Braided Fate - A Werewolf Romance

Proven Alpha

(Mari POV)

I had spent the past year rebuilding my pack. We were reeling. I was beyond that. I was numb. I tried my best to hold it together. We had all lost our Alpha and Luna. To me, I had lost my parents as well: my only blood family. I was the last of our family name. Within the last couple months, I had finally been able to believe it, to feel the change and responsibility I now held as the last of the Rey Bloodline. Finding someone who can hold the Alpha Bond isn’t guaranteed. That’s why Bonds are typically passed from father to son. As the last living blood, I would have to produce my own heir.

Despite worrying about how I was going to continue my bloodline, everything had gone surprisingly smoothly. I had never been more thankful for my mother than I had been this past year. My mother had fought tooth and nail to make sure I was trained in everything I could be. I spoke several languages, I was one of the best warriors in the pack, I was a certified healer, I had completed a business degree at a human college, and I had a scholar certification from our Council of Elders. All of this knowledge and training supported my every move. I had taken over the family business with ease and had taken control of my pack firmly. 

Now that we had strengthened our borders and our numbers, my mind kept returning to starting a family. Finding a partner. Typically, an Alpha looks for a Luna. They look for their soulmate and she cares for the emotional side of the pack. The more I think about it, the more I feel the pull to find my mate. I have heard of soul mates. My mother had told me stories of soulmates finding each other. Supposedly, we would be perfect for each other. I doubted that, but I welcomed anyone who could help me keep my pack’s Bond alive. I had a hard time believing any male werewolf would want to be my equivalent of a Luna, title or no title. 

  “Alpha Marigold, the council is at the border.” Anthony’s, my Gamma, voice came through the mind-link. God, I hate my name.

   “I’m glad the new rotations are working, Anthony. Keep it up. Keep reporting to Master Grey. I’m not paying him for sitting around. He has done wonders, but we will never be taken by surprise again,” I promised. I had hired a master warrior from a far away pack who made money by consulting. He had helped us rebuild and train. That, combined with the virtual and electronic defenses I had installed with help from other vendors, ensured my pack’s safety.

   The council was here to verify that I had taken on my father’s Alpha Bond and to record my leadership team for their records. I was sure that part of it was the mess I had made by taking the Alpha Bond. I had been engaged to the son of a neighboring pack’s alpha. He had already taken over from his father and was Alpha of Raven Rock. We had our own secure website where we were able to post significant events. 

I remembered feeling sick typing in the words that announced my new position as Alpha of Lunar Pack. Alpha Jonathon Rey and his Luna are dead. Their daughter, Alpha Marigold Rey has taken the Alpha Bond. A couple of spaces further down I had to then submit my request for the council. Council, Alpha Marigold Rey of Lunar Pack requests a visit to record leadership status. 

Almost seconds after I posted my news, Raven Rock immediately posted their own news: Alpha Brian Bates hereby rejects alliance proceedings between  Raven Rock Pack and Lunar Pack due to breach of contract.  A couple spaces down from that was the announcement of Jaxon’s ceremony. I had met Jaxon when we were children. I liked him. There was a small part of me that still wished this was a bad dream and I would wake up in the morning and my parents would wake me up to send me off to marry Jaxon.

I stood, smelling the new people in the corridor. I stepped out from behind my desk and took a deep breath. Simon opened the door for three large men. My whole body tensed. This wasn’t the regular group. I took in the hundreds of pounds of pure muscle in front of me. Even my wolf whimpered in my head. We breathed their scents deeply, hoping one of them might be our mate. Unfortunately, they weren’t. I shook my head to try and clear it. They had changed something without informing me. I needed to focus.

“Beta, Gamma, be on high alert. I have a feeling we may need to escort these people from our land.”  I mind-linked my team. Simon bowed out of the room and I felt Simon and Anthony mind-linking their warriors. I brought my attention to the men all but physically measuring themselves in my presence.

   “Welcome to Lunar Pack, Council Members. Once my Beta and Gamma are available, I will have them speak with you,” I smiled. God, I wanted to smack each of these men.

   “Thank you, Mari. I’m really happy to hear-” I raised my hand and cut off the one councilman I recognized. He was my father’s cousin.

