exactly what I aimed to express. Yet, Leander just shrugged it off, offering a hasty apology for the interruption.

With the proclamation underway, I was recognized as the lead warrior, a title I proudly welcomed. However, Cassandra had more tricks up her sleeve.

As she drew near, she wrapped me in a tight embrace.

“Cherish it for now,” she said, her voice laced with menace, “because soon, that position will be nothing but a distant dream.”

Rather than feeling anxious, I burst into laughter and whispered back, “I knew it all along. Anyone who dares question the Alpha must have a hidden agenda. So, Cassandra, do you genuinely regard Leander as your mate, or is he merely a pawn in your game?”

At my words, Cassandra faltered, her usual sharp tongue silenced as shock washed over her. Deciding to keep things calm, I left without waiting for her reply, knowing she'd just stir up more trouble.

As I embraced my new role as lead warrior, it dawned on me that Leander, my father's trusted right hand, had tirelessly worked behind the scenes, pushing Cassandra to assist my mother as Luna.

Whenever my mother was occupied with other duties, Cassandra would step in as Luna, overseeing the pack with full authority.

I felt a wave of shock and unease, fearing this could be the start of her scheme, yet I was clueless about what would come next.

With night draping over us, I led the warriors on border patrol for the first time. However, the warriors eyed me with skepticism, unsure of my ability to lead.

Rumors spread that I was too fragile to lead, a notion Cassandra had cleverly planted in everyone's mind, urging caution.

When I challenged them to a duel, yet not a soul stepped up. The rumors of my frailty crumbled in silence.

A sense of calm enveloped me as no rogues appeared in the woods despite the warriors’ persistent reminders to keep my guard up. Once again, I stood as a testament to my strength, proving to the warriors that I could face rogues fearlessly, even without their backing.

Rumors swept through the pack like a raging inferno, labeling me as too weak to shoulder the responsibilities of a lead warrior.

My father repeatedly came to my defense, reminding everyone that I was stronger than their misguided assumptions.

Little did he know, the whispers had originated from Cassandra. When she caught wind of my Alpha father's faith in me, she feigned ignorance, pretending those slanders had never reached her ears.

Arriving at the pack mansion that afternoon, I was bewildered to hear someone’s voice lashing out at the servants.

To my surprise, it was Cassandra, her voice dripping with entitlement. “Don’t you know you’re supposed to serve me? I’m soon to be Luna! Now, whip up my favorite dish!”

Yet, when she spotted me, her expression shifted, eyes narrowing like a predator honing in on its prey.

With a flick of my wrist, I dismissed the servant and then turned my gaze to Cassandra. “Don't let your temper run wild with the servants,” I warned. “If I catch you pulling rank on them again, I won't hesitate to put you in place.”

Her laughter echoed in the air, filled with arrogance as she believed everyone was on her side. With a smirk, she threatened to unleash more lies to turn the pack against me, confirming my suspicions that all the rumors stemmed from her.

I hesitantly inquired of my brother whether marrying Cassandra was what he desired. He declared his commitment to marry her, conveying the deep connection he sensed between them, and expressed his hopes for me to embrace her as family.

Even my mother, who consistently stood by her side in her duties, was convinced she possessed the qualities to be the next Luna.

Just because my mother was so taken with her, she showered her with gifts, nearly forgetting that I, her own daughter, existed. While they were all charmed by her beguiling presence, I alone remained unbowed, seeing through the illusion.

With a crowd cheering her on, Cassandra boldly confronted me, clearly under the impression that my mother’s support was firmly in her corner, overshadowing me, her real daughter.

On a quiet night, just before my patrol around the border, I enjoyed dinner with my parents, along with Leander and Cassandra.

We began our dinner in silence, but soon, Cassandra spoke up, saying, “I never realized how spacious Althea’s room is. I can picture myself residing there once we tie the knot under the full moon. It would be a shame for it to sit empty.”

It was clear to me all along—she aimed to push me out of the pack mansion, believing her every move went unnoticed. But I wasn’t about to let her have her way. “Oh really? Just a reminder that Leander and you aren’t officially married yet, yet you’re already plotting to claim my room?”

For a split second, my father admonished me for my actions, insisting I act in line with my duties as a lead warrior. He continued, “I’m beginning to see Cassandra’s point. Maybe I was wrong to give you that title as the lead warrior.”

Feeling disheartened, I watched as they consoled Cassandra, insisting I was merely overreacting. They encouraged me to apologize and to put an end to the fuss; I complied with their wishes.

With that, I quickly wrapped up my meal, stating that I still had my patrol duty. Everyone barely noticed, their attention consumed by Cassandra.

Just as despair washed over me, a mind-link from one of the warriors buzzed to life: “Althea, we’ve spotted rogues in the woods! We must stop them before they breach the border and threaten the pack! Anyway, are you certain you can lead us? Aren’t you worried you might be putting yourself in danger?”

With uncertainty still hanging over them, I responded firmly, “No. This time, I will prove them all wrong. I am not weak, as they believe, and I will show that I am more than capable of fulfilling the role of lead warrior.”