Page 9 of Malcolm (The Sunburst Pack #1)

T HE DAY OF THE pack knowledge challenge, the vista from atop Sunburst Mesa was breathtaking as usual, but Larissa was too busy assessing the terrain as if planning another hunt to notice it for more than an instant.

Old habits died hard, it seemed, even when facing a purely intellectual challenge.

As she turned toward the gathering crowd, Larissa’s gaze was drawn inevitably to Malcolm. He stood tall and confident, his dark hair ruffled by the wind, deep in conversation with Anders. Something in Larissa’s chest tightened at the sight of him, a reaction she immediately tried to suppress.

This is your chance to prove yourself. Don’t get distracted .

But even as she thought it, Malcolm glanced up, his eyes meeting hers across the mesa top. Larissa lifted her chin, refusing to look away first.

After a moment that stretched into eternity, Malcolm’s lips curved into a small smile.

Nick’s voice cut through the murmur of conversation, snapping Larissa back to the present. “Let’s get started.”

The pack gathered in a loose circle, with Nick at its head. Larissa took her place, forced herself to pay attention to Nick’s words despite her awareness of Malcolm’s presence.

“This challenge will test your knowledge of pack history and law,” Nick explained.

“But more than that, it will test your ability to apply that knowledge to real-world situations. An alpha needs to understand our past and our laws, yes, but they also need to know how to use that understanding to lead us into the future.”

Larissa nodded, confidence surging through her. This was her element. She’d spent years studying pack history and law, preparing for the day she’d lead.

This challenge was practically designed for her.

“We’ll start with some straightforward questions,” Nick continued, “and then move on to more complex scenarios. Are you ready?”

A chorus of affirmatives rang out. Larissa shook out her hands, ready for anything Nick might throw at her.

The first few questions were indeed straightforward, covering basic pack history. Larissa answered easily, her voice strong and clear against the backdrop of the open sky.

But as the questions progressed to more complex areas of pack law, Larissa found her attention drawn more and more to Malcolm. His answers were thoughtful, often approaching the questions from angles she hadn’t considered. It was…intriguing.

Then came a question that made Larissa’s confidence waver for the first time.

“You discover that a pack member has been secretly meeting with a member of a rival pack,” Nick posed. “According to strict pack law, this is grounds for immediate expulsion. How do you handle the situation?”

Larissa’s response was immediate and firm.

“Pack law is clear on this matter. The safety and unity of the pack must come first. The member in question would be brought before the pack council, given a chance to explain their actions, and then, barring extraordinary circumstances, expelled from the pack.”

It was the textbook answer, the one she’d studied and memorized. But even as the words left her mouth, a twinge of uncertainty stopped her cold. Was that really the best way to handle such a delicate situation?

Her doubts grew as Malcolm spoke up, his deep voice resonating across the mesa.

“Although pack law does indeed prescribe expulsion,” he began, his tone measured, “I believe each situation requires careful consideration of individual circumstances. Perhaps the meetings were innocent, or even beneficial to our pack in some way we don’t yet understand.

In addition to holding the council meeting, I would investigate thoroughly, speaking privately with the pack members to understand their motivations and the nature of these meetings.

Only then, with all the facts at hand, would I make a final decision—one that prioritizes the pack’s well-being but also shows compassion for the individual. ”

Larissa stared at Malcolm, surprised and oddly moved by his response. It was a more nuanced approach than she’d expected from him, showing a depth of thought that challenged her preconceptions.

Nick posed another complex question about pack law. Larissa answered confidently, years of study flowing naturally into her response. She sensed rather than saw Malcolm watching her, his presence a distracting warmth at her side.

Sarah moved up to Nick, whispering in her mate’s ear.

“If everyone will give me a moment, I have a call I need to take,” he said.

As he stepped away, the members of the Sunburst Pack began to speak quietly among themselves.

“Still got that notebook where you wrote ‘Alpha Larissa Ortega’ a hundred times?” Malcolm murmured, just loud enough for her to hear.

