THE ALPHA’S WOLFLESS SON
CHAPTER WONE THE ALPHA’S WOLFLESS SON
The twenty-seventh child awakened as a runt.
Frost Fang Pack still cheered until the mountains answered.
Then the Elder called Cole’s name.
The cheering doubled.
“Cole! Cole! Cole!”
Three hundred wolves stamped their feet and howled.
Cole was Alpha Alton’s younger son.
His older brother, Vance—the Alpha’s firstborn and future heir—had cracked the Awakening Stone during his first shift two years ago.
Today, the entire Pack had come to see whether Cole would surpass him.
Cole stepped toward the Circle.
Someone shouted, “Give us another Alpha!”
Another wolf yelled, “Break the whole damn stone this time!”
Laughter rolled through the courtyard.
Cole lifted his chin and looked toward the platform.
Vance stood beside their father, wearing the silver shoulder clasp reserved for the Alpha’s heir. At twelve, he was already taller than most boys of fifteen.
He smiled down at Cole.
“Try not to disappoint Father.”
Cole smiled back.
“Try not to look scared when I beat you.”
The wolves closest to them laughed.
Vance’s smile disappeared.
Alpha Alton raised one hand.
Three hundred wolves fell silent.
That was his father’s power.
No shouting.
No threats.
One movement, and the strongest Pack in the northern territories obeyed.
Alton looked down at his younger son.
“Enter the Circle.”
Cole’s blood surged.
There it was.
His moment.
He stepped onto the ancient stone.
Silver symbols ignited beneath his boots.
The crowd gasped.
They had not glowed for any of the other children.
The Elder stared at the light, then quickly lowered his head.
“A strong response,” someone whispered.
“Of course it is. He’s the Alpha’s son.”
“Look at Vance.”
Cole did.
His brother’s jaw had tightened.
Good.
For once, Vance was the one watching from the outside.
The Elder placed a hand over Cole’s heart.
“Close your eyes.”
Cole obeyed.
“Find the wolf beneath your skin.”
Cole had dreamed about this moment for years.
He imagined black fur.
Silver eyes.
A wolf large enough to stand beside his father’s.
He reached inward.
And found nothing.
Cole’s smile faded.
“Call to it,” the Elder ordered.
Cole tried again.
Nothing growled.
Nothing moved.
Nothing answered.
The courtyard became quiet.
Too quiet.
Cole opened his eyes.
“Again.”
The Elder frowned.
“The ceremony is not finished.”
“It felt like you stopped.”
“I did not.”
“Then try again.”
A few wolves laughed.
Cole ignored them.
The Elder pressed harder against his chest.
“Reach deeper.”
Cole shut his eyes.
Come on.
His heart pounded.
Come on!
Nothing.
A boy whispered loudly, “What’s taking him so long?”
Another answered, “Vance shifted in six seconds.”
Cole heard children snickering.
Adults shushed them, but the excitement in the courtyard had already begun to rot.
The Elder withdrew his hand.
“No.”
Cole grabbed his wrist.
The crowd gasped.
“Again.”
“Release me.”
“Something went wrong.”
“The Circle does not make mistakes.”
“Then I did. Let me try again.”
The Elder pulled free.
“There is no wolf to call.”
The words struck the courtyard dead.
Cole stared at him.
“What?”
“I cannot sense a wolf inside you.”
For one long second, nobody reacted.
Then Owen laughed.
Owen—the smallest boy in Cole’s training group. The boy who had awakened only minutes earlier after wetting himself in the Circle.
He pointed at Cole.
“The Alpha’s son is human.”
Several children burst out laughing.
“He doesn’t even have a runt!”
“Maybe his wolf ran away!”
“Maybe it saw Vance and gave up!”
The laughter spread.
Cole looked toward the adults.
They would stop it.
They had watched him grow up. They had trained him, fed him, bowed when his family passed.
A warrior covered his mouth to hide a smile.
A woman whispered to her mate, “Imagine being Luna and giving birth to that.”
Her mate snorted.
Another voice rose from the back.
“Maybe he isn’t the Alpha’s son.”
The laughter died instantly.
Alpha Alton stood.
Power crashed over the courtyard.
Every wolf lowered their eyes.
The man who had spoken disappeared behind the crowd.
Cole’s chest tightened.
