Chapter 29 – The Blood Price
POV: Kael Thorne
The clearing was silent, save for the rustling of the trees in the wind. Every wolf in the pack watched with rapt attention, their eyes fixed on the confrontation between me and my father, the Alpha. It was a silence laced with tension—anticipation—fear. They knew that the outcome of this battle would determine the future of our pack. It would either be my victory, or Gideon's iron grip would remain.
"Is this what you've become, Kael?" Gideon sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "A traitor to your bloodline?"
I tightened my fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through my veins. The bond between a true Alpha and their pack was undeniable, and I felt it now more than ever. But Gideon's power was something else entirely—he had ruled with fear, his power grounded in manipulation and brutality. He wouldn't give up control easily.
"You never understood the pack," I said, my voice cutting through the air. "You've ruled through fear and bloodshed. The pack deserves more than that. They deserve unity, hope. They deserve freedom."
"You think they'll follow you?" Gideon barked a laugh. "They are mine. I am their Alpha. No one else will lead them."
I didn't need to answer. The pack had already chosen. I could feel their presence behind me, their eyes on me, the trust in their gaze. And it was that trust that filled me with the strength I needed. I wasn't just fighting for myself—I was fighting for the future of all of us.
I stepped forward, my feet silent on the grass. "This ends today, Father."
Gideon's eyes narrowed, and before I could react, he launched himself at me, his claws extended and teeth bared. The force of his attack was brutal—he was an Alpha in his prime, trained in the ancient ways of battle. But I was no longer a child. I had trained in the shadows, and now I would fight with everything I had.
Our bodies collided in a violent clash of fangs and claws. The force of his blows sent shockwaves through my body, but I held firm. My own strikes were calculated, swift, and precise. For the first time in my life, I felt the true weight of my power—of my right to lead.
But Gideon wasn't finished. He was ruthless, a predator to the core. He backed me into the trees, his strength overwhelming. I could feel his claws tearing into my skin, the blood pouring from the wound, but I refused to fall. I would not let this man—my father—win. Not when everything was at stake.
I let out a growl, the feral nature of my wolf rising to the surface. "This is over, Gideon."
With a roar, I summoned all the power of my Alpha blood, pushing back against the brutal force of his attacks. The ground beneath us trembled as my power exploded, knocking Gideon back with such force that he stumbled.
For a moment, there was silence. And in that silence, I made my decision.
I lunged forward, driving my claws deep into Gideon's chest.
"Kael!" Seren's voice rang out in the distance, but I couldn't stop. Not now.
I held my father down, the weight of my actions bearing down on me. But this was the price. The pack had chosen me, and I had to claim my place as their Alpha.
"I am Alpha," I whispered, my voice raw.
With a final, desperate gasp, Gideon's form went limp beneath me. His reign had ended.
The pack was mine.