   “Please address me as Alpha Mari or Alpha Marigold or Alpha Rey. I appreciate your best wishes and condolences, cousin. But, do not think me weak. Ah, we can begin,” I moved on as Simon and Anthony stepped back into the room. “Councilman, I present myself, Alpha Marigold Rey, Beta Simon Pratt, and Gamma Anthony Tams, the leadership team of Lunar Pack,” I spoke sharply. All three of the men stared at me in wide-eyed shock. My cousin tried to talk to me again.

   “Mar-ah...Alpha Marigold, you’re barely 21 years old! Let the council assign an Alpha. I’ll personally watch out for our pack while they figure it out. You are too-” I cut off my cousin’s words with firm orders.

    “Anthony, please escort my cousin to the border. Age has nothing to do with it. If I had been a male heir, I would have been given the Alpha Bond willingly on my 18th birthday. Cousin, if you had wanted to lead the Lunar Pack, maybe you shouldn't have left. Father would have handed it over willingly. I’ll die before my pack is led by you,” I fought to keep my voice level. The other two councilmen watched me calmly, almost  with amusement, as my cousin was dragged literally kicking and screaming from the room by my Gamma.

    “I am Councilman Gareth. Thank you for announcing your Leadership, Alpha. We just need proof of your Alpha Bond, and then we will be on our way,” Gareth said quietly. 

   This is what I was scared of. What if the Moon Goddess decided last second that I wasn’t worthy of the Alpha title? I was about to ask Simon to bring me any pack member, when Kya interrupted me with a brilliant idea. I quickly mind-linked Simon and he left to set up our moment. 

“Gentlemen, if you would follow me outside,” I lead the way. As we stepped into the sun, I saw 50 or so warriors at attention. The two councilmen shifted their weight nervously.

  “Alpha, what is this?” Gareth sounded angry. I left Kya take over. To my surprise, she didn’t shift us. I knew our eyes were a burning gold. The ultimate sign of control as an Alpha. To be so at peace with your wolf that you could share seamlessly. Kya loaded our words with power.

  “Warriors! SHIFT NOW!” 

All fifty men fell to their knees and began to shift. Kya and I squealed when we realized the councilmen next to us were struggling to fight our command. Let them go, Kya. We’ve proven our point. I don’t want to start a political incident.

   “Councilors, you are free.”  Both councilmen straightened up and their bodies instantly relaxed as they were released.

   We looked out to see 50, beautiful strong warriors, ready to fight. Kya gave back control. I nodded my head and they all began to shift back. I turned to the men next to me.

   “I apologize for my wolf, gentlemen. She was very excited. I take it our Bond has been proven?” I asked stiffly. I wanted them off my land now. I had a lot to get done and I didn’t want to worry about them being nosy.

  “Yes, Alpha. We will see you later this year at the Alpha Conference.”

   “Alpha Marigold, be careful. Your choice angered my father. My brother is forgiving, but he is a hot head. They are out for war, but I’m sure Jaxon can be reasoned with. If you offered your pack-” The other man began. Jaxon’s brother?! I held my hand up and took a deep breath.

   “You know as well as I do that I can’t give up my Alpha Bond without seriously hurting my pack, Seth. Besides, Jaxon is always welcome here. He could patch things up by giving up his Alpha Bond. But that won’t solve anything. Before, I was an Alpha’s daughter. The moment that my father’s Bond rejected his Beta and chose me, I made my decision. I would never expect Alpha Jaxon to do something I wouldn’t do myself. I wish no ill will toward Raven Rock Pack,” I gave my reasoning firmly and they both listened to everything I said. Seth and Gareth gave a soft bow.

   “We’ll leave you to it, Alpha Marigold. We wish you health and prosperity for you and your pack,” Seth added a warmth to his voice that surprised me. I nodded my thanks as they left. I felt Simon and Anthony follow them out.

   Now I was a proven Alpha. I needed to focus on making my pack strong. I had no doubt in my mind that the other packs would try to take advantage of the change in leadership. I could feel the pull to find my mate as well. I definitely would not be lacking in tasks to complete anytime soon. I dismissed my warriors with a wave of my hand and returned to the pack-house.