“Of course,” I explain. “Aurelia is in the run for the title of becoming alpha,” I point out. By now, Dad has established that it will either be her or me. She has shown incredible potential and drive, something I feel like I lack sometimes, though, my parents say I have my own strengths too. I don’t hold any grudges against her, though. Someone has to be chosen eventually, and the final run happens to be between Aurelia and me.

A few months ago, we swore to each other not to allow any bad blood between us, and I intend to stick to my promise, as does she.

Both Ryllis and Freya look at me in shock. “A female wolf can lead a pack?”

“Have we not told you yet?” I blink, looking at Steve. But it seems we never talked about his pack while traveling. “Of course, she-wolves can lead a pack. In fact, Steve’s alpha is a woman.”

“I feel like my whole world is crumbling,” Freya mutters.

“It will be replaced by something better, though,” I say softly.

She smiles. “Of that, I’m sure.”

“Are you really that strong?” Ryllis looks at my sister shyly. “Can you defend yourself against male wolves?”

Aurelia looks a bit surprised at her question. I can almost see the wheels in her head turning as she tries to assemble the puzzle pieces. Fortunately, Henry and Anthony intervene.

“She is lethal.” Tony chuckles. “In her senior year of high school, she won every competition between our packs and our allies.”

“Not going to lie,” Henry says. “I wouldn’t want to fight against her.”

“Aw,” Aurelia coos. “Scared of losing?”

“You cheat,” Henry grumbles, looking a bit flustered.

“My gift is not cheating,” she laughs, poking his forehead teasingly. “Besides, I don’t even use it all the time. Gives me too much of an advantage. You just can’t accept that I have way more tricks up my sleeve than you.”

Henry, Tony, and Aurelia are very close in age. Even as kids, whenever the twins tried to patronize or protect her, she would get angry and kick their asses. Then she would return home covered in mud, and Dad would be all proud that his little warrior princess kicked some butt.

“They should ban us from using gifts in tournaments altogether,” Henry mutters.

“That’s impossible,” I snort. “Some gifts are too instinctive.”

“Don’t bother,” she grins at me. “Henry is just a sore loser. I don’t need my gift to win in a fight. Us she-wolves are used to being under-estimated, which is why we train extra hard sometimes.”

She is right. Aurelia put much more effort into her training than most of us. She honed her gifts and talents and made sure to work on what she was lacking. What she may lack in strength, she makes up for with agility and strategy.

“You just love fighting way too much,” Tony snorts.

“Don’t we all?” I point out, deciding to back my sister up.

“It’s different with you wolves with alpha blood.” Marcel chuckles. “But yeah, I still remember how cocky I was in my first training fight against my alpha. I went down in not even a minute.”

“What’s your gift?” Freya asks my sister curiously.

“I can stop time for a short moment,” she says with a grin.

“That is lethal!” Freya blurts out, amazed. “That can give you so many advantages!” She pauses. “Wow, all of you are really gifted.”

“Not all of us are that gifted,” Steve tells her softly. “It’s because they are alpha wolves, Elise and Elodie too. And Finn and Aurelia are of royal blood. It gives them an additional boost.”

“Powerful gifts can come with a disadvantage though,” Henry explains. “Like Leila from your pack, she is an oracle. It’s a very rare gift, which means there will be a downside to it somewhere.”

“Like what?” Freya asks curiously. She is like a sponge, soaking up every new piece of knowledge and information.

“Well, like one of my best friends, for example, she is a healer,” Aurelia starts.

“Like you, Elise?”