"Who ever heard of a weak Alpha?" Alex's own thoughts echoed in his mind as he faced the pack, their eyes drilling into him with skepticism.

The scent of pine mingled with tension in the air as Alex stood at the head of the long, weathered table in the pack's meeting hall. His fingers clenched the worn wood, his knuckles turning white as he faced the skeptical gazes of his pack members. The weight of their doubts bore down on him, threatening to crush his already fragile confidence.

"We need to address the recent surge in rogue attacks," Marcus, his trusted beta, spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "The pack is growing restless, Alex."

Alex nodded, trying to project an air of authority he didn't fully feel. "I understand, Marcus. We'll increase patrols and fortify our defenses."

A murmur of discontent rippled through the room, and Alex's heart sank. It wasn't enough. It never seemed to be enough. His father, the previous alpha, had been a formidable leader, respected and revered by all. Alex, on the other hand, felt like a mere shadow of his father's legacy.

"Is that all you've got, Alpha?" Gregory, one of the elders, challenged, his voice dripping with skepticism. "We need more than just empty promises. We need a real plan to protect our pack."

Alex's jaw tightened, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He was trying his best, but it was never enough. "We'll also gather intelligence on the rogues. Find out where they're coming from and who's leading them."

The pack members exchanged doubtful glances, some nodding reluctantly, others still unconvinced. Alex's gaze flickered to Marcus, silently pleading for support. Marcus offered a reassuring nod, but it did little to ease the knot of anxiety coiled in Alex's chest.

"Meeting adjourned," Alex declared, his voice strained but firm. As the pack members filed out of the room, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts, he couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that gnawed at him from within.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and Alex turned to see Marcus standing beside him, concern etched into his features. "You did well in there, Alex," Marcus offered, his voice a soothing balm to Alex's frayed nerves.

"It's not enough," Alex confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "They don't trust me."

"They will, in time," Marcus assured him, his gaze unwavering. "You just need to show them your strength."

Alex forced a weak smile, grateful for Marcus's unwavering support. "I just hope I can find it."

As Marcus left, disappearing into the dimly lit corridor, Alex remained alone in the meeting hall, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. He approached the window, gazing out at the moonlit forest beyond, seeking solace in the quiet solitude of the night.

 The pack's doubts were one thing, but a personal fear haunted him— the fear of being just a name without the strength to back it up.

His moment of respite was short-lived as a rustle in the trees drew his attention. He narrowed his eyes, his senses on high alert as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was an elder, the oldest member of the pack, known for his cryptic prophecies and enigmatic wisdom.

"There is a storm coming, young alpha," the elder intoned, his voice like the whisper of the wind through the trees. "A storm that will test your strength and reveal your true power."

Alex's brow furrowed, uncertainty flickering in his gaze. "What do you mean?"

The elder fixed him with a piercing stare, his eyes ancient and wise. "You have a destiny, Alex, one that is intertwined with a mate who will be both your greatest ally and your greatest challenge. Together, you will face a threat greater than any rogue attack."

Before Alex could press for more answers, the elder turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Alex alone with his tumultuous thoughts. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation as he grappled with the weight of the elder's words.

Who was this mate the elder spoke of? And what was this looming threat that hung over them like a shadow? As Alex pondered the mysteries that surrounded him, a newfound determination ignited within him. He may not have all the answers, but he was determined to find them, whatever it took.

In the shadows beyond the meeting hall, a pair of eyes watched Alex intently, a feral glint gleaming in the darkness. The figure whispered a single word, laden with promise and peril: "Soon."