All was well as days passed, but Liora's bad feeling came true one morning. The sun had barely risen when the challenge was issued.
The crisp morning air carried the tension that had been simmering within the pack for weeks. Jason, the Beta, stood tall in the center of the clearing, his voice echoing through the trees.
"I challenge Henry for the position of Alpha," he declared, his tone smug and arrogant. "We need a leader who can protect us, not a child clinging to his parents' legacy."
Gasps rippled through the gathered wolves. Some looked to Henry, their young Alpha, who stood with a calm demeanor that belied his age. Others nodded in agreement with Jason, their eyes filled with uncertainty.
The elders, seated in a semi-circle, exchanged glances but remained silent. Their role was to observe and counsel, not to interfere in matters of leadership challenges.