His father would defend him now.
He would defend Mira.
He would tell the Pack that his blood could not be questioned.
Instead, Alton looked at the Elder.
“Examine him again.”
Cole’s hope turned cold.
The Elder hesitated.
“Alpha—”
“Do it.”
The old wolf bowed.
He stepped back into the Circle and placed one hand against Cole’s chest. His other hand closed around the base of Cole’s neck.
“Do not move.”
Cole lifted his chin.
“Find it.”
The Elder closed his eyes.
His fingers pressed harder.
Cold moved beneath Cole’s skin.
Down his throat.
Across his chest.
For one second, there was nothing.
Then something struck beneath the Elder’s palm.
Once.
Hard.
Cole’s breath caught.
The Elder’s fingers jerked away from his chest.
He stumbled backward.
For one second, the old wolf looked afraid.
Mira grabbed the front of her ceremonial dress.
Alpha Alton stepped down from the platform.
The Elder looked at Mira.
Then at Alton.
Cole saw it.
They knew something.
“What happened?” he demanded.
The Elder wiped his palm against his robe.
Alton stopped beside him.
“Give the Pack your answer.”
The Elder’s mouth tightened.
His eyes remained on Cole.
“There is no wolf.”
Cole stared at him.
“You felt something.”
“I found no wolf.”
“You pulled away.”
“The examination is complete.”
“What did you feel?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
The Pack erupted.
No child called an Elder a liar.
Especially not the Alpha’s son.
Especially not in front of the entire Pack.
Cole looked at his father.
“You saw him.”
Alton’s jaw tightened.
“The Elder gave his answer.”
“He was afraid.”
“The examination is over.”
Cole pointed at the old wolf.
“Ask him why he pulled away.”
Alton looked at the Elder.
The old man lowered his eyes.
For one moment, Cole thought his father would force him to answer.
Instead, Alton said, “Leave the Circle.”
Cole’s hand dropped.
“What?”
“The ceremony is finished.”
“You know something happened.”
“Leave.”
Vance came down from the platform laughing.
“He fails to awaken, and suddenly the sacred Elder is a liar.”
“Stay out of this,” Cole snapped.
Vance entered the Circle.
“This Circle is for wolves.”
Cole’s fists closed.
“I said stay out of it.”
“Make me.”
The crowd leaned forward.
They had stopped caring about the ceremony.
Now they wanted blood.
Vance stood inches from him.
“Where is that great wolf you kept promising everyone?”
Cole said nothing.
“You said you would be stronger than me.”
“I will be.”
“With what?”
Vance looked down at Cole’s hands.
“Your little human fists?”
The wolves laughed again.
Louder this time.
Vance spread his arms.
“Go ahead, brother. Shift.”
“I’m warning you.”
“Shift.”
Cole shoved him.
Vance barely moved.
The crowd roared.
“Careful, Vance!”
“Don’t hurt the human prince!”
“Maybe pain will wake his wolf!”
Vance shoved Cole back.
Cole stumbled across the Circle.
His face burned.
Vance smiled.
“Father should have drowned you when you were born.”
Cole punched him.
His fist smashed into Vance’s mouth.
Vance staggered.
Blood appeared on his lip.
The courtyard went silent.
Cole had struck the future Alpha.
More importantly—
He had made him bleed.
Vance touched his mouth.
His eyes turned silver.
The Pack exploded.
“Vance!”
“Teach him his place!”
“Show him what a real wolf looks like!”
Vance hit Cole across the face.
Cole flew sideways and struck the stone.
Pain burst through his jaw.
The wolves cheered.
Cole pushed himself up.
Vance kicked him in the ribs.
He went down again.
“Stay there,” Vance said.
Cole spat blood.
“No.”
He stood.
Vance hit him again.
“Stay down.”
“No.”
Another blow.
Another fall.
The crowd became a wall of laughing mouths.
“Shift, Cole!”
“Call your wolf!”
“Maybe it’s hiding in the dirt!”
Cole dragged himself onto one knee.
Vance planted a boot against his chest.
“Say it.”
Cole stared up at him.
“Say what?”
“That you’re not one of us.”
Cole grabbed Vance’s ankle and twisted.
Vance crashed onto the stone.
Cole threw himself on top of him.
One punch.
