Chapter 66

Even with years of careful composure, I couldn’t hide my shock. That might have very well been the single most surprising thing I had ever heard.

Aksala started to say something multiple times but stopped. I could feel shock ripple through her, too.

Alpha Raymond's face mirrored my own, but his was mixed with a sadistic sort of rage as he turned clench-fisted to his son.

His shoulders heaved with his deep, erratic breathing, but no words came out, nothing but a guttural, choked sound.

“Is that, is that even sanctioned?” an Alpha asked, stepping forward.

I hadn’t seen him before, so he must be Alpha Timothy, who told me no in hiding. I crossed my arms gently and fixed him with a stare he eventually couldn’t look away from. It was apparent he was a small man, not in stature, but one who had been given too much power, and that was the only thing he could wield over others.

Elder John’s brows tugged together; he tilted his head and finally said, “I do think it is.”

The crowd gasped, but I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or fear.

“It’s unprecedented, sure,” The Elder went on, ignoring them. “But the Alphas of the challenge don’t get a vote; their stance is clear, so their packs usually don’t. But since you counted Black River in with the territories, but not Blood Moon.”

“It’s Blood River!” Raymond roared, spittle flying.

I curled up my lip in disgust. “That title was not earned, only stolen. It means nothing,” I snarled.

Elder John stepped forward, his hands raised. “To make it fair, Black River should be removed, as well,” I noted that he did not correct the title as Raymond demanded, and it gave me some sort of satisfaction of being seen. “Which would give Simone the percentage she needs. Or, if you wish to include it still.” The Elder turned to Raymond. “You do not get a vote technically, but your heir could.” He shook his head a few times, muttering something under his breath. “Nolan is the heir, I’m assuming?” Elder John asked.

“Yes,” Nolan stated, and he glanced my way, but his face wasn’t angry or accusatory; it looked almost sad. He nodded to me briefly before turning back to The Elder. “The only heir.”

“Again, I have never seen an heir vote against an Alpha, but…” The Elder trailed off, his thick brows bunching together. “But I think it legally would hold. However unprecedented.” He shook his head again but it did not erase that confusion from his face.

Alpha Raymond’s face verged on purple as he looked between The Elder and his only living son.

“We can have a re-vote if you’re too nervous,” I said to his back. My voice was lilting and coated with sweetness.

I kept my face impassive despite the smile that wanted to spring up when I felt his rage pulse off him.

He turned on his heel slowly toward me. “I am not afraid of a little girl with unstable emotions.”

He growled and closed the few steps between us; the crowd gasped and backed up as he stumbled toward me, reaching for me as if to strangle me.

Aksala tutted in my mind.

I dipped under his reach, hooked my foot in front of his shin, and knocked into his side, letting his own force topple him to the ground. It was his own mistake that he twisted mid-air and landed on his back.

Raymond’s breath whoosed out of him, and he clawed at his chest, desperate for air.

It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen.

I crossed my arms, standing over him, and fixed my face with a mix of a frown and a pretty pout. “Oh, Alpha.” I shook my head. “So prone to unstable emotions, are we?”

I stood impassively watching him until he could pull himself up. “Let’s do this then,” he growled.

I threw my hands up lightly. “That is what I’ve been waiting for this entire time.” I let out a long sigh, and a few of the Alphas laughed. I pretended as if I didn’t hear them, but Alpha Raymond didn’t. He snarled at them.

This is perfect. He is already playing into the person that he well…. - Aksala said.

That he is? - I finished, and she barked a laugh.

Let’s get him, baby girl. Now is our chance.

I took a deep breath and cataloged this moment. The moment I had been slowly planning for since I had awoken from my grief. The moment that I wasn’t entirely sure would happen was now right before me. Because I made it so.

“Where should we do this?” I asked.

“Here is fine,” he hissed.

I motioned towards the steps. Alpha Raymond glared at me but stumbled down them. The werecats, warriors, and Ezra’s brothers gave him a wide berth.

I strolled down with my head high after him, taking a place across from him. The nerves I had felt before had completely dissipated now that I was back in control.

I couldn’t control how the others voted, or even the werecats showing up, or if The Shadow Stone Pack would actually honor their debt as they promised.

But this… fighting, death.

This I knew.

This was a dance that I knew before I knew words; it was ingrained in me and a part of me deeper than anything else. It went past instinct; it was written in the very essence of my blood.

I closed my eyes briefly and settled into that place that I used to wear as a second skin, where nothing but the target mattered. Where my only instinct was to fight, to protect, to survive, and the entirety of my body followed.

It felt cool and caressed against my senses.

When I opened my eyes, I stayed in that place. It was something I had forgotten before, but I knew I never would again. This place felt like home, like my childhood. Instead of pushing that away, I let the memories of my parents and pack flicker through me. This was for them all, not for me, and I would not suppress their memories anymore.

Raymond stood tall in front of me, but I was not scared. I stood tall myself with the memories of my loved ones behind me, my ancestors guiding me.

I didn’t have to pretend anymore. Not ever again.

I took a deep breath through my nose and let the last fragments of my mask shatter past the point of fixing.

I would never play that person I pretended to be again.

Whoever I was under it, whatever I was now.

She was free.