Blood Night Prisoner

Transition

          The low rumble of voices that filled the large dining hall echoed around me while we all waited for the ceremony to begin. Every seat around the room was filled with pack members from all over the region. Members crowded around the entire room as well, all vying for a chance to be able to see the new Alpha when he comes in. 

          Luckily, being relatively on the shorter side, I could easily be hidden by the standing bodies as I leaned in my place against the far wall of the room. The rumbling grew a bit louder as we heard voices and movement coming from the outer doors. A second later, the double doors swooshed open and Alpha Dean's warriors began filing in. At the end of the procession, Alpha Dean slowly sauntered in and walked to the front of the room to where the head dais was set up. He usually had his own table and chairs set there to look out over all the people. However, today, he set up two large chairs. It resembled thrones for a King and Queen. I rolled my eyes at the ego that he had. He took his seat on the left and looked out over the crowd while he raised his hand to hush everyone.

          The group all stopped talking immediately and waited silently for him to begin.

          "Tonight marks a very auspicious occasion in our pack's history! " Alpha Dean announced to the crowd with a large smile on his face.

           " I spent years waiting for this night and am proud that my son has become one of the most powerful warriors that has ever been. He trained and fought his enemies without mercy and has earned his place to become Alpha of the southern region of the Blood Night pack! " he exclaimed.

            Cheers arose around the room from all the warriors. The rest of the members all clapped while they held polite smiles on their faces. The large double doors opened once again and everyone's head swung around to witness the giant walking through them. I caught a glimpse of the large, dark shadow as he descended down the aisle toward the dais where his father stood. I could finally see through the tall bodies around me and my breath caught in my throat. 

              Mate. My wolf purred at the sight of his back and I felt the warm feeling spreading throughout my body, just being in the same room as him. I watched as he acsended the steps and turned around to face the crowd. I noticed that he lifted his head slightly and his nostrils flared. The corners of his mouth lifted and his eyes began scanning the room in front of him searching. I ducked my head behind the large man standing in front of me so that I wasn't seen. As I looked forward, Tristan's smile had faded and he seemed disappointed. 

            Tristan looked out into the faces of the pack and began. "Thank you all for your warm welcome! I am excited and proud to be your new Alpha. Over the past few years, I have come to know that while our numbers are large, we have many outside forces looking to divide us and the training of this pack in the past had seriously been lacking. I'm looking forward to training you and making you all into the strongest pack there has ever been! We will do that by physical training as well as building the bonds of our people to be a united force against our enemies! "  The crowd cheered as he ended and he took a step back as Alpha Dean stepped forward to begin the transition ceremony.

            Alpha Dean brought out a large, ornate ceremonial knife. As he did this, he turned to Tristan and asked him "Tristan Erickson, do you accept the position of Alpha of the Blood Night pack? Do you promise to assume those responsibilities and all that entails?"

            "I do."

             Alpha Dean then took Tristan's right hand and sliced into the palm. Immediately, blood began seeping out of the wound. He then opened his own palm and sliced into it. He grasped onto Tristan's bleeding hand with his own and as the blood intermingled, their power was shared. Cheers and applause filled the room to accept the new leader however there was still an underlying tension that hung in the air. The people knew they had no choice but to follow otherwise it meant forfeiting their lives. 

             When they cheers died down, the Alphas called for drinks to be passed around to celebrate while father and son discussed the next business they needed to attend to for the evening.

              "This is all yours to do with what you will, son. You don't have too many here that you'll have to worry about. I took care of them long ago. You still have a handful that are still carrying a torch for that sorry excuse of an old Alpha that I took the pack from but they keep their mouths shut. They know better than to open their mouths. We do have the business that we need to reward our warriors for keeping up our protection, we have a few of the 'former' warriors that were sworn to the old Alpha too. I kept them around and watched them. They all proved themselves that they're good at fighting on the fields so I figured we can use them."

              Tristan nodded. "I had the opportunity today to oversee the training fields and to evaluate the men. They all seemed fit and ready to learn. A few stood out that really needed work and a few stood out that excelled in fighting strategies. There was a handful that had some good, natural leadership. I'd like to use that and put them in charge of their own units. They can report to me on the progress of the rest of the men each day. That is that matter. Then there is the matter of my Mate."

                "Getting a bit ornery aren't ya?! Ha ha, just like your old man! Well, there's plenty of skirt around for you to chase and dip your stick into whenever ya feel like it! You don't need to be sidetracked right now because of some pussy."

