Moonlit Bonds

Chapter sixteen : Bound by Duty

The days following Kai's conversation with Luca seemed to pass in a blur of pack duties, training, and council meetings. But beneath the routine, Kai's mind churned restlessly. His admission to Luca about his family had opened a door he had long kept shut, and now it felt like he couldn't close it again. Every interaction with his parents, every glance from his siblings, seemed heavier, more loaded with the weight of their silent disdain.

And Luca—Luca had been there. Always there, with his quiet strength and unwavering presence. Kai had expected Luca to push for more, to demand deeper conversations or try to pry into Kai's feelings. But to his surprise, Luca had done none of that. Instead, he simply stayed close, never pushing too hard, but never allowing Kai to retreat into his shell completely.

It was both comforting and unnerving.

Kai found himself at the pack house one evening, going over the latest patrol reports. The council had expressed concerns about the rogues' movements in the northern territories, and Kai was working on a new strategy to reinforce the borders. His brow furrowed as he reviewed the maps spread across the table, his mind consumed by the details.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," Kai called, not looking up from the maps.

The door creaked open, and Kai glanced up to see his younger brother, Seth, standing in the doorway. Seth was tall and lean, with the same dark hair as Kai, though his eyes were lighter, almost golden. He had always been the quietest of Kai's siblings, rarely engaging in the petty rivalry that defined their family dynamics.

"Seth," Kai said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "What do you need?"

Seth stepped into the room, his posture hesitant. "I wanted to talk."

Kai raised an eyebrow but gestured for him to sit. Seth rarely initiated conversations, especially not with Kai.

"What's on your mind?" Kai asked, keeping his tone neutral.

Seth fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, avoiding Kai's gaze. "It's about Father."

Kai's expression darkened slightly at the mention of their father. He crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "What about him?"

Seth hesitated, his fingers still tugging at his shirt. "I... I don't think he's happy with the way things are going."

Kai's jaw tightened. "That's nothing new."

"No, I mean..." Seth trailed off, finally meeting Kai's gaze. "He's been talking to some of the elders. He thinks you're too focused on defending the borders. He thinks you're ignoring the pack's internal affairs."

Kai's eyes narrowed, a surge of anger bubbling up inside him. "The rogues are a real threat, Seth. I can't afford to ignore that."

"I know," Seth said quickly, his voice low. "But Father doesn't see it that way. He thinks you're too... cold. Too distant. He's been saying that maybe someone else should take over."

Kai's heart skipped a beat, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. "Someone else?"

Seth looked down at his hands, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's been talking about putting our cousin Marcus in charge. He thinks Marcus would be more... in touch with the pack's needs."

A bitter laugh escaped Kai's lips. "Of course he does. Marcus has always been Father's favorite."

Seth flinched at the bitterness in Kai's voice, but he didn't deny it. "I don't agree with him, Kai. I think you're doing a great job."

Kai sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Thanks, Seth. But it doesn't matter what you think or what I think. Father has the elders' ear. If he wants to push me out, he'll find a way."

Seth frowned, his golden eyes filled with concern. "You can't let that happen. The pack needs you, not Marcus."

Kai's mind raced, the weight of his family's betrayal settling heavily on his shoulders. He had known his father was dissatisfied, but he hadn't realized just how far he was willing to go. The thought of losing his position as alpha—of being replaced by someone like Marcus—filled him with a cold dread.

"I'll handle it," Kai said finally, his voice hard. "I'm not going to let Father take the pack from me."

Seth nodded, though his worry was still evident. "Just... be careful. Father can be ruthless when he wants something."

Kai gave a tight smile, his eyes darkening. "I know."

As Seth left the room, Kai sat back in his chair, his mind spinning with the implications of what he had just learned. His father's disapproval was nothing new, but this—this was a direct challenge to his leadership, a threat to everything he had worked so hard to build.

The door creaked open again, and Kai looked up, expecting to see Seth return. But instead, Luca stood in the doorway, his silver eyes observing Kai closely.

"You heard," Kai said, more of a statement than a question.

Luca stepped inside, his gaze never leaving Kai's face. "I did. Are you okay?"

Kai leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "No. I'm not."

Luca approached slowly, his expression serious. "What are you going to do?"

Kai exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know yet. But I'm not going to let Marcus take what's mine."

Luca placed a hand on Kai's shoulder, his touch steady and reassuring. "You won't have to face this alone, Kai. You have people who believe in you."

Kai looked up at Luca, his heart tightening at the sincerity in his words. For so long, Kai had faced his battles alone, unwilling to let anyone close enough to help. But Luca—Luca was different. He didn't just stand by; he fought beside Kai, both in battle and in these quieter, more personal struggles.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Kai admitted, his voice low. "But I'm not giving up without a fight."

Luca squeezed his shoulder, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. Because I'd hate to see you go down without one."

Kai managed a small smile in return, though the weight of what was coming still pressed heavily on him. His father's challenge was a storm on the horizon, one that threatened to tear apart everything Kai had built. But for the first time in a long time, Kai didn't feel like he had to face it alone.

With Luca by his side, maybe—just maybe—he could weather the storm.