Under the Sky

The King

Zeff

I crouched low, my paws sinking into the soft earth as I moved silently through the dense forest. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows on the ground. My senses were on high alert, every sound and scent magnified. Gaius was fully present, his instincts guiding us as we moved swiftly through the trees.

*Patrols, report,* I mindlinked to my pack members, my voice firm and commanding.

*All clear in the east,* came the reply from one of my scouts.

*No movement in the south,* another reported.

But there was something—a subtle shift in the air, a scent carried on the wind that didn't belong. I could feel it, and so could Gaius. He growled low in my mind, a warning.

*Stay sharp. There's something here,* I instructed, tightening my mental grip on the link.

I continued moving forward, my eyes scanning the dark surroundings. The scent was getting stronger, more distinct. It was unfamiliar, yet there was a hint of something... familiar. I pushed through a thick undergrowth and emerged into a small clearing. One of my commanders, a gray wolf named Aron, stood ahead, his ears perked and his stance alert.

*Movement at the western border, Alpha,* Aron mindlinked, his voice tense.

I nodded, moving closer. That's when I saw it—a figure moving through the trees. A large brown wolf emerged from the shadows, its eyes gleaming in the darkness. It didn't belong to our pack, but I recognized the aura immediately. The wolf circled us slowly, a grin in its eyes that sent a wave of irritation down my spine.

Gaius bristled, his hackles rising. *Stay on guard,* I told my pack through the link.

The brown wolf stopped circling and began to shift, its form changing fluidly from beast to man. Standing before us now was a tall male with sandy blonde hair and piercing silver eyes. His grin was just as sharp in human form as it was when he was a wolf.

"Impressive," the man said, his accent smooth and undeniably Irish. "You handle security well, Zeff."

I growled softly, my eyes narrowing. William. I knew him well. Too well. A ripple of annoyance coursed through me, but I forced Gaius to calm. Formalities dictated my actions here. I shifted back into my human form, the transformation seamless and quick. I fell to one knee, bowing my head slightly.

"Your Majesty," I greeted, my voice respectful, even as I felt a wave of frustration.

The man with sandy blonde hair chuckled softly, clearly amused by my formality. "Come now, Zeff. We've known each other long enough. No need for such formalities among old friends."

Old friends. The words hung in the air between us, heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. William and I had known each other since childhood. We had grown up together, trained together, and when the time came, we had faced each other in the greatest challenge of our lives.

When the call went out for all Alphas in the state to compete for the title of King of Kings, I had been there. Not because I sought the crown, but because I knew I had to show up. It was a matter of honor, of duty to my pack. But I had no real desire to rule over all the packs. Power didn't interest me in the way it did others. William, though—he thrived on it. I could see the hunger in his eyes even back then, the drive to be at the top, to command respect, to rule.

In the final challenge, it had come down to the two of us. William and me. And though I could have won—could have taken the crown for myself—I had deliberately stepped back. I let William take the victory. I let him have what he wanted most, knowing full well the kind of leader he would become. It wasn't a decision I made lightly, but it was one I knew was right for me and my pack. I didn't want the crown; I didn't want the burden that came with it.