Chapter 66: Chapter Sixty Six

“Your Alpha is dead!” I announced loudly as I made my way back to the pack. “Your Alpha is dead!”

It was as though the air stilled at my announcement. I felt it when even the trees stopped when I made my way past them bloodied and clad in my torn clothes. I could only imagine how disheveled I looked but I couldn’t care less. My fight with the Alpha must have taken longer than I’d thought because the sun was already rising and because of the invasion, the pack members were awake.

People stared at me with raw fright in their eyes… Good, I wanted them terrified because this was my moment.

Nikolai appeared in his wolf form, his white furs were barely white and now more crimson colored from a mix of blood and dirt.

"Natalie." His voice came through the bond.

I stopped in front of him and reached out a hand to stroke his head. "I killed him.”

Pride flashed in his eyes. "I tried to get to you, I…"

"It’s over now, Nikolai. I swore to kill him and I did."

"How are you feeling? You’re injured, you need to rest and get treated—"

I cut him off. “No, I’m fine.”

With my hand still on my mate, I turned around and saw a small gathering was beginning to form around me. In the distance, I saw Luther approaching.

“Your Alpha is dead and I killed him!” I announced, this time making eye contact with the members of the Emerald pack. More people trooped out to join us. I took in a breath and steeled my back before placing my hands behind it.

“Bow to your new Alpha!” I said loudly, my voice ricocheting when the wind swept it through the crowd. They stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Now!”

Shuffling their feet, the park members bowed down, and at once they declared. “Alpha.”

I overlooked the crowd, every head was bowed to me even those that weren't from this pack as in abiding by the laws of the land that every lower wolf would bow to an Alpha regardless of the pack they were from.

Nikolai’s wolf looked up at me and released a slow purring sound.

“We need to talk and you know that.”

“And we will,” he responded. “For now, savor your victory. This is your pack, you were born to be an Alpha and even Augustine can't take that away from you.”

I cocked my head at my mate. “I'm not giving up on Mystic Hollow pack, Nikolai. Never.”

I turned away from him before he could say something. “Rise!” I said to my new subjects. “Your Alpha held me in here without proper investigation, he tortured me for his amusement and in a bid to attain vengeance abused his power. I killed him, it is what he deserves and I do not regret it. Anyone who has a problem with a woman leading should step forward now and challenge me!”

The murmuring died and elsewhere went deathly quiet. The pack members shared fearful glances.

“It is good to see that we have no—”

“No!” someone said.

I looked up to see it was one of the three warriors who’d framed me for attempting to escape. This one particularly was who had given a wrong account of the event in front of the council.

He approached me with hateful eyes. “I speak for the warriors of Emerald pack when I say we oppose this! We oppose your leadership and we are challenging you to…”

His words were lost to the air when Nikolai attacked him instantly, tearing him into pieces. Ear-piercing screams rang out and the pack members scattered, shuffling away.

I looked back at them. “Gather around!”

And they did.

“Anyone else?”

No one responded.

“Good, because my mate here is ready to come to my defense.” I took a step closer to them.

“For those that do not know me, I am Natalie Alden, the Luna of the Night Blood pack and also the former Alpha of the Mystic Hollow pack. My ascension surely must be a source of sorrow for you but frankly, I do not care. Those that do not want me to lead have the option of walking out from this pack and leaving a roguish life, it is of no business mine what you do.

"My only concern here is for everyone in this pack, those that are willing to give me a chance, and those that are willing to trust me. Whatever luxuries you've enjoyed from your previous Alpha, I can promise you here today that your new Alpha will make provision for these things and more for you. This is the beginning of a new era, a promising one and I look forward to it.”

They remained quiet after my speech and I could feel my heart thundering in my chest —it didn't look like it but I was a mess inside. I didn't even know if I was doing the right thing taking up this pack.

What was I doing?

Stop.

Stop.

I needed to stop, I needed to come to my senses and realize in the same way Mystic Hollow never accepted me…

A burst of synchronized applause and yelling sharply interrupted my thoughts. The members of Emerald Pack were clapping and yelling out words of encouragement.

“We are rooting for you!”

“Congratulations!”

“Yes!”

An older man approached me, his face crinkled in a wide smile. He bowed down when he reached me. “Alpha.”

“Rise.”

And he did. “I am Williams, the leader of the Emerald pack warriors and I welcome you.”

I nodded.

He glanced at the members who were still in a celebratory mood. “You can say our prayers got answered.” His eyes returned to me. “The Alpha was well hated, he made life difficult for us and he never considered us in all of his dealings. His position as the head of the werewolf council didn't help because we were forced into silence.”

“Is that so?”

“He was never a good Alpha but when he lost his daughter, he went insane and blamed everyone for it, his subjects included. We were tortured for the smallest crimes and some of us were given away to other packs as lowly slaves if we dared to defy him.”

Williams bowed down to me once again. “Thank you for saving us from years of silenced misery, Alpha. May your reign be long.”

And I felt ease overcome me. I was appreciated here, I had saved them without knowing it.

“There was a reason the Goddess sent you here after all,” Nikolai said to me.

“Where is your Luna? The mate of the previous Alpha? Where is your Beta?”

Williams's expression went solemn. “The Beta was killed in a fit of fury by the Alpha and the Luna… The Luna is locked up somewhere in the manor, she had dared to speak up against him in public and has been sentenced to solitude ever since then.”

He was more horrible than I could ever have imagined. Why had Elena never said anything about it to Nikolai? He would've never stood for it.

“Take me to the Alpha’s home,” I ordered Williams.

He nodded and led the way and I followed him, Nikolai’s wolf walked majestically by my side.

Luther fell in step behind me. “Congratulations,” he said quietly.

“Do something for me, will you Luther? Send out a message to the council inviting them for a meeting tomorrow and then send someone to Warren’s pack. I want them to return in three days with important information about the happenings.”

Luther bowed. “As you wish.”

I turned to Nikolai. “Shift back to your human form and meet me in an hour.” I paused. “I am ready to listen to the truth about Ada and your child and Nikolai…”

His eyes darkened but I had his attention.

“The raw truth. If I find anything else on my own again, we are done.” I said with a tone of finality even though a part of me wondered if the truth he was going to tell me later would be the end of us.

I watched as Nikolai slunk off before I turned away and allowed Williams to lead me to the Alpha’s home.

This was the beginning of an end.