Fated by Blood and Moon

Chapter 10: Strength in Shadows

The moon was high in the sky, casting its pale light over the forest as I led Maya deeper into Silvermoon territory. The air was crisp, filled with the familiar scent of pine and earth, but beneath it, there was something else-a tension that hung like a shadow, weighing down on me. My instincts were sharp, alert. Even in our territory, I couldn't let my guard down. Not with her here.

I glanced at Maya beside me, my grip on her hand firm. Her steps were quiet, but I could sense her unease. The bond between us hummed with emotion-fear, curiosity, uncertainty. I didn't blame her for feeling on edge. She was new here, and I knew the wolves lurking in the trees, watching from the shadows, would be cautious of her. They'd want to know who this hybrid was, the one I claimed as mine.

Fenrir stirred within me, his presence a constant force. They sense her power, Leo. They don't trust it. Neither should you.

I pushed the thought aside. Fenrir's protective nature was always sharp, but I wouldn't allow his caution to cloud my judgment. Maya was mine. My mate. And I'd protect her from anyone who thought otherwise.

"We're almost there," I said softly, glancing at her to ease her nerves. "My pack will keep their distance until I've had a chance to speak with them. You don't need to worry."

She tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just... I don't know how they're going to react to me."

I stopped walking and turned to face her, reaching out to cup her cheek. The warmth of her skin against mine sent sparks through me, a reminder of the undeniable bond between us. "They'll respect my decision," I said, my voice firm. "You're my mate, Maya. That's all that matters to me."

Her eyes flickered with doubt, and I could sense the turmoil she was trying to suppress. Being the Alpha's mate wouldn't be enough to erase the fact that she was different-a hybrid, an outsider. The pack would question it. They'd question her. But I wasn't about to let them doubt me, or what she meant to me.

She'll need to prove herself, Fenrir growled in my mind. They won't accept her as easily as you think.

I knew he was right. Maya would have to show them her strength, her worth, just as I had done when I became Alpha. But I'd stand by her side every step of the way. Together, we'd make them see that she belonged here.

We continued in silence, and soon the trees parted to reveal the heart of my territory. The pack house stood tall in the clearing, its dark stone walls illuminated by the moonlight. It was a symbol of everything I had fought for, everything I had rebuilt after the chaos that nearly destroyed us.

"This is home," I said quietly, glancing at Maya. "You'll be safe here."

She nodded, but I could still sense the tension in her body, the uncertainty. I didn't blame her. After everything she'd been through, trust wouldn't come easily. But I'd earn it, slowly, piece by piece.

As we neared the entrance, I felt the eyes of my pack on us, hidden among the trees. They were watching, waiting, assessing her. Fenrir's growl rumbled in my mind again. They feel her power, Leo. She's not like the others. You know that.

I tightened my grip on Maya's hand, silently telling Fenrir to quiet down. He wasn't wrong, but that didn't change the fact that she was mine. I wouldn't let anyone, not even my wolf, question that.

Once inside the pack house, the warmth of the space settled around us, the scent of burning wood and the low hum of voices drifting from deeper within. The tension between Maya and me slowly started to ease as the familiar comforts of home surrounded us. I led her through the hallways until we reached a quiet room at the back of the house.

"This is where we'll stay tonight," I told her, my voice low as I gestured toward the simple but cozy space. "Tomorrow, we'll start talking to the pack. I'll introduce you properly."

She nodded, but I could still feel the weight of her worry pressing down on her. I knew what was going through her mind-the fear of being rejected, of being seen as different. She had carried that weight her entire life, and now, here she was, on the edge of something new, something unknown.

As I turned to close the door, her voice stopped me. "Leo... can you tell me more about your pack? About you?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to say. My past, my pack-it was all complicated. But if she was to stand beside me, she deserved to know. I sighed softly and turned back to her, my eyes meeting hers. "I've been Alpha for seven years," I began quietly. "I inherited the title from my father after his death. It wasn't easy. My pack... they were broken. We lost a lot of good wolves, and the territory was in chaos."

Memories of those dark days flooded my mind-the battles, the bloodshed, the endless nights spent trying to hold everything together. "But we rebuilt," I continued, my voice heavy with the weight of it all. "Slowly, we found our strength again. And now, we're one of the strongest packs in the region. But with that strength comes responsibility-and enemies."

I didn't have to say more for her to understand. The life of an Alpha was never simple, never peaceful. Every day was a fight to protect what was ours, to keep the pack safe. And now, with her by my side, that fight had taken on a whole new meaning.

"And your wolf?" she asked gently, her voice pulling me back from my thoughts. "What's his name?"

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Fenrir," I said, the name rolling off my tongue with a sense of pride. "He's been my constant companion through it all. Strong, loyal... but he's not always easy to control."

Fenrir let out a low growl in my mind, his voice filled with his usual dominance. I am always in control, Leo. It's you who falters.

I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath. "He's opinionated, to say the least."

Maya smiled, a small but genuine one, and for a moment, I felt the tension between us ease. There was a comfort in knowing that we both had our struggles with our wolves, that this bond we shared was something neither of us fully understood yet, but something we could navigate together.

"Thank you for telling me," she said softly.

I nodded, stepping closer to her and taking her hand once more. "We're in this together now, Maya. Whatever comes next, we'll face it as a team."

The words felt right. She wasn't just my mate; she was my equal. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them side by side-wolf and mate, together.