The training ground of the Silverpaws pack brightened with the first light of dawn. Soft golden rays filtered through the tall trees surrounding the open field, painting the dirt and grass in warm hues.

Jed smiled as he stretched his arms overhead, his muscles flexing under the early light. "Your eyes are almost as bright as dawn, Cade," he said, his voice light but teasing.

Cade, shirtless down to his waist, grinned back. Sweat already glistened on his broad chest from the warm-up. "You just want us to tell you how pretty your eyes are."

Jed shrugged smugly, running a hand through his auburn hair. "They are the sharpest," he bragged, his grey eyes catching the light with a sharp glint.

"Boy, move out the way," Caleb, one of the triplets, stepped forward and yawned loudly. He rubbed his eyes, still heavy with sleep, his brown hair messy from the night.

"Where are the other two of you?" Jed joked, glancing around.

Caleb looked behind him, hoping to see the rest of his triplets. He didn’t see anyone. "I don’t know." He shrugged, rolling his shoulders to loosen them.

"Good morning everyone," Seth arrived, and a calmness suddenly descended on the training ground. His presence always had that effect, steady and peaceful like still water.

"Look at him. Pretty boy." Jed grinned, nudging him playfully.

"It’s too early for your jokes, Jed." Seth rolled his eyes in response, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Isn’t it too early for the bickering?" Castiel said, as he and Craig made their way into their brother’s midst. The triplets moved in sync, their similar builds and green eyes marking them clearly as a unit.

"We should be questioning Caleb for leaving us behind. Is Jed your twin now?" Craig questioned, crossing his arms.

"We’re more similar, so he might just be." Caleb teased, then followed it up with a playful laughter that rang across the field.

The laughter ceased when Wolf’s footsteps thundered on the training ground. The ground seemed to vibrate slightly under his heavy steps. He was a giant among them, his massive frame casting a long shadow in the dawn light.

"He’s here," Jed said, as the wolf emerged from the treeline.

"Where’s Cade?" His voice doubled around, as he pushed his body forward. His black hair was tousled, and his eyes burned with barely contained fury.

Cade, who had moved a distance from his brothers to set up the tools they would use to train, turned on hearing his name. Wooden staffs and weighted bags lay neatly arranged on the ground beside him.

"It’s too early to be that loud," he said, turning around. His tall frame straightened as he faced his brother.

As he turned, Wolf arrived before him. "Why has Jack attacked Bloodmoon before us?" He questioned angrily. His fists clenched at his sides, veins standing out on his thick arms.

"Because your father has decided not to attack them. Next question?" Cade replied unflinchingly. He met Wolf’s gaze without flinching, his auburn hair catching the morning light.

Everyone else was afraid of Wolf except him. As the first child, he had made sure to enforce his dominance in time. With time, Wolf had learnt that he might be the fiercest, but it didn’t take away Cade’s position as the brightest and the most mature amongst them.

He lowered his gaze, but his teeth didn’t stop chattering. The frustration rolled off him in waves, thick and heavy in the cool air.

"I should have gone with you for the festival of alphas. You chose Seth who everyone knows is a peacemaker. This is on you." He pointed at him, and then stepped behind.

Cade sighed. He understood his anger. When he heard Bloodmoon had been easily accessed, he couldn’t help but regret that it hadn’t been their pack. The morning breeze carried the distant sounds of other wolves training, a constant reminder of their own preparations.

Regardless of his personal convictions, he had made something of a deal with Ramon. They would continue the fight in the boundaries. No more invading each other’s pack.

"Who else feels like Wolf?" He raised his voice so the rest of his brothers could hear him.

They all raised their hands. All, except Seth.

Cade knew that was how it would go. Seth had been with him when the pact was made, so he knew he wouldn’t be on the side of invasion. The air between them grew tense, filled with unspoken frustrations.

"I used to hide behind the garden wall, because dad would allow her with escort of course to visit the garden, once in a while. I wanted to see her, and ensure she was happy. She would smile every time her eyes saw a wildflower. She absolutely adored wildflowers," Jed said, to everyone’s shock. His voice softened, a rare vulnerability showing through.

"Wow, you care about someone that isn’t yourself?" Caleb teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"Don’t mock him. I’m proud of him for being grown enough to share something he usually wouldn’t," Cade said, nodding approvingly.

"Sorry." Caleb quickly apologised, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I understand the sentiments," Wolf said, and his voice like a roar made everyone go silent. "And as much as I want to partake in it, I’m way past that. I don’t just want Sonia back because she’s our sister, but also because that fool dared to come into our pack, and take our sister. It’s the audacity for me!"

"And what would you have us do? Go against father’s words? I won’t do that. If he thinks his choice is the best choice, take it up to him. I’ve done my best," Cade said. His tone remained steady, but the weight of leadership showed in the lines on his face.

"Well your best is not enough, Cade. I’m tired—"

"I think you all should stop moaning like bitches, and start acting more like your father’s sons," Ferins said, entering the training ground. His steps were measured, carrying the authority of an alpha who had seen many battles.

They all bowed in sync at the arrival of their father. The morning light caught his black hair and grey eyes, making him look every bit the ruthless leader he was known to be.

He smiled when they lifted their heads. "I understand your sentiments, Wolf. Ramon gave us the biggest insult any pack has dared to do in ages. He took—he took my Sonia away."

"What are you doing about it? Why won’t you take action on them?" Wolf queried, his massive frame tense.

"What would you do, Wolf?" Ferins turned to him, his gaze sharp.

"I would march into his pack, and burn it down!"

"Before or after he kills your sister? Have you not thought of that?"

"He won’t kill her," Seth, who was usually quiet, said. His calm voice cut through the tension like a cool breeze.

"Now you’re defending him?" Jed scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Why would you say that, Seth?" Craig asked, leaning forward.

"Because they’re mates. Fated mates," Cade said.

All heads whipped towards him. Since they returned, Cade had contemplated if it was right to tell them about the entire truth about the situation. He had discussed the sit-down issue, which his father had naturally dismissed, but he had held back on telling them about the mate bond.

"What? They’re mates?"

"I don’t understand what is going on. This is a joke, right? Please tell me this is a joke," Jed laughed humorlessly.

"Why are you just saying this, Cade? This changes everything!" Ferins growled. His grey eyes flashed with a mix of shock and calculation.

"Because it doesn’t change anything. I disagree with Seth. He thinks they have a relationship. I think it’s just a front. He doesn’t care about Sonia, mate bond or not."

"Isn’t that the more reason we should attack?" Jed asked.

"No one’s attacking anyone. If Ramon wants a real fight, he should go on the attack. The only thing we need to be discussing is how to get Sonia out of his pack. Of course, it’s going to be more difficult now, seeing that they’re mates," Ferins said, a faraway look in his eyes as he stared toward the horizon.

"What about peace? Why haven’t we discussed that? What about sitting with Ramon, and being diplomatic about this entire situation?" Seth questioned.

"Not a chance in hell!" Wolf growled. "I want his head for what he’s done, and I’m running out of patience."

"Father?" Cade called.

Before he could reply, the warriors of the pack began to walk into the training ground in their numbers. Their footsteps created a low rumble, filling the air with the promise of another day of preparation.

"Another day," he said.

Wolf tightened his fist as he watched his father leave. The muscles in his arm stood out prominently, veins pulsing with barely contained rage. The dawn light continued to rise, but the tension on the training ground remained thick and heavy.