Chapter 63
DAKOTA’S POV
The news of my victory had spread through the pack like wildfire, and now wherever I went within the pack, everyone looked at me with what seemed to me like a new set of eyes. Some sort of reverence.
The funniest part was the same people—Sophia and her cohorts—that had a strong hand in making my life hell the past year were now sending me gifts. Flowers. Lots of flowers.
I had decided that I would be moving back into my home. Akela didn’t like that very much, but that was what I wanted.
Last I heard of Odin and his family, they had moved to a mostly human settlement in South America. Not that I cared—he was far away from me, and that was where I needed him to be. Hopefully, he would think about his actions and turn a new leaf.
I had sent word to Orion and my mother, and they were very ecstatic. I’m sure to expect them before the month ran out. I had also sent word out to my grandfather, and he was happy. He would be attending my Alpha ceremony.
I sighed as I stood in front of the pack house, wolves walking past me saying their greetings. I doubted that I would be able to get used to that.
I went into the building and headed for the top floor where the offices were located. I stepped out of the elevator, and all activities stopped, all eyes on me.
They had heard the news that there was a new Alpha, but it was as though they still couldn’t believe their eyes. A classic case of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone.
“Get back to work.” And immediately, all activities began and continued. I was surprised at the power in my voice.
Since I had become Alpha, there had been a power shift, and I was always surprised whenever I spoke with such authority and was able to command my pack members.
I walked through the door with ‘Alpha’ written on it and took a look around the room. At least Odin had good taste.
I sighed and opened the windows, even with the air conditioner on. I wanted his scent aired out of the room. I sat in the chair and leaned back in the seat. Thinking of what to do next. The position of Alpha didn’t exactly come with a manual. I sighed for the umpteenth time. I sat up when I heard a knock on my door.
“Come in.” Beta Markus poked his head into the office, and I waved him in. He came in and shut the door behind him, standing in front of the door.
“Good morning, Alpha.” Alpha. That was going to take some getting used to.
“Good morning, Beta.”
There was a stretch of silence.
“Take a seat.” He took a few steps to my table and took a seat opposite me. “So, what’s up?”
“Well…” He dropped a file on my table. “Here is a list of strong wolves eligible for the post of Beta.” I opened the file and flipped through the pages. I knew these wolves; they were strong wolves. But why was he saying this?
“Are you stepping down?”
“No. I just thought that you would be needing a new Beta, seeing that I was Beta to Odin. Most new Alphas tend to change their Betas when they become Alpha.”
“I don’t want to change you. I think that you are just right for the job.”
“But…”
“No buts. You will continue.” He nodded his head.
“So, any updates for me?”
“Well, yes. We’ve had a few Alphas calling in to speak to you. They want to know where you stand with them.”
“Oh.”
“Yes. Some are our allies, and the others…well, Odin didn’t exactly have a reputation for keeping the peace. So, news has spread of a new Alpha, and they want to know.”
“Okay. Pass the calls to me, and I’ll get started on that.”
“Okay. And one more thing.”
“Yes.”
“It’s about Odin.” I sighed.
“What about him?”
“When they left, I had sent someone after to monitor them, to know their movements and things like that.”
“Okay…” I urged him on.
“Well, I got some feedback from the person, and he said that Odin had recovered.” He kept silent.
“And…”
“He…he had disappeared.”
“What do you mean that he has disappeared?”
“It means that he is no longer in South America.”
“And Koda?”
“He and his mother are still there. It was just him. I still don’t know how he managed to slip under my radar.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know.”
I didn’t care about whatever happened to Odin, but it was Odin. Scheming, deceitful Odin. Odin was capable of whatever. And that unsettled me.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Beef up patrol around the pack borders. Nothing goes in and out of this pack without being properly checked. I don’t know what Odin is up to, but it can’t be good.”
He nodded and stood up from his chair.
“I’ll go see to those calls now.” I nodded and handed him the file he had brought in. “I would also like to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For a lot of things, starting with my daughter. For all she did to you, especially the prison incident.” I threw back my head and laughed.
“Trust me, you don’t need to apologize for that.”
“Really.”
“Yes. Everything that happened was already written in the stars, and it happened accordingly. As it should. It’s okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I would also like to apologize for your father…” I froze. I wasn’t ready to go there.
“Don’t…”
“No. I need to.” He took a deep breath “I want to apologize for not stopping that fight.”
“It was a challenge; you couldn’t possibly have been able to stop it.”
“I could. The sitting Beta has the powers to stop a challenge if he feels like there was foul play.”
“What do you mean?”
“I…I had my suspicions when your father couldn’t complete his shift. He was one of the strongest wolves, not just in the pack but beyond. Odin should have been a breeze for him.”
“Then why didn’t you stop it?” I asked slowly.
“I didn’t have any concrete reason. I couldn’t call the particular foul, and that would have put me in a lot of trouble.”
“Oh.”
“And considering how Odin became Alpha to begin with, I had my suspicions.”
I cleared my throat and forced a smile I didn’t feel to my face.
“It’s okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s all in the past now.” He returned the smile and saw himself out of my office, gently closing the door behind him.
I had to move on. My father wasn’t a saint, but he wasn’t a bad person either. I feel like I have done my part in finishing what he started. What I should be focused on is becoming the best Alpha my pack could have and being the best mate for Akela. I didn’t want my relationship to be like that of my parents. I was better.