Page 3 of Malcolm (The Sunburst Pack #1)

L ARISSA ARRIVED EARLY AT the top of Sunburst Mesa, having given herself extra time to prepare for what was coming.

She inhaled deeply, the scent of sage and sunbaked earth filling her lungs. A warm breeze ruffled her hair, holding within it the promise of the cool night to come.

Below the mesa, the pack’s territory, including the scattered buildings of the town, stretched out before her, a patchwork of muted browns and greens.

This is what I’m fighting for , she thought. The future of our pack, our home .

Larissa turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, watching as the rest of the pack members made their way across the mesa.

After a few moments, Nick’s voice cut through the murmur of conversation. “Okay, everyone. Let’s get started.”

The pack formed a loose circle, with Nick at its head. Larissa took her place, Malcolm across from her.

For the last week, she hadn’t been able to shake the thought of his reaction to her suggestion that the pack should choose a female alpha.

How dare he suggest a woman wouldn’t be strong enough to lead the pack?

It was enough to make her snarl aloud. But she bit back the sound and forced herself to shift her gaze to Nick.

“As you all know,” Nick began, “we’ve been operating under my temporary leadership since Vincent’s defeat. But now it’s time we looked to the future and chose a new alpha to lead the Sunburst Pack.”

A ripple of anticipation moved through the gathered wolves. Larissa’s fingers twitched as she itched to raise her hand, to step forward and claim her place.

But years of careful planning and strategy held her back.

Patience , she reminded herself. Wait for the right moment .

“In the past,” Nick said, “our leaders have been chosen by violence. The wolf who killed the previous alpha took his place. But as I’ve said repeatedly, I do not want the position of alpha.

” He gave a self-deprecating grin. “Not permanently, anyway. I simply want to make sure the Sunburst Pack is led by the best alpha possible.”

“Hear, hear!” called out Conall, the more gregarious of the Stewart twins.

Nick continued, outlining the need for strong, stable leadership to guide the pack through the healing process and into a new era.

As he spoke, Larissa swept her gaze over the circle, reading the faces of her packmates—their hope, their uncertainty, and in some, a hunger that almost matched her own.

Suddenly, Malcolm’s deep voice rang out. “I’d like to put myself forward as a candidate for alpha.”

Larissa’s head snapped around, her gaze locking onto Malcolm. He stood tall and confident, his broad shoulders squared.

A jolt of competitive energy surged through Larissa.

Of course he’d be the first to speak up , she thought. Always charging ahead without a second thought .

“I’ve fought for this pack,” Malcolm continued, “bled for it. I know our strengths, and I know the challenges we face. Under my leadership, we’ll become stronger than ever before. We’ll honor our traditions while forging a new path forward.”

His impassioned speech drew nods of approval from several pack members. Malcolm’s raw charisma was undeniable, his physical presence commanding.

Larissa could almost see him as alpha, leading the pack with strength and conviction.

But then she started analyzing Malcolm’s words.

All passion, no substance , she realized. He’s playing to their emotions, but where’s the plan?

Taking a deep breath, Larissa stepped forward to stand next to Malcolm. “I, too, would like to be considered for the position of alpha,” she said, keeping her voice clear and steady.

All eyes turned to her, their gazes pinning her in place, but she didn’t falter. This was her moment, the culmination of years of preparation and hard work.

“Like Malcolm, I’ve dedicated my life to this pack,” she began. “But being an alpha? It’s not just about fighting and bleeding. It’s about thinking ahead, adapting to change. It’s about making smart decisions that benefit all of us.”

Larissa gestured to the landscape around them. “Look at our territory. It’s vast, but it’s also harsh. To thrive here, we’ve always needed more than just strength—and that’s true now more than ever. We need strategy. We need to be clever, to use every advantage we have.”

She paused, letting her words sink in. The wind picked up, and Larissa caught the scents of her packmates—their interest, their curiosity. But also their doubt.

“I have a vision for our future,” Larissa continued. “One where we don’t just survive, but flourish. Where we build alliances with other packs, where we expand our influence and create opportunities for every member to grow and contribute.”

As Larissa spoke, Malcolm’s stance changed, his muscles tensing as if preparing for a fight.

Their rivalry crackled in the air.

Nick, standing between them, glanced from one to the other. His expression was unreadable, but Larissa could practically taste his unease in his scent. This wasn’t how he had planned for the meeting to go.

“Well,” Nick said, “it seems we have two strong candidates for the position of alpha. This is…unexpected but not unwelcome. A healthy pack should have options, after all.”

A murmur ran through the gathered wolves. Larissa stood her ground, chin high, projecting an aura of calm confidence even as her breath caught in her chest.

“I think,” Nick continued, raising his voice to be heard over the growing chatter, “that we should open the floor to questions. This is an important decision, and every pack member should have the chance to hear from both candidates.”

Larissa nodded her agreement, her mind already racing ahead, anticipating potential questions and formulating answers.

For a moment, silence reigned. The only sound was the whisper of wind over stone and the distant cry of a hawk riding the thermals. Then a voice spoke up.

“Malcolm,” said Owen, one of the younger pack members, “you talked about making us stronger. How exactly do you plan to do that?”

