Chapter 66 - Building a new future.

Ezra

Everyone was standing around looking nervous when I came back outside. I looked at my Beta and the man shrugged.

“I couldn’t find the blade.” He stood there with such a smug look on his face that I felt like ripping his head from his body, but a smile started to form in the corners of my mouth as I slowly revealed the blade I had been holding behind my back.

“That’s okay. I found it. Why don’t we kick things off with you first.” He had played right into my trap. If he didn’t pledge loyalty to me in front of the pack right now, he would be exiled. I held out the blade and saw the panic in his eyes before he took it and cut his palm. I quickly cut mine and slammed our palms together.

“I pledge my loyalty to Alpha Ezra from this day forward.” As soon as I saw the recognition in his eyes, I let him go. Becoming Alpha of the pack by killing their alpha gives you a certain amount of power over the old pack members. Having them pledge their loyalty through a blood pact actually linked everyone as one pack. I can hear their thoughts now. They could hide nothing from me! With my beta securely in my back pocket, the rest fell into line quickly.

Four of the wolves refused and I stuck to my word. They were instantly exiled from the pack and that was that. But I didn’t want to rule them with fear. If I was going to change things for all of us, I needed to start here and now. Thanks to Carlo and Blanca’s suggestions, I was able to arrange the necessary things for everyone to relax and have a good time.

It was a celebration after all. We were celebrating our new bond. We were celebrating me. The atmosphere was stiff at first, but as soon as I started chatting, I could see the wolves relax. I made a point of taking the time to talk to each small group. I wanted to get to know them. I wanted them to get to know me. I was one of them even if I wasn’t actually part of their pack since birth.

I was also cast out with my mother before I was even born. Nobody wanted me but her. We did whatever we had to do to survive no matter who it hurt, but we tried our best never to physically hurt people. The night was a huge success and I went to bed feeling a lot more positive than I did when I woke up that morning. We were a pack. Things were going to work out for all of us.

There were some really good people here that were all forced to do some really bad things. Circumstances forced them into this life, and now I was going to give them a new life. I spent most of the morning finding out what they needed. Some of our buildings were really old and needed a lot of work, but others looked pretty good. Once we had a list of what we needed, I got on the phone and started placing the orders.

I had just finished making the last call when my beta appeared outside my door. He had a sheepish look on his face and I knew what was coming. It would be the last puzzle piece falling into place for things to turn around for us.

“When you took over, I thought it was going to be the end of us. I didn’t think that you had the balls to be our leader. You’ve surprised me.” He walked in slowly and I smiled. I didn’t get up because he wasn’t going to intimidate me. Staying seated showed him that I wasn’t threatened by him.

“And what do you think now?” I leaned forward a little. I was curious. Who wouldn’t be?

“You care about the people. People who just days ago would have killed you and not even look back. Yet, here you are making sure the houses we live in are decent. I’m sorry I wasn’t the best Beta up to now. I will understand if you want to choose someone else.” He lowered his head in submission and I fought the urge to breathe a sigh of relief. Instead, I got up and walked to where he was. I held out my hand and he looked up. His eyes flooded with surprise.

“None of us expected any of this to happen. I just want to make the best out of the situation for all of us. I never had a home and I only had my mother as family. I would be honoured to have you as my beta so we can build a good future for the pack.” A huge smile broke out all over his face as he took my hand and shook it. I got right down to business and told him what to expect in the next couple of days. I wanted to make sure the pack was taken care of before I got down to the nitty gritty of how we were going to finance our pack.

We had a couple of legal businesses, but they wouldn’t be enough if I wanted the pack to grow. I also wanted to take Lilith out on a date as soon as possible. The trucks started to arrive with everything we needed and the pack was excited about getting to work. Fixing up someone else’s place was never what anyone wanted, but fixing up your own place was just the best feeling ever!

We pulled together and started working as soon as possible, and I found out I had a talent for building stuff with wood! I actually loved working with my hands! It was hard work, and I wished that Lilith was here with us building our future, but it was good for me to spend this time with my pack. We were bonding and it was exactly what we needed.