I close my eyes.
Well,lucky me.
Chapter 19
CADE
Stepping back into my alpha role feels both foreign and inevitable—like slipping into a coat I haven’t worn in years, one that still fits perfectly despite the weight of everything that’s changed. My shoulders settle into it, my instincts sharpen, and for the first time in weeks, the world is no longer going on around me. It’s moving with me.
The only thing missing in this very moment is Rowan.
I wanted to keep her by my side, but she doesn’t need more stress. Not right now. The shadows under her eyes were darker this morning, her movements slower than I’m sure she wanted me to notice. Rest is vital, and I’ll make damn sure she gets it.
But first…
“What do you mean you had eyes on him and then hedisappeared?” The words rip out of me sharper than I intend.
Dax, acting alpha of the Riverstone pack, doesn’t flinch. He snarls right back, voice rough through thespeakerphone on the table. “Exactly what I said. My wolves lost him between a cluster of pines. One moment he was there, the next he wasn’t.”
Sneaky bastard probably has a cloaking spell on him.
“Are they still searching?” I press, which pisses him off further.
“Listen, Cade,” Dax snaps, tone edged with authority. “I know I’m new to this role, but don’t talk to me like I’m a pup who needs to be babysat. I’ve been preparing to become alpha since the day I could walk. If something is wrong in my pack, I’ll handle it. End of story.”
I bite back my own growl. He’s not wrong, and the fire in his voice tells me the Riverstone Pack is in far better hands than it was under the soon-to-be-previous alpha Calder.
My respect for him jumps another notch.
“Fair enough,” I say. “Has your pack decided how long until they’ll make your position final?”
Under normal circumstances, the council would preside over an alpha ascension, but with most of them dead or missing, there’s no point bringing it up.
“As soon as Calder is officially dealt with, I’ll be sworn in,” Dax replies, frustration fading into something steadier. “Preparations are already done. My wolves refuse to stay out of balance any longer. The last few months have already been draining enough thanks to the council’s choices.”
I’m not surprised to hear that. The fracture in the wolf council wasn’t just political—it was spiritual. Packs feel the instability like a heartbeat out of rhythm. And my own absence from Solara hasn’t helped. I know that now.
Elias leans closer to the phone. “Is Bram going to face consequences if he kills Calder?”
Dax lets out a low, rumbling sound—not quite a snarl, but close.
“As much as I’d like answers first,” he says, voice tightening, “I’ve seen enough. Calder betrayed his pack. He welcomed dark magic into our territory. He allowed someone—likely Malrik—to plant runes in our homes. I won’t let him live long enough to infect us further or challenge me once the truth spreads.”
It’s been made painfully clear that Glacier Crest Pack hasn’t been the only one who suffered.
Dax already let us know that he’d destroyed runes around the pack house that had been hidden in the corners of almost every room. He doesn’t know if they were there to influence people or what, but they’re gone now.
And they were enough to turn the pack against their former leader without question.
No honorable wolf shifter wants dark magic in their home, let alone coursing through their alpha.
Dax blows out a breath. “I’ll update you once we find something. Until then, make sure I’m not the only one who watches the borders. You’re technically the only alpha who wasn’t affected by Malrik. You may not realize it yet, but the wolves are going to be looking to you, Cade.”
“I’m ready for the task,” I say without hesitation. “You just make sure Calder doesn’t find whatever he came back for. He ran back home for a reason, and I’m sure it’s not for sanctuary.”
“Or he’s being pulled there,” Elias mutters.
Dax grunts in agreement. “That wouldn’t surprise me,either. Malrik’s shadow is all over this mess.” There’s a brief pause, heavy with unspoken wariness. “Stay sharp, Cade.”
