Chapter 43 THE ALPHA OF ALPHAS
RAGNAR'S POV
Lance doesn’t wait for permission from me before he strides straight to the middle of the circle in the gathering.
His boots make a silent tap as he makes his way with confidence.
“Fellow Alphas,” he begins, his voice smooth and warm like a trusted friend. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. And as most of you have heard, my pack, the Shadow Pack suffered a tragic loss two nights ago. Our former Alpha, may his soul rest with the moon goddess, was found dead two nights ago. And it was unfortunate but necessary for progress that a new Alpha be selected, and I was selected.”
He turns to face the other Alphas before continuing. “I have been chosen as the new Alpha, not by rite of strength, but by a unanimous council vote to lead in his place.”
The words land like stones in still water. There was no reaction at first until ripples of disbelief and murmurs spread immediately.
Alpha Kael’s brows rise up. “Vote?” His deep masculine voice carrying the weight of incredulity.
“And since when do we elect Alphas like common wolves picking a spot for hunting or duties? You challenge, you win or you die. That’s the law. How dare you try to undermine it?”
Alpha Mira snorts a sharp and derisive sound. “As much as I don't like supporting this brute, I'm afraid Kael’s right. How dare you try to even entertain this? Where are your pack elders? Why did you not put a stop to this nonsense of yours?”
“And why–”
“This reeks of cowardice Lance.” Alpha Mira continues cutting Alpha Thorne short.
“Or did you poison your predecessor and brainwash the elders council that they just handed you the Alpha title on a platter?”
Alpha Draven barks out a low and angry sound.
“Let him talk Mira. If he says he’s Alpha now then he should prove it in the dirt. And if it’s votes that make Alphas these days, then maybe we should all get started in one, starting with stripping Ragnar off that shiny ‘Alpha of Alphas’ title he’s been hoarding for years.”
This envious Buffon has been angry that every five years u always beat him for the title.
Alpha Thorne’s smirk widens with glee. “Oh, this should be entertaining.” He turns and faces me, “Ragnar are you going to let this pup bark all around you without putting your teeth in his throat?”
Thorne is a battle hungry maniac that needs an excuse to fight someone. I can actually see his eyes turn red without provocation.
Lance’s red eyes slide back to me with his signature amusement in them.
“The MoonCrest pack has always been the strongest among us, regardless of whatever you all would want, so it would only be fair and right that the Alpha, the Alpha of Alphas should speak first in the matter concerning my status as Alpha.”
I step forward, immediately silencing everyone.
They could all see that I was severely pissed and not in the mood for their bullshit, even Thorne was quiet now only picking at his ears in boredom.
The ground starts to shift under the weight of my presence.
Yurik’s power pulses and rolls off me in waves making the flames in the torches shutter and go wild.
At seven feet I easily tower over every wolf here in attendance except Draven, and even he has to tilt his head slightly to meet my gaze.
My voice comes with a practiced low and controlled tone but I'm not hiding my malice in my voice.
“You have such nerve Lance Montgomery. You have the audacity to exploit an Elder’s forgery of my seal to call forth this meeting, you manipulated the course of the meeting and even have the guts to address us all like we're your equals, how dare you?!”
The menace coming out of my voice makes even Mira shift in discomfort. I was the peaceful Alpha of Alphas to them and they seem disgruntled seeing me furious today.
“You manipulated this entire gathering and you slithered back in here, this pack like the treacherous snake you are so explain yourself, give me one good reason I don't tear your throat out in front of my wolves and paint this sacred ground with your blood.”
Silence.
There is silence all around.
And then of course, Draven but to be outdone, says something with a twisted smile. “Ahh there it is, finally some spine from you.”
Mira’s lip curls in distaste. “Still playing the untouchable god, Ragnar? The moon’s blessing doesn’t make you invincible, you know, it's only made you arrogant.”
Lance spreads his hands portraying the very picture of logical reasoning. “Firstly, I didn't poison anyone or brainwash them, I merely rushed what was inevitable with my coronation.” He responds looking at Mira.
“And secondly, I don't know if you've all noticed the current state of the realm. Rogues press even harsher at every border now and retaliation would only risk breaking the law and overstepping into another pack’s territory.”
He points at Thorne. “Currently, each rogue raid from your warriors causes them to enter Alpha Mira’s pack and vice versa. It is now we need to form alliances, formal ones instead of this vague Alpha of Alphas membership that's not working.”
He pauses for a moment to let his words settle then looks at each Alpha in the eye to confirm their thoughts.
He especially looks at Draven and Thorne- the two wolves that would want nothing but to see me staked before looking back at me.
“And the protection and unity for all of us begins with addressing certain faults amongst us. We cannot afford leaders who have strife in their packs and are easily distracted by… weakness.”
Draven’s brows knit in anger “Speak plainly wolf!”
Lance’s smile turns razor sharp as if he's been waiting all along for the question.
“Maybe you haven't heard but all of Mooncrest has been in a state of unrest with murmurs spreading everywhere.”
This causes all of them to develop a certain interest I guess.
The fall of an Alpha is the beginning of another.
And in this case, the fall of the Alpha of Alphas is the beginning of one of them becoming the Alpha of Alphas.