Alpha's Regret After She Kneels

(Raiden's POV)

The third round of the competition begins. This is where Silverfang excels-where I excel.

Leadership evaluation isn't about brute strength or dominance. It's about strategy, foresight, and the ability to manage crises under pressure.

These are the qualities that define a true Alpha.

And for years, I've been unmatched.

But today... today, something feels different.

Standing at the head of Silverfang's delegation, my posture commanding as the evaluation begins.

The judges outline the assessment areas-pack management, crisis response, resource allocation. Everything I've spent my life mastering.

But as the proceedings unfold, my focus drifts, my senses tugged inexorably toward Windhowl's section.

Toward Siena.

She stands at the forefront of her pack, her expression composed and confident, her posture reflecting a quiet authority that commands attention without

demanding it.

I try to look away, to focus on my own pack's strategies, but my gaze keeps

returning to her-watching the way she moves, the way she speaks, the way her warriors respond to her without hesitation.

Windhowl's warriors, once dismissed as undisciplined and weak, move with precision and purpose.

Their formations are sharp, their responses fluid, and their tactics... innovative. I catch glimpses of their resourcefulness, the subtle shifts in strategy that allow them to adapt seamlessly to changing scenarios.

They take what should be weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

And it's because of her.

Horace stirs, preening with pride that has no place here. But I can't deny what I'm seeing.

Siena has transformed Windhowl.

I force my attention back to Silverfang's performance. My pack executes

flawlessly, as expected, but the unsettling realization gnaws at the edges of my consciousness.

Siena's doing more than keeping up.

She's excelling.

Through the corner of my eye, I catch glimpses of her giving quiet commands, her pack responding with unwavering loyalty.

Her confidence isn't forced-it's earned. And the respect she commands... it's genuine.

When did she become this?

I remember her as the young Luna I once dismissed-too soft, too naïve for the brutal realities of leadership. But the woman standing before me now is anything but weak. She's calculated. Resilient.

A leader in her own right. And worse-she's doing it without me.

My chest tightens.

Between assessment sessions, murmurs ripple through the gathered council members, their voices barely audible but carrying weight nonetheless.

"Windhowl's progress is remarkable," one elder comments, his tone grudging but laced with respect.

"The Luna has genuine vision," another admits, as though the words physically pain him. "Perhaps we've underestimated her."

The acknowledgment twists something deep inside me.

They're not wrong.

I have underestimated her.

For years, believed she was nothingnoveldrama

without me—that Windhowl's survival hinged on my support. But the woman leading that pack now is thriving in ways I never thought possible. And the worst part?

She did it despite me.

Horace growls low in my mind, torn between satisfaction and regret. He's proud of

her, proud of the mate he chose. But there's also an ache—a reminder of what

we've lost, of what I threw away.

When did I stop seeing her?

When did I stop believing in her?

I push the thoughts aside, forcing my focus back to Silverfang's performance, but

the words of the council members echo louder than I'd like.

"Perhaps we've underestimated her."

The realization hits harder than I expect, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

During the strategy presentation, Siena takes the floor, her presence commanding even before she speaks..

"Distinguished members of the council, Alpha representatives... thank you for this opportunity to present Windhowl's strategic vision."

She pauses briefly, allowing her gaze to settle across the room

"For generations, we've treated werewolf- relations as a binary choice: integration

or isolation. But Windhowl proposes a third path-one of selective transparency and strategic alliance."

Her voice carries without strain, each word carefully weighted

"We believe the strength of our kind lies not in hiding who we are, nor in revealing everything to a world that may not be ready. Rather, it lies creating calculated points of connection that serve both

ove

in

communities."

She gestures to the digital display behind her, highlighting key statistics