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Mine joins them.

Damian’s smaller growl rises beside me.

My wolf presses forward, staring at Rylan through my eyes. Our Alpha.

This time, I don’t argue.

Rylan raises one hand, and the growls quiet.

“We’ve said for years that Silver Moon stands as one. But we don’t stand as one if the strongest wolves are standing on the backs of the weakest. We don’t stand as one if we’re so busy fighting among ourselves that our enemies only have to wait for us to destroy each other.”

His gaze travels across the thousands of male wolves gathered before him.

“Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Then remember that the wolf standing beside you is your neighbor too.”

Something tightens in my chest.

“Together as a pack, we stand.”

“We stand as one,” the male wolves answer.

“Together as a pack, we rise.”

“We rise as one.”

Damian’s voice joins thousands of others.

My wolf opens our family mindlink. Pup, remember tonight.

Why?

I look at Rylan standing beside his Gamma. An Alpha powerful enough to command three thousand male wolves into silence with a single word, yet willing to listen when the weakest among them tells him his pack is failing him. A wolf strong enough to demand obedience, but wise enough to know obedience alone won’t make a pack strong.

Because this is what a true Alpha looks like.

Damian looks back at Rylan.

I want to be like that.

My wolf settles inside me, satisfied.

Then listen. Learn. And remember.

Rylan finally dismisses the gathering.

Three thousand male wolves don’t disappear quickly.

Voices rise around us as wolves stand, collect their pups, find friends, and begin making their way back toward their families. Joshua is immediately surrounded by several male wolves. Some speak to him while others hand him folded pieces of paper.

He takes every one.

Damian spots Jace nearby and looks at me.

“Stay where I can see you.”

“I will.”

He runs toward him.