Page 96 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

“Finn,” said Mace, a tall, broad-shouldered werewolf who had been in the pack for years. “You’ve been spending too much time with vampires. I don’t care what the reasons are; it’s dangerous. We’re wolves, Finn. Not vampires. If you keep mixing with them, it’s going to tear us apart.”

“It’s not just about vampires, Finn. It’s about leadership. You’ve been distracted, missing training sessions, missing meetings. You’re supposed to be our Alpha, but you’ve let personal things get in the way of your duties,” Another werewolf, Callan, a younger member of the pack, stepped forward, shaking his head.

The accusations continued, each one more pointed than the last.

“You’re not showing the pack the respect we deserve!” growled Rhea, one of the older and fiercer wolves. “You’re too focused on your feelings for Amelia. We need an Alpha who leads, not one who gets lost in his emotions.”

“We’ve always respected you, Finn,” said Ty, his voice low. “But you’re losing your focus. We need someone who will think with their head, not their heart.”

The complaints stung, and my heart pounded. They were right; I’d been distant, but I wasn’t the same Alpha I once was.

“I’ve been trying to balance everything, but I can’t do it alone,” I said, my voice steady despite the weight of the words. “I’m not perfect. But I’m still your Alpha. I still care about every one of you. And I will do what I need to make sure we get through this together.”

Mace stepped forward again.

“Then you need to show us that you’re still the Alpha, Finn. We need leadership, not excuses.”

I met the werewolves’ eyes, knowing being Alpha was about strength, emotion, and making tough decisions without letting them down.

“I hear you,” I said, swallowing hard. “And I promise you, I’ll step up. I will put this pack first. But I need you to trust me, and I need you to understand that we are facing things none of us expected. We can’t ignore the truth. There are threats out there, and I need you all with me.”

The silence that followed was thick, but then Ty stepped forward.

“You’re right. We can’t just stand by and let things fall apart. We’ll give you one more chance, Finn. But you need to make it count. No more distractions.”

I nodded, grateful for the chance to prove myself again.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “I won’t let you down.”

“Now that everyone got a chance to voice their concerns, I think it’s best for us to know what has been going on,” Damon said.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on my shoulders. The murmurs of the pack quieted, and all eyes were on me, waiting for what I had to say.

“My father,” I started, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, “committed an atrocity. He had an affair with a vampire, Vera, to be specific. And they had a child. This child... this child is the one mentioned in the prophecy. The cursed one. The one whose blood carries both vampire and werewolf lineage.”

I let those words hang in the air for a moment, watching the disbelief spread across their faces. I could feel the tension building.

“We’re in danger,” I continued, my voice low but firm. “This prophecy isn’t some distant tale. It’s a warning, and it’s real. If we don’t act now, the conflict between our kind and the vampires will escalate beyond our control.

The pack shifted uncomfortably. Some exchanged worried glances, others stayed still, absorbing my words. I wasn’t sure how they would react, but they needed to know the truth.

“This is why I’ve been distracted,” I added, my gaze sweeping across them. “I’ve been struggling with the truth, with the knowledge of my father’s actions, but we can’t ignore it anymore. We have to fight for our survival, for the future of this pack. It’s not just about me anymore; it’s about all of us.”

“We will fight with you Alpha! We will destroy the cursed one!” Ty said.

The whole pack started growling and chanting war songs.

As the chant of my pack grew louder, a surge of energy filled the air, a feeling of unity sweeping through the werewolves.

“The pack got your back, Alpha,” Damon said with a huge smile.

I stood at the front, watching the faces of those who had been doubtful just moments before, now all standing behind me, ready to fight.

Just as the last chant echoed into the night, the sudden crackle of fire reached my ears.

“Is that fire?” I asked Damon.

A few werewolves near the perimeter of the camp stopped their heads snapping in the direction of the sound.

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