Malcolm’s response was immediate and forceful.

“Through rigorous training and by fostering a warrior culture within the pack. We’ll focus on physical fitness, combat skills, and pushing our limits as shifters.

Every member of this pack will be capable of defending our territory and our way of life. ”

His words sparked a mix of reactions. Some nodded approvingly, while others looked uncertain. Larissa saw her opening.

“If I may,” she interjected smoothly, “strength isn’t just about physical prowess.

A truly strong pack is one that can adapt to any situation, that has the resources and skills to face any challenge.

Yes, we need fighters. But we also need healers, strategists, diplomats.

My plan involves identifying and nurturing the unique talents of each pack member, creating a diverse and resilient community. ”

She saw her words landing, the thoughtful expressions on many faces. But before anyone could respond, another question came, this time directed at her.

“Larissa,” called out Sophia, one of the pack’s older members, “you mentioned building alliances. Isn’t that risky? How can we know which other packs to trust? Especially after everything we’ve been through?”

Larissa took some time to consider her response.

“Trust is earned, not given,” she began carefully.

“I’m not suggesting we throw open our borders and hope for the best. What I propose is a careful, strategic approach to building relationships, beginning by asking the allies we already have—the Moonstone Pack.

They’ll have some suggestions for us to take into consideration.

Other than that? We start small—perhaps a trade agreement here, a mutual defense pact there. We proceed cautiously.”

She paused, gauging the reaction. Sophia’s expression remained skeptical, but others were nodding slowly.

“The world is changing,” Larissa continued. “We can’t afford to remain isolated. By forging careful alliances, we gain strength in numbers, access to new resources, and a buffer against potential threats. It’s about securing our future, not compromising our present.”

Malcolm cleared his throat. “Alliances are well and good,” he said, his tone dismissive, “but we can’t rely on others for our security. The strength of the Sunburst Pack must come from within. Larissa’s plan sounds nice, but it’s too risky. Too dependent on factors we can’t control.”

Frustration rippled through her, and she pushed down a growl. Typical Malcolm , she thought. Always defaulting to isolation and brute strength .

“And your plan isn’t risky?” she countered, unable to keep a hint of challenge from her voice. “Concentrating solely on combat prowess while neglecting other skills? What happens when we face a problem that can’t be solved with teeth and claws?”

The pack’s heads swiveled back and forth between them, following the exchange like spectators at a tennis match. Larissa could smell the rising tension, mixed with excitement and a touch of fear.

Nick stepped forward, his hands raised placatingly. “Let’s keep things civil. We’re all part of the same pack here.”

But the floodgates had opened. Questions came rapid-fire now, pack members emboldened by the exchange between the candidates.

“Malcolm, how would you handle relations with the humans nearby?”

“Larissa, what’s your stance on pack hierarchy? Would you keep the traditional structure?”

“Malcolm, do you have any experience with pack finances and resource management?”

“Larissa, are you strong enough to defend the pack if we’re attacked?”

Larissa’s mind raced as she fielded questions, working to keep her responses measured and thoughtful.

As the debate raged on, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and purple.

The temperature dropped rapidly, a reminder of the area’s sometimes harsh extremes.

A bead of sweat trickled down Larissa’s spine despite the chill. The constant back-and-forth was taxing, requiring all her mental acuity to stay ahead of the questions and Malcolm’s counterarguments. But it also exhilarated her.

This was what she had spent her whole life preparing for.

It was what she had been born to do.

Finally, as the first stars began to twinkle in the darkening sky, Nick raised his voice. “I think that’s enough for tonight. It’s clear we have two very different visions for the future of our pack, both with their own merits.”

He paused, gazing around the circle. In the dim light, his expression was hard to read. “Before we move on, would anyone else like to step forward as a candidate for alpha?”

No one spoke up.

“Okay. Larissa and Malcolm are our two candidates for alpha, then,” he continued. “This isn’t a decision to be made lightly or hastily. We’ll need time to consider both candidates and their proposals. I suggest we reconvene in a week to discuss the next steps in choosing our new alpha.”

A chorus of agreement rose from the pack. Larissa nodded, her mind already racing ahead, planning her next moves. Across the circle, Malcolm nodded, too, his jaw tensing.

As the meeting broke up, pack members drifting off in twos and threes, Larissa remained atop the mesa. She moved to the edge, gazing out once again over the now-darkened landscape. At the sound of footsteps approaching, she tensed, recognizing Malcolm’s scent on the breeze.

He came to stand beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Malcolm’s deep voice rumbled in the darkness. “You’ve got some interesting ideas, Larissa. Risky, but interesting.”

Larissa turned to look at him, surprised by the almost compliment. In the starlight, his features were softened.

“Your approach has its merits too,” she said grudgingly. “The pack does need strength.”

Before she could think of anything else to say, Malcolm turned and walked away, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts and the whispering wind.

What had that conversation been about?

Larissa turned her gaze to the vast expanse of stars above.

No—she knew better than to try to untangle Malcolm’s motives. With a shake of her head, she headed back down the path from the mesa, toward town. She didn’t have time to think too deeply about Malcolm.

She had a pack to win over, an alpha position to win, and a future to shape.