#Chapter 120: The Stranger
(Raiden’s POV)
We’re gathered in the airy central chamber of Windhowl’s main hall.
The moment Siena smiles openly during the council meeting, my heart stutters in my chest a quiet, profound reminder of everything I once lost, and everything I’m
determined never to lose again.
Afternoon sunlight streams through the high windows, illuminating the carved
wooden table where elders and representatives from Windhowl and Silverfang sit attentively.
Siena stands confidently at the center, her amber eyes warm but focused. She passionately presents details of an educational exchange program she first proposed years ago.
A program I dismissed out of hand, simply because it was hers.
Shame twists in my gut, bitter and familiar. But today, I refuse to let pride guide my actions. Even now, as she begins to let me back into her life, I am ashamed.
think I always will be, and that is my penance.
To know the pain she endured, to feel that pain myself.
That is a special hell that I deserve to live every day.
As Siena finishes, I rise slowly from my seat, pulse quickening as all eyes shift toward me–some wary, some expectant, most cautious. My reputation for claiming credit, for dominating conversations, precedes me.
But not today. Today, I’ll prove that change isn’t merely a promise, but a consistent, conscious choice.
“I want to acknowledge Siena for the original vision behind this initiative,” I say firmly, clearly, my voice steady despite the vulnerability rising inside me.
“She proposed this years ago, and at the time, I failed to recognize its value. Siena deserves credit for her foresight and dedication–it’s an honor to support her idea today.”
For a brief second, stunned silence descends upon the room.
Elders exchange startled glances, surprise rippling visibly around the council.
Siena’s eyes widen momentarily, genuine astonishment flashing across her face.
For that I do not blame her.
Successfully unlocked!
Warmth blooms deep within my chest, powerful and unfamiliar.
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#Chapter 120. The Stranger
This small, public recognition, this simple act of humility, carries more weight than grander gestures ever could. It’s a tangible step toward rebuilding trust, toward demonstrating genuine respect rather than empty promises.
Slowly, conversation resumes around us, voices blending into quiet discussion, and acceptance of the proposal quickly follows.
Siena briefly holds my gaze, her amber eyes quietly appreciative. My wolf hums contentedly beneath my skin, reassured by the gentle connection beginning to regrow between us.
“I remember the first time you proposed this exchange,” I admit quietly, voice tinged with shameful regret. “I dismissed it without even hearing you out. I’m sorry for that,
Siena.”
She watches me carefully, her expression thoughtful rather than angry. “Thank you,” she murmurs, the simple acknowledgment carrying quiet forgiveness. “I appreciate hearing you say that.”
Gradually, tentative laughter emerges between us, memories gently revisited, humor found in moments once overshadowed by stubbornness and misunderstanding.
I wish again that I could hold her in my arms. But for now, just hearing her laugh is all I
need.
Her eyes light with excitement as she casually mentions a new wolf project she’s considering–a shelter for displaced adolescents from rogue packs.
“If you need support, resources, anything–I want you to know they’re yours. No strings attached. No interference.”
Siena studies me carefully, amber gaze searching my face. I hold her eyes steadily, sincerity clear. Offering support without seeking control, respecting her independence fully, represents a fundamental shift within myself–one I wish desperately for her to see and believe.
“Thank you, Raiden.”
As dinner concludes, we walk slowly together beneath the moonlight, strolling through the tranquil beauty of Windhowl’s gardens.
A shadowed figure steps casually from the darkness beyond the garden path, moonlight illuminating unfamiliar features eerily similar to my own.
His eyes–dark, calculating, dangerously familiar–meet mine with unsettling calm.
“Hello, brother,” the stranger greets with chilling ease, voice smooth yet edged subtly with menace. “I’ve come to claim what’s rightfully mine.”
Protective instinct surges violently through me, pulse racing sharply as I step swiftly in front of Siena, shielding her instinctively with my body. My wolf snarls furiously
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#Chapter 120. The Stranger
beneath my skin, hackles raised, warning flashing dangerously in my midnight eyes.
“Who are you?” I demand roughly, authority ringing sharply in my voice despite the shock gripping my chest. “And what exactly do you think you’re owed?”