Vance’s head snapped sideways.
Two.
His nose broke.
Three—
A few younger wolves cheered.
Cole heard them.
For one glorious second, Vance looked afraid.
Then claws tore through Cole’s side.
Cole screamed.
Four bloody lines opened beneath his ribs.
Vance threw him across the Circle.
Cole struck the stone and curled around the pain.
The Elder stepped backward.
Cole saw it.
He had not moved away from Vance’s claws.
He had moved away from Cole.
Mira ran forward.
“Enough!”
Luna authority cracked through the courtyard.
The wolves fell silent.
She stepped between her sons and looked at Vance’s bloody claws.
“What is wrong with you?”
“He attacked me.”
“You humiliated him.”
“He humiliated our blood!”
“He is your brother!”
“He has no wolf!”
Mira slapped him.
The sound echoed off the mountain walls.
Vance froze.
So did the Pack.
No one struck the future Alpha.
Not even his mother.
Vance slowly faced her again.
The rage left his expression.
For one moment, he looked twelve years old.
“You knew this might happen.”
Mira’s hand lowered.
Vance looked from her to their father.
“You both knew.”
Alton said nothing.
Vance gave a short laugh.
“They compared me to him for ten years.”
Mira reached for him.
“Vance—”
“You let them say he might take everything from me.”
“He is your brother.”
“He has nothing.”
Vance stepped away from her.
“And you still choose him.”
Alpha Alton descended from the platform.
The Pack dropped to its knees.
Every warrior.
Every Elder.
Every child.
His power filled the courtyard, cold and crushing.
Cole felt the command slam into his spine.
Kneel.
His legs shook.
His wounds burned.
His body began to bend.
Cole looked around.
Even Vance was on one knee.
Only Cole remained standing.
Shock moved through the Pack.
Alpha Alton stopped in front of him.
The pressure doubled.
Cole’s bones groaned.
Blood ran from his nose.
Kneel.
The command was inside his skull now.
Cole looked into his father’s eyes.
“No.”
A woman screamed.
Several wolves crawled backward.
The Elder stared at Cole as though a dead child had risen in front of him.
Vance’s face lost all color.
Mira closed her eyes.
She had known this could happen.
Cole understood that now.
His father released the command.
Everyone inhaled at once.
Cole nearly collapsed.
He forced himself upright.
Alton studied him.
Cole waited for pride.
He had resisted an Alpha command.
No child in Frost Fang could do that.
His father looked at the Elder.
“You found no wolf?”
The Elder lowered his head.
“No wolf, Alpha.”
Cole laughed once.
Both men looked at him.
“Then why does he keep backing away from me?”
The Elder said nothing.
Cole pointed at him.
“He touched me and ran.”
Then he looked at Mira.
“She tried to stop the second examination.”
Finally, he faced his father.
“And now none of you will tell me why.”
Mira stepped toward him.
“Cole, not here.”
“Then where?”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Vance looked between them.
“What does he mean?”
No one answered him either.
The silence lasted too long.
Alton turned toward the Elder.
“What does the law require?”
Mira went still.
“No.”
The Elder swallowed.
“A child of Alpha blood who fails to awaken cannot inherit or hold rank.”
The wolves listened.
“He cannot remain inside Pack territory after sunset.”
Cole waited for someone to object.
No one did.
He looked at his father.
“I’m ten.”
Alton’s face did not move.
“The law does not recognize age.”
“You are the law.”
A murmur passed through the courtyard.
Cole stepped closer.
“You could stop this.”
“A Pack whose Alpha bends the law for his own son will not survive.”
Cole looked at the silver fang hanging from his father’s throat.
Then he looked up at him.
“I’m not asking the Alpha.”
Alton’s jaw tightened.
Cole’s voice broke.
“I’m asking my father.”
No one in the courtyard moved.
Alton held his son’s gaze.
Then he turned toward the guards.
“Open the southern gate.”
Something inside Cole broke.
The Pack reacted with gasps and excited whispers.
“He chose the law.”
“Even over his own son.”
“That is why Alton is Alpha.”
“He protects the Pack.”
They admired him.
They were praising Cole’s father for sending him to die.
Mira stepped between them.
“You will not take my child.”
Alton’s eyes turned black.
“Kneel.”
Mira hit the stone.
