After the Alpha’s Death

Chapter 5

Rose accepted Vincent’s outstretched hand as he helped her out of the backseat of the car, then returned to help Melody. Many of the pack’s representatives had already arrived and were waiting to enter the meeting room. They were obviously familiar with each other and were chatting amongst themselves but stopped as soon as they saw Rose enter. Melody hurrying behind her, trying to keep up with her long, determined strides. As soon as Rose and Melody entered the foyer the meeting room doors opened revealing Alpha David dressed immaculately in a very expensive looking navy blue suit with crisp white shirt and blood red tie. Behind Alpha David the room was arranged with a huge wooden table with 37 seats around it. One for each representative. Rose wasn’t expecting to see an extra seat behind each seat at the table, but most delegates had brought a chaperone she supposed. Rose, unsure of where she should sit, hung back in the foyer deciding to wait until all the other seats had been taken. Alpha David saw her hesitancy and walked towards her.

“There is a place for you don’t worry.” He reassured, indicating a seat four seats down from his seat at the head of the table. Rose walked over on shaking legs and stood at her allocated place. The big heavy doors were closed, this was a private meeting. He stood confidently at the head of the table and nodded his head in acknowledgement then sat down in his seat. All the delegates nodded back and sat as Rose rushed to follow their gesture and sat down in her own seat.

“As all of you know Alpha Nicolas of the Crimson Moon pack died yesterday in unexplained circumstances.” Alpha David spoke as Melody began to sob from the seat behind Rose. Rose had never been a fan of her father’s partners but she couldn’t help feeling sorry for the pretty she-wolf, it did appear that she had really cared about him.

“The pack is left without a successor. Alpha Nicolas had no sons …”

“Yet.” Rose interrupted feeling all eyes in the room move to her. She wanted to lower her head in submission but she could not look weak. She stared into the different sets of eyes that were on her meeting their gaze. “Sorry I don’t mean to be rude but Alpha Nicolas left a pregnant …” she searched for the correct description to use, w***e was the term she usually used to describe the women her father slept with but she didn’t think that term would have the desired effect. “Partner” she settled on. “Who is currently with child, his child. If it is a boy he is the rightful heir to the pack”.

“Alpha Nicolas had several daughters, what makes you think this child will be a boy?”. An older man she did not recognise asked.

“8 daughters.” Rose confirmed. “He is due a son, and there is no reason to believe it won’t be.” Rose lied. She knew that Melody and her father had been told by the pack Dr that the baby was likely a girl. Her father had been in a terrible mood for the three days after finding out, before his death. Rose wanted to look behind her and check that Melody wasn’t betraying her lie but instead locked her gaze on the man who had questioned her.

“Even IF the child is a boy he couldn’t lead the pack for at least 18 years who will lead the pack until then? Without even a Beta or Gamma there is no one to look after the pack.” He smirked at her.

“I will.” Rose stated loudly placing her hands on the table in front of her. “And as for a Beta and Gamma I spoke to Harry Michaels and Luke Hughes last night. They are currently away training but due back in 2 months. They are willing to come back to the pack and take up their positions as Beta and Gamma, like they were always expected to do.” Rose had known that this was a surprising piece of information to the group. The previous Beta and Gamma had renounced the pack along with their families but Harry and Luke had not been in the pack that night. If they had been they probably would have gone with their families but Rose had reached out to her former childhood friends and although she couldn’t remember the last time she had thought about them let alone spoken to them they had been willing to agree to work with her in the pack.

“Let’s play devils advocate here.” A young werewolf who was probably a future Alpha rather than an Alpha himself enquired. “What if the child is Alpha Nicolas’s last daughter?”

“Then I will lead the pack until my heir comes of age.” Rose replied with a shudder. Her father had once proposed that her son would be the heir to their pack but that had not gone as they had planned. She put a fake smile on her face, this was not the time for a trip down memory lane.

“Your heir? You are 24 with no mate, and no heir?” The older Alpha asked incredulously. He had clearly done his research on her.

