The moment I howled, the air itself seemed to tremble.
Power rolled off me in waves, even I could feel how similar it felt to my father's. The same power I remembered radiating from him whenever he stood before the pack. I felt it ripple outward, spreading like fire through dry grass. The people bowed their heads without meaning to, caught in the gravity of it. Even the trees seemed to bend under its weight.
For the first time, they saw me not as a broken daughter, but as an Alpha's heir.
One of the elders found his voice, though it shook. "A newly shifted wolf c‐cannot lead u‐us… Power without discipline is chaos."
I straightened, my eyes narrowing. My voice came out steady, firmer than it had ever been. "I do not care if you doubt me… My father is dead. I am his blood. I will take his place. No questions asked."
I turned to face everyone around. "Whoever objects, can leave the pack and never look back."
A rumble of discontent moved through the crowd. Another elder, managed to sneer. Something he would come to regret. "Then prove it. By combat. If you are truly his heir, let us see you fight."
Inside, a bitter laugh curled in my chest. They thought I was weak because I had been foolish enough to follow love. They thought surrendering to Lucas's lies had stripped me of everything. They had forgotten who raised me.
I scoffed. "I may never have shifted until today, but I am no stranger to my father's training. Do you think he would leave his only child untested? Do you think I grew up coddled while he ruled? You will see exactly what he forged into me."
The crowd murmured again, uneasy now. My uncle stepped forward, his chest puffed with false pride, his eyes gleaming at the chance to put me in my place. He was larger, broader, a seasoned fighter who had been waiting his entire life for the mantle he thought would be handed to him.
"Very well," he said smugly. "Let the people see what a child can do."
The circle formed quickly. The crowd pressed back to give space, their eyes hungry for the spectacle. Brian stood at the edge, his gaze locked on me, calm but burning with quiet intensity.
"Alright then… as Blackhawk tradition. I, Elder Hozier, oversee this duel for the position of pack Alpha."
He cast his gaze to the earth, and completed. "Begin!"
The challenge began.
My uncle lunged first, swinging with brute force. I moved with speed I had never experienced like it was second nature. My body felt lighter and sharper than it had ever been. My wolf flowed through me, guiding every step, every strike. Uncle Elon's blows landed heavy, but I met them head on, with mocking ease that made his blood boil.
Every lesson from my father came rushing back. Every spar, every correction, every bruise earned under his watchful eye. Everytime he took me hunting. Everything he gave me advice… I had thought I failed him by leaving, by loving the wrong man, but in that fight I felt his presence in every strike.
"Is that the best you can do?!" Uncle Elon growled.
His confidence faltered as I matched him, then overpowered him. I drove him back step by step, until his growl turned desperate. When he charged, I sidestepped and slammed him into the ground, pinning him with claws at his throat.
"Give up now. You only have one chance."
Silence fell once again. The elders stared, as their chosen heir lay defeated at my feet.
I rose, my wolf still glowing through my gaze, and lifted my head high. "I am Ava Blackhawk, daughter of the Lycan King. Your Queen. By blood, by strength, and by right."
Brian clapped slowly, then louder, until the sound broke the stillness. His approval spread like fire, forcing the others to follow. One by one, voices joined in, and the ground shook with the acceptance of their new ruler.
The crowd erupted in a chorus of voices, some shocked, some thrilled, some fearful. But none dared to deny me.
I had reclaimed my place. No longer the naïve princess. I was the Lycan Queen.
And this would be the first of many steps towards my revenge.
"Watch your back, Lucas." I muttered. And somehow I knew, wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he would see the remainder of my wrath.
Days passed, and the pack continued to grow accustomed to my rule. My uncle's wounds healed, but the bitterness in his family's eyes remained sharp. They kept their distance at the celebratory party I hosted, their smiles brittle, their laughter forced. Still, none dared to test me again.
The hall was alive with music, with voices raised in praise.
This was such a high point in my life… yet I had no one to share it with.
"How ironic."
My people danced, feasted, and toasted to a new era. I moved among them as their Queen, my gown flowing, my head held high. Yet beneath the glitter and the cheers, I felt the quiet hum of resentment from those who had hoped to see me fail.
I ignored it. Tonight belonged to me, and to my father's legacy reborn.
It was then that I saw him. A man standing apart from the celebration, his gray hair catching the light, his weathered face lined with the weight of years. My heart clenched at once. He had been one of my father's most trusted confidants, a man who had been more of an uncle to me than my own blood ever was.
I excused myself from the circle of dancers and crossed to him, a smile tugging weakly at my lips. "Have you come to congratulate me on becoming Luna?" I teased, my voice carrying a brittle edge of humor.
He gave a small smile, but it was tinged with sorrow. He reached out and pulled me into a brief embrace, ruffling my hair the way he had when I was a child. For a moment, the weight of my crown disappeared, and I was just Ava again.
"You're still the little runt I know," he said softly.
I laughed, though my chest ached. "And yet here I am, Queen."
He didn't laugh. Instead, he took my hand, his grip steady, his eyes searching mine with a depth that made my breath falter.
"That's why I came," he said quietly.
After what felt like several minutes without a word. He continued. "I came because of Lucas. And more importantly, your father's death."