A blush climbed Larissa’s neck as the memory surfaced—that ridiculous notebook she’d thought no one would ever find. She channeled her embarrassment into aggression. “Still got that black eye from when I caught you peeking at it?”

“Worth it to see you blush like that.” His low chuckle sent an unwanted shiver down her back. “Just like you’re blushing now.”

“I’m not blushing,” she snapped, though her cheeks burned treacherously. “I’m contemplating violence.”

“Your go-to solution since kindergarten. Remember when Tommy Peterson stole your pencils?”

“He tripped.” Larissa fought back a smile at the memory. She’d been so indignant, so righteously furious at the theft of her perfectly sharpened pencils.

“Down three flights of stairs?”

“Gravity is unpredictable.” She glanced at Malcolm, noting the slight tension in his stance. Always the warrior, telegraphing his moves. “Like your answers about pack hierarchy. You’re showing uncertainty, by the way.”

Malcolm shifted, confirming her observation. “Reading my body language again? And here I thought you were concentrating on the challenge.”

“Some of us can multitask.” Larissa turned to face another question, though the scent of him was making it hard to concentrate. “Though, you’re making it unnecessarily difficult by standing so close.”

“Tactical positioning,” he quoted her words from patrol back at her, his voice alone making her pulse quicken.

“Ms. Everett would be appalled at your strategy.” Their elementary teacher had always tried to keep them at opposite ends of the classroom, claiming they were “destructively distracting” to each other.

“Ms. Everett thought we’d either kill each other or—” Malcolm broke off abruptly.

Larissa didn’t press Malcolm to finish his sentence. She remembered the knowing looks their teacher used to give them, the way she’d shake her head when they’d argue.

Anyway, Nick had returned, preparing to ask another question and forcing Larissa’s attention back to the challenge.

Even as she focused again on Nick’s questions, part of her mind lingered on the unfinished sentence, on possibilities she’d never let herself consider before.

Stop it , she ordered herself. Pay attention to the questions .

As the challenge continued, moving into practical application scenarios, Larissa excelled.

Her encyclopedic knowledge of pack law and history served her well.

But several times, she caught herself considering how Malcolm might approach a situation, wondering if perhaps there was merit in his more flexible, compassionate style.

How had the man who’d wanted to be the strong pack leader managed to become the compassionate one?

During a second brief break, Larissa moved to stand near the edge of the mesa, gazing out at the darkening landscape.

“Quite a view, isn’t it?” Malcolm’s voice came from beside her, startling her out of her reverie.

“It is,” she agreed, struggling to keep her voice neutral. “It’s easy to forget how vast our territory is until you see it spread out like this.”

Malcolm nodded, scanning the horizon. “Yes.”

“It’s a big responsibility,” Larissa said softly. “Leading all this, protecting it.”

“It is,” Malcolm echoed, his deep voice holding a note of conviction that made Larissa’s skin tingle. “That’s why we hold to our traditions, follow the old ways. They’re the bedrock that’s kept our pack strong through countless challenges.”

Larissa studied his profile, fighting the urge to reach out and shake some sense into him.

“But don’t you see?” she pressed, unable to keep the passion from her voice.

“Those same traditions nearly destroyed us under Vincent. The world is changing, Malcolm. Maybe it’s time our approach to leadership changed with it. ”

She watched a series of emotions flicker across his face—uncertainty, consideration, and something else that made her heart race. She’d always found Malcolm most compelling when he actually listened to her ideas, even if he disagreed with them.

“Even you argued for change when you said you’d take the individual pack member’s reasons for their actions into consideration before banishing them,” she added, pressing her advantage.

“Change can be dangerous,” he said carefully, his broad shoulders tense. “These laws, these traditions—they’ve protected us for centuries.”

“And they’ll continue to be part of who we are,” Larissa conceded, stepping closer despite her better judgment. “But not if we cling to them blindly, refusing to adapt. A true alpha needs to look forward, to understand when innovation serves the pack better than rigid adherence to the past.”