“If the baby is a girl I will take a mate within two years of today. Goddess gifted or chosen, by me”. She added the last two words to make if clear her mate was her choice. She would not be forced into a mate bond not to her liking.

“They can call themselves Alpha if they wish. I do not care, but the pack will belong to me.”

This was the part that she knew would win her votes. Most Alphas had a younger brother, or a second son that thus held no title unless they were made Beta or Gamma of the pack. Most Alpha blooded males were arrogant enough to believe that they could seduce any she-wolf and bend them to their will. If an Alpha’s relative became Alpha of another pack they could extend their influence in the alliance. All eyes were back on her but now with added interest. She hated the way it made her feel but she knew it was the easiest way to get their votes and she had been expecting it, hence borrowing a low cut top for the occasion.

“This is all unnecessary.” A voice boomed from the other end of the table. “My Luna is also the daughter of Alpha Nicolas and she is pregnant with my son, due in two weeks.” Rose craned her neck forward to look passed the other wolves to the one that had spoken, although she didn’t need to see him to know it was Alpha Ricky of the Blood Moon pack. Her sister Sapphire’s mate. He was not particularly well liked among the other packs. He was much older than Sapphire, she his second chance mate after he lost his first mate years ago. The Blood Moon pack was small and poor compared to its neighbouring packs and Alpha Ricky had only joined the alliance out of fear when he saw that all the packs around him had joined. It was never something he wanted to be a part of and his contempt for the other Alphas was evident.

“The Blood Moon is not a connecting pack. How can you run two packs in different places? Or do you mean to desert the Blood Moon?” Rose asked raising her eyebrows to emphasise her question.

“I will not desert my pack.” His face turned red as he yelled at the room. The snickers from the others clearly picked up by his wolf hearing.

“Ok. I’ve heard enough.” Alpha David stated. “If no one else wants to make a claim for the pack we will take a short break to allow everyone chance to think things over then reconvene to vote. Let’s say meet back here in half an hour?” Everyone rose from their seats and exited the room except Rose and Melody. Melody looked down at her little bump. Rose could sense that Melody was upset with the lie and wanted to challenge her about it.

“Not now, not here.” She commanded with authority. “Thank you for coming with me.” She added more gently, and she really was glad that she at least had one ally in the room perhaps two. Alpha David had been very fair and allowed her to speak. Maybe not all Alpha’s were as egotistical and misogynistic as she thought. “Why don’t you go get a drink?” She asked the pregnant she-wolf.

“I would rather stay in here with you”. Melody replied through stifled sobs. “What if they vote for that other Alpha instead?”

“They won’t.” An incredibly deep and powerful voice answered from behind them. They turned in unison to see a perfect werewolf specimen. 6ft 2, incredibly well built with short dark blond hair that laid effortlessly on top of his perfect face. His icy blue eyes focused intensely on the pair of them as he gave them a half smile that showed off the dimples in his cheeks. He was one of the most handsome men that either of them had ever laid eyes on, and was one of the few werewolves that were going to decide her fate that Rose recognised.

“Alpha Drew, it’s lovey to see you.” She said standing to greet him. She did not know Alpha Andrew Whitlock II well but she had seen him around her pack before. He was the Alpha of the Emerald Lake pack and had been for about 8 years after taking over the pack from his father when he turned 21. He was considered well liked and well respected by his peers and his pack members. The Emerald Lake was one of the closest packs to the Crimson Moon and often worked closely to dispense with rogues that wandered between the two packs. The architecture firm she owned and ran was situated in the human town that separated the two packs.

