Xena''s POV


    "You support this?" Alpha Benedict red at Ryder, his voice sharp a de cutting through the tension in the room.


    "Absolutely. We should never have been excluded. This affects our lives, and Xena nearly died." Ryder''s voice was firm, unwavering as he stood his ground against his father.


    Alpha Benedict''s expression remained stoic as shifted to me then to my injured shoulder. "Of course, I''m d you''re


    unharmed, but don''t you think you need proper rest and recovery?"


    Anger surged through me like wildfire. This again. Always this. They forever treated me like some fragile doll needing protection. My arm might be in a sling, but my brain and determination weren''t injured.


    "No. That''s not how this works." Ryder stepped forward, facing his father directly. "I shouldn''t have allowed you to push us aside from the beginning. Every decision you''ve made has only made things worse. We need to be involved. Xena has more than enough intelligence to solve problems, Use her abilities."


    My heart swelled. Ryder was fighting for us-for me. He was finally standing up against the old ways of thinking that had been holding us back.


    "Dad, what do you think?" I asked firmly, turning to my father.


    "I''m surprised they''ve been kept out of the loop. Why not let them be informed about what''s happening?" Dad''s response was measured but clearly supportive.


    "You didn''t know Luna Kestrel spoke with us about leaving and letting them handle everything?" I felt my pulse quicken-another


    decision made behind our backs.


    "No." Dad''s voice confirmed his annoyance.


    Logan rose to his feet, his presencemanding attention. "If you refuse to include them, then I''ll make sure they''re involved. They will not be excluded, and I''m shocked this has happened." His authority radiated through the room. He wasn''t Alpha yet-just a few days away-but Alpha Benedict didn''t know that.


    "Fine, I see I''m outvoted." Alpha Benedict looked toward Luna Kestrel "Let the record show I think this is a terrible idea. They''re not


    ready."


    "How would you know when you''ve never given us a chance?" Fury coursed through me, burning in my chest like a raging inferno. "With all due respect, you know nothing about me or what I''m capable of. All you''ve done is push me aside. If I didn''t know better,


    I''d say you''re using me as an excuse to avoid handing the Alpha position to Ryder."


    SLAP!


    Alpha Benedict mmed his hand on the table and jumped to his feet. "Now listen here he snarled at me.


    That really hit a nerve. My heart raced, adrenaline surging through my veins. I knew I''d crossed a line..


    "No." Ryder moved in front of me protectively. "We''ve had this exact conversation before, you and I. I never repeated any of it to Xena. She figured it out entirely on her own. You will not speak to her that way. I''ve already told you where I stand. I''m prepared to challenge you if necessary, but I''d rather we agree to work together.


    I was stunned that Ryder had mentioned challenging his father, but didn''t dwell on


    it. It could just be an intimidation tactic.


    "Kids, leave the room. Let Benedict and me talk. Dad''s voice was tight with suppressed anger,


    Logan and Ryder had to half-diag me out of the room. I refused to bak eye contact with Alpha Benedict, determined to stand my ground. Given their efforts not hurt me, it took some time.


    I kept my eyes locked with Alpha Benedict''s, trying tomunicate my determination through my gaze. Even if he was an Alpha, even if he was Ryder''s father, I wouldn''t back down anymore.


    Once they got me out of the room, I felt the adrenaline fading, leaving exhaustion in its wake.


    "Were you serious, man? You''d challenge him?" Logan asked.


    "I''m starting to think Dad won''t step down. Always one excuse after nother. I don''t want to challenge him, but he keeps making decisions that affect this pack-that affect Xena." Ryder''s voice was resolute.


    "You know that''s to the death..." Logan emphasized.


    I stared at Ryder, shocked. Now, hearing Logan''s words, the weight of reality suddenly crashed down on me. A challenge meant death. It meant either father or son might not walk away alive. The realization made my blood run cold.


    "I won''t allow Xena''s life to be put in danger again without her having a say in what happens." Ryder''s conviction was unwavering.


    "Ryder..." I couldn''t be the reason he''d consider challenging his father. The thought made my heart ache unbearably. I loved him, but I couldn''t let him face his own father in a death match for me. It was too much, too dangerous. "Don''t do


    this for me, I wanted to say, but the words caught in my throat.


    "No, this is my decision." He looked down at me, his eyes aze with determination.


    "But not at my expense." I finally managed to say.


    Ryder gently draped his arm around me, kissing my forehead. Such a simple gesture, yet filled with so muchfort and promise. His lips against my skin seemed to say "trust me."


    "Logan, tell him he shouldn''t do this." I pleaded.


    "X, I would do the same thing." Logan looked at me intently. "I am doing the same thing. I''m helping Dad reject Martha. We all know that could kill him."


    "That''s different, and you know it!" I snapped. I momentarily forgot my arm was in a sling and reached out to touch him. Pain instantly shot down my back.


    I gasped, the pain briefly distracting me, but my thoughts immediately returned to the crisis at hand. I couldn''t let Rydes challenge his father for me, couldn''t let this family break apart because of me. But I also knew he was right-we couldn''t be excluded anymore, couldn''t let others make decisions for us.


    I stood at a crossroads, wanting both to protect those I loved and to stand up for what we deserved. This contradiction tore at my heart, making me feel simultaneously helpless and determined in a way I''d never experienced before.