Her knees struck hard enough to make her cry out.
Cole lunged at his father.
“You bastard!”
Four guards seized him.
Cole fought until one of them twisted his injured arm behind his back.
The crowd shouted.
Some laughed again.
Vance watched without speaking.
Alton faced the Pack.
“Before sunset, Cole will leave Frost Fang territory.”
Cole thrashed against the guards.
“He will surrender all rank and inheritance.”
“You can keep them!”
“He will no longer use the name of this Pack.”
Cole stopped fighting.
Alton finally looked at him.
“And from this moment forward, he is no son of mine.”
Mira made a broken sound.
Cole stared at his father.
He wanted to cry.
He wanted to beg.
He wanted Alton to take it back.
Then Owen shouted from the crowd.
“Goodbye, human!”
The wolves laughed.
Cole looked at them.
These were the same wolves who had chanted his name.
The same wolves who had expected him to become their next great warrior.
Now they were smiling while guards dragged him toward death.
Cole stopped trying to free himself.
“I’ll come back.”
The laughter continued.
Vance wiped the blood beneath his nose.
“For what?”
Cole looked at his brother.
Then at his father.
Then at his mother, forced to kneel before them all.
“For everything.”
The laughter stopped.
They gave him an old coat.
Three days of dried meat.
No horse.
No weapon.
By sunset, the southern gate stood open.
Dark forest stretched beyond the walls.
Rogues lived before the river.
Human hunters lived beyond it.
A child without a wolf would never reach either.
Cole tightened the leather bag across his shoulder.
Garrick stood beside the gate.
The warrior had taught Cole to use a knife. Only last week, he had promised to take him hunting after his first shift.
Cole held out his hand.
“At least give me a blade.”
Garrick stared ahead.
“Pack weapons remain with the Pack.”
Cole lowered his hand.
“Right.”
He stepped toward the gate.
“Cole!”
Mira ran down the path.
She wore no coat. A bruise darkened one cheek, and red marks circled both wrists.
Cole looked at the bruise.
“Did he do that?”
Mira reached for him.
Cole stepped back.
Her hand stopped.
“You knew,” he said.
“I knew something could go wrong.”
“You watched me enter the Circle.”
“I hoped I was wrong.”
“And the Elder?”
Mira looked toward the guards.
“Leave us.”
When they moved away, she pulled a black cord from beneath her dress.
A large yellow tooth hung from it.
It was longer than Cole’s thumb, with a thin crack down one side.
She pressed it into his palm.
Heat shot through his hand.
Cole almost dropped it.
Mira closed his fingers around the tooth.
“Keep it hidden.”
“What is it?”
“Something that belongs to you.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“You were too young.”
“What does that mean?”
Her fingers tightened around his.
“Your father must never know I gave it back.”
Cole looked toward the walls.
“What is it?”
“The reason you survived your first night.”
He waited.
Mira said nothing else.
A hard beat struck beneath Cole’s ribs.
The tooth pulsed in his fist.
Mira released him.
“That happened in the Circle,” Cole said.
Her face lost its color.
“The Elder felt it.”
“Keep it hidden,” she repeated. “Especially from your father.”
The gate chains began to move.
Cole slipped the cord around his neck.
“Come with me.”
Mira closed her eyes.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“If I leave, he will hunt us both.”
Cole looked at the bruise on her face.
“Then let him.”
Mira pushed the leather bag higher onto his shoulder.
“Go south. Don’t stop at the river.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll survive.”
The guards started closing the gate.
Mira caught his sleeve.
“No matter what you hear about me, don’t come back.”
Cole stared at her.
“You think I’d leave you here?”
“I think you’ll try to save me.”
“Of course I will.”
“That is what I’m afraid of.”
Cole looked at the tooth against his chest.
Then back at her.
“One day, I’m coming back.”
Mira’s hand went still.
“I’m coming back for you.”
She stepped backward.
Only half a step.
But she did it before she could stop herself.
Cole looked down at the space between them.
Mira reached for him again.
He stepped through the gate.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“Cole—”
The guards caught her as the gates began to close.
Cole kept walking.
“Cole!”
The iron doors slammed shut.
He did not look back.
Night swallowed the forest.
Cole walked until his wounds soaked through his coat.
Until the Pack’s scent disappeared.