“Likewise Alpha Rose. I just wish it had been under different circumstances.” His smile grew as he spoke. “You spoke very well today. I had been planning on making a claim on some of your pack lands myself but you surprised me and I’m sure you surprised many others.” Rose was shocked by his confession but hid it as best she could. She was not shocked that he had planned to take some of the pack but shocked that he had voiced his intent to her now. “No other pack sort out any of your land today either.” When other packs had been left without a clear leader in the past their land and the wolves had been divided between the surrounding packs. The council oversaw the division and nobody objected. It could be your neighbours pack next and you would benefit. It was why most Alphas were desperate for an heir and a clear line of succession, it ensured the pack’s survival for another generation. “Anyway there was one other matter I wanted to discuss quickly before the vote.” He paused checking over his shoulder that the three of them were still alone. “My brother is mateless….”

“Oh” she cut him off. “I thought Beta Matthew found his mate years ago.” Rose was sure that he had. Alpha Drew’s younger brother and Beta had been mated to his high school sweetheart. They had been mates for almost a decade now and had three pups together. There was no way that he was mateless.

“No, not Matt. My youngest brother James. He is away at Alpha training at the minute. When he returns he is my heir to the pack until Andy turns 21.” Alpha Drew had a younger brother who was his heir. This was a shock to Rose. She knew about Alpha Drew’s son Andy who was 4 and was already being trained in how to run a pack but she had never heard about a younger brother, or perhaps she had, but hadn’t taken too much notice. A third son is a great asset to an Alpha but not really noteworthy to the wider werewolf community.

“Alpha training? How old is he?” She hated to ask. The last thing she wanted was to be set up with a teen, but she had to tread carefully. She knew she would get lots of propositions especially if the vote went her way and she couldn’t be seen to be rude to anyone. Alphas are a proud bunch and they would all think their family member was the best choice.

“20.” He chuckled as if he had read her mind. “He finishes in two months. Same class as your new Beta and Gamma. I don’t expect you to say anything now you have a lot to think about and I’m sure I won’t be the last to bring up this subject. Just … keep it in mind. Not everyone finds their goddess gifted mate and their are worse things in the world than being able to choose who will be your mate. Especially in your situation.” Rose nodded her head. He was right. Of course she would want her goddess gifted mate, almost all werewolves craved their mate above all else, but this was not a normal situation. Whoever she mated would almost certainly become Alpha. An Alpha that wasn’t born to be Alpha. Who wasn’t even born in the Crimson Moon pack. The other delegates arrived back in the room and took the same seats as before. The vote was carried out and of the 37 werewolves in the room who had a vote, all bar two supported her claim. Rose could not believe it. She had hoped to win but she hadn’t let herself imagine that she would. Many wolves surrounded her and offered their congratulations, and condolences about her father. They also offered her their support and promised to abide by the rules of the alliance. This would buy her some time to establish an Alpha unit that would support her. She realised that she had done it. She had protected her pack and her home for now. But she suddenly remembered what she had actually won. A pack that had been slowly dwindling for years. A pack with, no Beta, no Gamma, no Delta and goddess only knows how little money. The two wolves, Alpha Ricky and another Alpha she did not know but was obviously a close ally and friend left quickly followed by their Betas. Alpha David cleared his throat and looked at Rose.

“I think we have kept you from your packs for long enough. We will meet again soon as there are other matters to discuss but for now I think it’s time you all left.” Alpha David’s words and direct tone left no doubt that they were now all overstaying their welcome. Quick goodbyes were exchanged then they all left the room. Alpha David followed close behind Rose and when most of the wolves were out of earshot he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him gently.

“You did very well today, your mother would have been so proud of you.” He said in a kind gesture. Rose knew very little about her mother except that she died whilst she was little. She didn’t know which pack she had belonged to before being mated to her father. She didn’t know if she had any other family on her mothers side and she certainly hadn’t known that Alpha David had known her mother. Her father had rarely spoken of her mother and had forbidden everyone else from talking about her. It had felt like her death had erased everything about her from the world, everything except Rose herself, her daughter.

“Thank you. You knew my mother?” Rose replied as the tears welled in her eyes. She had so many questions she wanted to ask.

“Not well unfortunately, but I know that she loved you and your father very much and she would be proud of the she-wolf you have become.”