Sleeping with the enemy

Frowning slightly, Cole stared around and then said, "Defy you? How dare I. My loyalty is to the pack and my leader. If anything, I was simply agreeing with your son. If your house is divided which side am I to take?"

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Cole's words hung in the air, challenging my dad's authority. It felt like the whole room was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

Dad's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger as he looked between Cole and me. It was like a standoff, with Dad's dominance on the line because of Cole's defiance.

For a moment, I thought Dad might explode, but then he seemed to rein it in. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth, the fury barely contained in his voice. "Do what you want."

Underneath it all, I sensed a deeper rift brewing between Dad and Cole. This power struggle wasn't over, not by a long shot. And I couldn't shake the feeling that we were in for a rough ride.

As the crowd dispersed, I caught Cole's eye. Without saying a word, he eyed Cleo and then walked off. Immediately, she woke from her seat. But I grabbed her wrist, turning to lock eyes with her, "Don't go, please. It will look ugly. Our pack has been a united front for years and if we make any more decisions than we have already made more weakness will show."

The last thing I expected from her was what she said next, "Okay. I will stay, but let go of my hand."

Hesitant to obey her order, I  did so reluctantly, watching her glare back at me, and then she took a seat.

"Ashur, you spoke on showcasing the new talent in your pack, and yet, you keep the future Luna hidden." Alpha Hale suddenly announced, drawing everyone's attention back to the center of the room.

My heart skipped a beat as Alpha Hale's words echoed in the hall. It was a pointed reminder of Cleo's absence from the selection process. I glanced at Cleo, noticing the tension in her posture as she sat beside me.

Alpha Hale's gaze lingered on my father, his expression unreadable. "It is customary for the future Luna to be recognized and given a role in such important events," he continued, his voice carrying a note of authority.

My father's jaw tightened, his gaze flickering between Alpha Hale and Cleo. It was clear he hadn't anticipated this challenge to his authority, especially in front of the entire pack.

Before my father could respond, Cleo stood up, her posture straight and unwavering. "Alpha Hale is right," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "As the future Luna of this pack, I should have been included in the selection process."

Her words sent murmurs rippling through the crowd, whispers of surprise and intrigue spreading like wildfire. It was rare for Cleo to speak out like this, especially against my father's decisions.

Alpha Hale nodded in approval, acknowledging Cleo's assertion. "Indeed," he said, his tone firm. "It is important for the unity and strength of the pack that all key members are involved in such matters."

My father's expression darkened, his frustration palpable as he realized the gravity of the situation. He couldn't afford to disregard Alpha Hale's words, not without risking further discord within the pack.

After a moment of tense silence, my father finally spoke, his voice strained but controlled. "You are right, Hale," he conceded, his gaze lingering on Cleo. "I apologize for the oversight. Cleo shall be included in the hunting competition as well. As the future Luna her judgment will be tested. She will be the one to announce the winner and be one of the judges."

"A judge? Only Alphas has ever ascended to such an exalted position," The whispers started.

"I heard that her wolf is above that of an alpha." 

"So I heard. That only gives her the right to  choose who the winner is."

"Is it true that she is the reincarnation of the almighty Neuri?"

"Yes. You should have seen her that night."

"Imagine having such a powerful wolf as the Luna of the Eclipse Predators Pack. They are truly the most feared pack in the north."

My father clears his throat, silencing the murmurs with a stern look. "Let us not forget the purpose of this gathering," he said, his voice commanding attention once more. "We are here to celebrate the strength and unity of our pack, not to speculate on rumors."

The room fell silent, the tension still lingering in the air as my father regained control of the situation. But underneath the surface, I could sense the shifting dynamics, the undercurrents of change that threatened to disrupt the stability of our pack.

As the meeting drew to a close, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. The events of today had revealed cracks in our pack's foundation, fissures that could widen into chasms if not addressed properly.

Turning to Cleo, I caught her eye and knew that I needed her more than ever. Her being a supportive Luna by my side was going to my region as the alpha smoother if only I could get her to forgive me.

Suddenly, she stood up, walking away before I could stop her, and I called out in her mind, "Cleo!! Cleo!!"

"I have entertained you enough." She didn't even turn to face me. "Now if you'll excuse me, I really must go back to my quarter."

"Your quarter or his?!" 

"Is there any difference?" 

Tightening my fist,  I tried again. "CLEO!" I screamed.

She paused just long enough to give me a smug smile before heading down the hall and disappearing, leaving rage boiling inside me.

How dare she treat me like that. After everything, my family and I have don't to take care of her. She's just an orphan... Nobody wanted her, not even her parents and now she dared to have such an attitude towards me, especially in front of company.

Suddenly, I locked eyes with my mother, and with one look in her eyes, I knew she was already five steps ahead in thought about how to deal with this situation. I stared back at the door and thought, "You better come to your senses soon Cleo. Sleeping with the enemy is a lesser danger than having a pack of enemies. Neuri died before... I hope you don't forget that before it's too late."