*NEW* Chapter XXVII

Derek's POV

The conference hall was grand, lined with dark oak and decorated with banners from packs across the world. The moment I stepped inside, the room fell into silence. Eyes turned toward me, a ripple of shock spreading through the gathered alphas and elders.

They had expected me to be in a wheelchair, broken and defeated. But here I stood, walking as if I had never lost the ability. Whispers surged through the room.

"How is this possible?"

"He's fully healed?"

"This changes everything."

I ignored the murmurs, my posture straight and unreadable. But one gaze in particular burned into me—the Alpha of the Snow Wolf Pack. An older man, powerful, wealthy, and ambitious. For months, he had been angling for the position of Alpha King, expecting me to be too weak to claim it.

Now, his plans were falling apart.

I could see the calculation in his icy blue eyes as he watched me take my seat. His pack was one of the largest, his resources vast. He believed he was the rightful ruler. But the way the others were looking at me now, with renewed respect—or fear—told me that his influence was slipping.

The meeting began.

The Rogue Crisis was the first topic. Reports from different territories were shared—rogue attacks had doubled in the past year. Some alphas demanded extermination, while others pushed for a system to track and contain them.

"If we do not act decisively," Snow Wolf Alpha spoke, his voice heavy with authority, "we will be overrun. We must root them out."

I leaned forward. "Not all rogues are threats. Some are wolves who lost their packs during the war. We need a strategy, not blind slaughter."

He turned his sharp gaze to me. "And what do you propose, Alpha Derek?"

"A tracking and containment system. Identify the threats, and offer the rest a chance to be reintegrated."

Scoffs echoed from some alphas, but others nodded thoughtfully. A divide was forming.

Packless Wolves & Orphans were next. Many wolves were without alphas, living on the fringes. The discussion turned political—some alphas, like Snow Wolf Alpha, wanted to claim them as warriors, strengthening their packs.

I clenched my jaw. "They're not pawns. If we don't give them a home, they'll have no choice but to become rogues."

Snow Wolf Alpha smirked. "You sound like a king already, Derek. But have you claimed the title?"

Silence followed. My fingers curled into fists under the table.

The Alpha King Discussion.

An elder cleared his throat. "The war has left us fractured. A leader must be chosen."

"Then let's be practical," Snow Wolf Alpha said smoothly. "The strongest leader should take the throne. I have resources, numbers, and experience. Who else can lead better?"

Some nodded in agreement. Others remained silent, waiting.

"Strength isn't just numbers," I said, my voice calm but firm. "A true leader is not the one with the biggest army, but the one his people are willing to follow."

I let my gaze sweep across the room before I continued. "My father had endless power. A vast army. He ruled through fear, and what did it bring him? Disgrace. He let ambition and war consume him. I will not follow in his footsteps. Strength isn't about dominance—it's about knowing when to fight and when to lead."

The room tensed.

I could feel the shift. Some werewolves were starting to look at me differently now. Considering me.

Snow Wolf Alpha knew it too. I saw his jaw tighten, his fingers tapping against the table. He was losing ground.

Then, an elder spoke. "Perhaps it is time for tradition."

Murmurs rose.

I turned to the elder. "What tradition?"

"The Trial of the Alpha King." The elder's gaze swept across the room. "A leader must prove his strength—not just in power, but in strategy, endurance, and leadership. If there is more than one contender, the trial will decide."

I already knew what was coming before Snow Wolf Alpha spoke.

"Then let the trial begin. If Derek believes he is fit to rule, let him prove it."

All eyes were on me.

I exhaled slowly, locking eyes with him. I wasn't going to back down.

"I accept."

The challenge was set. And I intended to win.