Chapter 2 The Pack's Expectations

The sun had long since disappeared behind the mountain peaks when Kai made his way through the dense forest toward the pack's gathering place. His ranger uniform had been traded for dark jeans and a black leather jacket, but the change in clothes couldn't mask the tension radiating from his shoulders.

Moonlight Clearing lay hidden deep in the Mountain Ridge Pack territory, surrounded by ancient pines that had stood sentinel for centuries. The trees formed a natural barrier, their thick canopy filtering the silver light into dancing patterns on the forest floor.

As Kai approached, he could already hear the low murmur of voices ahead. The familiar scents of his pack filled his nostrils-Tom Rivers' earthy cologne mixed with sweat from his construction job, Elder Marcus Greystone's pipe tobacco, and the sharper scent of his sister Sera's expensive perfume.

The clearing opened before him, a perfect circle of grass where no trees grew. Pack members sat on fallen logs arranged in a rough circle, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of battery-powered lanterns. The old ways would have called for a bonfire, but times had changed. Even werewolves had to be careful about forest fires and curious park rangers.

"Kai." Elder Marcus Greystone's voice carried the weight of his seventy-three years and the authority of his position. His silver hair gleamed in the lamplight, and his weathered hands rested on a walking stick carved from mountain ash. "You're late."

"Sorry, Marcus." Kai took his usual spot on the log beside Tom Rivers, his best friend and the pack's beta. "Had to finish the evening patrol."

Sera shot him a look from across the circle. At twenty-four, she was two years younger than Kai but carried herself with the confidence of someone who believed she was destined for leadership. Her dark hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and her green eyes held a familiar spark of irritation.

"The human world can wait," she said, her voice carrying just enough respect to avoid direct challenge. "Pack business comes first."

"Pack business is keeping the humans safe," Kai replied evenly. "It's all connected."

Marcus raised his hand before the siblings could escalate their familiar argument. "Enough. We have important matters to discuss tonight."

The elder's gaze swept the circle, taking in the dozen pack members present. Not everyone attended these meetings-some were too young, others too old, and a few preferred to keep their distance from pack politics. But the core group was here, the ones who would shape the future of Mountain Ridge Pack.

"The autumn equinox approaches," Marcus began, his voice taking on the formal tone reserved for pack business. "It's been three years since our last bonding ceremony. Three years since we've welcomed new blood into our family."

Kai felt his stomach tighten. He knew where this was heading, had been dreading it for months.

"Our numbers have remained stable," Marcus continued, "but stability isn't growth. We need the next generation to secure our future. We need cubs."

Tom shifted uncomfortably beside Kai. At twenty-five, he was also unmated, though the pressure on him was less intense. He wasn't the alpha heir.

"The other packs are expanding," said Janet Thornfield, a middle-aged woman who worked as a nurse in Silverbrook. "The Timber Ridge Pack had two new cubs this spring. Shadow Valley Pack just announced another mating."

"And Dark Moon Pack continues to grow stronger," added David Stonecreek, whose family had run the town's hardware store for two generations. "I heard they've absorbed three smaller packs in the last year."

The mention of Viktor Shadowmere's pack sent a ripple of unease through the group. Dark Moon Pack had a reputation for aggression and expansion, tactics that went against the Mountain Ridge Pack's more traditional approach.

"Which brings us to tonight's main topic," Marcus said, his eyes settling on Kai. "Our future alpha needs to choose a mate. Soon."

The words hung in the air like a challenge. Kai felt every pair of eyes turn toward him, measuring his reaction. He kept his expression neutral, though his hands clenched into fists on his knees.

"I'm not ready," he said finally. "There are too many responsibilities right now. The ranger job, the territory patrols, the-"

"Excuses," Sera interrupted, leaning forward. "You're twenty-six, Kai. Most alphas have chosen their mates by now. The pack needs certainty."

"The pack needs a leader who makes decisions based on what's right, not what's convenient," Kai shot back.

"And what's right is ensuring our survival," Marcus said calmly. "A pack without cubs is a pack without a future."

Tom cleared his throat. "Maybe we should discuss the available options. Help Kai see the possibilities."

Kai shot his friend a grateful look, though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear what came next.

"Sarah Whitehorse from Timber Ridge Pack has expressed interest," Janet said. "She's twenty-three, from good bloodlines, and her father's already approached Marcus about a potential alliance."

"Alliance marriages," Kai muttered. "How romantic."

"Romance is a luxury," Sera said sharply. "Leadership is about sacrifice. About putting the pack first."

"There's also Morgan Blackstone from Shadow Valley," David added. "Strong family, good reputation. She's been unmated for two years now."

Kai listened to them discuss his future as if he weren't sitting right there. Names and bloodlines, pack politics and breeding potential. Everything except what he wanted, what he felt, what his heart was telling him.

"I need time," he said, standing abruptly. "This isn't a decision I can make in one night."

"How much time?" Marcus asked, his tone patient but firm. "The equinox is in six weeks. That's when the pack expects an announcement."

Six weeks. Kai felt the weight of it settle on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. Six weeks to choose a mate he didn't want, to commit to a life he wasn't sure he could live.

"I'll have an answer by then," he said.

"See that you do," Marcus replied. "The pack's future depends on it."

As the meeting broke up, pack members clustering in small groups to discuss the night's business, Kai found himself walking with Tom toward the forest edge.

"You okay?" Tom asked, his voice low.

"Define okay," Kai replied, kicking at a pinecone. "I'm being pressured to marry someone I've never met to produce cubs I'm not ready for, all while keeping my day job and pretending to be human. Just another Tuesday night."

Tom chuckled despite the seriousness of the situation. "When you put it like that..."

"I know what they want," Kai said, stopping beside a massive oak tree. "I know what the pack needs. But I can't shake the feeling that there's something else out there. Something more than just duty and obligation."

"You sound like you're waiting for something."

"Maybe I am." Kai looked up at the moon, visible through the canopy. "Maybe I'm waiting for someone who makes me feel like I'm more than just the next alpha. Someone who sees Kai Blackwood, not just the heir to a legacy."

Tom was quiet for a moment. "You know that's not how it works for our kind. We don't get fairy tale endings."

"Maybe we should."

They parted ways at the edge of the territory, Tom heading back to his cabin while Kai chose a longer route home. He needed time to think, to process the evening's pressure and expectations.

As he walked, Kai's mind drifted to the family of hikers he'd encountered that morning. The easy affection between the husband and wife, the way they'd looked at each other with genuine love and partnership. That was what he wanted-a mate who was his equal, his partner, his choice.

But in six weeks, he would have to choose from a list of suitable candidates, women who would bring political advantages and strong bloodlines to the pack. The thought made his chest tighten with a claustrophobia he'd never experienced before.

Change was coming to Silverbrook. He'd felt it in the air that morning, and now he wondered if that change would include him finding a way to follow his heart instead of his duty.

The moon watched his progress through the trees, silent and knowing, as if it held secrets about his future that he couldn't yet understand.