To her surprise, she saw Malcolm begin to nod, something shifting in his expression. The sight sent a warm flutter through her chest.

Alarmed by her response, Larissa forced herself to step back. “We should rejoin the others,” she said, working to keep her voice steady. “The final round will be starting soon.”

She saw something flicker across Malcolm’s face—disappointment? Frustration?

She pushed the thought aside. She couldn’t afford to let her growing attraction to Malcolm distract her from her mission to lead the pack into a new era.

Even if part of her wished he could be key to that future.

T HE FINAL ROUND OF the challenge was intense, with high-stakes scenarios that tested not just their knowledge but their ability to think on their feet and make difficult decisions.

Despite her large reservoir of knowledge to provide comprehensive, well-reasoned answers, Larissa repeatedly considered how Malcolm would approach the situation.

More than once, she tempered her instinctively strict interpretations of pack law with considerations of individual circumstances—a clear influence of Malcolm’s earlier arguments.

As Nick posed the final scenario—a complex situation involving interpack politics and potential threats to their territory—Larissa paused before answering. She glanced at Malcolm as he considered the problem.

Her answer, when it came, was a blend of a traditional, by-the-book approach and the more compassionate style Malcolm had demonstrated—and her new solution was…right, in a way that surprised her. As if she’d found a balance she didn’t know she was missing.

After the challenge concluded, the mesa top was bathed in the soft light of dusk as Nick made a few notes and tapped his pen against his chin, frowning.

After a moment, he began calling over other pack members, holding low-voiced conversations with them.

A few others joined of their own accord, adding their thoughts to the discussion.

Larissa waited anxiously as she forced herself not to listen in, her usual confidence tempered by a new uncertainty.

Finally, the group broke apart, and Nick called for everyone’s attention.

“After careful consideration,” the temporary alpha announced, “I’m pleased to declare Larissa the winner of this challenge.”

Although Larissa smiled and waved as a cheer went up from the pack, this victory seemed strangely hollow.

Yes, she’d won, but at what cost? As she accepted congratulations from her packmates, her gaze sought out Malcolm. After a few minutes, she made her way toward him.

“Congratulations,” Malcolm said as she approached. “You were impressive out there.”

“Thank you,” Larissa replied, surprised by the huskiness in her own voice. “Your answers were…thought-provoking. I found myself considering perspectives I hadn’t before.”

A slow smile spread across Malcolm’s face. “High praise indeed, coming from you.”

A blush rose up her neck to her cheeks, and Larissa appreciated the darkness that hid it. “Yes, well,” she said, struggling to maintain her composure, “a good leader should always be open to new ideas.”

“Is that what I am to you now?” Malcolm asked, taking a step closer. “A source of new ideas?”

The air between them seemed to crackle with tension. Larissa’s skin prickled, her body hyperaware of Malcolm’s proximity. It would be so easy to lean in, to close the distance between them…

With a supreme effort of will, Larissa took a step back. “This competition is far from over.”

Something flickered in Malcolm’s eyes—disappointment? Resignation?—but he nodded. “May the best wolf win,” he said softly.

As they made their way down the mesa, joining the rest of the pack in their descent, Larissa’s mind whirled with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

She’d won the challenge, yes, but Malcolm’s approach had resonated with many in the pack.

She heard murmurs of approval for his compassionate interpretations of pack law.

She’d always considered herself the compassionate one. And yet this challenge had shown her the flaws in her thinking. In her self-assessment.

Even more troubling were her feelings. The pull Malcolm exerted on her was becoming harder to ignore. His intelligence, his compassion, the way he challenged her to see things differently—all of it added up to one dangerously attractive package.

I need to distance myself , Larissa thought as she reached the bottom of the mesa. For the sake of the competition, for the sake of the pack…for my own sake .

But even as she resolved to pull away, Malcolm caught her eye one last time. The look he gave her—equal parts challenge and admiration, with an undercurrent of something deeper—sent a wave of heat flooding through her core.

I think maybe winning this challenge only complicates things further.