TM [Complete ✔️]

15. An Alpha and a Beta

Zane's P.O.V

Evening rolled around for the second time since I've been in Silver Claws, but unlike the uneventful one I had yesterday, this one was filled with about five hundred wolves, decorations, music, food, and life-changing vows.

I finished putting on Beyla's headband - a light pink bow that matched the same colored long-sleeved dress - paired with some warm tights since it would be too cold for her without them.

I didn't like the idea of my pup out in the cold all night, especially with the entire pack of unknown wolves present, but I hated the idea of leaving her with an Omega more.

I only hoped I'd be able to leave as early as possible.

Shaking my head and making sure both of us looked presentable enough, I strapped my daughter in her stroller and took just one last glance at myself, exhaling.

Truthfully, I didn't care how I looked, nor did I really care if the ceremony went well. Already, all I wanted was to go back to Blood Moon instead of looking over my shoulder even with the so-called protection assigned to my suite.

I hated every second of being here.

***

I slowly walked to the large open space behind the pack house, the music already starting to give me a headache. There were so many wolves - threats - in every direction, yet, even begrudgingly, I continued walking until Sofia and Julian were in view.

Per what we discussed in yesterday's meeting, I was dressed in the suit Julian was meant to wear on his ceremony, the clothing having been tailored before I even arrived on the territory, and I found them immediately after I got here.

"Alpha!" Julian greeted, Sofia taking a small step back but trying to hide it. "The official ceremony starts in ten minutes, the Elders are already behind the stage," he pointed at the grand stage a few feet from where we were standing, "they'll walk you through the process, and after that's over with the pack will go on the sacred run, which, in your condition, you'll only be overseeing." I nodded, biting back the question (When can I leave?) and the retort (I wouldn't be in this 'condition' if it wasn't for your father) back.

I took hold of the stroller again and began pushing it to the stage until a hand - Julian's hand - landed on my shoulder. I spun around, eyebrow c****d in question.

"Alpha, an Omega will gladly watch over your pup for you, we have great nannies-"

"No," I interrupted, "my pup remains with me."

The redhead was growing annoyed with me, despite trying to hide it.

"But, Alpha," he sighed, "you can't say your vows with a pup in your arms, that's not how it works!"

"It is now." I declared, trying to push past him.

"Look, no one is out to get your daughter-" I growled, interrupting him again.

"Like your father wasn't out to get my pack? My mate?" Another growl tore from my throat. "Do not talk about my daughter again!" Julian bared his neck in submission, much to my surprise. Alpha bloods usually weren't this... submissive.

"My apologies, Alpha!" I nodded, ready to leave again when Sofia tuned into our bickering.

"What if," she stammered, "what if I watch her for you? I won't take her out of the stroller, touch her unless absolutely necessary, or move her out of your sight." I was about to decline again when one of the Elders popped his head through the curtains, silently calling me over.

I sighed, knowing Sofia was as good as it got, and at least I'd know her a little more than some random nanny.

"Do you know what to do?" I asked, making her swallow before she nodded.

"I had a daughter." The past tense registered a couple of seconds later, my expression softening, if only just a little.

"I'm sorry." I passed the stroller over to her, a small smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

Finally, I walked away, my hands immediately sweating. Every step was harder than the previous, making me feel as if an invisible thread was pulling me back to my daughter.

Upon spotting me get closer, another of the Elders hissed for me to hurry, allowing me only one last final look at the crowd, at Sofia cooing, but not touching, my little bean, smiling warmly at the pup as she said something to Julian, which made him smile in return.

***

"We have gathered here today for the passing of the Alpha title to a strong, capable wolf as punishment for the previous Alpha, who broke his vows and betrayed his pack and allies! Let this be a lesson to all of you and the entire werewolf race!" Elder Theo began as all seven elders and I stood on stage, the music now turned off and every set of eyes on us.

I was sweating, the shirt under my suit soaked and my hands clamming as I stood before the Silver Claws pack, all five hundred of them, smaller than Blood Moon but still impressive in numbers, and wondered if I'd made the biggest mistake of my life.

Was it too late to run away?

"Zane Lennox Brown, despite the challenges you've faced and the loss of your mate - the biggest loss a wolf could go through - your Alpha appointed you as the leader of Silver Claws, do you accept?"

Despite having said it before and despite my obvious agreement since I was here, at my own ceremony, saying the words out loud felt as if multiple swords were pressed against the insides of my throat.