The stranger smiles coldly, casually stepping closer, posture relaxed yet subtly threatening. “My name is Kaien,” he replies smoothly, eyes glittering dangerously beneath the pale moonlight. “You wouldn’t know me–but our father certainly did.”
(Siena’s POV)
My pulse stutters unevenly as I struggle to comprehend what I’m feeling.
Beside me, Raiden’s entire body tenses, his muscles rigid beneath the fitted fabric of his shirt, posture radiating barely–contained fury.
His protective stance positions him squarely between me and this newcomer, Kaien, the brother Raiden never knew existed until moments ago.
The garden air hangs heavy, electrified by tension, sharpened by the stranger’s unsettling confidence.
“I’ve waited years for this moment,” the stranger says smoothly, eyes glittering in the silvery moonlight. “To reclaim the birthright stolen from me–and to see the brother who lived the life I was denied.”
Raiden’s voice is a low growl, edged with cautious authority. “You have no claim here. Silverfang Pack, nor Windhowl, recognizes any other alpha.”
Kaien chuckles softly, a sound devoid of humor, his gaze shifting intentionally toward me. “Perhaps not yet. But what about your Luna?”
The instant our eyes meet again, that mysterious tug pulses fiercely through my chest, a raw ache of recognition I can’t deny. My wolf stirs restlessly, whispering instincts I don’t fully understand.
|
“We know him Siena. He is our fated…”
Kaien’s smile widens knowingly. “You feel it too, Siena. Tell him, tell him we’re fated.”
Shock punches through me, making my legs feel weak beneath my careful composure
Raiden visibly recoils, the pain flashing through his midnight eyes raw and exposed before he quickly masks it.
The implication hangs between us like a blade poised to strike–if true, it explains the broken edges of a bond Raiden and I have always struggled to complete.
Yet, beneath the confusion rippling through me, something steady and unyielding rises. All these years, I’ve battled to define my worth, to shape my destiny free from the constraints of fate or expectation.
“Fate doesn’t dictate my choices. I determine my path.”
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#Chapter 120. The Stranger
“Deny it all you like, Siena. The bond between us is undeniable. Tradition demands you honor it.”
“Tradition?” I reply sharply, voice edged with quiet determination. “I won’t be claimed or controlled simply because fate or tradition demands it.”
Kaien watches me carefully, assessing, before finally stepping back. “Very well. But you know as well as I do–fate doesn’t fade simply because we wish it to.”
He retreats silently into the shadows from which he emerged, leaving Raiden and me alone beneath the moonlit trees. The silence is heavy, but something tells me, that is not the last we may see this ‘brother‘.
“Siena,” he murmurs, his voice rough with vulnerability. I don’t know what to say.”
I swallow softly, heart aching gently at his visible pain. Carefully, honestly, I answer the question he hasn’t asked aloud.
“Fate may create potential connections, Raiden, but love is built through choice, trust, and commitment.”
He studies me carefully, emotions swirling gently within his eyes. His voice is quiet, uncertain. “So, what does this mean for us?“–
I step closer slowly, offering honesty that feels raw yet necessary. “You’ve hurt me deeply in the past. I can’t pretend those wounds never existed. But you’ve also shown growth and humility, I honestly never thought possible.”
His breath catches softly, midnight eyes widening gently beneath the moonlight.
“I choose you, Raiden–not because fate commands it, but because I see clearly who you’ve become. I see your flaws and your strengths, your mistakes and your sincerity. I choose you freely–because I want to.”
“Do you think,” he murmurs, vulnerably, “we could build something new–something stronger this time?”
Without warning, and before I can commit an honest response, footsteps suddenly approach swiftly down the garden path, interrupting our quiet moment.
Turning quickly, we find Rairity rushing toward us, her golden eyes tense with urgency.
“Raiden, Siena,” she says breathlessly, concern darkening her expression. “We’ve just received word–this stranger Kaien wasn’t bluffing. He has powerful support from rival packs. His challenge for Alpha King is real–and imminent.”
Raiden’s jaw tightens visibly, determination flaring sharply within his eyes. Yet this time, he doesn’t step forward alone. Instead, he turns toward me quietly, silently seeking my counsel, my partnership.
I nod softly, squeezing his hand gently.
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#Chapter 120: The Stranger
If they want a fight.
We will give it to them.
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