Chapter 87 – The Shadow of the Alpha
When the recess bell rang, Walter walked out to the courtyard with the rest of the class. He moved with slight difficulty because of the cane, but even so, he carried an undeniable presence. Everyone watched him. Some with genuine surprise. Others with a hint of envy. And others—especially those who used to bully him—with visible discomfort. He was no longer the vulnerable boy in a wheelchair they could ignore. Now he was tall, strong, and walked with a determination he had never shown before.
Walter felt those stares digging into him. And though he tried to act normal, a part of his chest swelled with pride. Another part, however, shrank with insecurity. Everything was new. His body, his strength, the way he walked… and his place in the group.
Bruno walked beside him, always attentive, always vigilant, as if the mere idea of Walter taking a slightly faster step meant potential danger. Bruno was like that: protective, silent, calculating. Every glance thrown at Walter, he registered, evaluated, and filed away as a possible threat.
As they walked, Bruno frowned.
"Look," he said under his breath.
Walter followed his gaze.
A few meters away, Titus was talking to Melanie. Very close. Too close.
Walter stopped completely.
"What is Titus doing?" he asked, frowning. "Why is he with her? Isn't she our enemy?"
Bruno tensed and shook his head slowly. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "I didn't even know they talked."
Walter clenched his jaw. Irritation shot through his body.
"We need to talk to him," he said angrily. "This isn't right. We need to fix this problem."
Bruno nodded.
But before they could approach, the bell rang again. Recess was over. Titus raised his hand, giving Melanie a small wave, and walked away as if the conversation had meant nothing.
Walter, however, stood there staring, feeling a strange knot twisting in his stomach.
He didn't like it.
He didn't know why… But he didn't like it at all.
---
Sofía Watches the Twins
For the rest of the day, the atmosphere was strange. Not heavy… but tense.
Sofía, now aware that Bruno and Cristal belonged to the Clan of the Two Moons, couldn't stop watching them with suspicion. Every gesture. Every word. Every silence. Everything had a new meaning.
Was what the Duchess said true? Could they trust them? Were they there for Titus… or for something else?
Cristal, as always, kept her face unreadable. No emotions. Just that cold aura around her. That distance. That mystery.
Class continued, but distrust floated like an invisible veil among them all.
---
The Meeting That Changes Everything
As soon as school ended, Cristal approached the group.
"We need to have a meeting," she said firmly.
Titus nodded without argument.
Walter and Bruno exchanged a look. They felt something important coming.
"It will be at the karaoke place on Main Street," Cristal continued. "Only us. The Unwanted."
Titus repeated: "Only us."
That meant: Not Sofía. Not Damián. And especially not Melanie.
The message was clear.
That evening, the group met. The place smelled of fried food, bright neon lights flickered, and screens displayed lyrics no one planned to sing. Titus ordered food, drinks, and everyone settled around a large table in a private room.
When they were ready, Titus stood. There was a strange shine in his eyes. Something not entirely human. Something tied to power… and to knowing he possessed it.
"I want to introduce the new member of our pack," he said.
Bruno raised an eyebrow. Walter frowned.
"New member?" Walter asked. "Who?"
Titus gestured.
Sarah stood up.
She smiled shyly. "Now I'm one of you too," she said.
The impact was immediate.
Walter shot to his feet, furious. "What!? When did this happen? Why did you transform her!?"
Bruno was also surprised, though he kept himself under control. His eyes, however, betrayed concern.
Titus raised his hand, commanding silence like a true Alpha.
"I had to do it," he said firmly. "Among the laws that were explained to you, Cristal told you: if a human knows our secret… they either transform or disappear."
Silence dropped like a stone.
"We weren't going to let anything happen to Sarah," Titus added. "Not while she's part of the group."
Cristal intervened, supporting him: "That's right. It was the only safe option."
Walter's fists clenched. He was breathing through his mouth, trying to contain himself.
"You should have told me," he said angrily. "She was my friend too. I had the right to know."
Titus locked eyes with him.
Alpha eyes. Authority eyes. Eyes that did not ask permission.
"Listen carefully, Walter," he said, voice low, firm, dominant. "Here… the one who gives orders is me."
Walter's heart lurched. A mix of humiliation and anger swelled inside him.
Bruno watched silently, ready to step in if needed.
Titus continued: "I am the Alpha of this pack. I am the leader. And you obey."
Cristal nodded approvingly. Bruno said nothing. Sarah lowered her gaze.
But Walter… Walter felt something break inside him.
---
Naming the Pack
Titus spoke again.
"I've been thinking about this," he said. "Now that we are five werewolves, I want to name my pack. The name will be…"
He paused dramatically.
"The Clan of the Unwanted."
Sarah smiled. Bruno nodded slowly. Cristal crossed her arms, accepting. Walter said nothing.
"Cristal and Bruno already belong to the Clan of the Two Moons," Titus continued. "But in a way, they are also our allies. That's the truth. So… for now, we are three original Unwanted. And two allies."
Walter tapped the table sharply. "Three? Allies? That's what we are now?" he asked tightly. "And who decided that?"
"I did," Titus said without blinking.
Silence again.
---
The Conflict Explodes: Melanie
Walter ground his teeth.
"There's something else I need to ask," he said, now openly irritated. "Why were you talking to Melanie? Or did you forget what her people did to us? Isn't she our enemy?"
Titus looked at him calmly… but with superiority.
"That's personal," he replied. "It has nothing to do with the pack."
Walter slapped the table harder. "Of course it has to do with us!" he growled. "Everything affects me. Affects all of us. Why are you talking to her? She doesn't belong here. She isn't one of us. She's dangerous!"
Titus narrowed his eyes. "Melanie is more like us than you think," he said in a tone that froze everyone.
Cristal stared at Titus, surprised. Bruno frowned. Sarah felt a chill.
Walter pointed at him with a trembling hand. "No… you don't know what you're saying. You didn't suffer what I suffered because of them. You didn't live through it."
Titus replied with unsettling calm: "Maybe. But we need to grow up. We have to act like more mature people."
"You didn't go through what I went through!" Walter exploded.
Titus inhaled deeply.
Then spoke with the voice of a true Alpha: "Walter. Listen carefully. What I say… gets done. If I talk to someone, I talk to someone. I decide. And you obey. That is the order. That is everyone's place."
Walter trembled.
Not out of fear.
Out of anger.
Out of humiliation.
Out of confusion.
Bruno held his arm, trying to calm him.
Sarah stayed still, feeling the tension grow like a trapped animal.
Cristal just watched.
Titus straightened even more. "I am the Alpha," he said. "And you follow me."
Walter looked up, and for a moment, his eyes shone with deep pain. A pain not caused by physical wounds…
A pain coming straight from the heart.
---
Hook: What came next would be impossible to stop…