Chapter 133

Weeks later, during the late hours of the night, the entire Shadowfang Pack gathered outside the pack house beneath the bright silver glow of the full moon. Hundreds of pack members stood in a large circle, their faces solemn as they waited for the meeting to begin. The cold night breeze swept across the gathering, causing cloaks and long dresses to flutter softly. In the center of the circle stood Darius, dressed in simple dark clothing. Beside him stood Calista, holding little Lulu in her arms. Since Drevan's death weeks ago, the pack had been left without a leader, and everyone knew this meeting would determine the future of Shadowfang Pack.

After a long moment of silence, one of the oldest elders slowly stepped forward. His back was bent with age, and he leaned heavily on a wooden staff carved with symbols. The crowd immediately fell silent as he cleared his throat and looked around at the gathered members before allowing his gaze to settle on Darius.

"We called this meeting tonight for an important discussion," the elder began in a loud but respectful voice. "It has been many weeks since Alpha Drevan lost his life during the war. We have mourned him, buried him, and paid our final respects. But a pack cannot continue forever without an Alpha. Every day that passes without leadership creates uncertainty among our people. Shadowfang Pack needs guidance. It needs protection. It needs a leader."

The elder stepped closer to Darius before continuing. "We have watched you for many years, Darius. We have seen your kindness, your patience, and your loyalty. Therefore, after much discussion among the elders and warriors, we have reached a decision."

Slowly, the elder lowered himself onto one knee.

The entire crowd gasped.

"We, the elders of Shadowfang Pack, ask you to become our new Alpha."

Immediately, every elder followed his example and knelt before Darius. One by one, warriors and pack members also dropped to their knees until almost the entire gathering was bowing before him.

"Alpha Darius..." they chanted respectfully.

Darius froze.

His eyes widened in complete shock as he stared at the sight before him. Never in his life had he imagined something like this. Slowly, he turned his head toward Calista.

Calista simply looked back at him quietly.

Unlike Darius, she was not surprised.

She had dreamed about this very moment. She had seen Darius standing beneath the moonlight while the entire pack bowed before him. She had seen him wearing the mark of an Alpha. Deep down, she knew this day would come. Yet she remained silent because she wanted the choice to be his and his alone.

Darius looked back at the kneeling crowd before taking a slow step backward.

"No," he said firmly.

The crowd immediately lifted their heads in surprise.

The elder blinked. "Darius?"

"No," Darius repeated, this time louder. "I cannot become Alpha."

Murmurs spread through the gathering.

Darius shook his head firmly. "You don't understand. Being Alpha isn't just a title. It carries the responsibility of hundreds of lives. Every decision affects families, warriors, and children. I am not qualified for something so important. I am not strong enough to carry such a burden. Choose someone else."

The elders exchanged worried glances.

One elder stood and stepped forward. "Strength alone does not make a great Alpha."

Another elder nodded. "Drevan possessed strength, yet his anger nearly destroyed this pack."

A third elder spoke. "The greatest leaders are those who put others before themselves. That is why we chose you."

The crowd began shouting in agreement.

"Please accept!"

"We need you!"

"You are the one we trust!"

Darius felt overwhelmed by the voices surrounding him.

Still, he shook his head.

"No. I cannot do it."

Then suddenly….

A powerful wind exploded across the gathering.

The force was so strong that many people stumbled backward.

The ground beneath their feet began trembling violently.

Gasps filled the air.

The moon above suddenly glowed brighter than ever before. Silver light poured down from the heavens, illuminating every corner of the pack grounds. The night itself seemed to come alive.

Everyone looked upward in fear and amazement.

Then a powerful female voice echoed from the sky.

"DARIUS."

The voice was calm yet so powerful that it seemed to shake every soul present.

Immediately, every person dropped flat onto the ground.

"The Moon Goddess..." an elder whispered fearfully.

Darius stood frozen as silver light descended from the sky and surrounded his entire body.

The divine voice spoke again.

"You carry kindness within your soul."

The light around Darius brightened.

"Unlike Drevan, your heart was never consumed by hatred."

Tears slowly filled Darius's eyes.

The entire gathering remained silent.

The voice continued.

"Shadowfang Pack does not need another ruler driven by anger."

The moonlight grew brighter.

"It needs a leader chosen by compassion."

A wave of divine power swept through the crowd.

"It needs a leader chosen by wisdom."

The ground shook once more.

"It needs a leader chosen by the Moon."

Darius could barely breathe.

Then the Moon Goddess spoke the words that changed everything.

"I, the Moon Goddess, choose Darius as the rightful Alpha of Shadowfang Pack."

The moment those words were spoken, a massive burst of silver energy exploded from Darius's body.

BOOM!

A powerful Alpha aura surged across the entire pack.

The wind roared violently.

Darius's eyes flashed with brilliant silver light.’

A glowing Alpha mark slowly appeared on his neck, shining brightly beneath the moonlight.

The crowd stared in complete disbelief.

"It's real..."

"The Moon Goddess chose him..."

"Our Alpha..."

Darius stood frozen as divine energy flowed through his body.

Slowly, tears rolled down his cheeks.

One by one, every elder lowered themselves to the ground again.

Then every warrior followed.

Then every pack member.

"Hail Alpha Darius!"

"Hail Alpha Darius!"

"Hail Alpha Darius!"

The chants echoed throughout the entire territory.

Beside him, Calista finally broke into tears.

She smiled proudly through her tears as she looked at the man she loved.

Months ago she had seen this moment in her dreams.

Now it was real.

Slowly, Darius turned toward her.

Calista nodded at him.

"You can do this," she whispered.

Darius looked at the pack kneeling before him, then to Lulu who is mostly like his daughter now, sleeping peacefully in Calista's arms.

Slowly, he raised his head toward the moon shining brightly above.

"I accept."

The crowd erupted into cheers as the Moon Goddess's silver light filled the entire night sky.