Out of the Ashes
Closed starter for @glowingindie Power was a hard thing to hold on to and Lupa was more than well enough aware of that fact. She’d been fighting to maintain her hold on her pack since the day she’d entered it. Most hadn’t thought highly of a female alpha leading them, let alone a foreign one with no knowledge of their culture. But they’d respected Conner, even as the pair failed to create an heir. When they’d finally made a male omega, Conner had been challenged twice, and now with him gone and their son mated to a far off alpha there was a power vacuum that needed to be filled. If she wanted to stay alive, she’d either have to flee back home to her brother or fill it herself. The other alphas gave her space to grieve, at least. A few days of mourning the loss of her childhood sweetheart was nowhere near enough and there was so much work to be done.. and then she had to fight. She didn’t know how many challengers there would be and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t terrified of it. She was growing older, she was out of practice, and she’d always been better with her words than anything. After a whirlwind of tasks, on the last day before her first challenge, Lupa locked herself in Conner’s- her- office and grabbed the phone. She thought about calling Dante but hesitated.. no, he’d tell her to run, and she couldn’t make herself do that. So she dialed the number of the only other she could trust, a friend who would understand. When the other woman picked up the blonde alpha relaxed at the sound of a familiar voice. “Riya.. are you surprised I called you during the daytime for once?” She laughed at herself, but it was a hollow sound. She hadn’t even thought of their time zone difference until she’d already dialed the number. Late into the night for her was only the afternoon for the other. “...do you have time to talk?”