                  Tristan looked at his father. He had been raised by his mother and learned from an early age that his father did not believe in mates or the idea of marriage. Dean had gotten Tristan's mother pregnant and would stop in from time to time to visit with him after he was born. But the man was clear that his visits were to check in to make sure his 'future Alpha' was growing into a strong ally. There was never any bond between the two. When Tristan finally came of age at 15 and shifted for the first time, his father swooped in and took him away from his mother to be trained by his men in fighting and warfare. Dean was going to make his son a machine to be used in his grand plan of domination. And a mate just didn't fit into that plan.

                    Dean motioned his arm to his beta and the man nodded and disappeared. He stood up and raised his arm once again to gain the room's attention. He cleared his throat.

                     " There have been a few men that have shown loyalty to me and have risen up the ladder in our pack. They will be rewarded tonight as well as others being given a promotion for their services. The first of those men is Brayden Phillips. You have shown excellence in your leadership, fighting skills and loyalty. You are being promoted to Head Commander for the warrior units. You will be in charge of them and report directly to the Alpha and beta each day."  Cheers arose as Brayden stepped out from the crowd. He slowly walked forward and nodded his head to the Alpha in acceptance. He then looked directly at Tristan and made eye contact. The two men stared each other down for a second and Brayden  nodded once again to him. He then moved over to join the ranks of warriors. 

                    "Next up, Marcus Reynolds."

                     I had been silently watching the entire ceremony and at the mention of my brother's name, it felt like my heart stopped! Marcus was here! I haven't seen him since that night. They brought him to the pack doctor and after his recovery, they sent him and Chase to another part of the territory far away. 

                     Marcus stood up and walked toward the aisle. He was so mature and large now and I could see the whatever had been a child then was no longer. A grown man stood in his place now. My heart ached at the sight of him. He stood in front of both alphas with a strong, stoic expression, waiting for them to proceed. This time, Tristan came forward and my heart lurched. He was going to be the one in charge of my brother's life or death!

                     "Marcus Reynold's. I was watching the training fields today very closely. I observed how you handled the men and took charge in situations to control the outcome. Your skills are advanced and can be used to help teach other warriors to fight better. But what made me take notice more was how the men reacted to YOU. They showed respect and and an eagerness to learn from you. It is a difficult thing to achieve. Given the past and who you are......" Tristan looked at him pointedly "I see no issue with you having a leadership position to further the advancement of the pack. I'm appointing you as Unit Leader. You will be in charge of individual training to your men. You will report to Brayden each day as well as take care of any disciplinary actions you seem fit.  However, I warn you now with all of these people as witness......" Tristan paused and looked around the room finally settling his gaze on me. His breath caught in his throat for a split second but he immediately looked back at Marcus.

                    "If you cross me or if your loyalties are not with me one hundred percent, I will take pleasure in ripping you apart limb by limb and hanging your body parts at the front gates as an example of what happens to those who betray me."

                     Marcus never looked away from him. He stood with his back straight and replied " Yes, Alpha." in a deep, resonating voice. I can't believe my brother was so grown.  As he began to move to the side with the rest of the warriors, I saw Chase making his way over to meet him. Chase! I wanted to run to them and I wanted to embrace them. But I knew I couldn't with the Alphas watching. They would take it as a treasonous act and we would all pay.

                    A few more people were called up front and given praise and promotions and then Alpha Dean called upon a handful of his warriors that were unmated. He paired them off with unmated girls and they were sent off. During this time, Tristan's eyes never left me. His gaze raked over me, taking in the sight. I had cleaned up and put on a pale blue sundress that hugged my curves. I had filled out as a woman in the last couple years and always tried to hide my assets so as not to gain any attention from the guards or warriors.  I dried and curled my hair and it fell in loose waves down my back. I even applied some makeup so my blue eyes would stand out. As Dean finished the list and paired off all the warriors, he glanced over to Tristan and followed his gaze.  From where I was I could see the vein in his forehead and neck pop in his rage!

                   Suddenly, his mouth twisted into an evil sneer. "We have one more person to pair tonight. Oscar, please come forward."

                    I looked toward the front of the aisle at the movement and I almost vomited in that second. I watched in horror as the guard from my nightmares lumbered toward the front of the room. Alpha Dean then looked up at me as his grin grew even wider.

                    "Oscar, you have been with me a very long time. And I believe in rewarding loyalty like yours so I'm going to do something very special for you. I'm going to pair you with someone that comes from a very prestigious lineage. I'm going to pair you with........Jenna Reynolds."