Always And Forever | ENG

Chapter Thirteen: The Heart of the Pack

The days following Dean's outburst were heavy with unspoken words. The pack was fractured, torn between those who still looked to me for leadership and those who couldn't accept the change. I could feel the divide every time I stepped into a room, every time I gave an order, every time I tried to reach out to Dean.

It was a slow burn, this rift between us, and it was starting to affect more than just the pack's morale. The uncertainty in the air had a weight to it, and it clung to every interaction. The pack needed a leader who could hold them together, but every step I took felt like I was pushing them further apart.

Ace had been a steady presence, never questioning my authority, always ready with a plan, a backup, a solution. He was the rock I leaned on when everything felt like it was slipping away. But even Ace couldn't fix what was happening with Dean.

"I think we need to talk to him," I said one evening as Ace and I stood by the training grounds, watching the pack members practice. I could feel the tension in my bones as I turned toward him, my heart aching with the weight of the situation.

"Dean's not going to listen," Ace replied quietly, his voice edged with concern. "Not yet, anyway. He's still angry. Still hurt."

"I know," I said, my voice tight. "But he has to see that this isn't just about him and me. This is about the whole pack. We need him. I need him."

Ace studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Maybe. But what you need and what Dean needs are two different things. He's not going to come around until he feels like he has a place again. Right now, that's with you. You took his place, and no matter how you try to fix it, it's going to hurt."

I swallowed, the words like acid in my throat. It wasn't something I wanted to hear, but I couldn't deny the truth in his words. Dean had always been the Alpha in his own right. His leadership had always been unquestioned. And now, here I was, standing in his place, trying to prove I was worthy of it.

But proving myself to Dean was a battle I wasn't sure I could win.

"I can't lose him," I said quietly, more to myself than to Ace. "He's my brother. He's the one person who's always been there for me."

"I know," Ace said, his voice softening. "But he's going to have to figure it out. You can't carry him forever, Finley. And you can't let his rejection stop you from being the leader they need. You're their Alpha now. And you have to keep moving forward, even if Dean isn't ready to walk with you."

I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn't go away. Dean was my family. How could I lead the pack when my own blood was so vehemently against me?

Later that evening, after the practice session had ended, I found myself walking alone near the edge of the pack's territory. I needed space. I needed to think. The air was cool, and the sounds of the forest filled the silence around me. I used to come out here when I needed to escape the chaos of the pack house, when I needed a moment to clear my head. Now, it felt like the world was closing in on me.

I didn't hear him at first. Dean.

The rustle of leaves behind me made me freeze. I turned slowly, my heart pounding, already knowing who it was.

He stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his face still angry but more resigned than before. The expression on his face softened slightly as I met his gaze, but the distance between us was still palpable. The betrayal, the hurt-it was all still there, simmering beneath the surface.

"Dean," I said softly, my voice carrying a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"I didn't come here to argue," he said, his voice rough, like he had spent hours stewing over whatever words he was about to say. "I just... I need you to understand something."

I waited, my heart beating painfully in my chest, as I silently urged him to continue.

"I've spent my whole life preparing for this," he said, his voice quieter now, as if the anger had drained out of him. "And when Father chose you, I didn't know what to feel. But now... now it feels like everything I've worked for means nothing."

"I didn't want this, Dean," I whispered, taking a cautious step toward him. "I never wanted to take your place. But I can't just let the pack fall apart because we can't agree."

He stared at the ground for a long moment before looking back up at me. "I know you didn't. But it doesn't change how it feels. I'm not ready to just... step aside, Finley. I don't know if I ever will be."

I felt a pang of sadness in my chest, but I held my ground. "Then what do we do? Just let it all fall apart? We're stronger together, Dean. The pack needs both of us."

He shook his head, frustration creeping into his features. "Maybe. But I need more time. To figure out what this means. To figure out who I am now."

"Dean..." My voice cracked, but I kept going. "Please. I don't want to do this alone. I don't know how to lead without you. I need you. The pack needs you."

His expression softened slightly, but he didn't move closer. Instead, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll try," he said, his voice quiet, almost reluctant. "But I can't promise you anything. Not yet."

That was the closest he'd come to admitting that there might be a way forward for us. A small crack in the wall between us, but it was something. Something I could hold onto.

"Thank you," I said, my voice soft. "That's all I can ask for."

Dean didn't reply immediately. He just nodded and turned, disappearing back into the trees. I watched him go, the lingering ache in my chest reminding me how much was still left unsaid.

For the first time in days, though, I felt like there might be hope. Dean wasn't ready to accept me as his Alpha-not yet. But there was a possibility, however small, that we could find a way to work together again.

But the real battle wasn't over. The pack needed me, and so did Dean. And now, more than ever, I had to prove to them both that I was ready to lead us through whatever came next.