I cleared my throat and made myself sound as sure and authoritative as possible when I replied, "I, Zane Lennox Brown, agree to take the Silver Claws pack as their Alpha and leader, and thus agree to take on any and all responsibilities that come with it!"

"Do you swear to put your pack's needs and well-being above your own?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to protect the lives granted to you even with your last breath?"

"I swear!" I replied loudly and surely, though I didn't feel that way.

Despite not being on good terms with the pack, even after realizing most of the wolves here, if not all, had no blame for what happened, I couldn't help but think of the innocent pups and females in all of this. Most of the males, innocent or not, knew how to fight, they were trained, therefore even if I did nothing, they'd find a way to save themselves.

But was I truly capable of protecting the lives of the innocents granted to me or was I the death of this pack?

As if sensing my hesitation, Elder Theo sent me a sharp look and cleared his throat before continuing.

"Do you swear to do your best to provide your pack members with happy, carefree lives and train them for battle should the times change?"

"I swear!"

"Do you swear to punish and reward only when necessary and not out of personal causes?"

"I swear!" That, I was sure of. I knew why he was forced to ask, most likely having heard Julian and me arguing earlier, but without evidence, I'd do nothing more but growl at him if he stepped out of line.

If he so much as gave me a reason to suspect he was helping his father, however, the world wouldn't be a large enough place for the two of us.

"Now, repeat after me: I, Zane Brown, accept my role in the pack as their Alpha, protector, and leader!" I gazed at the crowd, at the different storms brewing in their eyes raging from fear to hope and everything in between, and repeated the words.

As if on cue, something inside me began snapping and twisting painfully, though not enough to send me to my knees as it had Knox.

Stupidly, I hoped Zion would show himself - even the faintest of presences, yet he was nowhere to be found. Even despite how much stronger the pain would've been had he been with me, I would've endured it for one word from him, even one of the dumb remarks he made.

Nothing. There was nothing but my raging mind inside my head to break the silence.

The rest of the pack began to groan and whine in pain as they felt the snap of their bond to the Alpha, that same bond now tied to me, though it wasn't supposed to be as bad for them as it was for me.

It was one bond for them, despite a strong one, and hundreds for me, yet I was only mildly uncomfortable, watching as the others accepted the links to me they were unable to use as of yet.

If they ever would - I didn't know.

***

The ceremony was over as quickly as it started. After the bonds had set into place, I took my pup back from Sofia and held her, unable to have her away from me anymore, even if she was just in the stroller.

With her in my arms, I led the pack - my pack - over to the forest, where they all shifted and waited for instructions.

"You or your Beta have to lead them, they can't start on their own," Julian whispered as he came over to me.

"I don't have a Beta," I muttered the obvious.

"Let me?" He asked, shifting uncomfortably. Before I could shut down the idea, he continued in a whisper, "Alpha, I was meant to be in your spot right now, that ceremony - I have prepared for it my entire life! I've come to terms with the fact that the pack is no longer mine but I'd at least like to help it thrive under your leadership, if you'd let me!" His gaze traveled to the pup in my arms. "Please, just give me a try! I know everyone and everything about these wolves and this territory, I could be of great help! Besides, I had nothing to do with my father's betrayal, and yet I'm paying for it the most - he had what, a year left to lead before I was meant to take over? Don't punish me for his mistake! You wouldn't want someone to punish your daughter for a mistake you made one day, would you?"

I looked down at my bean all bundled up in thick blankets to protect her from the cold. She was so small and fragile, and yet she wouldn't always be. I was a leader now. A leader to a pack she was one day meant to take, and Julian had hit a sensitive spot, whether he knew it or not. If I were to make a mistake bigger than the others, as there would be many, no doubt, I wouldn't allow anyone to punish my little girl for it.

"Fine. You're the new Beta of Silver Claws but my warning from yesterday stays, Julian!" He bared his neck to me again, his wolf surging forward to accept his position.

"Silver Claws, as your Beta, I now begin our sacred run in place for our Alpha! Let us howl for our lost Luna and let Moon Goddess lighten our path!" Howls filled the night's silence - for my mate, my Rosie.

I let the wolves run as I stayed behind, waiting in the freezing cold as they did a lap around the forest.

"Your momma would've loved this," I mumbled to Beyla, if only to break the silence and the pattern of my thoughts, "a whole pack howling just for her! An honor she deserved, huh, little bean?" My daughter shifted and made a small sound between a whine and yawn, as if to tell me she agreed.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! What do you think of Zane's decision to give Julian the Beta position? Does Julian deserve it if he's really innocent and do you think he is?