Chapter 112 A NEW WAY
AMBER’S POV
I knew convincing Derek would be hard the moment he looked at me. His loyalty ran deep just as traditionmattered to him. His pack came before pride, before fear, before even me sometimes. I did not resent that, I counted on it.
“You’re thinking of saying no already,” I said.
“I’m thinking,” he replied. “Which you should have let me do before deciding this alone.”
“I didn’t decide alone,” I said. “I survived alone.”
He frowned. “That’s not fair.”
“It’s true.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Listen to me before you shut this down.”
“I’m listening,” he said, though his arms were crossed.
“The feud doesn’t end with talks,” I said. “It ends with structure.”
“You don’t erase generations of blood with paperwork.”
“No,” I agreed. “You erase it with shared stakes.”
He scoffed. “And how do you plan to do that?”
“By merging the packs.”
His jaw tightened. “There it is.”
“Your pack is weakened,” I said plainly. “You lost warriors and you lost territory. Everyone knows it.”
He bristled. “Careful.”
“I am,” I said. “That’s why I’m saying this now and not after someone attacks.”
“You think we can’t defend ourselves?”
“I think you’ll bleed longer than you should.”
Silence followed just as I pressed on.
“My pack has numbers but no unity,” I said.
“They respect my title, not each other. Alone, we’re both targets.”
“Together,” he said slowly, “we become a threat.”
“Yes.”
He paced once. “And leadership?”
“We rule together,” I said. “I am Luna of my pack. I am your mate. That makes me Luna of yours.”
His eyes met mine. “You think they’ll accept that?”
“They’ll accept strength,” I said. “And consistency.”
He stopped moving. “You’re asking me to rewrite everything I was raised on.”
“I’m asking you to protect it,” I replied. “By adapting.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t just strategy, this is identity.”
“I know,” I said softly. “That’s why I didn’t bring this to the council, I brought it to you.”
He looked at the floor. I felt his doubt through the bond, heavy and sharp.
“You want us as a family,” he said.
“Yes,” I answered. “Not symbols, not pawns. A real den.”
“And if it fails?”
“It won’t,” I said. “Because we won’t let it.”
“That’s faith,” he said.
“That’s commitment,” I corrected.
He exhaled slowly. “Keep talking.”
I nodded. “Good because I’m not done.”
“There’s more,” I said, sitting across from him. “Something you haven’t considered.”
“Go on,” Derek said.
“The council is already moving,” I told him. “They don’t like independent power centers.”
“You have proof?”
“I intercepted messages,” I said. “They plan to force alliances by winter.”
He stiffened. “Forced.”
“Yes,” I said. “With leaders they can control.”
“And us?” he asked.
“We’re in the way.”
He rubbed his face. “So this merge blocks them.”
“It removes their leverage,” I said. “They can’t pit us against each other if there is no divide.”
“And the feud?” he asked.
“It dies quietly,” I said. “No victory, no loss. Just shared ground.”
He was quiet for a long time.
“You’re asking me to trust your people,” he said.
“I’m asking you to lead them with me,” I replied. “They already fear you. That matters.”
“I don’t want fear,” he said.
“Then earn respect,” I said. “Together.”
He looked at me. “What about the pups?”
“They grow up in one pack,” I said. “One set of rules, one future. No enemies with familiar faces.”
That landed and I felt it through the bond.
“And the elders?” he asked.
“They’ll resist,” I admitted. “Until they see stability.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then they step aside,” I said firmly. “This isn’t about comfort, it’s about survival.”
He nodded once. “You planned this thoroughly.”
“I had to,” I said. “Because if I failed, I lost everything.”
“You should have told me sooner,” he said quietly.
“I wanted you to see me as your mate,” I said. “Not someone asking for permission.”
He stood and walked to the window.
“You know this goes against my instincts,” he said.
“I know,” I replied. “That’s why it matters that you choose it.”
He turned back. “Say we do this, say I agree. What’s the first step?”
“A joint address,” I said. “Clear terms, shared command. No secrets.”
“And if my pack pushes back?”
“I stand beside you,” I said. “Not in front and definitely not behind.”
He studied me just as the bond hummed, steady now.
“You believe this will make us stronger than any pack,” he said.
“I know it will,” I answered. “Because strength isn’t numbers, it’s unity.”
He nodded slowly. “Alright.”
My breath caught. “Alright?”
“I’ll do it,” he said. “Not because I like it because it makes sense.”
Relief flooded me all at once and I didn’t know how much I needed it until I felt it in that moment.
“But,” he added, “we do this my way too.”
I smiled. “I expected nothing less.”
He stepped closer. “We lead together.”
“Yes,” I said.
“As mates, as Alphas.”
“As family,” I finished.
He took my hand and just like that, everything changed.
“I just want to apologize to you over everything I’ve done to you, the harsh ways I’ve treated you especially when you first got to this pack, it’s bad and I regret ever doing that to you. Please find a place in your heart to forgive me. He said.
From the look in his eyes, I knew he was sincere, judging by the way he hands wrapped around my hands, holding me closely like he was scared to let me go.
“Is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all that could make you forgive me, I promise you, I will do it.” He said.
I gave his hands a gentle squeeze, silently assuring him that everything would be fine. I don’t know how it would be but I knew from the deepest part of my heart, it would be.
“I forgive you, let’s forget about that and instead focus on what’s important… us and the pups.” I said.
He closed his eyes for a bit and when he opened it a
gain, I saw so many promises of things to come and I couldn’t be more happier.
NO GOING BACK